Last Day in Nanning

We had a lazy start to our day today. We didn't have to be anywhere by any certain time, so we took our time in the morning. Maeve ate really well at breakfast and she was walking all around greeting everyone at the table. It was good to see that if people spoke back to her, she would turn and run back to us. This makes us think she is "getting" the fact that we are the people she needs to stay with. She has also been very loving today with Susie and their connection is improving each day. Today, while I showered, Maeve was content to stay with Susie and she never cried. Then after breakfast I had to go with our guide and complete some additional adoption paperwork. Maeve had fallen asleep before I left, but then woke up before I returned. Though she initially cried when waking up, she quickly calmed. When I returned to the room she was sitting on Susie's lap watching cartoons and she remained on her lap even after I came in the room. It is great to see this progress!

We then walked to the local market that we have come to love so much. We are going to miss this little neighborhood we are "living" in. It is a very peaceful little place. We also stopped at a little children's shop and bought an outfit and some hair clips for Maeve. The shops along the street are VERY small and about the size of a walk in closet. The store worker stands up when we walk in and follows us while we look at everything saying "very nice." It is too funny.

We then headed to lunch at this great noodle shop another adoptive family had found down the street. Thank goodness they were with us, because she speaks Mandarin and was able to order for us (no picture menus here). It was great and the bill for all four adults was 13 yuan (~$2 US). After lunch, we walked to a local botanical garden and children's petting zoo. Maeve LOVED the animals. It is great to see her face erupt in laughter when she would see the animals. We actually had a difficult time getting her to leave. Everytime we would set her down, she would run back into the animal area. We also walked around the botanical garden. It was a beautiful day today, the warmest yet. Still a bit cloudy, but definately clearer and more comfortable. This botanical garden was beautiful and full of all kinds of tropical plants.

Tonight we are going to hit our favorite Cantonese place again and then pack up. Tomorrow we leave the hotel at 6:15am for Guangzhou (pronounced Gwon-jo). Maeve is now officially our child and now we just need to get her US visa and make her an American citizen. This is why we have to go to Guangzhou. The American Consulate is located there. So it is bittersweet that we leave Nanning. We are excited for our next step (one more step closer to home and our boys which we miss so much!) and we are sad to leave Maeve's home province and the only place she has ever known. We have had a great week in Nanning and will never forget this place. Who knows, maybe some day we will return. Guangxi province is so beautiful and I hope we have learned enough/soaked up enough to talk about it to Maeve when she is older. We want her to know what a wonderful part of this country she came from!!
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Dressed for success. She is loving crackers, cheerios and teething cookies from her cup.
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This couple was taking pictures at the Children's park today. We think they were models, but who knows.
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She loved the rabbits! She would dance and march around everytime she looked at them.
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Playing with the goats.
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They even dress their baby goats in clothes to keep them warm!!!!
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Maeve was born in the year of the pig and she got a kick out of these piglets!
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More rabbits and more dancing!
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This picture hardly looks like her, but I thought it was funny.
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Enjoying a rice cake after nap time.
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I thought I would throw in a picture of all the clothes Maeve was wearing on Gotcha Day. It is hard to grasp the thickness of each of these shirts in the picture, but they are each like a sweatshirt material. No wonder the locals think we are practically letting her walk around naked!

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