Once we were back to the hotel after we got Gracie, we headed up to our room to get to know her a little better. Her eyes were as big as they could possibly get and she was constantly looking around. We could easily see she was timid but as the minutes went on she became more scared. She never cried but was just so nervous. She was grinding her teeth almost constantly and then she started spitting up and we assumed it was from her nerves so we decided it was best for Emma and Denny to leave so it would be more quiet and less for her to take in.
They were able to go sightseeing and visited the Nanjing Wall where they did archery, rode down the top of the wall on an electric car, and enjoyed a beautiful view.
They were able to go sightseeing and visited the Nanjing Wall where they did archery, rode down the top of the wall on an electric car, and enjoyed a beautiful view.
This city wall was built during the Ming Dynasty and each brick has the name of the one who made it. They said it was quite a hike up to the top. Back in the room, Gracie sat in my lap quietly and ended up falling asleep.
She napped from 12-12:30 and woke up quietly, just looking around. Until this day, this little one has never left the orphanage...never been in a car, hotel room, a store, never seen a bed, a suitcase, and probably never seen anyone who looks different from her nannies. She sat in my lap for a while just taking it all in. Then I remembered the stacking cups. We were told these were the only toy we would need to bring to China and boy was that right! I sat in the floor with her in my lap and showed her the cups and how they fit inside each other. After two times of showing her this...she took over. She moved the cups around and put them inside one another and then did it over...and over...and over again.
We had some great play time together and I got to see her personality come out a little bit when we put the cups on each other's heads. We also scooted the cups across the table from each other. At this point, she was not stuck to my lap like she has been for the days since. She even giggled and gave me some smiles! She wouldn't take the bottle or cup we brought and would cough and then throw up when I would show it to her so I ended up giving her water out of the lid of a water bottle...this was the only way she would drink for a day.
We continued to play and have fun together and it was fascinating to watch her become a bit more comfortable. I was amazed at all she could do with her little nubs. She moved those cups around with no problem, she opened the little play dough container, and she even got a quarter of of the play dough that I had squished it into. I know I have been told many times there's not much she won't be able to do with her hands. But hearing it and seeing are two totally different things. I sat in the hotel room in amazement of this little girl.
I was even able to give her a short bath as she was pretty smelly and sweaty. She stood stiff in the bathtub and was amazed at the bubbles. I quickly got her out and put on her pjs...and while she was happy, I knew I had to put a headband on her as I've been "threatened" that every picture of her she should be wearing one of her many, many, many headbands :) This might be the only picture you'll get like that :)
Denny and Emma returned from their exploring and Gracie became very scared and stopped playing. She started gritting her teeth again and then vomited. She continued to do this off and on until bedtime. We tried to put her in the crib and complete terror came across her face. Now, after having three kiddos I can tell what pitching a fit looks like. This was nothing like pitching a fit or a temper tantrum. It was full out terror. I've never seen real terror like this in a person before and it was so scary and sad all at the same time...sad that she was experiencing this and scary that there was nothing we could really do to help her. I tried sleeping with her on the little couch but we didn't fit too well so she ended up in the bed with Denny and I....with the view of Denny blocked by pillows. She slept through the night but as soon as she woke the next morning, the fear and shock started all over again for her.