Relaxing today

We decided to have a relaxing day around the hotel and just get to know one another a little more.  We have learned to limit Fu Lian to a particular portion for each meal, rather than the traditional Chinese meal where everyone shares. Breakfast worked better that way today.  Still, Fu Lian will eat anything and everything laid in front of him, or from the person nearest him. :)

We took a walk to a local convenience store with our guide.  We purchased water and let Fu Lian pick out 3 snacks of his choice.  His favorite snacks are sun flower seeds.  Our wonderful guide made sure to remind Fu Lian to spit the shells into the garbage, and not on the floor.  We also had our guide speak to Fu Lian about having to hold our hand and WALK whenever we are not in the hotel room.  He likes to sprint anywhere when we are out of the room.  It makes for a nervous mom and dad.  Our Mandarin is improving when it comes to the safety of this rambunctious, no fearing child.

Fu Lian and Sean running home from the supermarket. He has only one speed..run!

We walked around the mall for awhile and let Fu Lian pick out a stuffed animal, as he was unable to bring his favorite one from the orphanage.  He chose a small Pooh Bear and has tenderly cared for it by "feeding" it and laying it in bed to sleep. We ate lunch at the local KFC.  It tastes about the same as in the US, other than their drinks.  We normally do not drink soda of any kind, but when the choices are a sugary orange drink, warm 'soya' milk, or Pepsi .. well, we chose Pepsi.  We got soya milk for Fu Lian and he grabbed my Pepsi and drank it down then drank his warm milk.  While at the mall, he decided to run quickly and fell smack on his belly.  He came up holding his teeth and we thought for sure he knocked some teeth out, but there was no blood and all his teeth were accounted for.

KFC Kids meal has veggies included inside the chicken. :)

Every store, restaurant, hotel, office has a large set of fire extinguishers. Not sure if the fear of fires is great or the confidence in the fire department is small...

Ethan took a pic of Fu Lian with his Pooh Bear

We went swimming, which Fu Lian enjoyed.  He didn't understand the concept of having to hold your breath to go under.  He flailed his arms, like a natural in the butterfly stroke, and kick his legs great.  He enjoyed laying on his back and kicking. Maybe we have a future Washington Waterjets member!  He also learned a hard lesson when he took quite a fall on the pool deck after running after a water ball.  He now knows English for 'hold my hand', which he is now required to do whenever we are out of the room.  And if he doesn't know it yet, he will know 'WALK' and 'STOP'.

Fu Lian and Bri ready for swimming

Fu Lian loved to count to three and jump in the water holding onto one of us.

Fu Lian was trying to teach me to write his name in Chinese, and I got one symbol wrong.  He took the marker out of my hand and wrote that symbol 5 times for me to try to understand.  I still got it wrong.  :)

Fu Lian seems quite comfortable with our family. He is quite fun loving and will play with any one of us.  Tomorrow's goal is to have Fu Lian learn to walk at all times when out of the room and hold our hands.  He already can count to 3 in English, he can play the iPad well, he knows the English for ball, nose, let's go, sit, and come here.  The orphanage said he was very shy, and other than the first hour of meeting him yesterday, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Praising God for a great day, good health, and amazing kiddos.  We met some wonderful people from the US and Australia, that have been quite uplifting to us as well.  There are not many foreigners in this small city (of 3 million!), so to find someone who speaks English is a great pleasure!  We would appreciate prayers for keeping Fu Lian safe as he is quite reckless and fearless and for sleep for the entire family, as not all of us are on China time.