She and the other children received a blessing at a Buddhist temple for a good life. We were in front of three Buddhas representing past, present, and future. She and I took a picture in front of the future Buddha. After the blessing, the three of us took a photo by the main altar (which is in front of the present Buddha). We walked around the temple grounds, with Davis carrying Pan Pan most of the way. She loves being held by him, and I think the feeling is mutual.
The gardens at the temples and parks are beautiful and lush, a tribute to the traditional art of Chinese landscaping. When I lived here previously the public spaces were generally in need of a good paint job and the landscaping was sparse. Another enormous change from the old China are the stores. We went to another supermarket today -- Park and Shop -- which is located in what we heard is the largest shopping center in the world. We were able to get a $30 umbrella stroller to use while we are here. What they call "supermarkets" are more like department stores with food. And they have many, many more brands of baby formula than we do in the U.S. (I suppose breast feeding is less popular here).
In addition to her blessing, Pan Pan learned how to stand today - holding on to the table, but with no help. She also spent more time on her tummy preparing to crawl, but that will take longer as it's so unfamiliar, but at least she doesn't squeal anymore when we help her flip over. We know we will be starting a new more complicated phase when she starts crawling and walking around, so if that happens after we get home instead of here in this apartment, that's okay. For now her most exciting activity is getting tipped over while being held. A little too exciting perhaps -- we couldn't get her down for her nap today because it was all she wanted to do. I've just insisted to Davis (yes he was the initial instigator) that we shouldn't do this WHILE she is eating.
Speaking of eating, she has a great appetite, though sometimes we discover that she is storing the food in her mouth like a chipmunk instead of swallowing it. So many new things to see, to do, to eat, and she is taking them all in ... almost.
Tomorrow she gets her official medical exam for her U.S. visa.
Sent Sunday May 30 10:00pm from Guangzhou
P.S. I'm attempting to send a bunch of photos with this post, but if that fails, my pinch hitter will help.
She is learning so quickly because you and Davis are her parents! Smart Parents...smart baby! Soon she will be driving!! It all sounds perfect...We are all thrilled at her progress.
ReplyDeleteDavis...don't tell Pammy I told you...but, Uncle Dickie used to put us on his kness while he was sitting down and bounce us and tell us to stop moving around then he would split open his knees and we would fall through and he would ask us what is wrong? can't you just sit without falling? I remember doing that for hours and tring not to fall through...Uncle Dickie thought that was pretty funny...torturing small children!?
ReplyDeleteHow do you say "Can you sit still?" in Chinese?
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. Don't rush her to walk... life as you know it will be all over yet again! It is amazing, however, how much she has learned in the short week she has been with her new parents. Just wait til her sister and cousins enter the mix. Watch out!
xoxo
Princeton, Class of 2027, unless of course Rikki breezes through high school and her bachelor's degree in less time.
ReplyDelete