We had a free day today so we had a pretty easygoing day here on Shamian Island. Lydia had a really rough night last night so we didn't sleep good after 2:30 this morning. We didn't get back up until 8:30. We headed off to the breakfast buffet.

Today we went walking on the island and we found more shops to browse around in. We found out there is a grocery store on the island so we went there instead of taking a taxi to the Carrefour store. We had to get more baby food and water, for us. We don't eat lunch since we have such a big breakfast and usually will snack in the afternoon, so we picked up some snacks. There are lots of snacks here that we have in the United States but we are trying strictly Chinese snacks. We got some cookies that seem like a high-brow graham cracker that are pretty good. Lydia loves them.

Lydia continued to say "Mama" today. She mostly says it when she wants another bite. At breakfast I asked the waitress what she was saying because I was starting to think that maybe I misunderstood and she was actually saying a word that meant "more" or "feed me" or something, but she confirmed that she is saying Mama. We tried to get her today to say Dada. She grinned at us and said... "Mama" and laughed like she told a joke! She is definitely becoming more lively. She stood up some on her own and took a few steps and would dive into my arms with a big grin on her face while we all clapped. She was very proud of herself.

She let Kyle and Syd hold her a little more today but not for very long. She is more clingy to me than she was a few days ago. She won't sleep in her bed, ride in a stroller or sit in a high chair. We often wonder what she is thinking. Is she wondering if we will leave her? Their little lives have changed so much during the last few days... so many firsts. God is so good to have left all these firsts for us to see. We got to see her first steps, her first solid food, her first time to wear shoes and who knows what else. We feel so very blessed.

Tomorrow is Easter. Since we have a trip scheduled to go visit a Chinese folk art museum, some of our group met in someone's room for a little Easter service. It was really nice and special. We shared prayer requests and praise. There was much requesting and a whole lot of praising! We sang and had a short devotion. It was a special time. It was also fun because we set the babies in the middle of the circle and had a great time just watching them play together. Up until this point they haven't really wanted to be around one another. One would see a toy she wanted and just go take it away from whoever had it and none of them ever cried or got upset. It was obvious that they were used to playing that way. It won't work when they get home but it was interesting to watch.

Parents must pay for their child to go to school. The cost for the average person is 1/4-1/3 of their salary. Housing is also very expensive. Joy, our guide, shared with us that most people cannot afford to have more than one child, even if they are allowed, and young people are choosing to wait until they are in their 30s to marry until they can afford a home and a child.

We are really enjoying the other adoptive families in our group. We are almost all on one floor. There are regular gatherings in the hall or in rooms. If you leave your door open you'll most likely have company. It's really fun. It kind of reminds me of dorm life, except with babies.

Please continue to pray for the babies. Pray for them to feel safe and loved and pray that their parents will be patient and wise in parenting. Have a happy Easter!

Love,
Carmen, Kyle, Sydney and Lydia