what day is it?

can't seem to remember which day i got here, what day it is, and on which day i leave... but I'm having fun and counting down the days.  Yesterday (i seem to recall that was our first full day here) was spent trying to keep awake long enough to make it to bedtime.  We went, on the advice of our guide, to an insanely expensive mall in search of baby formula.  up and down and back up and down until we found the supermarket on the basement level.  but once there,  found that neither of the two types of formula that i was looking for, was sold there.  so an expensive day of shopping for naught.  we were so exhausted we barely managed to drag our feet from the train station back to our hotel, and right into our beds.  i think i woke up around 9:30 that night and feeling more tired than hungry had a banana, a luna bar and back to bed.

all this off schedule sleeping means i woke up at 4:30 this morning.  and wide away, no going back to sleep woke up.  which is good since by the time breakfast was ready at 6:30, i had showered, dressed and was ready to go.  i had research various Walmart locations (yes Walmart... and apparently one of the few places that sell internationally made formula...)  and with the help of our guide (whom I'm sure i woke with my 8:30am phone call) and a hotel staff person, i plotted out our day.  Lama Temple first which was north of us.  that was amazing.  living in the states anything that is more than 200 years old is considered ancient, but looking at relics and statues that pre-date that by a century and now you really appreciate what ancient looks like.  we left the Temple and began our adventure to find the Walmart -- because when you get right down to it, everyday should be spent visiting and appreciated something vastly beyond our imagination, followed by chasing down a good ole' walmart deal!   two train rides and one transfer later we made it to the right district.  Luckily there was a sign in both Chinese characters and english and i took a photo of that.  kept having to show the picture of the sign to very friendly and quite curious passersby as they tried to direct us to the walmart.  Suffice it to day, another day spent going up and down every staircase, escalator and conveyor belt to once again find the object of my desire in the basement.  Found also was the coveted baby formula (or at least what i really hope is the right brand) and just as we were about to deal with the long cashier line, what do i see??? the most adorable Chinese, baby girl, a freakin dorable outfit!  quick discussion to decide line and leave?  or shop for cuteness?  any guess which we decided on?  two most adorable little traditional outfits later (pictures to eventually come) and once again the wait at the excruciatingly long lines.  Interestingly enough there seemed to always be no shortage of employees gathered at every end cap, every aisle, every spot, but no more than 3 cashiers and scores of shoppers filing by.  makes no sense to me!

couldn't get home fast enough -- i thought until i saw the Starbucks.  surely we have time for one quick latte?  just a moment to sit down and relax?  15 minutes of absolute bliss and once again the search for the train station which would ultimately bring us back.   Proud to say that at 8:47pm,  not only have I ventured out for the very first time at night, but i actually had dinner and pre-packed two suitcases, in preparation of my trip to Dylan's province on Saturday and i'm still awake.  4 more sleeps!!!

Tomorrow we're joining up with other Holt families and being taken to see the Great Wall.  I can't wait.  I also can't imagine the possibility of actually going there.  Something i would have never though would happen in my lifetime.  but here i am, the night before talking about it!  It will also be nice to meet some of the other families in my group.  None of them have a child in Guizhou, so after tomorrow we go our separate ways until we all meet up in Guangzhou.  That seems like so very very far away.

Enjoying this small respite before I meet Dylan but i just want to be there already.  i want to feel settled and like I'm not living out of a (literal) suitcase.  It will be a few weeks before I'm home, and i know the second i meet her, it will all change for me.  But right now, all i want is to be with Dylan, my wonderful kids and husband and to be home, starting our lives together.