So, today we got a really early start...when Emily decided that 2:30 am was "waking up time". :) We are all still pretty thrown off by this jetlag. Anyway, we had breakfast at the hotel restaurant/ buffet at 6 am and left on our tourbus at 8:30 for a day of group sightseeing with our wonderful guide, Chen Chen. Emily opted to sit with her new buddy, Naomi, who is traveling with us and is also 4. They were so cute together, and for the whole duration of the bus ride, all you could hear was little girls talking and giggling to each other.

For our sightseeing adventure......First, we stopped off at a jade factory, where we saw how jade is carved and polished to make jewelery, fine art, etc. We also learned how to distinguish between real and fake jade. It was pretty interesting and there were some really elaborate pieces of jade carvings/art on display. We took a picture of this massive jade carved ship (below).

We then picked up two pendants (one for each of our girls). The are beautiful, each with different Chinese characters in the middle- one that means "fortune" and the other "happiness". It was here at the jade factory where Emily and I also experienced our first "squatty potty". Instead of being raised like western style toilets, these are flat/even with the ground with a place for each foot on either side of the bowl. You stand with your feet on the designated areas, squat and try to miss your pants....heehee. It was pretty clean, just different.

As we were leaving the jade factory (to head on to the Great Wall), the skies opened up and there was a torrential downpour. Of course, this didn't stop us from climbing the wall (which was AMAZING...they don't call it "great" for nothing), but we were all completely soaked through....especially Emily, and the poor kid was shivering (I felt so bad). The one good thing, though, was that our next stop was lunch and that the restaurant was attached to a big store with tons of traditional Chinese merchandise...silk outfits and other Chinese apparel, etc. So we bought a traditional pink silk outfit for Emily so that she could be nice and dry. It really is a beautiful outfit and I hope to pick up more in Guangzhou for both of the girls.

After lunch, we came back to the hotel and rested for a while, until it was time to meet up with the group for dinner. And now it is time for bed. :) I am beat! So were Mike and Emily, but they are asleep already. :)

Tomorrow, we are off to Tian Men Square and the Forbidden City. And then we fly out tomorrow evening to Abigail's province, where, per our guide, we will meet her most likely tomorrow night at the hotel shortly after arrival(instead of waiting until Monday, like previously thought). We are getting soooooo close now! Can't wait to meet our baby girl!