So a lot has happened in the last 2 days - 3 hours each day is about the amount of time we leave with our guide and "do" something. Yesterday began with a much anticipated journey to a Buddhist temple and the National Silk Museum...and then Annie got carsick....threw up ALL her breakfast while sitting in Everette's lap- luckily he was unscathed- but we had to stop and change clothes and regroup while she was screaming. She did rebound though, and we enjoyed a short visit walking round the temple that was built in 326 AD. Our guide said, isn't your country only about 300 years old? Crazy! They "touched" it up in the 1950s....all the Chinese come here and light incense and pray on kneeling mats in front of the different Buddha statues. We also got to see about 50 monks chanting in one of the temples. We were not allowed to take photos inside the buildings- only outside. The silk museum was small but fascinating- lots of examples of different patterns, the history, and beautiful photographs of Mulberry trees - that the silk worms eat the leaves from- and how they spin the silk from the cocoon-like balls that the worms create before dying.

I will post a few pics also of the night before when we went to dinner WITH our guide who ordered for us. We actually loved everything she picked out- congee, river shrimp (that you bite head, shell, and all and then spit out the head and shell- we were not so good at this)- and I tried not to think of the quality of water these sweet little shrimp lived in- some type of chinese green bean, and sweet and sour pork. And cold beer. Important. Annie lights up every night at dinner when we are at a crowded restaurant. She had a blast. The picture above is what she is like a lot of the day - she goes to "the dark side" and it takes hours to see her smile again. But we have seen a lot of smiles from her....dinner and back in the hotel room are her happiest moments. When we are skyping with Charlie and Edie she has been the funniest- already vying for our attention while talking to them- climbing on top of us and shoving toys in our face. She loves to see herself too- so she enjoys looking at the camera. And she is ticklish so we heard her belly laugh for the first time last night.

Sorry this post is long! But we went today to her finding spot and orphanage. It was sad to be where she was left- but our guide Sara explained that the government does not pay for all of your medical care- and the her family probably was not wealthy and after finding out how expensive the surgery would be, and the risks involved in the surgery (she might have died), they decided to abandon her. We learned details today at the orphanage of how she was found- she had a note with her birth date- this is important to me because if they are not left a note they will just make up a date- and a few sentences about their hopes and prayers for those who might one day adopt her. Priceless. Our hearts were heavy as we explored this little area- just a neighborhood in the middle of the city of high rise apartments, near a kindergarten and a parking garage.

Then we went to the orphanage....it was ridiculously amazing. We sat down with the woman in charge of adoptions who gave us all these gifts....a book about Hangzhou, a photo book of Annie, a framed glass photo of her, etc....It was so nice. There is a book with her growth charts, her immunizations, likes and dislikes, a note from her nannies and the director. We got to see where she slept, her buddies in the room where she played most of the day, the playground, the bathrooms, and the "movie room" where she said they watched a short video before going to bed each night. I'm not sure we can compete!! She was doing fine until we walked into her room with all her friends who starting saying her name in excitement- choo choo is what they called her. She was crying and one of the nannies said, Achoo choo- you are going home now. You have a mommy and a daddy just like me, right? You should be happy and smiling because now you are going home. And she quit crying, just like that. Wow. We are so amazed at how well they prepared her for us. She is so brave and we are in awe of her. A few pictures of the orphanage and that's all for now...

We get Annie's passport and fly to Guangzhou tomorrow night- arriving around 10pm and then go for her medical examination Saturday morning at 9. Will probably be 2 days before I can post again. Happy Labor Day weekend at home!! I cannot say enough thanks for all of the emails our friends have sent us. They mean so much!!