Bla-bla-bla-BLAH!

It is Sunday the 4th of February around noon here in Guangzhou, China. It is a particularly smoggy day with what we assume are sun and clear skies somewhere above. Erin is on her daddy's lap, facing him, her legs straight across his chest toward his chin, leaning back on his crossed legs and having a bottle of her favorite vintage: 2-second old formula with a wee bit of Chinese powder rice cereal. She makes these kinds of noises when she's drinking like a "swallow-and-breath" that sound as if she's never, ever, in her entire short life, tasted anything so amazingly good and wonderful -- ever! Afterwards we get a big smile with the head rolling back and eyes closed tight. It's good to be Erin at noon on a Sunday in Gunagzhou.

We took a little trip yesterday to a big park in the middle of the city. It's like Central Park in the middle of NYC -- you can't believe there is this place with trees and flowers and ponds and birds in the middle of such a big city.

Erin took her first gondola ride to the top of a 1,000-foot mountain, for which she cared little. She did seem to like being strapped to her daddy while he traversed trials and climbed many, many, many steps on a beautiful, sunny day. We were aparently up high enough to see real, blue sky -- which was lovely. This is something we really haven't seen since we've been here due to the city's pollution. It's interesting -- the city is stacked high on top of itself with more people and cars than it has space for, yet it is quite clean. People are always sweeping the streets, sidewalks and parking lots with these very long brooms.

Erin went to her first "tame bird show" at the park yesterday. It was all in Chinese so we think she understood more than we did. The birds were cute -- they bowled and roller-skated and went down slides. At the end they would fly into the audience and take money from people waving it around -- of course everyone wanted a bird to come to them, so the money was flying...pun intended.

We took a trip on Friday afternoon to a large department store about 20 minutes away by taxi. Worth noting -- only ride in the BACK of a taxi if you can help it. The lines on the street and traffic lights are apparently all for show. Both bus and taxi rides have been nail-biters.

The department store was amazing. About 11 floors, with a full grocery store on the 5th floor. Everything you'd want and more -- and not too cheap, either. We did see some great prices on good, leather shoes, but alas -- even China didn't have Sheila's size. Erin was such a trooper in the store -- and we were there quite a long time. She slept in her stroller for awhile, then woke up and chilled and looked around without a peep from her. On the way home, in the back of the taxi, we managed to get a bottle down her. After a quick bowl of cereal in the room, she joined her parental units out for some Thai food and a couple of beers...then home to bed. For being such an amazing kand good child that day, we have decided she gets one "get out of jail free card" when she's about 13 or 14 and really does something she shouldn't. We'll remember this day in China, and will forgive her that one time.

While we think she's a cutie pie, we don't expect others to dote over her -- however, Chinese people are always stopping us and smiling with her. Lots of talking with her -- it all sounds like Chinese to us -- wait -- it is! Anyway, everyone is very sweet with her and we love that they love her.

She has recently discovered her daddy's belt buckle and the little snaps that stick out on the side of his jeans. Keeps her occupied for hours. She also like's mommy's hair and earings and likes to "push" mommy's face around so she can reach these things. As a result, mommy has official Erin wounds (little scratches) all over her face.

We gave her some pizza last night and a little bit of spaghetti and she seemed to really like it. Ha. NOT. Just kidding. :)

When she's happy she still grunts and says, "bla-bla-bla-BLAH." We imitate her all the time and she looks at us like we're from Mars. We're hoping she'll get used to us eventually!! Truly, though, she looks at us and responds when we call her (unless she is licking her toes). She has discovered there is a very cute, little Chinese girl who looks JUST LIKE HER in the mirror! She loves her. She licks her and reaches for her all the time. We think this is her first, real, best friend. We have scheduled a couple of playdates for them before we head home on Friday.

We're including a few more pictures -- the first features Erin on one recent cold night in her little, pink-heart jacket that Grandma gave her. It kept her toasty warm.

More to come!! We love you!

Steve and Sheila and Erin