Getting Sydney - Day 10

I can't believe it has been 10 days since we started our journey. Our family has changed so much in such a short time; as has Sydney's. I wonder if we seem permanent to her, or if she thinks she's just on an extended outing. It will be interesting to see if she gets to a point where she starts getting very fussy when she realizes that we are her new routine and that this is a permanent change. I know that she's enjoying all of the attention and is much better off, but I still wonder if she'll go through a negative reaction to her new freedom. Time will tell, and we'd appreciate your prayers as often as you think of us throughout the next few months.

This morning we loaded up the tub w/ warm water and tide and had our agitator go to work:


Here's another shot of the girls' room looking out over the city


and here are a couple of pictures of Sydney's little fingers at work




Here we are heading to church


This is the Christ Church of Guangzhou where we attended a Bible study





We sang a few songs in Chinese and a few songs in English. Then the speaker would talk in Chinese and a translator would repeat it in English. It was very neat hearing the Word of God proclaimed in Chinese...with what looked like army soldiers watching right outside.

Then we went over to the White Swan hotel and met up with another family. The White Swan is a very beautiful hotel and many adoptive parents stay there. Here is a picture showing the waterfall in the lobby:


Then we went to Lucy's Place and ate lunch. The food was good, but don't go there if you're on a time table. It took 45 minutes for them to bring out grilled cheese and ham sandwhiches, and an hour to bring out fish and chips. Victoria really enjoyed the view though...


A little more shopping (and sweating) and we were back at the hotel for a little fun with big sister



We were all so hot from the shopping that we converged on the hotel pool.




Much to our surprise and delight, Sydney actually enjoyed splashing around in the pool. We didn't think she'd like the water since she cries every time we get her wet for bath and even when we're wiping off her hands with a wet-wipe. Ginger just let her go where she wanted and she cautiously led herself into the water


Then she said "What the heck am I doing out here?!?!?"


and high-tailed it to the shore


Then she got brave again


and headed back in


a little deeper this time


Yikes....too deep


Get me outta here


Hey...maybe this isn't so bad after all. At least no one is trying to scrub me down.


I don't mind getting wet, Mommy, if I'm doing it myself


So many firsts. It is such a great feeling when she reaches up for you. It's like she's saying "I trust you". It was really neat to see her coming out in the water to play with me and London. It's very sad that she has known so little...2 years in one building, probably in the same crib. And here she is now with an American family experiencing all kinds of new things...faith, hope, and love...and the greatest of these is love. And all this under the fluttering communist flag of China




Videos:
I'm not a perfect angel...but I'm close


Happy again


Ahhh...refreshing



Cleaning those little hands off