A school of Herrings....: Guangzhou update...

Annie Choo Choo is happier everyday. She is funny, smart, curious, silly, sweet, and a little sassy. She is trusting us more and more and looking for our hands to hold (both of us at the same time) whenever she is not in her stroller. When she is feeling really brave she runs wildly all alone- I call it the noodle run b/c her limbs and joints are so loose! She LOVES to be outside. We're pretty sure she walked on grass today for the first time (we were breaking the rules...most "lawns" are only to be seen, not touched). She had this crazy excited and surprised look on her face.

We went to the Chen Clan Temple yesterday- built by a family clan in the late 1800s to educate their family to take the national examination to earn high positions in the govt. Now it's an arts and crafts museum with different sections to explain making fans, embroidery, writing, pottery, painting etc...We then ventured to the pearl and jade markets- never seen anything like it. Imagine an entire mall, 5 floors high, where almost every store sells pearls. Are they all real? SURE! The jade was much more expensive but beautiful. Last night we ate at a tasty Malaysian restaurant...still trying new foods...still surprised at how much we like most of what we eat.

We went back for the TB test reading- a little swollen so we were concerned but they gave her the clear. We then went to a beautiful garden and rode a gondola to the top of a small mountain to see the view of the city. We didn't even take a picture. It was the New York skyline times 20, full of smog. It's weird because when we are walking around in the city we don't notice how truly awful the air quality is. Anyway- the ride up and down was enjoyable - had some ice cream with rum at the top!

Swam in the pool this afternoon- this is her 3rd time in- and the first time she really wanted to be IN the water (as opposed to watching us swim from the side with legs dangling). We are all doing great. Annie is talking more each day- she is mostly babbling in Mandarin- but says a few words like hello, bye bye, apple, banana, Charlie and Edie. She saw a little blond white boy at the pool today and shouted "Charlie!"(it sounds like jahjee) Close enough. Everybody misses Charlie and Edie!

Overall we really can't complain about anything....except we are tired of eating out, and ready for home!