Day 2 with our precious baby girl!

Where to begin?!?!  We started this day with breakfast, then skyping with my dear friend Sandra and then my parents and our little ones at home. 

We then set out on what ended up being a 5 hour walk around the city of Hangzhou.  We saw interesting things as we walked.  We saw people walking to and from, some full of life and some just rushing from one place to the next.  There were many that smiled, and many that looked like there was little life left in them.  Some people made eye contact with us, and others avoided even a glance in our direction.  A few spoke a few words to us in English and others that spoke to us in Chinese.  Of course, we could not understand what those speaking in Chinese were saying.

 Myah loves to be in her carrier!  She kicks her legs and giggles when we are putting her in it!

The denim market.

 The entrance to The Silk District

There were lights and small lanterns hanging from the above tree. 

Jeff was carrying Myah in the ergo baby carrier.  She slept for a while and we woke her up to eat lunch.  We went to Kentucky Fried Chicken.  The food there was spicy and different than in the USA.  She sat in a high chair and had a good lunch after lunch I snuggled her for a little bit.

Jeff was good to keep carrying her for awhile.  We did stop from time to time to give Myah a drink and sit to rest.

 The longer we were out walking I noticed that Myah was not responding to me talking to her and avoided eye contact.  I continued trying to get response from her.  After a while I told Jeff that it might be good for me to hold her, so she would be close to me and could see that I was safe.  We switched the carrier to me and put her into it.  She was fine for a few minutes, but then started crying and reaching for Jeff.  It is very common for children who have been in orphan care to withdraw and favor one parent, so this did not take me by surprise.  I continued to talk to her and rub her hair and arm often, so she could feel affection from me.

When we were back in the room, she played and allowed me to feed her a snack, but was not happy if I touched her, held her or changed her diaper. 

On our way to dinner we went to the Night Market, that is set up just a few blocks from our hotel. 

We didn't buy anything but it was great to see Chinese life in action.

At dinner, she allowed me to feed her and laughed at me a few times. 

When we were ready to leave Jeff just planned to carry her outside of the carrier, but she reached for it and clearly wanted to be in it, so we put her in it.  She fits very snug up against our bodies when she is in it.  I wonder if it makes her feel safe.

We are now nearly an hour past her bed time and she is still awake.  We have not been able to get her to take a bottle at all today.  She wants only Jeff, but she still watches me and has made good eye contact with me tonight.  I know she is very tired, but cries when we try to put her in bed!  We will wait it out and Jeff will hold her as long as he needs to.

While we have referred to her as Myah for many  months, she certainly is not familiar with that name.  At the orphanage she was called A Xia, so we try to refer to her as this or as WenXia.  There certainly have been times where Myah slips out, but for the most part we call her one of the above names.

As you start the day today, will you take 30 seconds to pray for A Xia.  Pray that she finds comfort and safety with us.  The with drawl, favoring one parent, and refusal to take a bottle are all common.  Fortunately we knew this, so it has not taken us off guard.  We are just going to push our way through it and pray that God will give her the comfort that she needs!!!

Continue to pray for us and especially Myah in the next few days!