Medical exam and a pot on our table

This morning was Daniel's medical exam to be allowed to leave China.

He did not enjoy this at all. 

Why? 

Well, his mama had to set him down twice. Two times too many in his mind. 

He still won't let me out of his sight. He is very unhappy if most of his body is not directly attached to mine. 

He clings to me pretty much all the time, night and day. 

If I set him down, a look of terror comes across his face and he lets anyone within a mile radius know what he thinks about it. 

He wakes up fussing every 15 minutes or so all night to make sure I'm still there. Once he sees me, he goes right back to sleep.

He has some deep fears. 

He is not fond medical professionals. 

He does not like elevators, hallways, or small cramped spaces. Had I mentioned our hotel room is tiny by US standards?

He does not like high chairs. 

Stroller? Not a chance.

As long as I'm holding him he is fine. He eats, plays, laughs, imitates, and is a hoot.

He likes daddy a long as mama is holding him. 

So for now, we will help him learn to trust. We are reviewing the chapter on Fear in our favorite adoption and attachment book, "The Connected Child." 

We covet your prayers for wisdom!

So now for the pot on the table part. A blue plastic bucket was placed on our table at lunch at a local restaurant. An authentic, local restaurant. As in, no one speaks English and we are ordering by pointing at a picture and hoping what looks like chicken IS chicken. We've had one episode of mystery meat since we've been here, and that's enough for me. We believe it was mammal meat, but still aren't sure. 

Anyway, I digress. We've noticed these basins are sometimes placed on restaurant tables, but only at some tables and not others. A spittoon? A hand washing station? A leftover container? 

Well, upon closer inspection, we think we might have figured it out. It's a potty and it is only placed at tables with children. These are needed because most little kids here wear split pants. Google it, I don't want to explain.

The one placed on our table still had some yellow liquid in it. It had a picture in it that said, " Baby Pot."

This is my look when we figured it out. Um yeah, I was a missionary kid a LONG time ago. I am apparently very Americanized. 

If we are wrong about this, feel free to correct us. I'd love to be wrong!

Happy Fourth of July from China!

That's enough for today. Tomorrow we visit Shamian Island. We are done with adoption stuff until Monday.