Medical Exam

Let me just start off by saying ...anyone looking for a place to stay in Guangzhou I highly recommend the China Hotel. In spite of the bed mix up, they're absolutely wonderful. We've stayed in "5 star hotels" in 3 different cities in China now and so far the others don't hold a candle to this one.

The beds are so incredibly comfortable. In Beijing they were rock hard. Literally. When you put your knee on the bed, you expect it to give. You know..sink down in it some. Nope. It was like putting your knee on a park bench. Horrible.

The breakfast buffet here is outstanding. A big variety of both western and Chinese foods. The fresh pineapple this morning was to die for. Plus there's a McDonald's across the driveway, a Starbucks inside the hotel and a 7-11 out the side door.

A lot of people make a big deal about staying "on the island". But really...it's no big deal. There's a taxi stand right outside the lobby with taxis continuously arriving. A quick 10 minute ride and $17 yuan (less than $3 USD) and you're on the island. Super easy.

Yesterday we left early for Shamian Island to have our medical exams and take the babies visa photos. My supermodel baby took a gorgeous pic. I'll have to post it when we get her visa.  

Over the last 5 years of waiting, I've seen so many other people with these same photos in this same building. It was surreal to be standing there myself. It was like an oven inside. The temps have been 95 degrees during the day. And the humidity...whew! I thought Florida was humid. This is way way way worse.

Mia was talking to her big sister Eliza and her mommy, Robin. I say "big" because Eliza's a few weeks older than Mia. But look at that size difference. LOL!

Mia likes to suck her thumb and since she's teething she's been really gnawing on anything she can get in her mouth..including her hand.

She was in a happy mood to start the day but that quickly changed once she got a look at the Chinese nurses in their white lab coats and surgical masks. Her bottom lip started to quiver, big crocodile tears formed and the wailing started. She was terrified.

I should've listened to those measurements when I got my update after the referral. I found it so hard to believe that a 7 month old baby could be 22 lbs. I was wrong. In fact, she's actually 10.26 kg now. Which is almost 23 lbs!! Our guide said the nurses kept saying "That's a HUGE baby." LOL! 

When reading through her journal book, I found her foster mother overfed her. Which I appreciate considering the opposite could've happened. Especially considering she had 2 other babies the same age in the household, too. But she was giving her 4 ten ounce bottles of formula AND rice a day. Which explains her Buddha belly and chunky thighs. Needless to say, I'll be pulling her 18 mth clothes out when I get home.

Part of why she was so pissed off was because the exam happened during bottle time. She's very scheduled and will let you know (loudly) that she expects to be fed every 4 hours. Like clockwork.

After the exam, we walked around the island and did a little bit of shopping. These two are Mimi and Bethany. They're 2 years apart in age but it doesn't seem to matter. The third BFF is Grace but she wasn't with us this morning.

This bronze statue represents the evolution of the Chinese woman. 

The island is beautiful. Looks a lot like New Orleans or Savannah, Georgia.

That evening we took a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this girl.