Free Day

Today is our first completely free day since we set foot in China and it feels wonderful to have some down time! Doug and Maddie are both napping so I'm once again taking the opportunity to blog in the middle of the day. Last night, for the first time since we left home, I actually got my much-needed 8 hours of sleep and it felt WONDERFUL!

It is very cold and rainy here - about 40 degrees farenheit. So, needless to say, it feels good to just stay inside today. We had the option of taking another tour today, but Doug and I opted out when our guide said, "You will want to leave the strollers behind today because you will be going up 89 steps to get to where we're going." No thank you! Mom, the international adventurer, did go however. I'm glad that she went. That way we will at least be able to see pictures.

Later this afternoon, Mom and I will head over to Wal-Mart again. Yesterday, when we were there with our group, we only had 30 minutes to grab the essentials. We want to go again when we have time to look around. The Wal-Mart is 3 stories high. The shopping carts are hard to push in a straight line becuse all four of the wheels swivel. When going from the second to the third floor, you push your cart onto an escalater ramp and the wheels lock into the grooves that hold it in place while it moves to the next floor.

We are working with Maddie to teach her how to use her hands and arms more effectively. We put a Cheerio into her hand and hold it in place for her because she does not have the dexterity to do so. Then we practice the hand to mouth motion. She's starting to catch on.

Maddie was a little tentative with Grandma Jo at first, but she's warming up to her and recognizes her now. She can't wait to meet her other grandma too!

Dinner buffet last night included octopus and eel. I had to try it!

Baked beans for breakfast - made Doug's day! Unfortunately, the after effects are not that pleasant for the rest of us!!!

Maddie LOVES her Baba! Doug is such a good daddy. He just cannot get enough of his daughter and plays with or holds her constantly. It is so cool to watch these two together!

Milestone alert: Maddie just rolled over on the bed!

Grandma is showing her war wounds from her tumble in the Fobidden City in Beijing. She has a matching bruise on her leg! We are so thankful that she didn't break a hip or something!

Here are some things that we have learned in the last 24 hours:

• Maddie loves to play peek-a-boo and patty cakes.
• Doug changed his first diaper ever! It was wet, but it's a start!!
• Maddie loves to look at books and have them read to her. I wish we would have brought more books for her.
• Maddie loves to play LOUD - she'll fit right into the Graber side of the family!
• Maddie is starting to use her legs a whole lot more. She wants to stand up when we hold her and it is hard to keep her seated in your lap.
• Maddie has a temper! When she doesn't get what she wants, the shrieking returns!!
• When she has everything she needs, she is one happy baby. She laughs and smiles A LOT.
• Now that she can bend her arms, Maddie is discovering her hands and she is just fascinated by her moving fingers.
• Maddie is using her arms and hands to pick up toys now.
• I never thought I'd get so excited to see poop!
• Maddie is a wiggle worm. She does not like to hold still.
• When she finishes a bottle and we remove it from her mouth, she screams and cries for more. That usually only lasts less than a minute, and then she's content and happy again.
• Being parents rocks! Everything in our world has changed. Doug and I both feel the weight of the responsibility and welcome it wholeheartedly. She is just the center of our universe!!

We have learned so much more, but Maddie is starting to fuss so I better wrap this up. Here is a video from breakfast this morning: