TheJoysofLife: What Are You Looking At???

...So we are all in the same hall at the hotel. So when we are awake and ready to play, we open our doors. Everyone congregates in the hall. The kids run around and the parents can talk. It's also 20 degrees cooler in the hall. So I sat outside our room waiting for her to wake up. ....So eventually she woke up from her nap and guess what? It was just me! She got fussy and nervous but she didn't cry-initially. I played a little video of Jesus Loves Me-I found it a few days ago and she loved it so that's what I started with- I pulled out some hello kitty stickers and she pointed to one cheek. I put a sticker on one cheek then she pointed to the other cheek. Then she was done with me so I took my place back into the hall. Every few minutes she would look over the bed to see if I was still there but she didn't want me near her. Next time I walked into the room she was covered in stickers. I yelled for April to come take a pic. Then she was ready for me to leave the room again. Steve was gone a long time bc after walmart the guys went to pick up dinner. She eventually had had it and so she just stood at the door and cried. When I listen to some of the other babies crying, I can here that cry of someone who is heartbroken and grieving. Now that is awful to witness, even though I know it is necessary. We haven't experienced that yet but we know it's coming- it's essential for her to grieve and so we are praying it happens sooner rather than later on down the road. So it took us till 11 to wind down. She was running laps in the room. Acting silly and playing with daddy. In China, mama and baba are what people say for mom and dad. And many of adoptive parents will introduce themselves as mama and baba. However, she HAD a mama and baba in her foster home so we are calling each other mommy and daddy. She's older and we didn't want to add to her confusion especially when she looks at me as if to say "lady, you ain't my mama or mommy or anything else for that matter!" Well, once we got to sleep, we slept all night, till 7. All glory to God for another restful night. This morning when Steve was in the bathroom, she actually sat on the bed with me in the room as opposed to her standing outside the bathroom door. Baby steps. She wouldn't eat breakfast bc she wanted to go outside, so Steve scarfed down breakfast and off they went. Of course HE will be the one who loses weight on this trip! We all met up after breakfast and headed to the zoo. We had the option of going to see where Kung Fu originated but that was a nine hour all day trip and none of us could handle it. The zoo was fun and she loved it. She loves anything outside! As of now, we are calling her various names. Qian Ai (pronounced chin eye) her chinese name. Qian Ai-Le ( we are slowly trying to incorporate her new name with her given name). And Steve will say Ai-Le Kate as well. We also call her baby girl. Steve has always called me baby and baby doll, however, he has called her that a few times and looked up at me and said "whoops!" I told her today he was mine first-ha! So when we get to the zoo, several buses of school children were there. We already feel like semi-celebtrities. This was an entirely different level. We were all practically mobbed. They wanted pictures of us and with us. I think their field trip changed from animal watching to American watching. They all said "hello" and a few said in very clear English "nice to meet you" so I guess they learn that in school.