Park, Museum, and Day Off

Our day started with breakfast and a short walk to Yuexiu Park, the biggest park in Guangzhou.  There is a famous statue inside, located on one of the park's seven hills, called The Five Goats.  It is the city symbol of Guangzhou which is also known as the "Goat City."  

The legend says that five celestial beings came to Guangzhou riding five goats of different colors.  Each goat had a stem of rice in its mouth as a blessing that the city of Guangzhou would never experience famine.  When the celestial beings went back to paradise, the goats remained and turned to stone.

Again, we have a new appreciation of the word "heat" here.  We are used to heat in Texas but not the humidity!

It was also the first time Willow rode in a stroller!  She always sat with her hands interlocked and placed in her lap until she decided that she wanted to push the stroller herself.

Ladies doing Tai Chi in the park.  These were just two of over 100 women we saw in various places in the park.

On our way back to the hotel, there was a museum we wanted to visit.  We knew Willow would be a little fussy without her morning nap, but it was our only opportunity to go so we stopped anyway.  The museum was the tomb of a fourteenth century king of the Nanyue Kingdom and all of the artifacts found in the tomb.  In 1983, while digging the foundations of an apartment building, the tomb was discovered, excavated and preserved.  The tomb was still intact for viewing underground and the artifacts from the tomb were stored in an air conditioned building above ground (praise The Lord!).

Willow pushing the stroller.

A Jade piece of jewelry found with the king.  It is the symbol for the museum (Dragon inside with Phoenix on the outside). 

Willow being sweet to her bunny.  She would test the bottle out on her wrist like her daddy does for her and then "feed" the bottle to the bunny.

Things Willow does to self soothe:

- fiddle with fingers and toes

- kick her feet

- push her eyes (yikes!)

- slap her legs and tummy

- hold bottle

- suck pacifier

- throw body back and forth on the bed or person holding her

The sensation of having parents soothe you instead of soothing yourself seems to be something she is getting used to.  When she regressed and acted baby-like, we had to feed her the bottle.  She was so helpless.  Now that she's a little more comfortable, she doesn't want anyone touching her bottle for fear of us taking it away,  We promise we won't , baby girl!

Kyle and I have notice that we haven't argued much even during some trying times.  We both really need each other right now, and apparently knowing that has given us more patience with each other.  Thank you, Jesus, for that!  The challenge of being extra supportive and kind to each other will continue, as our adrenaline is slowing down.

Willow and Daddy played tons today, right from the start!

"Whoaaaa!"  One of Willow's new favorite words.

Getting my diaper changed before dinner.  I was kind of wild at dinner, squealing and biting my spoon until my whole body shook.  Now that I am comfortable completely with these people, I'm testing!  

Test away. We are here forever!