Trip to the Orphanage and A Walk in the Park

We're off to visit Zhenjiang Orphanage where Lu Xin Ping spent the first two years of her life.



No car seats for babies! Scary! This is us on the way to the orphanage.

The room where XinPing slept, in closest, first bed on right

The halls had cartoon charachters painted on them.



Greg stayed outside with Joy and enjoyed the beautiful day while I went inside and toured the orphanage.  We didn't want to upset Xinping after all the changes she has been through by taking her back inside.  There are 70 children in the Zhenjiang (kind of pronounced like Gene John).  Xin Ping had three nannies.  They wouldn't let me take a picture of the play room because there were several kids in there.  Some were just laying on the floor sleeping and some were just sitting or playing.  It was kind of sad.  There were only two rooms, the room with the cribs and the play room.  I don't remember seeing toys in the playroom.



XinPing and I walking outside of the orphanage





Place where Xin Ping was found--outside the gate of municipal government building.



Place where Xin Ping was found--outside the gate of municipal government building.



Taken in front of one of the city walls.

Both cities we have been to have part of a city wall still standing.  Many years ago, the whole city was enclosed by a city wall for protection. The wall is now the entrance to Xuanwu Park.  These pics were taken in the park this morning.

She will not leave a hat or hood on her head.



Our guide Melody explaning to us what the red ribbons were about.  Most said something about health and happiness or long life or great wealth with names and a date.



 Joy was not so joyful at this point!

She and I woke up at 4:00 am this morning and had not been back to sleep yet.  Her naptime is at 12:00 and it is about 11:15 when this picture was taken.  It started to sprinkle and Joy had had enough so we headed back to the hotel.  She and I laid down together for a nap and after just a little fussing she went to sleep much faster than she has been.  It only took about 10 minutes before we were both asleep.  Please pray for me to get some sleep.  I am so exhausted and need rest.  I must have slept 20-30 minutes and then I woke and couldn't go back to sleep.  Thankfully Joy is still sleeping.  She desperatly needed some rest.  Having a very hard time getting her to go to sleep.

She is playing with the toys a little more yesterday afternoon and this morning than she has been.  Yesterday she even crawled away from me to go to a toy!  So exciting, because up until now, she has hung onto us as if her life depended on it.  The first two days, she wouldn't look or play with the toys we brought.  She seemed to be on a 6-10 month level, if I can remember correctly.  When we tried to engage her in play, she would just throw the toy down.  It is good to see her interested in the toys a little now.  I hope she is really enjoying them before the plane ride home! 

Our guide has gone now to the civil affairs office to pick up the notarized documents we are waiting for.  We began the process on the 27th with a notary interview and registration and today those documents are supposed to be ready.  Before we leave tomorrow, Xin Pings passport is supposed to be ready and our guide will pick it up and meet us at the hotel at 1:00 to take us to the airport.  It has been nice here in Nanjing, spending time bonding with Joy, and our guides have been great.  But I am ready for the next city and to finish up everything and head home.  Eager to see how Xin Ping does on the flight tomorrow to Guangzhou.  Better start packing.