Thoughts from Nanchang. From Kori.

The boys just left to have some big boy fun. They have been cooped up in the hotel room doing baby things for several days now, so I took them to the play room at the hotel so they could wrestle and throw balls and run around and now John is taking them out to see the city lights on the 20th floor and to a nearby coffee shop for a drink and card game. Xiu Dan is asleep. She ran around with us today and didn't get all of her afternoon nap so she was tired. I thought I would write some of my thoughts from Nanchang.

When I think of Nanchang I think of the worst sore throat I have ever had and of my daughter. Both very memorable. The sore throat felt like knives stabbing my throat repeatedly every time I swallowed or even breathed. I could not eat much and drinking even water hurt. I was taking an antibiotic in case it was strep and all the Motrin I was allowed. But after 5 days it has finally subsided. It is just a little sore now and I have a runny nose but I am feeling much better. 

All that clouded the first few days with Xiu Dan. She was definitely very bonded to her foster mother for the first 6 months of her life and then her nanny and the orphanage director for the last 5 months. She grieved and grieved. It was terrible. She would push me away and cry whenever I got near. I had visions of her never letting me close, now being sick did not help the emotions either. But after 3 days she finally began to bond to me too. Now she wants both me and John the same. She is so much happier now too. 

It is really neat to see her personality begin to come out. She is silly. She likes to make faces, stick her tongue out, and make noises like vibrating her lips or clucking her tongue. She loves to play. We brought these stacking cups and she loves them. She bangs them, puts them inside each other, and stacks them up. She sits in one place to play. My boys were always on the move. They never sat still for more than 2 minutes at a time and always needed a new activity. She is quite content to sit and play with the same toy for 30 minutes or so with very little interaction from anyone. She loves her brothers. She just sits and watches them. She waves her arms at them and kisses them. They have been so sweet with her too. They play with her and get her to laugh. She loves to cuddle. She always wants to be close to us. She loves to have us hold her and she hugs and kisses so much. She really seems to enjoy the hip carrier we have too. She likes how close it holds her to us. She loves her blanket. She is a girl after my own heart. She likes to rub her blanket up to her lips and mouth. Some times she sucks on it and other times she just rubs it on her mouth. I used to do this when I was little. She is happy. She always has a smile. She is stubborn. She wants what she wants and she wants it NOW! But that is being a baby. She is verbal. She loves to make sounds. She says ma ma and da da and ba and ak and nnn and aaaaaaa. Not really to or about anyone but it is a start. She loves the water. Baths are so much fun for her. We haven't done the pool yet (the one here is not heated and even Chien says it is cold) but I am sure she will love it. She loves to look at her self in the mirror (she makes faces). She loves looking at the computer. She is a very deep sleeper. Once she is asleep she can sleep through anything. I am in love with her.

My boys are wonderful. They have worked so hard on school work lately. They are more helpful with Xiu Dan than I thought they would be. They love to hold her and get things for her. They truly love her and feel that she is an important part of our family. They could do without all the crying, though. So many people have commented at how great the boys are and how well behaved they are. They have been very flexible and willing to go everywhere we have had to go and do all the boring things.They are enjoying seeing all the new things and experiencing China. They haven't complained once. They are so fun to be around. I love them so very much. They are the best boys in the world.

My husband is wonderful. He is the best dad ever. He loves to play with the boys and with Xiu Dan. He loves to experience new things with them. He loves to talk with them. He loves to dream with them. He changes diapers (more than I have). He will bathe the kids. He will hold them and ease their fears. He will wrestle with them. He will read to them and put them to bed. He is silly with them. He loves them so much.

Tomorrow is mother's day. My first with 3 kids. the best 3 kids in the world. I am getting tea in bed and a mango drink at a cafe later in the day. Who could ask for anything more?