Free Day

I don't think I've ever slept so hard for so long as I did last night!  Wow!  It was nice!  Le An woke up around 6:30 and I gave him his bottle while Tony took a shower.  Then I took mine and we went down to breakfast.

While I was getting my food someone came up to Tony and said "Hi Tony!". He was wracking his brain trying to figure out if he knew her.  She told him she blogs with his wife.  When I got back he told me I needed to go over and talk to them.  They were getting their 2nd son today and he's been in the same orphanage Meighan was in.  We met through the Yahoo Group for that orphanage and then we've been watching each other's blog and emailing.  We figured out we'd be here at the same time so made plans to meet.  It's so cool when people meet online and then meet in person on the other side of the world, just because of a common purpose!

We finished our breakfast (Le An had more banana and watermelon today.  We tried grape pieces but that wasn't too popular) and we realized it was time to Skype.  We tried calling Tony's mom but she wasn't answering.  Then we noticed our friend Bruce trying to call us.  We answered and they were able to see Le An!  Then we tried Tony's mom again and still no answer.  So we tried my family.  The computer answered automatically and I said "Hello!" and they came to the computer.  We were able to see and talk to Meighan again.  While we were talking we had my mom call Tony's mom and have her go up to her computer.  We told her to have her wait for our call and NOT call us but she tried calling us 3 times and we had to have my mom call her back and tell her again to let us call her when we were ready.

While we were talking my mom told us that in church Meighan went up for the children's sermon and wasn't shy at all.  Then when they asked for prayer requests, Mom requested prayers for our safe travel home later this week.  Then Meighan shouted out "and my baby brother!" So cute!

We said goodbye to Meighan and my parents and called Tony's mom.  We actually could see her this time, too!  We showed her Le An walking with help.  We chatted a bit and then had to say goodbye so we could go to the lobby and go on the bus to Shamian.

We got off the bus and went straight to shopping.  We got Le An a couple more Chinese outfits, one for when he's older and it's really pretty!  We also found some other things I wanted to get and we went to a shop at the end that has handmade items and they donate 10% of the profits to orphanages.  We bought a few items there, too.

At one point we went into the White Swan.  The restaurant is still open and we walked around the waterfall area and took some pictures.  We were on a bridge and an elderly lady came up to us and was cooing over Le An.  She did not tell us he wasn't dressed warm enough, though.  She took something out of her pocket and untangled it and gave it to Le An (who promptly put it in his mouth).  She was speaking Chinese but telling us something from her heart and putting her hand on her heart.  She wanted Le An to have this thing.  It is a rooster with some beads and leaves hanging underneath it.  I'll try to post a picture of it when we get home.  We told her "xie xie" and she walked away.

For lunch we ate at Lucy's again.  While we waited for our food, I videoed 2 groups of people playing the "hacky sack" game with the "feather thing".  They were really good.  We bought some last time but have never taken time to try it much.  I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and ... a chocolate shake!  Tony had a club sandwich and ... a chocolate shake!  I substituted onion rings for the fries this time.  Nice change!

We went to Michael's last to pick up our laundry.  The price is SO much better there!  We waited for 2 other moms and we all (4 adults and 3 kids) took a taxi to the hotel.

Le An had only a short nap this morning and had not fallen asleep for a longer nap yet.  We all took about an hour nap when we got back to the hotel. We didn't make it to the park across the street yet.  I guess the forecast for the next couple of days is rainy so we may not make it, but we'll see.

Tonight Le An had issues we didn't know how to handle.  He cried most of the evening and nothing we did seemed to make him happy.  We gave him congee and a bottle.  Then he made a STINKY!  Ah, that might be why he wasn't happy!  Tony went to get hot fudge sundaes (we don't eat this badly at home, trust me!) at about 7.  When we were eating them and Le An saw that we were eating something and he wasn't, the tears came again.  Tony gave him a taste and I had the camera ready to get the "ice cream face".  Got it!  He wanted more so I gave him a bite.  Now he knew I had some too!  I made him walk the few steps to me to get another bite.  Then we had to coax him back to Tony (walk) to get another bite.  He wouldn't walk back to me to get another bite so then it was all gone.

His walking is getting so much better already!  Amazing what a little encouragement will do!

We played a little while longer and then it was bedtime.  I don't think he was tired right away so he didn't go to sleep for me.  Tony sat with him and he finally went to sleep at 9:00.

Now we're reading and writing to kill time before we go to bed.

Tomorrow is the oath-taking ceremony at the US Consulate!  We're almost done!