Busy Day

Today was very busy. After sleeping from 9 pm until 4:30 and then going back to bead until 7, we started the morning with our first smile for Mom and Dad after just a couple of kisses and a little tickling. Then it was off for the first bath and the washing of the crazy hair. (I think she has more hair than me on her head, and that is saying something. There is so much that it will not be contained by the puny baby barrettes that I couldn't wait to use). She enjoyed watching her feet in the bathtub and didn't fuss at all. We washed the hair in the sink because we couldn't get her to lie back in the tub (too busy watching the feet for that). Next came some nice hot congee at the buffet then it was to the bus. We spent about 2 and a half hours at the un-air conditioned adoption office first getting rid of those crisp bills and being interviewed. (Every place we stopped to day required a picture with eyes open which guaranteed that she fell asleep right before we got off the bus at each stop.) After that visit we made a quick stop to get her passport pictures taken and then visited the notary to get our red books (guess this means she's ours now). We got back to the hotel at almost 1pm and some of decided that we wanted Pizza Hut. I think it was the best pizza I have ever had in my life, I was so hungry. We have been eating at some very nice places, but the food just isn't the best (or at least not what I like) plus now we are also feeding a baby so you kind of lose track of what is going on and when your eating family style alot of stuff is gone before you even get a chance to start.

After lunch we took a nap (Annika slept while we ate since we were in the room) and then we went to Wal-Mart. I have been looking forward to Wal-Mart and I wasn't disappointed. It is two stories, food on the first floor and everything else up stairs. We started on the second floor and then rode the escalator down stairs. There were soooooo many people there. One thing I have to say about the Chinese is that they are noisy. The music was blaring and everyone was talking. They always sound like they are arguing to me, even though I am sure they probably aren't. Alot of people gave us a double take and most were looking at Annika with some interest, one woman even stopped to ask David some questions about the adoption process (someone else asked about it in the elevator at the hotel too). Anyway, Wal-Mart in China is similar to Wal-Mart in America, the signs are similar (except for the language obviously) and some of the brands are the same. There is a live market in the Wal-Mart here though (snakes, fish, turtles) and they also have one are that is all dried sea creatures (different kinds of fish, shrimp, etc.). Kristin said she saw squid chips with the snack foods and they sold durian (the stinky fruit) in the produce section. They had several different types of prepared foods: salads, roast duck, chicken feet prepared a few different ways. At the checkout counter they sale gum and mentos right next to shrink wrapped (unrefrigerated) chicken wings (which our guide said are very good, but I'm not going to be the one to try them. She was very surprised we do not have them in America and said that we probably all have allergies because of the way we eat.)

So, at dinner we found out that most of the girls have or recently had scabies and that we need to treat all of them with the cream. Annika had some brown spots on her face, arms, and lower legs when we got her as did several of the other girls. The doctor who traveled with us just wants to make sure that everything is dead and that they don't have any further problems so we got to apply the cream tonight before bedtime.

Well, guess I should go so that I can get some rest. Tomorrow is a fun day with no big plans except to get measurements for dresses and to go see the nearby pavilion. Hopefully I can find some time to get some pictures on as well.