A terrific day!

[Originally posted 08/12/10]

Well, we had another terrific day in Nanchang. Probably our most favorite.

Ella slept really well last night… a full 10 hours. We hung out in the hotel for most of the morning and then went to Nanchang Lake, which is the largest lake in Nanchang. It is surrounded by a beautiful walking path and in the center is a Temple.

First of all, the lake is breathtaking. We have not been big fans of Nanchang as the city seems very dirty, poor and overly populated. But today at the lake was a whole different experience and a view of Nanchang we weren’t expecting. It was absolutely spectacular.

We walked to the Temple which was an emotional experience. I prayed to the Jade Emperor, the supreme sovereign of all. We were told that he is the god of education and prosperity.

Sitting at the lake and walking around the different temples and learning about the different gods were just emotionally overwhelming. It was both sad and exciting to learn about the Taoist beliefs. We were saddened that Xiaqing won’t be living here to understand the cultures ins and outs, but were excited that we learned about the culture and her future with us.

On a more lighter note:
- Ella is rolling over on her own.
- She is holding objects in her hands.
- She took a mixture of apple juice and water. She’s not too prone to trying new things, so this was an achievement.
- She now says Mama and Dada.
- The most fun time with her is 4-7 p.m. as she is very playful.

We purchased a very nice tea set for her from Jiangxi Province, which is known for its porcelain. Trust me, it’s beautiful.

Also we received all of the notarized documents from China confirming she’s ours. That’s a very big deal!

We also got the pictures from the two cameras we sent to the SWI and those are just amazing. There are several of her birthday party and in her high chair and even on a spittoon. They are HILARIOUS!

Tomorrow we leave Nanchang for Guangzhou, so we excited to begin that adventure.

Here some additional photos we took today: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34218295@N05/sets/72157624708664900/

Love to all!

Kev, Jenn and Ella