in guangzhou!

We are in Guangzhou (actually Shamian Island) in a hotel (the White Swan) on the Pearl River. Thanks to our friend Leo, who lives in Northern China, we have acquired some imported (from America) formula that should be 'safe'. Leo e-mailed us photos of the formula that is imported to China from America so that we would know what to look for (since we cannot speak or read Mandarin). We were finally able to find a small shop that sold it. This has been wonderful because Lauren will eat / drink this formula. We tried to give her formula (Enfamil) that we got from another parent in our group but she would have nothing to do with that!! Also, this morning, Lauren did allow a spoon of oatmeal into her mouth!!! Most all of the oatmeal came back out but the fact that she allowed a spoon into her mouth is huge progress! She doesn't seem to know what to do with her little tongue, or what to do with stuff put in her mouth. We do not think she has ever been fed anything but a bottle in spite of the information we were given. She was full of energy yesterday - all except for the times we were out in the extreme humid, heat. She is a very hot baby in general anyway. When she cools down! She is definitely a mover and a shaker! She is a happy little girl! She laughs out loud more often (you can't imagine what crazy charades we go through to hear her laugh more often!! She loves 'peek-a-boo')!

Guangzhou is very interesting (and different from Changsha for sure). There are more tourist here and the people are very used to seeing families with children adopted from China - in fact, many, many on Shamian Island seem to cater especially to families adopting from China. The architecture here is quite different than other parts of China since this island was settled by expatriates for some time (something like that - I can't remember all I read about it right now). I love the trees - some of them remind me of the Banyun tree.

We did walk through the 'Chen Family Temple' which is a temple for the worship of the ancestors of the Chen family (a different 'Chen' - different tone - that the Chen in Jin Lin's name). Interesting. Personally, those gargoyle like things on the roofs and in the walls are scary looking. I can see how they could 'scare away demons', but there were some beautiful parts too.

It's so true - so many people are out in the early morning (both here and in Changsha) doing Tai Chi in the mornings - and other stuff. There's something that looks like 'hacky sack' that groups of older people do too (so cool - I don't think I could do it; requires so much coordination)!

Lauren and I both are running around hacking / coughing. Hopefully this will get better soon.

This lady talked a long time to Lauren. I really wish I could have understood what she was saying. She was so kind and Lauren was ready to jump into her arms finally. If Lauren is greeted with a big smile, she will usually respond back with a smile - very cute!

Lauren seems to really like Michael, our guide/ translator - she was listening to him here and was intent on seeing him as he talked.

This tree is by one of the pools in our hotel.

Along a street on Shamian Island near our hotel.

Happy girl!