Let's Play a Game. Cause I still have jet lag and I've been up since 3:30.

Well.  It's 4:30 in the morning here and I've been up since 3:30.  WIDE AWAKE, I tell you.  Yesterday, I was up at 3:00 and completely showered, dressed, and ready by 4:30.  The boys are usually up by 5:00 and start watching some movies.  And Joe is back in his morning routine of making bottles for the day.  The getting up early isn't bothering us, though.... it's the STAYING up later in the day.  If we can make it past 5:00 in the afternoon without taking a nap, we feel like we deserve a prize.  JET LAG IS STILL KICKING OUR BUTTS.  So..... since I'm up and Mary is still snoozing over there in her crib, let's play a little game.  It's called "YES or NO?"

I'll make a list of things that Mary is experiencing for the first time..... then..... I'll say YES, she likes it or NO, she does NOT.

K.

Cheerios - pretty sure I've elaborated on this already, but - YES.  BIG YES.
Fried rice - YES.
Croissants - YES.
The sippy cup with no handles - NO.
The sippy cup WITH handles - YES.  Sorta.
Bathtime - Uh. NO.
Playing with her colorful spoons - YES.
Being fed with her colorful spoons - NO. (only silver or white plastic spoons - that's it.)
Hard toys that really hurt if you get hit in the head with them repeatedly - YES.
Soft toys that are so sweet to cuddle  - NO.
Reading books - YES.
Stacking cups - YES.
Stickers - YES.
Sitting up - YES (although when she's had enough, she does what we call "the throw back".... she THROWS herself back as hard as she can to lay down..... so far, she's been on the bed when she's done this OR, luckily for her SKULL, I've caught her before she's hit the floor.  It's clear that she spent a lot of time on her back in her crib.  She's very content to play this way..... but her Mom is making her sit up as much as possible! Later this week, we'll tackle STANDING UP.  (Oh, the throw back will be rough on this one.....)
Which brings me to.... Standing up - NO.
Listening to her Mom sing - YES.
Being greeted by strangers - NO.
Being in a crowded room - NO. (I hear ya on this one, Mary....)
Sitting in a high chair - YES.
Changing her clothes - YES. (Very compliant on this.... when she sees us coming with socks, she'll lift her foot to put it on.  So sweet.)
Changing her diaper - YES.  Not one bit of fussing. (Oh.  And those of you praying with us for there to be something IN the diaper can quit praying for that now..... cause there's more overflowing over here than our cup of blessings...... thankyouverymuch)
Being wrapped in a blanket - YES.

Having a family - I'll say YES..... cause she really, truly seems to fit right in.  Every now and then.... maybe three times since we met her.... she's gotten a little overwhelmed by it all and cried (the biggest crocodile tears I have EVER seen).... but it only lasts for 5-10 SECONDS.... then we change the subject - do something else - find another toy - cuddle a little harder - and she snaps right back out of it. She has been SUPER easy so far.  Of course, things could change - I know that.  And I'm expecting it.... cause remember our motto - "Expect the worst.  Hope for the best.".... that's still in play here.... probably going to be in play for a few YEARS.  But for now, it's GOOD.

Well... enough of that.  I know the REAL reason you people even read this blog is for the pictures.  It's fine.  I totally understand.  So, I've looked on Joe's phone for some new ones that I didn't see yesterday.  I told him I must definitely include pictures with every post or there would be some kind of mutiny.  So, here you go!

Hello.  I'm Mary Powell.  I am cute.

This is our noodle place.  We like it.  A lot.

What a treat!  We had a visit from Joe's cousin and two of her children!! They live in Shanghai.... it was SUCH a joy to see family in person while in the middle of such a time as this..... we're going to get together with the entire family on Thursday evening for dinner before we fly out on Friday for our next city.  They were able to give us lots of information about Shanghai, spoke some Chinese to Mary, and brought us some helpful tools like a PHONE to use within the country in case of emergency.  Our first emergency:  call Papa Johns.  Worked like a charm!

Shanghai Morning Post.  Date:  June 24.  Our Gotcha Day!!

Mary's first breakfast with the family.... steamed bread, congee, fried rice, fried noodles, and CHEERIOS.  She also ate croissant and yogurt and let me spoon feed her some orange juice.  Still wasn't digging the liquids here.....

Guy on the left:  our driver.  He speaks no English, but talks A LOT.  

Girl on the right?  Our guide, Maggie.  She is precious.  Her English is pretty broken, so we just nod a lot and say, "Okay."  Max and Jack just sit there and laugh cause they KNOW that we don't know really what she's saying.  I have no idea what we are agreeing to half the time, but we just keep nodding and okaying.... it's kinda exhausting.

And here we are in the van on the way to Gotcha Day.  I had the EXACT same feeling on that drive that I did when we drove to the hospital to have the boys.... I was nervous, anxious, worried, already exhausted, and praying. It really did bring back so many memories of the boys' birthdays.... just the anticipation and fear and importance of it all.   SURREAL.  

Well, alright!  Miss Thing is stirring over there, so I gotta go!  Today, we tour The Bund.  It's supposed to "rain heavily", so we'll see how much touring we get done.  We bought a stroller at the Carrefour (Chinese Walmart) yesterday, so we'll see how that works out today.  

As always, thanks for your prayers, words of encouragement, and for loving us through this journey.  It is a miracle and we are so thrilled to have you enjoy it with us!