E-mail from David and answers to my many questions.  Lorie

Stock up on tiny bottles of baby lotion.  Good grief - getting it away from her is like Jordan was with his paci.  She has to do everything herself or at least have a turn.  Nana cut Mei's toenails and as soon as she was done, Mei picked up the clippers and went at it.

O.K. I noticed Mei has a little lotion bottle in her waking up picture.  Does she actually sleep with it?  Does she open it up and try and put lotion on herself?  The lotion stay by the bed and she holds it while taking her bottle.  Can you believe Pooh Bear plays second fiddle to a bottle of lotion?!  She takes the top off and puts lotion on her boo boos but you can't rub it in.  So she sits there with little pink spots all up and down her legs.  Too funny.

Loved the video from the zoo, especially when she is "walking" to the next animal.  She thinks she is the bomb.  You aren't kidding.  She gets the arm going and people part like the Red Sea.  If you really want to make her smile, give her a pair of new shoes.  Good grief.  That was the biggest smile yet when I pulled those shoes you packed with her ice cream outfits.  We had to put them on before the outfit and let her walk around in just the shoes before I could finish.

Do children really just go to the bathroom wherever?  Yes.  How about adults?!  Only the men - I was serious about the men going to the bathroom in the bushes but I did not get a picture of it.

Does Zhou tell you what people are saying?  Like Mei's friends she met.  What did the women & children say to her?  Did that little girl want Mei's pink pooh bear 'cause I will drive to Disney World and get her one.  Zhou translates when it is pertinate to us or he tells them why we are there.  There was a little boy behind us while fishing and the mom talked to Zhou.  She asked if I wanted to adopt her little boy and I said I already had three.  We all had a big laugh.  The people here are wonderful and very nice.  Many stare or will crane to get a better look at Mei but it is just out of curiosity.  All the girls in the restaurant come up and say "Hello, Mei Mei" or the Chinese equivalent when we come in for dinner or breakfast.  I think they would dote more but they tend to be very formal with guests of the hotel.

Have you tried to get Mei to brush her teeth and does she act like she has done it before?  Yes and no.  She mimics everything I do.  Have you been able to look inside her mouth?  No but I have not forced the issue.  Just wondering if we are going to have to hold her down at the doctors.  We just might.  How is the rash?  Not any better but I do not think it is scabies.

Is Mei still sleeping o.k. at night?  Like a log.  Do you know if she wakes during the night and if so, is she able to go back to sleep on her own?  Yes & yes.  Is she still doing that thing with not getting up when she wakes up?  Yes.  She just lays there and doesn't make a sound.  We took a nap today and she was awake when I woke up but had not moved.  All her toys and all were in the same place.  The caregivers must have trained them not to get up and wake the other children.

How is Nana doing?  Very good.  She gives Mei her bath and hangs out in our room but gives us some quiet time as well.  Is she enjoying China?  What does she think?  We are having a good time.  I have to keep reminding her to stop using her Chinese accent, but other than that she is behaving.