Friday, Sept 20, 2002

This was the most incredible day of all.  We got in late at night and got to sleep late.  Hanna started to open  up and play with the other babies in the lobby while we were checking into the White Swan.  She started to smile more and seemed to be happier than any time before.

But we were not prepared for what happened when we got to our room.  On a whim I took a picture of her with the Polaroid and gave it to her and showed her how to shake it and blow on it to make it develop faster.  As the picture appeared she looked up, smiled and said, Min Min.  So I took one of Debbie and did the same routine. She looked up and smiled and said Mama.  Then  Neilson and Mimi came in and she just opened up.  Smiles and playfulness and charm just oozed out of every pore.  She charmed Debbies mom and even Neilson did not know what to think about his new little sister. 

The rest of the evening was just a blur and she got more energy and we got more tired.  We thought that someone had swapped babies on the plane. This was not the sad, depressed little girl we had been around for the last 5 days.  It was like night and day.  Wow!

Saturday, September 21, 2002

Well I thought Friday night was incredible.  Today was even more so.  Hanna (Min Min) just kept right on charming everyone all day long.  We went to a fabric mart today and everyone had a wonderful time getting bargains on fabrics of all kinds.  Debbie  bought enough to recover our rattan couches in the basement and only spent $70 US.  We priced the same fabric before at over $700.  Amazing bargains.

We went out for a traditional Chinese dinner and was it strange and fun.  They brought a big bowl of boiled snails to the table and gave each of us toothpicks to pick the little critters out of the shells.  I usually like escargot but these were just little snails like you see in the garden.  I picked out a tiny snail and put it up to Hannas mouth.  She slurped it right down and proceeded to eat about 15 more!!  I think it grossed Debbie out as she watched Hanna eat snail after snail. 

Mimi ordered a half chicken and it came with the head on the side.  That was pretty funny.  It was a good dinner and only cost $25 but it took forever to get the food and pay for it. 

After dinner we went walking on the Pearl River and looked in all the shops.  Mimi had me take a picture of her next to a big tank of sea snakes ready to be bought and cooked.  These snakes were at least 3 feet long and did not look very happy. 

I bought 2 Dove ice cream bars and made the mistake of offering Hanna bite.  That little hand snaked around the wooden stick and the next thing I knew I was holding a stuffed bear and she had my Dove bar.  Oh well, she thought it was a good trade.

After we got back to the room she really amazed me and Debbie with her antics.  We looked up and she had the phone up to her ear pushing buttons and talking away.  For all we know she called Russia.  She was just chatting away.  Then she spotted the remote control for the TV.  The next thing I knew she had turned on the TV so I showed her where the channel select button was and she was channel surfing in no time.  I muted the TV so I could talk to Debbie and she picked up the remote and unmuted the TV!  How did she figure that one out is beyond me.  

This was a totally different little girl and we were really caught up in the moment.  We lost track of time and before we knew it, it was 10pm and she was still going strong.   Laughing, giggling, smiling, running around, (talking who knows what language; this little bundle of energy was showing no signs of slowing down.  I got tired just watching her. 

Debbie finally had to say no to her picking up the coloring book and she ran around the bed, looked at us with a red face and big eyes and hit the bed 3 times as if to say, I want to play and that is how its gonna be. 

Well, Debbie just very patiently kept saying no and pretty soon the test of wills was over and she was falling asleep on Debbies shoulder with a bottle in her mouth. 

We reflected on how much she had experienced in one day and thought it must have been overwhelming.  Her little body wanted to keep going and her mind certainly wanted to keep experiencing new things but sleep had to come.

In about 5 minutes she was fast asleep and as we look at that little face so peaceful in her crib we can't help  but wonder what she is thinking.  So many changes in such a short amount of time.  So much to learn, so much to do, so much to experience. Its like she's trying to make up for lost time.  It also shows that she was well taken care of in the orphanage. 

But she does not like congee  or steamed eggs so that must have been on the orphanage menu at one time or another. 

Well, she is finally asleep, the phone is back on the hook, the TV remote is hidden away and we are pooped!  How in the world we are going to keep up with this little whirlwind is anybodys guess but it sure is fun to see all the changes and see this little one blossom into a typical little toddler.