Saturday, December 1, 2012
DAY SIX (LESSON FROM DADDY DAY) WITH OUR DAUGHTER

Today was another wonderful time spent together. Mei-Li woke up on her own about 0715 with a smile on her face (day 2 with the morning starting with a smile). I was still getting things ready when she woke up. So, daddy sprang into action. He played with her and watched a video on the iPad was ready for her just has she started to get “antsy”. After a diaper change and bottle feeding it was once again playtime. Mommy and Mei-Li played with blocks and markers while Daddy got dressed for breakfast.

At breakfast, Mei-Li sat in her highchair (hurrah!). She would not eat any congee. However she loves eating solid “big peoples food”. She ate eggs, potatoes, fried rice, she absolutely loves the rice and daddy says good rice is cheap:), sautéed Chinese vegetables and few Chinese crackers. She definitely loves her food or I should say she loves what mommy and daddy are eating!

Maybe this means Mommy will not have to learn how to cook congee! In my mind, that great news, as it has no taste at all. I will have to learn how to cook Chinese vegetables and fried rice…or we will order take out:).

At breakfast this morning, there appeared to be many, many more families with adopted children. We meet another little (20 month old) girl named Mae-Lee. Her mommy explained that she has one kidney and intestinal issues. She is doing much better (see the picture of her posted). We also meet another family that adopted an albino baby. It was very obvious that had a rough night, after a rough three hour plane ride. We were able to introduce this family to Naomi’s family. They were able to talk about the chances they had and what they seem in their children as a result of the treatment the Chinese orphanages give these children, or should I say the lack of care provided to these precious little children God created. Please let me again, ask for your prayers for Naomi, this new little one we meet today and all the other albino babies in China.

After breakfast, Daddy went back to the room to finish getting ready, while Mommy and Mei-Li went for a morning walk. It was a beautiful morning for a walk. The hotel is on an Island off the Pearl River in the historical section of Guangzhou, Guangdong. Mei-Li loves riding in the stroller taking in all the sights and sounds around her. Just around the corner, there is a park. We stopped to see a group of Chinese women do their morning exercises. What an opportunity to get the chance to see a little of Chinese culture and fitness programs. One our way back, we stopped at Starbucks…once again Chinese cultureJ. This stop was a win-win, Mommy got a coffee and Mei-Li got a wooden stir stick. Both of us were smiling on our way back to the Hotel:).

We meet Michael in the lobby at 10AM and headed to the medical center for our follow up appointment. Wow, we walked in to the medical facility, and it was packed with newly arriving adopted families waiting for their initial medical screening. Michael explained that these families just arrived the night before from the different providences around China. Since we are adopting from Guangzhou we were able get our medical screening done on Thursday with little or no lines. What a blessing! We walked straight to the vaccination office to for the TB reading. As soon as we walked in the office, Mei-Li started crying. She remembered, and thought she was going to get another shot. I would suspect she will not like the Patch clinic as we will need to get her started completing all immunization requirements as soon as we get back to Germany. Anyway, we will handle that when we return. The good news is that we walked right in vaccination office and within 30 seconds we were walking out. As soon as we walked out office, the crying stopped, results of the test showed no TBJ !!!

By noon, we were back at the hotel. The plan was to feed Mei-Li and put her right down for a nap. However this was altered, as we had to change hotel rooms. So, the nap time got delayed until 1330 (1:30pm). I say all that because going down for a nap was not as peaceful as yesterday. It was not bad as Thursday but she did cry for about 15 minutes before falling asleep. Daddy says, it because Mommy needs to learn the sleep-time touch Daddy has. Mommy says okay, but thinks her crying is partly due to the delay in naptime and her being overly tired. In any case, Mommy is willing to learn from Daddy. However, this may just be a special touch that Daddy can only provide. I think Fel has his father’s touch. Yei Yei, (Chinese word for paternal grandfather or Fel’s dad) had the ability to get any of his grandkids to sleep in a calm and smoothing way a coveted Procaccio male gift! If we could bottle it, we would all be rich! So todays parenting lesson is for Mommy only:

(16) Learn Daddy’s naptime/bedtime techniques

Mei-Li woke up with smiles around 1700 (5pm). After a yogurt snack and diaper change, it was once again family playtime. We played for two hours and give Mei-Li her night bottle. Then play another hour and half. The bond between Fel and Mei-Li is getting stronger each day with every playtime, bedtime and feeding time. Mei-Li loves playing with Daddy on the floor and in bed at bedtime. It’s the most beautiful thing to watch the special father-daughter bond developing right before your eyes. It reminds me of my special bond with my dad. Even though the years past and I no longer get to make coffee for my dad or spend time playing with him, I often think of these times and know my daddy loves me. Now, I get the opportunity to watch my daughter begin this special bond with daddy that can never be broken by anyone or taken away by time or distance. Yes, mommy bond never goes away, but it’s different, we love to shop, cook, get our hair and nails done – just as special but different. I can see these different types of bonding begin to develop between us and Mei-Li. Yes, there are differences but differences are very important and will last her whole life!

Around 2030 (8:30pm), we went out for a short stoker walk. It was raining so hard we decided to walk back in forward in front of the hotel. Mei-Li started the walk pushing the stoker daddy says she is definitely clever and wants to be in control. A couple of laps later, she wanted to ride.

After the walk, it was time for dinner and getting ready for bed. Tonight’s dinner was Chinese soup with chicken and noodles with banana for desert. Check out the picture of Mei-Li eating noodles. She loves noodles. I would suspect she is going to love pasta! This will be music to Nonna Procaccio’s ears, you know every Italian grandma loves feeding her grandkids pasta!

After dinner, it was bath time. Mei-Li does not like the bath. Next bath, I think I will take a bath with her to see if this will help. It anyone has any suggestions, please send them. She calms down right after the bath is complete and returns to all smiles. With bath done, teeth brushed, hair dry, it was time for bed. Daddy took charge! Yes, the bedtime when smoothly. Teletubbies video and light playing with daddy in bed quickly put mommy and Mei-Li right to sleep. :)

Tomorrow is an off day, so we are heading to the Safari Zoo! Lions, White Tigers and Panda Bears….oh my! Let’s pray the weather cooperate. God is good!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."” ~Romans 8:14-16