Maran's Traditional Dress is FINALLY Chosen!

Maran's Traditional Dress for her photo really had us looking.  David decided he wanted her to be in a dress and he wanted it to be blue.  No problem with me.  We have yet to find a color that this kid can't rock.  After about 7 shops we finally found it.  It was far cheaper than the other shops and three times as nice.  We still have to get a pair of traditional shoes that match. We also found many pairs of shoes there for only $5.00.  YES, $5.00.  They were even wide enough to fit her foot.  Shoes have been a big issue for us.  We finally got her to take off her sandals on GOTCHA DAY and have them hidden deep in a suitcase.  Now we need to get her out of the SQUEAKY shoes (original pair we bought).   How something can be so cute and annoying is beyond me (I know I have said that before).  You just have to do it though.  We got a few pairs in larger sizes too. (Squeakies ALREADY removed). No luck in getting her in the US shoes we brought.  Far too small and too confining.  We don't think that her feet hurt her but it hurts us to put shoes on her. We found many trinkets at this store and many future gifts for our little porcelain doll. Bartering here is funner than finding cool junk.  David and I have that system down. 

The GIGGLING LAUGHING girl will NOT nap today and she and Daddy have gone to buy Luke (She calls him Luca) a remote control plane.  Something tells me this is truly for daddy but hey... Boys and their toys! Maran has been a clown all day.  She is quite funny and a character.  She can be so silly (just like me).  She has been FULL THROTTLE wide open the last few hours.  I really think she has a cute personality.  It showed when we were at the orphanage and her BFF Alice got her going.  The two of them together was heaven.  I can see them experiencing a lot of life together.  Their hidden secrets will always be theirs.  I feel better today about leaving Alice. I know she is well cared for but I just wanted her to be hugged and loved.  The affection here exists it is just different than what we are used to.  I told the orphanage director that we would take all the children and I would make sure Alice got to her parents and that the other girl did too.  They laughed at me.  I can't stop thinking of the little boy.  We will e-mail them when we get home and tell them to let us know if his mother decides to give him up.  He has a place in my heart and will always be in it. Enough of that.  

We skyped with Luke this morning and he was so cute.  We can say how handsome and beautiful our children are because 1 -- it's true and 2 -- people don't think that you are totally conceded.  We are so anxious to get home.  We wish that we could change our travel plans to leave early but the flights are so booked due to the trade fairs here, the Asian games starting soon and the huge Golf Tournament that starts next week.  Also, Mickey is waiting for one pretty little girl to arrive next weekend and we can't take that away from her. (She really doesn't know who Mickey and Minnie are but that's soon to change).

Daddy is in heaven.  If he had Luke here then he would really be in FULL heaven.  I knew that a little girl would melt him but didn't know it would be like this.  Believe me, this child has it made.  She will get anything she wants as I am sure most little girls do.  She deserves it.  He is already protective and can't wait for her hair to grow.  He  prefers her in dresses and will not let my tomboy ways rub off on her.  He loves it when the people on the streets stop us to rub her face.  He just gloats.  Such a proud pappa! She calls him BA BA and will run to him.  Today she finally said Ma Ma when she was waving bye to me.  Unlike Luke, she loves to go with either of us and so far has no separation issues.  Luke is quite the opposite (a problem created by us because we have spoiled him rotten). As older parents we admit what we have done wrong and it is easy to do so.....however, we wouldn't do it any different. 

Last night we spent the evening with the Johnson's and their newly adopted daughter Emma.  What a beautiful family.  I admire them and adore them.  They have such open hearts and want nothing more than to give their love.  They are truly inspiring.  We hope their travels home today to Georgia are without any great adventures.  Heaven knows adventure free traveling is NOT OVERRATED!

Tonight is dinner with our guide and the Jensen's. We are looking forward to some Chinese food that we truly know what it is.  (NO FURTHER DETAILS NEEDED THERE). 

 Maran's first STARBUCKS.  ICED LEMON TEA.  Daddy made us drink it super fast before the ice melted.  That was not a problem for us. First on the list when we get to SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT?  A large Diet Coke with Ice! 

 Scorpions... also tonight's soup. Thankfully we will NOT be consuming them. 

 Frogs.  They are going to be soup later.  They are truly on the street as you see. 

 Can we say again how much we love our new room?  The Holiday Inn is the best and the bed is not the softest but much better than the slabs at our last joint.  Come to China... go to Holiday Inn. 

 Maran and her buddy Emma.  Emma will live in Georgia.  They laughed for a long time while looking at the pictures on Daddy's cell phone. Marn LOVED it when she got to one of Luke and would say "LUCA".   We indeed apologize to those who got the 5 am wake up calls.  They were sent with lots of love from two frolicky little girls!

 Just a few of the things that we got today while shopping.  Ok my friends don't zoom in too close becuase I was smart and didn't put all your gifts in the picture so don't waste your time! We found a COOL THOMAS THE TANK Jacket for Snickerdoodle Luke.  Also some nice Burberry outfits for Thanksgiving. 

We clearly went against the norm by not choosing the Dragonfly dress.  Daddy chose the flower dress and it turns out that it is the Traditional Dress from Maran's province -- Guangdong (There are I think 32 provinces here --don't quote me on that). NO BUGS ON HIS DAUGTHERS DRESS!  (sorry I am not savvy enough to figure out how to rotate the picture).