Tea Market, Beijing Zoo & Acrobatic Show

Today has been a much better day. Thank you for your prayers and all of your encouraging messages. The day started with great talks with loved ones back home which is always sweet to us. Then we headed to the Tea Market. They sat our group in a room and told us all about the different teas, symbols, good luck this & that and gave demonstrations, etc. (This was the same at the jade & pearl markets). Today after about 15 minutes, I decided to leave with Mia. I could tell she was exasperated. She was not making a sound, but I know she is so sick of this. So today - I gave myself permission to be a mama first and we got up and walked around the store. You see, after the demonstration, they take us into the store with incredibly "persuasive" sales people. Today I would have none of it. (I think China may make me a little assertive after all). I wasn't rude, but was not interested. The prices are crazy and I am definitely feeling like we get cattle prodded to all the government run shops to spend ridiculous amounts of money. I am convinced there are kickbacks going all around. This girl is done with that. I had seen the same teas and tea sets for TEN times less two days ago- not $10 less mind you. Like, I saw it for $30 at another store and here is was $300. And I am not kidding. Steve has been quite impressed with my new found confidence. =) Just watch out - I'll bet I could even get my fruit weighed at Carrefore in under 20 minutes.

So then it was on to the Beijing Zoo. When we arrived, Mia got right up and started heading off our van without holding one of our hands (she had never done this). We asked our guide to ask if she had been here before. She had. Her foster family had brought her there. I think that is a good sign that she was in a good family. She said again that she did not miss them - I don't know if she is giving the answer she thinks that she is supposed to give or if she really has already grieved them because she was returned to the orphanage over a month before we came. Probably both. It was hot again (our guide told us this is record breaking consecutive days of 100+ heat), but the China VCrew is doing well. Steve has been a real cheerleader and is keeping us laughing which I totally need (since we don't have Brad Bretl along to be making wise cracks for us). =)

We, of course, saw the pandas. Mia really enjoyed seeing the tigers and lions. The conditions for the animals are pretty awful - insanely small cages. It was tough to see. When we finished with those areas, the guide directed us toward the bears and monkeys. The whole group was ready to go. I told him that we were all ready for lunch so as not to repeat yesterday's events. He was surprised, but honored our request. It made the rest of the day wonderful. We had lunch by 12:15 and were back to the hotel by 1:30 (instead of 3). Mia was able to have a great nap - over 2 and a half hours. Praise the Lord.

We left for the acrobatic show at 4:30. It was really impressive. It lasted 1 hour. Mia did well - I was nervous about all of the flashing lights and lasers being a trigger for her, but she had no problems. Answered prayer. I would love to share photos from it, but we were not allowed to take any pictures. It was really amazing - the physical therapists in us cringed at some of the extreme stresses on their spines and joints in the countless pretzel-like positions they held with layers of people on top of them doing the same, but it really was unbelievable.

Just a side note: last night when we skipped the dinner out - we ordered Pizza Hut in and Steve ran to get McDonald's shakes. The pizza was different, but pretty good. And the shakes were SO delish! Mia had clearly never had pizza before, but she ate it and seemed to enjoy it. She is not at all picky which will make coming home SO much easier. I was worried I was going to be making 3 meals - one for the boys, gluten-free for Chloe and rice and congee for Mia. Praise God!

We have now had Mia for one week and here are some of the things we have learned about her:
1. She loves tofu.
2. She loves stickers and uses and reuses the same ones.
3. She hates getting her hair washed, but doesn't mind the bath.
4. She is really bright and is practicing saying words with us.
5. She has a hard time negotiating steps and jumping (though she has already shown much improvement).
6. She enjoys listening to music & likes to be sung to.
7. She sleeps like a champ, 11 hours at night and 2-3 hour naps.
8. She likes having her back rubbed at bedtime.
9. She loves sweet & sour pork.
10. She has no understanding of smiling for the camera.
11. She can swallow pills whole and does 3x/day.
12. She LOVES gum.
13. She enjoys putting on lip gloss.
14. She goes potty a ton during the day (which has given me plenty of opportunities to enjoy squatty potties all over Beijing) but stays dry all night.
15. She enjoys brushing her teeth.
16. After 7pm life gets pretty rough for her.
17. She masks her pain with anger.
18. She gives great hugs.
19. She wakes up happy.
20. Her first waking moments seem the least guarded and give us a glimpse of a sweet, tender, loving little girl.

That's all! Love you like crazy and miss you a ton! Keep praying - for perseverence and that Mia will feel more & more free to allow us into her heart. Also pray for me, my fear has been so good up until now. Now I have new fears of introducing the other 3 - may there be sweetness between them.