A Day of Rest

We have nothing on our schedule today - except making bottles, searching for congee, coaxing some poop out so we change more diapers and convincing Nina that we are going to meet her every need. So there is a little more time to update you all on the happenings here in China.

Here is a picture of Hannah about 30 minutes after meeting Nina. While meeting with the orphanage director and the nannies Nina was quite fussy - she wasn't so sure about these strange looking pale skinned creatures who thought they had a right to be holding her. The nannies (through translation - Cantonese to Mandarin to English)told us that Nina was best comforted by being held in a baby carrier. They generously gave us the carrier that Nina arrived in and promptly helped Hannah strap it on her back. It helped a little bit, but she still didn't see why she should have anything to do with us. It proved true, however, that she was best comforted by being held upright and walking around. The first 6 hours or so there was no sitting or laying down happening - at least until after we discovered the magic of congee. We had to be holding her upright against our chest and moving around to get her to even slightly settle. I was finally able to get her to sleep by swaying and singing to her (singing might be an over statement!). Now she won't leave our side for even a second - or, I should say, let us leave her side. Sitting and laying down are becoming easier for her but are still not her favorite thing to do. Our theory is that at the orphanage, anytime she was put down she was left alone and not given attention. We're doing a pretty good job of trying to break this notion of hers. She isn't shy about letting us know when she wants us and we are pretty happy to oblige.

Here is a picture of Nina with Dr. Rumberger, the doctor accompanying us for a few days to make sure all the babies are healthy. Nina wasn't so happy about getting naked and being poked and prodded, but passed her exam with flying colors! She is 17 pounds and 28 1/2 inches tall and has a head circumference of 44cm. This puts her just shy of the 50th percentile for weight and height and the 75th for her big head. Her skin looks good, her lungs and ears are clear, all her organs appear to be where they should be and considering her upbringing so far, she is doing well developmentally. In the states, we would expect her to be farther along than she is, but she will catch up quickly - especially with the urging of her 3 sisters. So far it appears that all the other babies are healthy as well.

Here is a picture of Nina and I full from our breakfast - or as we say in Chinese, "chi bao le." An enormous western breakfast buffet is included with our stay here at the White Swan, so we go down every morning and pack on enough food to last us until late afternoon. No one should ever offer all you can eat french toast and bacon to someone like me. This morning Nina enjoyed yogurt and oranges for her first time. We are trying to lay off the congee a little as it appears to be turning her poop into a large plug! I have been lucky enough to have missed yesterday afternoon's unplugging moment.

True to Feng Shui principles, on the main floor of our hotel, there is 20 foot water fall flowing into a huge fish pond stocked with what look like 18 inch gold catfish. It's a pretty cool back drop for photos and Nina enjoys looking at the fish. Well, speaking of Nina, she is waking up from her morning nap of 1 1/2 hours. She's not so happy to see that she is laying down and that Hannah is a full 12 inches away from her - waking from her nap as well. I think it's time to sign off for now. Zai jian!