---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dennis Drake <drakedad3@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 1:51 AM
Subject: Dennis thoughts on Saturday
To: drakefam51.chloe@blogger.com
Cc: "Dawn (gmail)" <drakefam5@gmail.com>
During our last night in Hangzhou (Chloe's home city), we went with the Fannin's (Deacon's folks) to eat at the Family Garden restaurant in Hangzhou, and Todd went down to speak with the waiter and point at a picture menu so we could order what we wanted. He pointed to sweet potatoes since Chloe loves those, and then finished ordering sweet n sour pork, green beans, fried rice, and other dishes. The first thing the waiter brought to our table was a plate full of sweet tomatoes (instead of sweet potatoes). They had sliced up tomatoes for us and topped it with heaps of sugar. It was a great moment for a laugh, and we just let it go and ate them.
Speaking of food, Chloe's diet has grown and we try to add an item to her food experience as we can. So far, she consumes cheerios by the heaping bowlful ALL DAY LONG! She will play in the mornings without needing food, but once breakfast is served there seems to be no stopping unless she is playing or napping. This girl has quite an appetite and from all we have read this is a very good thing - so we are doing all we can to encourage it. She also likes egg custard, scrambled eggs, eggs sunny side up, congi, sweet potatoes (haven't found a regular baked potato to offer yet), fried rice ... and who knows what else to come. Once her palate is repaired she may be on her way to being like me where just about anything that is consumable will be eaten no matter what the food item.
We arrived late last night (18th) in Guangzhou which is where the U.S. consulate is located. Dawn is keeping me straight as there are lots of details and procedures we have to follow. Our guide is posting the events of each day to the families so we know what to expect and what money to pay where as we are taking steps and getting closer and closer to coming home with our adopted daughter. Dawn has 2 children to keep up with while I'm just watching one ... yep, the first would be me. I've seen lots of neat trees, butterflies, lizards, and all sorts of things to stop and look at with Chloe while she constantly reminds me that we still have work to do before we can play. I found this neat looking life size metal pig that one of the many tradesmen molded here. I was looking it over and considering buying it for Chloe's room but Dawn encouraged me to think of something else. I think someone mentioned that Chloe was born in the year of the rat anyway so I'll keep looking. We actually had someone in one of the shops here offer to make Chloe a "year of the rat" name portrait with the Mandarin letters for Chloe's name. I think I'd rather have the pig.
We sure are living an easy life here and are getting spoiled with eating and sightseeing. This is the plan we are following with our guide but life will be much less vacation oriented when we bring Chloe home. For now, this is definitely the trip of a lifetime.
From: Dennis Drake <drakedad3@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 1:51 AM
Subject: Dennis thoughts on Saturday
To: drakefam51.chloe@blogger.com
Cc: "Dawn (gmail)" <drakefam5@gmail.com>
During our last night in Hangzhou (Chloe's home city), we went with the Fannin's (Deacon's folks) to eat at the Family Garden restaurant in Hangzhou, and Todd went down to speak with the waiter and point at a picture menu so we could order what we wanted. He pointed to sweet potatoes since Chloe loves those, and then finished ordering sweet n sour pork, green beans, fried rice, and other dishes. The first thing the waiter brought to our table was a plate full of sweet tomatoes (instead of sweet potatoes). They had sliced up tomatoes for us and topped it with heaps of sugar. It was a great moment for a laugh, and we just let it go and ate them.
Speaking of food, Chloe's diet has grown and we try to add an item to her food experience as we can. So far, she consumes cheerios by the heaping bowlful ALL DAY LONG! She will play in the mornings without needing food, but once breakfast is served there seems to be no stopping unless she is playing or napping. This girl has quite an appetite and from all we have read this is a very good thing - so we are doing all we can to encourage it. She also likes egg custard, scrambled eggs, eggs sunny side up, congi, sweet potatoes (haven't found a regular baked potato to offer yet), fried rice ... and who knows what else to come. Once her palate is repaired she may be on her way to being like me where just about anything that is consumable will be eaten no matter what the food item.
We arrived late last night (18th) in Guangzhou which is where the U.S. consulate is located. Dawn is keeping me straight as there are lots of details and procedures we have to follow. Our guide is posting the events of each day to the families so we know what to expect and what money to pay where as we are taking steps and getting closer and closer to coming home with our adopted daughter. Dawn has 2 children to keep up with while I'm just watching one ... yep, the first would be me. I've seen lots of neat trees, butterflies, lizards, and all sorts of things to stop and look at with Chloe while she constantly reminds me that we still have work to do before we can play. I found this neat looking life size metal pig that one of the many tradesmen molded here. I was looking it over and considering buying it for Chloe's room but Dawn encouraged me to think of something else. I think someone mentioned that Chloe was born in the year of the rat anyway so I'll keep looking. We actually had someone in one of the shops here offer to make Chloe a "year of the rat" name portrait with the Mandarin letters for Chloe's name. I think I'd rather have the pig.
We sure are living an easy life here and are getting spoiled with eating and sightseeing. This is the plan we are following with our guide but life will be much less vacation oriented when we bring Chloe home. For now, this is definitely the trip of a lifetime.
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