Monday, May 24

Today we went to the zoo! I know that I am kind of a dork but I really love zoos. It was a large zoo with many large animals. We saw 4 different kinds of tigers including a white tiger. They were front and center in the zoo- because it is the year of the tiger. We saw lions- including a white lion. We saw giraffes, several different kinds of bears- including a panda bear, rhinos, hippos, and many others. The habitats here are not that great, and while that is sad for the animals is does mean that we got to see them up close! We did not see the whole zoo but many different parts. Everywhere we go off of this island we are kind of a spectacle- 7 white families with Chinese babies. It is very common for people to stop and stare at us. It makes me wonder how well known throughout China about the amount of adoptions that are taken place internationally. Just a thought.
After the zoo we came back to the hotel and Olivia slept. It was a nice short nap but at least she slept. Today was the first day that Olivia was grumpy. This morning if I wasn't holding her she was crying and that hasn't happened even when she was sick. I don't think that she slept very well last night and she didn't eat well this morning. She is working through some constipation issues so when you put all those things together it was a rough morning. After her first nap at the zoo and her 10:30 bottle she was doing much better.
We went to dinner and chatted with some new friends here and then have come home to go to bed.
Tomorrow is a big day- we get to go to the orphanage where Olivia has been for the past 7 months. It is 3 1/2 hours away so it will be a long day but very worth it. We will also get to see her finding spot...the place that she was left when she was 1 day old. We won't get to take pictures inside the orphanage but we will get to see where she lived and spent time. I expect this will be an emotional day for all. We will not take Olivia to see these rooms as we think it might confuse or upset her. She will stay outside while we go in one at a time.
Please pray that this day will come together well and not be too hard emotionally. I have a hard time thinking of my precious baby girl being left outside a store on her first day of life. But for her in the future I think this is very important that we go see all that we can.
Love to all!
Patrick, Donna, and Olivia