Dinner and a Show (pt. 2)

We leave in less than 24 hours.  I did not want to go without posting a little more of our show the other night.  (James)

http://youtu.be/GlzbXtp240I

Nicholas on Playground (video)

Nicholas playing on playground in hotel:

http://youtu.be/YTHOvVroeb8

Just Killin' Time

We went to the garden/play area for the kids.  It was very hot and humid and there were mosquitoes so we didn't stay too long, but it is a nice place to hang out with the kids.  Joseph will be so excited to have someone to hang out with him at the park!

Mama's Day Out!

Yesterday James treated me to a day to myself!  I went to the Pearl Market and bought a few trinkets and then Jen, Chrisitne and I went to Shaiman Traditional Chinese Medical Center and got a 70 minute foot massage which includes a neck and back massage and she popped my spine for me!  It was great and all for a great price!  $17!  add cab fare and it came to $20!  oh, yeah, that was back on Shaiman Island so did a little more shopping!  Felt a little guilty, just a little, but Nicholas and Dad had fun hanging out.

The Medical Center's brochure says:  We Cure Your Pain and Care About the Health of Your Spondyle.   That pretty much says it all! 

Shaiman Island

We did a little shopping and had lunch at Lucy's.  It was very hot and Nicholas was crabby (hot and tired) so we cut it kinda short.  Here's a few pics.

Nicholas Hiding in Curtains

Nicholas playing sort of a peek-a-boo game he invented:

http://youtu.be/sthFcZhaQC0

Taking the Cracker Away - Explanation

James did not explain WHY I took the cracker away. 

Nicholas has decided he doesn't want to give up the cracker when he's not really hungry so he chews on it then spits it out, chews more then spits it out, chews more -- you get the picture.   Food is still an issue in the sense he wants it all the time but now does not really eat it.  and at breakfast with the buffet, he'll be eating one thing until he sees what you're having and then spits out what's in his mouth and stares at what you're having.

So taking the cracker away was not me being a mean mommy.  we just wanted to show you his temper tantrum when he doesn't get his way. 

Funny, I don't remember joseph's temper tantrums.  i remember him crying but i don't remember the full "throw myself on the floor" tantrum.  maybe he did.  who knows.  i barely remember yesterday.  When we went for the visa physical yesterday I asked Maggie our guide what day it was.  I thought it was Tuesday, but it was only Monday.

The trip so far has been great.  All the families get along great and there's lots of joking and lots of enjoying each others children.  It already seems that Nicholas has been with us forever instead of a week.

We Skyped with Joseph last night.  He's being such a good boy for the family back home and he was very excited to see Nicholas.  I can hardly wait for those two to meet! 

Everyone, today is the day for mommy --- SHOPPING! 

oh, speaking of shopping, james went shopping yesterday and bought some little outfits for nicholas and some shoes.  nicholas was sleeping and i was laying on the bed.  James walked in, dropped a couple bags and said, "those aren't going back if they don't fit."  gotta love dads! 

Nicholas Eats with Fork - Kind Of

On the aforementioned Dengue cruise:

http://youtu.be/_XOoU1kKSdM

Joseph Soldiers On.

More photos of Joseph at home who doesn't seem to miss us all that much.  Oh well, I take that back, he misses his mother.  On Skype this evening he was clear that "I miss you mommy," no mention of dear old dad until my mom prompted him to give me a shout out.  And, on the phone the other day, he talks to mommy for a while.  When daddy gets on, he simply asks "daddy, do you have the Ipad?"

Pearl River Cruise

Some pics from before and during the cruise.  James is posting because Rebecca went to bed early saying she was tired.  I saw mosquitoes on the boat, and now I'm beginning to feel tired.  I'm sure I'll come down with the Dengue fever.

Dinner and a Show (volume a must)

[From James] Tonight we joined the other families for a dinner cruise down the Pearl River.  We enjoyed the local haute cuisine, and then gathered on the upper deck to watch the fantastic colors of the Guanzhou skyline drift by.  They take their river seriously, and most of their large buildings and bridges are lit up to make the river tours memorable. 

Then, I heard the music.  We drifted back belowdecks to investigate, and discovered that a show came with the cruise.  And what a show.  You can't get this kind of entertainment in the states.  Literally:

http://youtu.be/UvCySCDTRX4

But Not ALL Fun and Games.

This is what happens when you take a cracker away:

http://youtu.be/VXT49vclcNs

Future Rock Star?

