Last full day in China

Today is our last full day in China.  Tomorrow we are scheduled to leave the hotel at 1:00 pm for the airport!  It was a free day today as we waited for our visas to be issued.  It was scheduled to be done at 3:00 pm and our guide Kelly will be picking it up and delivering it to us.

Today Lauren sat in the high chair!!!  There were some protests from her, some louder than others, but nevertheless she sat in the high chair.  We did not put the table top on the high chair as I think it makes her feel too confined.  I met a woman in the lobby who volunteers at the orphanages and she said that sometimes the  high chair or stroller makes the babies feel too confined.  She said that often, kids are fed while laying down.  This is so that they don't have to be chased around.  I did see this at Lauren's orphanage.  The good thing is that during the week the hotel puts all the adoptive families in a separate room for breakfast so that they can accommodate the business travelers in the main dining room.  In this room, I felt more comfortable in letting Lauren make loud protests since all the families understand that each of us are dealing with different issues with the kids.  I think her protest was a combination of not wanting to sit in the chair and being hungry.  Good thing Dad came fast with the plate of food and bacon distracted her.  She loves, loves, loves bacon!  I think it is the saltiness.  She sucks on the bacon and takes little bites.  I hope she doesn't think she is going to get bacon everyday at home!  She has also progressed from me feeding her the fruit pouches with a spoon to her sucking directly from the pouch.  Although I have to watch her as she can get overly eager and squeeze too hard.

Yuexiu Park is located across the street from the hotel, we just have to cross underground through the metro station since it is across a major street.  It is a beautiful park.  Very serene and lots of trees and greenery everywhere.  There is also a small amusement park inside the park.  Lauren was very observant watching everything and taking it all in. The weather was great.  Much cooler and breezy since it had rained yesterday. 

From there we went back to the hotel thinking that Lauren would go down for a nap.  But she decided that today was a no nap day.  So we headed to the playground.  Lauren tried to keep up with some big kids, but mostly she continued her exploration of climbing on a rock structure.

For dinner we went back to the noodle place around the corner from the hotel. Our guide helped us out by writing on a sheet of paper what we wanted so that we could just hand it over to the waiter.  But since someone did not have a nap, Lauren feel asleep while we were walking there.  So she missed dinner entirely.  Too bad because she loves noodles and we went there for her.  Oh well, at least Dad and I could eat our dinner in peace while she continued sleeping through it all.

Our order cheat-cheat

Street noodles, dumplings, and veggies.  Yum!

One more sleep to go before we head home!