Another Update!

So, nap time again, and I'm writing again! That's two days in a row that Heath successfully got Jesse to sleep. I knew I married a hero! =) Tabitha goes to sleep very easily, never fusses about it, just drinks her water and goes right to sleep.

Yesterday after the kids finally woke up from their naps, we went to dinner. We'd had our guide write down a restaurant for us, and the dish that a friend had recommended to us (Da Pan Ji). We ordered it, but either we didn't communicate with our guide well, the restaurant didn't do what she wrote down, or we don't know what spicy really means. We thought we'd asked for the non-spicy version, but man oh man was it hot! The dish is little pieces of chicken (still on the bone, also including the neck and the feet), with potatoes and green peppers on noodles. It tasted very good, but it burned our mouths! The boys wouldn't touch it after the first bite, and well-rested Jesse resorted to crying through the rest of the meal that he wanted something else to eat. He also dropped his ceramic spoon on the floor and broke it, which happened at the only other dinner he was awake for too! Maybe it's better to just keep having him sleep through dinner! Anyway, we did get some plain rice which helped a little, but afterward felt compelled to get ice cream for the poor starved children. :) Tabitha, on the other hand, kept taking more and more noodles, which were the spiciest part. I guess she's used to spicy food--she didn't make a face or anything! Heath liked the food too, and Amy and Mom were OK with it. I liked the chicken and potatoes, but I needed the relief of ice cream as much as the kids.

After that we just came back to the hotel until bedtime. This was the longest night of sleep yet--we made it until almost 6:00 am! But Tabitha woke up at midnight. She scared us because she just yelled out like she was scared or angry--she must've been dreaming. I picked her up, but then she wanted Heath, but then she wanted me again. She said "mama" a few times, but she was obviously not talking about me. I think she wanted her nanny from the orphanage. She did let us comfort her though, and went back to sleep. Jesse woke up coughing in the morning again, and needed the nebulizer, but he's been doing much better the past day or so. I'm so glad I packed that nebulizer last minute! We've used it every night for him. I think the smog and cigarette smoke make everything worse for him. But he does seem almost better.

Today was a free day with nothing official on the schedule. So this morning we went for a walk to the Great Mosque. If I understood our guide right yesterday when she was telling us about it, it's the only Muslim mosque built in Chinese style in the world. It was very beautiful with lots of gardens to walk through. Very peaceful. We didn't see any Muslims at prayer or anything, but it was interesting nonetheless. Walking through the Muslim market was neat too. It reminded me a lot of being in Israel, except the people and everything they were selling was Chinese (if that makes any sense). We managed to avoid being run over by several carts, bicycles, scooters, and cars, but not by much. Mom and I have both been nudged--me by a scooter and her by a car. Crossing the street is quite the thrill here! Come to think of it, even walking on the sidewalk you have to watch out for cars. If they can even come close to fitting in a space, they'll drive there. Stop lights do exist at major intersections, but I think they're considered optional.

I've been struggling with a bit of jealousy today. Like I said yesterday, Tabitha is very cuddly and loving towards all of us, but she especially likes Amy! She always wants to hold her hand, and pulls her along with her, and wants her to carry her. I can't blame her--Amy's quite the lovable person! The boys love Amy too, and when they prefer Mommom or Amy, that's fine with me because I'm assured that they know who Mommy is, and our relationship is secure. But with Tabitha, she doesn't know I'm her mommy yet. I was all prepared for if she liked Heath and not me, but for her to want someone besides the two of us--or even the 4 of us--isn't allowed! I mean we're the ones who have been waiting and planning and working and saving for her for the past few years! I think I understand a bit of God's jealous love for us. I mean, He is the perfect parent who has given up everything to have relationship with us, and how often do we prefer someone or something other than Him? But, anyway, I'm sure once we get home and established as a family and into a routine we'll become more bonded. (Fellow adoptive parents-- any advice? We've been doing all the feeding and comforting for Tabitha, but haven't prevented her from being carried by Amy or Mommom if she prefers. Do you think we need to "force" more bonding activities at this point, or just wait until we get home and life is normal, and then she'll turn to us more. I feel like we shouldn't worry about it too much at this point, but just thought I'd ask you BTDT people.)

Oh, I must say Tabitha is also getting past the compliant, quiet spirit she had when she first met us. She's turning more and more into a regular two-year-old. Walking down the street today, she didn't want the stroller, so we let her walk, but she would keep pulling away from holding hands if we wouldn't go the way she wanted. (She always wanted to go up and down steps whenever she saw them.) She kept trying to run away, would twist and squirm away if we tried to carry her, and so we had to put her in the stroller. This is the first time she actually started whining, and then crying. Heath picked her up and comforted her, and one of the ladies selling food gave her a dried fruit. After that she was fine. As much as I enjoy how "easy" she is, I guess it's healthy that she does have a bit of attitude in her. :) We bought some kind of donut thing at one of the food stands. It tasted . . . interesting. I wanted to try a burrito-looking thing, but I don't know if we'll have time to go back. This area is full of stands of dried fruit, nuts, pastry-ish things. My guess is there's some middle-eastern influence there, since it's Muslim, and that's why the food and shops reminded me of Israel. I don't actually know if that's true--just my guess.

We had lunch at the hotel, and then came back for naps. Afterward we'll go see the drum and bell tower and go back to the dumpling and dimsum restaurant for dinner. Yummy. Oh, and Heath just came back in from a walk. He found a Wal-mart, and he brought me back a Dove chocolate bar. Like I said . . . my hero. :) He also found a DQ, which we need to make sure we utilize before leaving tomorrow. You'd think a trip to China would help me lose weight with the healthier diet they eat here. But I've been eating way too much, especially at breakfast. Is Bacon every day really that bad of a habit? =)

Well, thanks for all the comments on the blog, and the thoughts and prayers. Even though I can't get on the actual blog, the comments are sent to my email address, so it's nice to know so many people are reading it and thinking about us. Hopefully I'll write more tomorrow.



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