Thursday and Friday- Wu Zhen Water town & Flying to Guangzhou

On Thursday we opted to add another excursion with our guide to a water town not too far from Hangzhou.  We should of known that it would also be touristy, but to me at least it was still a small surprise! The water town was beautiful- apparently there are quite a few water towns around Hangzhou and Shanghai, and they are very popular with tourists, but I believe our tour guide told us that this was one of the most popular ones.  It was quite beautiful, and interesting that quite a few people lived in houses that were right on the main walkway where tourists trampled through day after day, looking in windows and doorways.  Jessica suggested that maybe some of them have just has much interest to look at the people on the outside, as the people on the outside do looking at those on the inside!

As we walked in we saw a man doing a form of kung fu on a high bamboo pole- it was a surprise and very lucky indeed as they do it only twice a day, so we came at just the right time!  We tried some Hangzhou specialty rice treats with a bit of red bean inside- Maddie was very excited to taste it and had a few bites, then passed it over...then she thought better of it and wanted it back and I think she ate nearly the whole thing!  they wrapped it in edible rice paper, so she did not want to eat the paper, but she did like the treat in the end.  Violet liked it although she only had a few small bites- but Violet seems to like nearly anything, except perhaps plain congee!

We had some simple but very tasty noodles in the water town, and Maddie loved the broth.  She ate quite a few noodles, but drank nearly all of a big bowl of broth!  Violet likes noodles, but this was not an 'eating' meal for her.  The super calm and quiet girl that we saw on the first day is definitely coming out of her shell. I might say, "the other shoe has dropped."  She is definitely starting to greive, and it's sad to see, but it's usually followed by cuddling in very close with me, which is also good.  She is quickly becoming a Mama's girl, but she adores her Baba too.  If he comes out of the restroom she will shriek BABA! and go running towards him!  We have had a couple of "non eating meals" where she just does not want to eat much of anything. I think it's a bit of greiving because it's just "not right"- same with the bottle.  We went to several stores and finally found the Yi Li formula that she had been on in the orphanage, but she still will not take it, even though she screams and cries for her bottle.  When we went in one store looking for it and she saw bottles on the shelves, (I had her in the ergo) she started screaming and kicking and hitting and scratching trying to get to the bottles.  She just wanted it THAT bad, but then we get it to her, and she does not want it.  It's a mystery and we have tried all temperatures, 3 different bottles, various nipples, more open holes (cut them larger), letting her hold it, holding her for it, etc.  Nothing seems to work at this point.  Jessica called the assistant director 3 separate times asking for any more possible clarification (temperature? Any special bottle, etc)- but basically nothing more than what we already knew.

She is doing a lot of hitting and throwing things, but in just 4 days she has learned "gentle touch"- when she pulls her arm back to hit we say it and she usually will stop and softly pet her face or one of us and smile, really proud she knows what to do.  Or, if we don't get her to stop in time before hitting, she will do it after and we give her lots of praise.  Maddie unfortunately has really been taking the brunt of her abuse- she is not as quick so if something is picked up and thrown, it often gets her if she is in the vicinity  She has gotten hit and kicked quite a lot.  But the jealousy we saw in the first few days is amazingly less already. We really are just astounded and amazed and so proud of her- she just lets it roll off her or she will move away- I think she sees us acting on it and we have talked about how we need to set the example for Violet of how we behave in our family.  We could not be more proud of our big girl! Yesterday she hit Maddie and I instantly took her hand and said "gentle touch" and she pulled her hand away and started softly petting her face then petting Maddie- Maddie was SO excited she ran to tell Jeremy saying "Baba!  Violet hit me, then we told her gentle touch and she did it!!!"

It's amazing to see how well she is handling it.  There is definitely still jealousy, but not nearly on the scale it was in the first few days.  We are making sure that she is getting some "big sister priveledges" as we talk to her also about the "big sister responsibilities" (of being the bigger person when your baby sister hits you and helping her to learn...).  It's definitely helping.

Violet at the same time is definitely coming out as more of the girl that we know she is.  She is quiet in the mornings, and when not overstimulated, but has a wonderful sense of humor and absolutely shrieks with happiness when she is having fun.  Her shriek can probably be heard in the next town over!  She has a beautiful smile and Maddie is really starting to genuinely enjoy her sister- she is so excited every morning when she wakes up she says "is my Baby up yet?  Is Violet awake?" and wants to wake her up to play with her.

On friday we visited a temple in Hangzhou (pictures to come tomorrow perhaps) and flew in the evening to Guangzhou.  After checking with our hotel before booking whether they had a baby bed, we arrived at 11 pm and they told us, "no, we don't have a baby bed..."  There was a big discussion and we just finally decided we'd just have Violet sleep in our bed and Maddie would have her same bed on the floor that she loves in hotels. 

Will update more with pictures of the Temple in Hangzhou, and our Saturday outing in Guangzhou!