Another busy day

Today started off with a big late breakfast for us. Ben was busy munching WHOLE pieces of roasted garlic (I kid you not!) while our guide Kelly was busy processing our paperwork at the US Consulate. We got the call at 11:00 that everything was A-OK and we were off to sightseeing.

Our first stop was the Six Banyan Tree Temple. It is one of the oldest buildings in Guangzhou and it a working temple- where monks live and pray- instead of just a tourist attraction. We used to enjoy visiting the old churches in Europe and this was a similar experience. Our guide arranged for the monks at the temple to give Ben a blessing. We think it was a wonderful send-off for him as he leaves one culture to join another. There was a group of tourists from Germany there during the blessing and, let's just say, Ben is going to be in ALOT of German holiday pictures!!!

After the temple we visited a street of small antique shops. It was really cool to look at all the stuff, trying to figure out what was fake and what was legit. There was a plate I really liked but they wanted too much for it and they didn't seem to want to deal with a foreigner so we just let it go.

We came back to near the hotel and we had coffee at what I have decided is the most awesome Starbucks in the world! It is great to drink your coffee outside on the quiet tree-lined street watching the world go by. When we were walking around town after that we spotted the traditional Chinese medicine and massage place that our guide had told us about. Jay and Ben left me there for a whole 70 minutes so I could experience Chinese torture... er, I mean... massage! It was quite relaxing but I am pretty sore now. He either put my spine back together or tore it apart- it is hard to say!

We were pleased tonight to meet up again with our friends Pam and Scott who were were in Shanxi with. We were able to take the famous Red Couch Photos at the White Swam Hotel with their son Evin. Ben and Evin looked so cute in their little outfits (although Ben's was a size 6- NEVER let the father go shopping by himself!!!) We had dinner at that same outdoor restaurant that we ate at last night and then we went walking, talking, and shopping until late. We bought some fingerpaintings done by an artist near our hotel. These fingerpaintings are not what you find in kindergarten! They are beautiful, exquisite paintings done completely without a brush. It is incredible to watch them being made. We had the artist paint the kids names into the paintings so they are very special to us.

Ben is still doing very well. He is a really happy baby and he is very adaptable. He is starting to be a better eater, as long as we don't show him any bread. As soon as bread becomes available, nothing else will be consumed! He loves to play with Jay and they have a game where Jay jumps onto the bed and Ben kind of flops around. Jay and the 2 year old really do have alot of similarities! Ben is growing and learning more everyday and it has been a joy to watch him experience so many new things. He has become a very good walker (if you hold his hand) and I think that walking without hand-holding may be just days away. This is all from a kid who just 1 week ago was not even beginning to walk (and, we were told, might never walk). In some ways it seems that the last week has just flown by but in other ways it seems like Ben has been with us forever. It is really great that we both have this time, away from other distractions, that we can devote entirely to him. It is like the time that we spent with the other 2 while they were in the hospital only we are not in the hospital! It is way more fun this way!!!

Tomorrow we will go to the US Consulate for the "oath" ceremony. This used to be called the swearing ceremony so Jay and I are putting together a list of good words just in case we are required to ceremoniously curse :) Then we depart Guangzhou and head for Beijing. After being here in the beautiful weather of La La Land, I am afraid that Beijing will be a shock for all of us! It seems crazy that in a little more than 24 hours we will be on our way to the Great Wall!