The Great Wall of China

Well it's been another couple busy days!  We had Tahlia's Visa picture to take, more adoption paperwork to fill out (including her citizenship paperwork).  We were the first family to get there, so we got out before too many others arrived! Then came our big adventure – taking the subway to the Lama Temple (not Lhama!) with two other families!  Our guides gave us each a business card of the Hotel's with their cell phone numbers on them and off we went!  It was packed but really easy to get around.  They announced each of the stops in Chinese as well as English and they had a map by each door that had a blinking light as to which stop was next.  The temple was ok.  Not the best place with a baby who's unhappy.  I went into the first few rooms while Todd tried to keep Miss T quiet and happy and when she became rather loud, we switched off.  I did manage to keep her quiet so that I could take her into the last of maybe 15 or so buildings to see the final and largest Buddha.  It was about 4 stories high and was made from 1 solid piece of wood.  Really quite impressive.  We were able to take pictures of the building but not inside any of the buildings.  It was cool and by the time we got back to the room, all three of us just needed to stay in for the night.  Todd ran out to get take out from our favourite little restaurant – really so very good! Today we went to the Jade Factory, Great Wall, another factory (can't remember what kind), and the Olympic Birds Nest and Water Cube.   The Jade factory was beautiful.  They gave us some instruction on the different qualities of jade and how to tell the difference.  We purchased a jade family ball, a bangle for me, and pendants for both Todd and Tahlia.  It is Chinese tradition when a girl gets married, that her parents and/or her husband's parents pass a piece of jade on to her (like a bangle bracelet).  Our guide said the higher the quality, the more she's loved.  J  All I can say it that Tahlia is VERY LOVED!!!  Then on to the Great Wall!  The temperature was around -1, so we were bundled up pretty good.  I was thankful I decided to pack long underwear!  So I had Tahlia attached to me for just over half way up and then Todd took her and carried her down as well.  We took tons of pictures – I think I even got one of Todd being helped by 3 young girls (maybe 18 yrs old) - they were concerned he was going to fall on the steep hill down!!  There were two paths to choose from on the part we went to – we chose the more steep path as there were less people.  Wow.  Really.  Wow.  It was steep and the steps are uneven and there are parts that are smooth and very steep which wasn't great when it STARTED TO SNOW!!  But we made it to the top!  I wasn't sure I could do it, but Todd was ahead of me with the baby and I couldn't let him show me up!!  It really is awesome to be there.   It's quite beautiful (except when it started to snow). Tahlia slept for part of the way up and then woke up and cried for the majority of our time at the Wall.  Hopefully the picture we took at the top will be good enough to use as our Christmas card!!  So back onto the bus and off for lunch….at 2pm!!  We ate at the 2nd factory we went to (I can't remember what kind of factory…starts with a C….Cloistendin??)  Anyways, more great food (including French fries for the kids) and some Rice Wine.  It is 56% alcohol and it burns going down!!  The cup for it is about ¼ of the size of a shot glass and that's all you need!!  Todd woke up this morning with a significant sinus infection and he had 2 or 3 shots throughout lunch to see if that would help.  The ride back into the city was a long one.  Traffic was bad and it took almost 2 hours.  By this time it was almost dark out, so we just did a drive by the Olympic Birds Nest and Water Cube.  ' So I should mention our bus.  It's similar to a grey hound bus.  We have 17 families with a minimum of 2 adults per child adopted.  Then there are 2 sets of grandparents and then other children of the families (maybe 10-12).  It is one cosy bus ride!  And 17 children under the age of 4…..let's just say there's usually at least 1 melt down going on at ALL TIMES! A little boy, Lucas who is just over 3 yrs, (they're from our original family group of five) speaks Mandarin very well and another father (who is Chinese) was translating what he was saying.  We were on the bus and he came up to Tahlia and said that she was his little sister.  He did the same for the other girls in our original group.  He picked us all out in that crazy packed bus!  And each morning at breakfast he comes running over and yells 'Hello' and kisses my hand.  He's just the cutest and funniest little guy!  But while on the bus Lucas and another little boy (who is not yet 2) started having a conversation in Mandarin and apparently Lucas told him that his dad could beat up the other little boys dad!  Seriously – where do these boys get this stuff!! Tomorrow, we have a relaxing morning as we don't have to meet up with the group until 1pm.  We're going to the Summer Palace and then to a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony.  Tahlia is adjusting quite well.  She is become more comfortable with Todd and I each day.  Night time continues to be a challenge – unsure where she is, missing her nannies so she feels most vulnerable at this time.  Nothing we didn't expect, but still hard to see her grieving.  But overall I'd have to say that it's going much better than I had expected.  We've definitely learned the value of a good nap – for both her and us.  She's starting to explore more, crawling and trying to pull herself up.  She doesn't have any interest in trying to walk – oh except when she wants to stomp her foot at us – yikes!!  We need to measure her, but the 6-12mth and 12 mth clothing is fitting best.  I've tried a few 12-18 mths and she's just swimming in them.  We'll it's almost 10pm here and Tahlia and Daddy are sleeping.  I should hit the sack too…it was a very long day! xoxo