Today our group took a bus to the People's Park. We strolled around in the light rain and Lia fell promptly asleep. This was the least crowded place we've been. There were groups of men and women playing cards and doing tai chi under the pavillions. We met a woman who stopped and asked us about Lia--boy or girl, how old, and promptly covered her foot that was sticking out from under the rain jacket covering her. Her English was very good--she was on her way to a meeting. As we were chatting, another man walked by and gave us a big thumbs up sign. I had asked one of our guides what people here really do think about these foreigners coming in and taking their babies. She said people think it's a good thing. . . and that is the reaction that we have received, but it is very bizarre.
After the park, we were taken to a porcelain shop. Porcelain is very famous here and is made in Jingdezhen, about 4 hours from Nanachang. The shop was filled with beautiful plates, bowls, tea sets. We did buy a little bowl and given some chop sticks "free for your baby."
My big treat today was a Chinese massage. Five guys and I walked to a different hotel about 20 feet away from ours. Our guide, Elsie, ordered up for us, and in we went. The six of us were in one room on six different chairs, and six beautiful masseuses glided in, took a stance behind each of us, and set to work. The face, head, neck, arms, hands were great. I got the giggles when she started jabbing my thighs- it was sort of torturous and sort of ticklish all at the same time. My girl probably thought I was a nut. After the legs, came the back and a big red bag of salt was scrubbed up and down it. Felt wonderful! The girls were synchronized and all finished about the same time. While I was getting my 2-hour massage for 100 yuan (about 12 dollars!), Shane and Lia took a stroll, took a nap, and hung out.
Lia has decided playing peekaboo is a funny game. She just giggles and giggles. She loves to be held and "dropped" on her back. Great fun! When she wants to play that game, she starts rocking back and forth--obviously someone at the orphanage had played this with her.
She is very tactile and explores all sorts of different materials - fabrics, plastic, glass, wood, etc. She loves touching and banging--rattles, chopsticks, spoons.
She is still trying to learn how to grasp things with her thumb and forefinger to put crackers or noodles or anything into her mouth. Instead, she just opens her mouth like a little bird and we fill it. Then, she won't swallow and crams as much in as she possible can into her little fat chipmunk cheeks.
The medical report said Lia could sit (she can, but she does crash every now and then), crawl (ha!) and walk with assistance (another ha!). She is getting better about standing as we hold her. Not a lot of lower body and leg strength yet.
Enough for now!
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