Wednesday in Guangzhou

Wednesday was a bit of a turnaround for Ariana as she ate 3 times and seemed to enjoy it.  Since she won't take formula, Monday we started to put a couple spoons of it in with her diluted juice (pear or apple) or her Pedialyte which we are almost out of.  She will also drink some water with sugar in it.  That's what they give them in the orphanage so we'll deal with the sugar issue later, we're just happy she's drinking.  She's also eating rice cereal mixed with apple/banana baby food (and of course sugar.) 

We are seeing more little bits of her personality each day.  Evenings from about 6:30p.m. on are pretty rough and she whimpers, cries, or screams for hours until we can get her down.  Bedtime has varied greatly.  She is alright if we carry her around so that she can rest her head on our shoulders.  Mommy and Daddy both have very sore backs but of course that is nothing compared to what she has been through.

She is making the cutest little clucking sound.  She seems to do it when she is most relaxed.  We think she is communicating with us, but most likely it's just something she developed in the orphanage to entertain herself.

Wednesday afternoon was the medical checkup for the babies.  We were expecting it to be pretty chaotic and upsetting for them, but it was actually pretty quick.  The Kentucky families said the last time they were here it was very crowded and they had to wait much longer. 

Waiting our turn for the medical exam.

That's right...Mommy didn't bring any hair products, curling iron, or blow dryer.  It wouldn't matter anyway it's so humid here.  Ariana really seemed to like this nurse, all the babies did.  They probably liked hearing her speak Chinese.

Our next stop was the Security Bureau of Guangdong Province where we applied for the babies' Chinese passports.  They will travel to the United States on Chinese passports with American visas.  They didn't allow pictures inside the building but Daddy got this one in.  Shh.

 Lobby of the medical exam building.  Sorry, having trouble moving the pictures around.

 Playing with my "sisters" in the hallway at the White Swan Hotel. 

 Ariana is the least social of the group and doesn't interact much with the other babies.

 This is Savanah on the left in the pink, Tracie and Tony's baby. I found Tracie on a Yahoo group about 2 years ago and that's how we got to "know" the Kentucky families we are traveling with.  They all adopted girls six years ago and know the ropes and are a huge help to us.

 Outside the Security Building.

Later we all had a pizza party in the hallway.  Oh my did that Papa Johns taste wonderful. They don't shampoo carpets in China and I can't believe we all sat and ate there-even me!  You really have to get past the germaphobe stuff here to make it.

More later.