Update from Amy

Daddy Car Seat

The Crew goes shopping (roll soundtrack)

Tonight it feels as if I am in high school again with a looming paper needing to be written. Tomorrow is the due date and I am pulling an all nighter. Not that I dislike blogging, but in the midst of packing and a long day of last minute doll shopping (which ended up a fail) I have seem to successfully acquire another sore throat and cough. Currently, I have cough medicine coursing through my veins and a sucret soothing the pain. Thankfully, the little girl asleep next to me is a really good sleeper. Otherwise, we would be in for a long night with my hacking up a lung.

Pearl Market

A seriously big pearl market

Mailynn Daifu likes the bling

Mommy makes a friend. Can you guess how?

Yesterday's adventures were many including shopping, shopping, and more shopping. Oh, and Drew managed to squeeze in a half hour photo shoot of the local museum. In the morning, we returned to the island to have the older kid's TB tests checked and all came out negative...whew! Then we were given 20 minutes to last minute shop on the island. I had three stops to make. Drew ran to the other side to pick up some art we had done for Salem, I ran to the fabric store to get silk and diapers (somehow that sound funny to me...you?) then a quick shot over to Jenny's to find squeaky shoes. Yes, I have been pinned the obsessive shoe shopper by none other than my own beloved. But, hey, when you can wheel and deal down to $3 to $5 a pair, it is a no brainer, especially with no girl cousin hand-me-downs coming our way. It is our turn to provide those, with a little niece on the way:) Upon boarding the sardine van again, we were swept off to the local pearl market to find Salem a special necklace for her wedding day.

Salesmen on bikes

Drew is usually in the back

Improvised feeding

After the shopping spree, Wenxi took us to the Guangzhou Museum where we whizzed through in record time, just pausing long enough for Drew to snag pictures and to watch a few local artist's painting techniques.
When we returned to the hotel, each family went their own way allowing for afternoon naps, satisfying hungry bellies, or continuing adventures in the wild. Drew and I opted for the wild and found our way under and over the city streets to a local children's market. Our friend's found great deals for Daifu (Meilynn) the other day so we thought we would check it out. All we walked away with were a few cute bibs for Salem. Drew talked me down from buying the cute little riding potty, only because we would of had to figure out how to pack it. The froggy potty at home will have to do. On our way back we returned to a market down the street from our hotel. We went there a few days ago looking for a suitcase for Salem, but the prices were too high. Drew took another crack at lowering their price and walked away with a pink hardcover for no more than he had intended to spend. He drove a hard bargain, walking away seven times before the lady met his price. And I found another pair of shoes:)

Yes, that's embroidery. Amazing

Guangzhou Museum

Bone Carving

Salem is unimpressed

New Years Lanterns

Back at the hotel, we did a final paperwork check with our Guangzhou contact, WenXi. With everything in order (not a small point of stress up to this point, but not a major one either), we are ready for the Consulate visit. 

Final check of paperwork

Final check of stacking cups

The cups are a favorite

Drew and WenXi - ready to go

Calling it a day on the town, we hit the hotel restaurant "Food Street" for a crack at their version of our newest obsession, noodle soup. It's easy to say we were spoiled in Nanchang as the noodles anywhere since have failed to equal their flavor or spice. We miss you, noodle bar! However, they sufficed and we went to bed satisfied and thankful for another day here in Guangzhou. Our attempt to get Salem in bed early seemed a win, until I laid her down in her crib. Her eyes popped wide open as if it were morning and for the next hour she played in her crib on her back happily. This was the first time she hadn't cried in this situation, so we went about our business. At 9:30, we had a little pow wow and mommy called it a night. She submitted on my shoulder and was out like a light.

Out for a walk

Salem is not into shopping at this point

Our time is closing in and we feel an urgency to be fully present here for the remaining time we have. Today was another wonderful day and we will update tomorrow morning. Now, we return to packing, a strategic sport here in China. The pink suitcase is helping tremendously. Goodnight.