Iris Is A Social Butterfly

After our traditional western breakfast (it is a great breakfast but it is getting old after 5 days in a row and a few more to go) we skyped home and talked to the kids.  It was great to see and hear them and Iris was really showing off for them today which was great.  Ansley and Elliot loved it. 

 

Unfortunately we also saw that the carpeting had been taking out of our basement.  We are trying not to think about the basement even though it will be waiting on us when we get home.  Hopefully the rain has stopped in KC.

 

We went to the Dragon Boat Races today and we found out that Iris is a social butterfly.  As we walked around she found a few friends and we had a good time with that.  There were two boys who were probably about 9 or 10 years old.  At first their parents were a little skeptical but soon they were talking and playing with Iris.  Once she fell down chasing them and they both came back to make sure she was ok.  I taught them the fist bump and they thought that was cool.  We walked along with them and their family for a long while.  Attached is a photo of Iris with them (she is crying in the photo but she was very happy watching the boys).

 

Later she walked right up to another little girl and they held hands.  Again her parents were a bit skeptical but soon became very friendly. 

 

Iris fell asleep in the car on the way home so we hoped to put her down for an afternoon nap.  We quietly went to the room and thought we would all three nap.  As soon as her head hit the bed she was wide awake.  So we went for a walk.  The problem with this is that it is so hot and she gets tired and irritated.  Melissa and I think we are trying to do too much with her and decided tomorrow we will hang out in the hotel and mellow out. 

 

As I mentioned before about the car sickness, we are really concerned about this.  Today on our walk we borrowed the stroller from the hotel.  Shortly after we started she started acting up and we  think the movement is getting her.  Our guess is that her eyes do not focus properly and she gets motion sickness easily.

 

Melissa just gave her a bath (which she absolutely loves) and when she gives her toys to play with in the tub she hesitates before playing with them.  We are sure the orphanage gave them bathes because she is very comfortably in the water but we are also sure there was not a lot of playing going on during bath time.  Kind of sad that this is what we have concluded.

 

One story we forgot to tell yesterday, we were walking in the shopping district and a young couple stopped us.  They spoke enough English we could communicate.  They asked where we were from and then told us that "our baby almost looks Chinese".  We laughed and told them she was Chinese and we adopted her.  They thought that was great.

 

Things are great but there are moments of stress.  There are three of us in this hotel room and there is only so much to do here and limited things outside of the hotel to do.  We are anxious to leave her on Friday and head south.  Once we arrive down there we expect to see more adopted children and families to socialize with.  Iris could use some playtime with other kids.  It is very obvious (as it was at the Dragon Boat Races) she loves to play with other kids.

 

We are all doing great and love the quality time we have with each other.  Enjoy the photos. 

 

A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY BROTHER JAKE FOR HELPING WITH THE BASEMENT EMERGENCY!