Exploring Chengdu With Bella!

Before we get started with our post, just want to point out to those of you following that there is a new link on the left side of the page that will take you to more photos. The blog will only let us post so many, so I'll be dumping more photos onto our flickr website and you can access that by clicking the "MORE PHOTOS" link.

AIN'T SHE CUTE!!!

Isabella had a hard time at bed time last night. She cried for a while and finally settled down after we sang to her and kept reassuring her over and over. It was heartbreaking for me especially. But I know it is a good thing because it just shows that she has bonded so much with the family that has been so good and loving to her. She slept like a champ and did not wake up until about 8 or 8:30 this morning. When she did, she cried again. I think she had forgotten where she was and who she was with. She calmed down pretty fast though and has been a happy little girl ever since.

We took our time getting ready this morning and just played in the room for awhile. We then walked around the city a bit and did some shopping. Chengdu is China’s 4th largest city, about 12 million people. Largest being by the number of people, not area. So think about shoving about 100 people in an elevator. That is what it is like here. I think Chengdu is a prettier city than Beijing. The area around Chengdu is very green with a lot of rice fields. We were able to see it from the airplane as we landed in Chengdu. While out shopping, people gawked and stared at us. And we thought we were being stared at in Beijing … it is nothing like being here with a Chinese child! Some people try to talk to us, but we have no idea what they are saying. Others just stop, stare and talk about us with the people they are with.
We went back to the Civil Affairs office this afternoon where we completed the adoption registration. We were asked questions to make sure we would care for and never abandon Isabella.
We ventured out for dinner tonight and tried an Italian restaurant on the other side of the city that was recommended to us. Really, “ventured” is not the word for it. It was more like risking our lives because we had to take a cab. I know I have said this before, but I have never seen anything like it. Michael sat in the front of the cab and Bella and I hung on for lives in the backseat. Oh, and no seatbelts in the back, so I was holding on to her very tightly.

The restaurant was good and everyone was very nice there, but a couple of the workers stood at the counter several feet away from us and just watched us eat. A little uncomfortable, but I think they were just curious about our situation.

We have just put Bella down for the night and she was not happy to go to bed. She was tired but did not want to give in, especially when she can see us in the bed next to hers. She finally fell asleep while holding my hand. So precious.
Thanks everyone for all of the prayers and encouraging comments!!! We enjoy reading them everyday!