Buddha Belly is the Star for Today

Hi,

Well, everyone is laying down for their nap right now. Including Nina-Li with Grumpers. In the picture you'll notice she has headphones on. We purchased her a Chinese Children's CD set and she loves it! Big points for Bill. He had to help her with the MP3 and finally got the connection he was needing. Yes, now Nina-Li knows he's the techie guy. He also got to play a card matching game with her. So, he finally feels as though she doesn't completely hate him.

Today Nina-Li is most loyal to Grumpers. We walked the boardwalk the other direction today. It lead us to a beautiful park that is kind of a small island on the lake. A park like this would have cost $$$ in the states. Yet, it was so lovely. The gardens were just beautiful. There were fish ponds and waterfalls. Mums were planted and formed into sculptures such as dragons, peacocks, dolphins, even boats and canons. Many of the locals watch and stared. There was a large group that decided they all needed pictures of themselves with us, well, mostly with Grumpers and we were in the background. I think honestly, his belly is amazing them. He would tell you the same. One of the Holt staff called him Buddha Belly and since then, that has been his name. We got some ice cream which tasted more like thick whipped cream frozen. Very good. At first Nina-Li said no, but then Grumpers kept offering his and she ended up sharing his with him.

Right before we left for our walk, Nina-Li was a bit sad we could see it coming, then the soft crying (not wailing or screaming, think God!) came. She cried for about 10 minutes into our walk, and then the attractions I think distracted her from her sadness. It seems as though about 10 AM and around 4 PM are when she hits her lows.

Well, I must now warn all my neighbors: If you see a sweet little Chinese girl peeing in your yard this summer, please do not be alarmed. Nina-Li has been very good at controlling herself and using the 'western toilets' here at the hotel. But, here in China it is acceptable for children to go outside in the bushes. As we were walking she just went over in the bushes and shimmied down her little skirt and went. Surprised Bill and I. Hopefully before summer she will learn that, THAT is not an American way of life. It was funny though.

We are still calling her Ruan Ruan. Every once in awhile someone will say Nina, so hopefully we will just begin incorporating her name and she will get it some day. She has been so sad and so attached to everything from the orphanage (well, her clothes) that we just felt like we couldn't announce to her a name change too.
I hope you enjoy these pictures, I was anxious to share them with you.

Much Love