[From James]

Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin surveys Los Angeles from the Continental Hyatt House in 1975:

Nicholas Craney surveys Guangzhou from the Marriott China Hotel, in 2012:

Fun and Games

Nicholas and mom having some fun and games. [James]

Video:
http://youtu.be/cYZB6F8VYdY

The Many Moods of Nicholas

[From James] He's serious ... he's playful.  (He's also got a nasty temper when he doesn't get his munchies, but that's not on this video.)

Longer video for the grandparents:
http://youtu.be/69VdREpbLO8

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

Joseph - who we thought may have difficulty with our being gone - has so far had much more fun than us.  And he does not seem to notice we are gone.

Joseph with cousins:

Joseph taking tractor ride with uncle Robert:

Just Chillin'

Close Call at the "Old Chen House"

[From James] Concrete + Steps = Daddy should be on a little higher alert level.

Video:
http://youtu.be/L5EJpVdx_eA

Phase 2

[From James] We are now in Ghuonzhou.  Nicholas took the plane ride like a man, pretty much.  During takeoff down the runway, he was completely oblivious, since there was food to be had.  Video:

http://youtu.be/HdJaKqSSToQ

Overprotective Mother and Overweight Father

[From James] Looks like daddy needs to lose some weight.

Last video clip from GZ:

http://youtu.be/r2B-S816bfk

The Sweet, Sweet Golden Arches!

Well, we made it to the Golden Arches!  And, of course, Nicholas loved the french fries.  At first he was willing to east the hamburger and mcnuggets, but once he got a taste of those sweet, sweet fries, that was all he wanted!  We figure there will be quite a Battle of the Fries once we get home!

Also, a young Chinese man came over and practiced his English on us.  Asked us where we were from and then asked, "How is the weather?"  When we said here or in St. Louis, he gave a confused look and we decided it was a phrase he learned.  He then asked if he could take our photo.  Which really meant he wanted to sit next to us in the photo giving the peace sign while his friend took the picture!  Too Fun! 

On the walk back from McDonald's a woman pulled in front of us on her scooter and asked to see our baby.  She said, Pretty Boy, and then kissed his arm and then told James and I nice to meet you and then rode away!

Everyone has been very nice to us, except maybe the hotel staff is ready to see us go, but I think a new group is coming in right behind us!

To My Friends Katie and Jason

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of Gerber Puffs!  Had to use the "Paul technique" for the first few diaper changes!  I'm having to ration them now.  3 bottles to last for 7 days. 

Getting Ready to Go - Again

[This is James] Today we are in the process of leaving Zhengzhou, and traveling with the group to GZ.  Thus, we will continue part 2 of the process in a different hotel room.  We do have Joseph's passport now, so we are one step closer to the big journey home.

now it's rebecca.  i was getting ready to post this when i saw james typed joseph instead of nicholas!  HA! 

Some Video (Test)

[This is James] We're having trouble as best I can tell connecting to a video server, so I'm just going to try youtube for this different video link:

http://youtu.be/CzTrCPWC45U

I Have Figured Out How to Get Out of This Room!

Just Too Cute for Words!

Nicholas' Personality

Well, each minute as he becomes more and more comfortable, his personality comes out more and more!

He's becoming quite the independent little man who loves to laugh and play.  He'll play really well by himself, but then wants to play games with mommy and daddy.  We're very lucky that he likes to be with both of us.  Many of the children want one parent or the other.  Actually, in the first couple of days, Nicholas wanted both of us together.  If one of us walked away, he would get upset.  Now he seems pretty content with either one of us. 

He's actually learning Hey, there's all kinds of food and I can start to select what I want.  If I don't want something they're offering and prefer something else on the table, all I have to do is purse my lips and turn my head!  Awesome!  Oh, yeah, and my formula -- forget about it!  Too bad the parents spent the money on that; huh?  Just push that bottle away!  These people have delicious Pedialyte and sometimes the milk tastes okay too! 

Well, I gotta go.  Nicholas is ready to leave this room for dinner!  Even though about an hour ago he had a cookie, yogurt and a bowl of ramen noodles!

Nicholas seems a lot like Joseph.  Pretty easygoing, but then there will be moments of he wants something his way.  Only here we're trying to figure out what in the world he wants!  He babbles quite a bit and, of course, we have not idea what he's saying; but he's sure picking up on our language and our gestures pretty quick!

Finally, Clothes that Fit!

Running the halls with Daddy.

Nicholas got his own bag to put his "stuff" and he is digging it!

Look at that angel face!