We had a great day! We got to take a dinner cruise down the pearl river. Liam loved being on the boat and seeing all the lights of the city. He's getting along great with the other two girls and the two older kids that came along. He'll love his brothers and sister, I am sure! We have an early day at the US consulate tomorrow, so good night to all. Love, Erin

Liam with new friends on the famous red couch at the White Swan.


Mom and Liam at White Swan Hotel.


Peanut Butter Boy

Day ? in gz

I don't even know what day we are on. We are having a very nice time here in gz, but we are sooo ready to be home! Liam is being social with the little girls in our group. We've even given them name signs. He seems to understand turn-taking and sharing. Today he got a haircut which he was not happy about at all! We went sightseeing at the location of the 2010 Asia games. It was like an Olympic village. After that we went to a park. We came across an area that had about ten groups of four senior adults playing hackysack! Our group, including Liam joined in. It was great fun! A little bit further we came across an open area where people were swing dancing! We joined in with that as well! We have a fun group of families. Tomorrow is part two of the medical check ups, shopping, and a river cruise. A few people have asked about the Japan situation. We are not in any danger at all. They say shockwaves were felt all the way in shanghai on friday, but we were already in the air when it hit. We are watching the news reports on our version of CNN, and our prayers are with the Japanese people. We miss you all!

King of the playroom castle.


Bedtime hanging out with baba and watching his movie on the iPad.

Day 1 in gz

We love this place! We have many of the comforts of home right here by our hotel. Of course the three best comforts (Jaci, Colin, and Aidan) are greatly missed! Liam showed us his first tears today at the medical clinic. He was so scared it just broke our hearts. The best part was that he let us comfort him. After the clinic, we got to walk around Shamian Island where we stayed last time we were here. We ate lunch at Lucy's which is an American food restaurant near the White Swan hotel. We looked everywhere for the artist who painted Jaci's portrait, but he is gone. We found a different place and got the ball rolling on an oil painting of Liam. We get it on Tuesday. We got to meet the other families in our travel group today with their new little girls. They are all very nice. Tomorrow is another sightseeing day and more paperwork.

Liam is a ball. He is signing a little bit more. He can now sign potty instead of grabbing himself. He is great about going to sleep at night. He can sign amen after our prayer at night. : ) He signs eat and drink and please and thank you. He also signs full when he's had enough to eat. He will mimic signs I say to him, but there are only a few that he does truly spontaneously. We love him and know that his friends and family back home will too.

Erin, Jay, and Liam


This was so funny to us! It is the first time Liam spontaneously signed "full"!


Bath time with baba



Monkey boy



Chopstick master

We are in Guangzhou!

After a long day, we made it to our hotel in gz. Liam wasn't sure what to think, so his "little bit naughty" came out. He pushed buttons all day (literally and figuratively)! He is sitting in my lap now eating my m and ms instead of his dried fruit. Can you blame him, really? Our hotel is gorgeous! It is in the heart of a shopping/restaurant area, so we shouldn't have to get a cab for much of anything. We will meet two other families from our agency tomorrow. We look forward to that.
More about Liam: when he is happy he has the cutest little giggle. He is getting a little bit better about looking at you when you have something to tell him. When he is in trouble, he shuts his eyes so he cannot hear or see you. He is showing a little more affection towards us. He will give a pseudo kiss on the cheek when we ask for one (no smack). He still wants to be carried everywhere, but he will walk or run around when he is in a familiar environment.
I will update more tomorrow. Free wifi in the hotel!
Love Erin

Hotel in Guangzhou.


Signing Airplane in the Airport


Liam nervous about the plane ride.

Day ???

Erin sent these this afternoon (Friday morning in China). My best guess is they are from Thursday when they took a tour of the city of Shanghai.

Liam signing car and gum, watching cars out the window, his favorite hobby!

Days 3 and 4 with Liam

Sorry we didn't get to post anything yesterday. You might say we were the accidental tourists! Our plan was to take a cab to a shopping area close to our little coffee house and then walk to the coffee house and back to the hotel. Our cab driver took us to a totally different part of shanghai for new York style times square shopping. It was really awesome, but there was no place to log in and post.
Liam is doing great! He is signing more and more. Yesterday we went to the zoo and he and jay learned a lot of new animal signs. He is so active that we have to take turns getting any kind of rest. (Allison, get ready!) He loves being carried everywhere! he is a little heavier than Jaci in a smaller body. At the risk of spoiling him, we are giving inane carrying him whenever he wants us to. It is a good sign that he is comfortable enough with us. He is showing more comfort in his surroundings. He even went right to sleep last night without a fuss.
Today we visited the famous yu gardens and the bund. The bund is an area where you can see the famous skyline of shanghai over the river. I got some great pics that I will have to share once we get home. Colin: I made a new flat Stanley and took him to those places today.
Liam is getting pretty restless, so I will have to cut it short for tonight. We may not get to post tomorrow because we are flying to Guangzhou for the second part of our trip. I will seek out a new little coffee house as soon as I get there. Thanks for all the comments! Love you all! Jay Erin and Liam

Day 3

Signing camera in the hotel lobby.



At the Shanghai Zoo.



Signing I love you.