Update From Guangzhou, China!

(This was a blog that I tried to send while in Guangzhou, China, last week.)

Hey, Bloggers! I am so sorry for not updating that much, the internet is so difficult to deal with, and we're going a confusing route to blog, but I am trying my best to keep everyone updated! We've had our second full day, here, in Guangzhou! Guangzhou is very interesting, humid, hot, busy, and so far has been a whole lot of fun! We've already made trips to Mcdonalds, explored along the streets not far from our hotel, I'm taking TONS of pictures, we ordered pizza, we're resting, and guess what!? I found a STARBUCKS! We are staying at this INSANE hotel and it is so big and high tech....it's crazy. This evening, we went on the Pearl River cruise! It was amazing and the lights were so pretty! Today has been a week that we've had our Sophia! You will never believe how much she has improved in just a week's time. It's amazing what being loved for just one week will do to a person. It is so amazing what love can do. Sophia is starting to make out words! She
normally just makes a noise that's kind of like, "Aiyiyiyiyiyi!" if you can make that out! Haha! But, she is starting to say, "Hi," while she waves...she is starting to call Mom, "Ma," she sometimes says, "Dada," for Dad. She is very loud, she screams when she's excited and when she's mad or sleepy. She is so hilarious.... she keeps us laughing so hard! She makes the funniest faces. And her laugh....oh, her laugh! In a week, we have seen her become so happy! Her laugh is the sweetest sound. Sometimes, she laughs so much that she can't stop and she just buries her face in her lap, just laughing away. It is, by far, the most beautiful thing ever. She has really clung to Mom! She loves her Momma! When we first got her, she would only go to Mom (even still, she prefers her haha) but she is starting to come to Dad and I. I was very sad at first, when she didn't have anything to do with me. Mainly because everyone kept asking if she remembered me or if it was
just like it was a year ago...but it wasn't. It was a precious moment when we were reunited again and when Mom and Dad got to hold her and meet her for the first time...but those first few days were very hard. For her and for us. She is still adjusting, but she is doing so well now. And each day, she becomes a little closer to me again. A couple of days ago, she started reaching for me, wanting me to hold her....even though it was just only for a few seconds! Haha But, she likes for me to hold her longer now, sometimes. And, today, she let me rock her to sleep for the first time! I held her and we took a nap, this afternoon.... I was so happy that I cried a little bit. She slept for about an hour and a half. (She has good days if she has a nap!) She is a girly girl! Sophia is in love with shoes and having her hair done! She will often bring the hairbrush to us, wanting us to fix her hair. And anytime she sees shoes, on they go! She loves dresses and
hair pretties. We think that her color is yellow! She looks the best in yellow! Sophia rode on her first plane on Saturday! And she did wonderful!! She was so good! Also, I asked for prayer on Facebook earlier today because she was having her visa photo taken, a medical exam, and a TB test. Even though I can't read the comments or even really know for sure if my status update posted (via text message) I still know people were praying. And we prayed specifically for that.... we know that prayer works and that our Father is good.... Sophia did such an incredible job this morning with everything! She was so good and cooperative! Praise our Father! And we thank you for the prayers!

Aside from our Sophia and all of the stories that follow, we are having a great time in China! I, mostly, am loving it. I am so happy to be back. It was so good to be back in Luoyang last week and to see friends and babies whom I love so dearly! It is so good to experience the smell again...the good smells along with the bad! I've learned to cherish it all! Haha Even though I love China a whole lot, I am missing home a lot. Mom and Dad especially are. I miss my brothers a lot. We got to skype them all last night and the night before! It was great to see their faces and to hear their voices! Caleb also skyped us while he was in Sunday School at church yesterday morning! So, we got to see some of our church family's faces! So good! We have been on so many adventures and I can't wait to tell you all these stories! Even though I can't blog that much or share everything on Facebook, I have journaled pretty much everything so that I will never forget anything
on this crazy adventure.

Please pray for us for the rest of the week - for safety, health, adjusting, staying energized, handling important paperwork, and for Sophia to continue to do well (mentally and physically) and to bond with us. Tomorrow morning, we are going to the Guangzhou Zoo! There will be panda bears!! I am super excited! And on Wednesday, we will visit the Pearl Market and do some shopping! I am pumped to find some bargains and some cool things to bring back home! Thursday is our Consulate Appointment and that is a big day. We ask for prayer for that day! And this weekend, we will travel to Hong Kong and on Sunday we go HOME. :) We appreciate all of the prayers and encouragement and for your love to us. Thank you for loving us! Have a wonderful week, everyone! I will try to update again as soon as possible!

-Emily