A BEGINING AND AN END!

The day we experienced today (Thursday May 30) was nothing shy of a miraculous one.

First Bella decided this morning after breakfast (on the third day) that I was mommy! It was the best feeling to hold her and her want me to. Getting for the first time to be close to her and feel that acceptance and if that wasn't enough I got to met the woman that was there the night she was abandoned (12/18/2010) She has fought for something to turn out different for this orphan among many in Shanghai and it happened.

 This is Patti and John. He was meeting her for coffee at the Dun-kin Donuts that cold winter night. They got so much more than caffeine, there lives both changed and connected forever.

 The alley corner close to the front entrance. It is now closed down.

 

Here in front of what it use to be.... having such raw emotional moments. For them I am sure it was so much more real living through that night and for me it was tears of sadness for her to have been placed there and joy because she was and because so , is mine now. 

 You can see how close the corner of the alley and the front door was!

We all went down the street to have lunch and John bought me star bucks....( For those close to me you know that he already was given a star for what he had done but then took me to star bucks in China, that put him over the moon.) We have McDonald's so Peyton was SO HAPPY!!!

Look Momma..... my first Mickey D's french fry....yes she loved them of course.

John and Patti were thinking back to all the details of that night and sharing it all with us. John said it's always so noisy here you know? Yes you are not here very long and you know that is true! People always honking. So he said that as he is walking up he hears a baby cry. He said of course I think that I am crazy and my mind is playing tricks and he looks around and doesn't see anyone with a baby and he goes inside to tell Patti about it. She knew what it had to be! Patti said that there was alot of other people standing outside but they seemed to not want to get involved at all. So the police was called and John had to go down to the police station to fill out paper work about the finding of the baby. He said that he was never just quiet the same after that night.

I would think that it blessed him so much more than I would imagine getting to see her again.... so well and now with her own family. He was a great guy and we are so blessed to have met him.But really for both of them though? To see her from a dying new born to a pretty close to health 2 year old.

 We went back to the Hotel for a rest for Bella and the boys. Sophie our guide actually met me in the lobby while they napped to took me to find Bella a Shanghai salt water pearl keepsake for her wedding day. ( I forgot my camera for that outing)

 Patti getting to visit with Bella, she spoke to her in Chinese.

 They are out.....

 When  I got back from town Patti had came back and took the guys down the street for bowling. Peyton's special treat.

 Patti seemed really happy to spend time with her and she also seemed very impressed that she is doing so well, considering what she has been through and where she has been.

 Blowing was super fun. When we left, we went across the street from our hotel to a small park. Patti had mentioned something about doing a follow up story about Bella since there was still so many that write in asking about her. Jeremy and I both thought it would be a great thing and our pray for that is that her birth mother may get a chance to see in published and know her little girl is fine and with her family.  So her photographer met us and did a photo session with us her her maganize. So special for us too, so when she send me the photos I will share them of course.

We left there and went to a AWESOME resturant a couple blocks away and wow is was so good! Thank Patti what I treat!

We were all wiped out....Patti and I said our goodbyes at the taxi and I couldn't barely contain myself. I was emotionally on over load and I think I cried for 20 mins after we got back to our room.

Bath time and bubbles and nite nite! Loves the water!

  

SEEING SHANGHAI

 

Sophie is so great with Peyton. IF he climbs up on a stone wall and jumps off of it , she also will follow him and do the same. She is very youthful despite her age. Peyton thinks she is so fun.

 We got to go to the Bund today. It is a old Shanghai and new modern Shanghai separated by a river. I don't remember what everything is called right now ...so at a later time I will update information.

Old Shanghai built in the 1840"s

New Shanghai

 

Bella is always just watching me.

Taxi ride to Gardens

There are streets and streets of shop and markets here.

 We were followed by this young guy selling roller skates that you put on the heals of your tennis shoes. He wanted Peyton to try them out and he would sell them to him for $5

 So Peyton tried..... here are Sophie and the Chinese man helping him down the sidewalk. After he fell he told the Chinese man..." Sir , if these came like they should with 4 wheels I would totally buy them from you, but they don't so I can't"! He is so funny!

 People LOVE Peyton here. He is very light skin and blue eyes and they think he looks like an angel we were told by woman and the men love because he is so big and strong looking. Several have patted his belly and he really doesn't like that but he has been good about it. So this picture is a police man asking me how we say a boy is muscle ? I told him very strong and he thought that was great that he got to tell Peyton he was a very strong good boy!

This is a very special bridge called " The bridge of 9 turns" It is tradition that you walk across the bridge of many turns then when the new year comes you will not have any turn, just straight and smooth.

 OH YES! EVEN IN CHINA!!!

Along the bridge is a flower for each month and this is OCTOBER the month of Bella's birth.

Peyton feeding the Ko Fish

Inside the Ancient Garden

After touring the Gardens Bella had just about enough of the crowds so we decide to go back and let Daddy put her down. And he did so good. He went and bathed her while I got her bottle ready and put her pj's on while I got Peyton's snack made for our road trip shopping with Sophie. He has been super dad even though he really hasn't had a chose , he has done beautifully as the mom.

Sweet dreams Bell .....................OFF to the silk factor for a tour for Peyton.....

 

Our tour guide at the silk factory love Peyton, he walked in first and she almost ran up to him and ask if she could kiss him? You should have seen his face! LOL She explained the whole process of the silk worms before our tour.

Here she is showing him living silk worms eating Mulberry leaves.

 

 Here she is showing him how they soak the cocoons and spin the silk threads.

 Here is Chinese woman that work at the factors. After the silk is dried it is very strong and has to be stretched over a table like sheets.

 We got to help.....

 Peyton loved it or the girl I couldn't tell which the most.... Ha

 She did steal a kiss from him before we left , he was so embarrassed.

 They are wrapping Bella 's silk pillow keepsake .

 Sophie and I shopping for Bella's future treasures from her birth town.

 

Look how funny!! This was Peyton in the taxi for the rest of the day. I silk scarf from his new Chinese girlfriend worn like a cowboy with his Chinese fan. He is having so much fun and sadly he LOVES the big city.

 He is a big helper to Mrs Sophie. She drove us an hour and a super market to let him get some kind of toy for our shopping day and of course NO toys. He ending up getting a few school supplies for third grade. Chinese pencil box, lead pencils and a note pad. He was happy.

 Ending with helping catch a taxi.