From Jodi: For the past day and a half we have been able to enjoy our time in Jinan without rushing around. Yesterday we walked around the springs near the city center and Eli was content to be carried around by Mike and I as we strolled along the water. Later we went to WALMART...yup, Chinese Walmart. I couldn't believe it. Jinan has changed so much since I lived here ten years ago. I have had a difficult time recognizing places I once knew quite well. Now you can find a Pizza Hut in almost any part of the city and I saw a Starbucks during our taxi ride today. Crazy. Eli seems to enjoy taking in all the sights as well. Every time we are in a taxi, his eyes are glued out the window. He likes to point out everything he sees, which is mostly cars and busses. He is a very curious little boy and is now starting to ask what things are in English. He also loves to mimic what is dad is saying. I smile every time they are in the bathroom because Eli sounds like a little parrot sitting on the toilet copying everything Mike says--and he has know idea what most of it means. He has already mastered a few words though including okay, uh-oh, car, hello, bye-bye, banana (another favorite food) and, of course, Mickey Mouse...which he pronounces Mickey Mousey. Who would have thought that my best itunes purchase ever would be a few episodes of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cartoons. Eli LOVES it and it has become a routine to watch before both nap and bedtime. When it is over he says "Bye-bye Mickey Mousey" and is ready for sleep. This is good because I am always ready for sleep too. This trip has been so full of great experiences with our new son, but it has also been completely exhausting. Sure, the jetlag is part of it. But there are many other contributing factors as well. Take my dear husband and his snoring for example. With each day we spend in the smog-filled air of China, his snoring and his coughing gets louder and louder. Between his snoring and the gymnastics routine Eli seems to be performing each night during his sleep, I have yet to get a good night's rest. :) It has also been mentally tiring trying to communicate in Chinese, both with Eli and with people we encounter on the streets and in stores. Most times I love trying to interpret for Mike and Eli, but it hard to keep up with the back and forth. Today, while we were out shopping, I actually answered Mike in Chinese. I am loosing it for sure. And the last factor is the lack of food. This is not because I don't like Chinese food...I love Chinese food. However, I am currently some kind of weight loss plan called the Eli diet. He demands to eat his meals in my lap (which I do love, really) and little time is left for me to eat my own food. Between this and the fact that he wants me to carry him everywhere, I should be in great shape by the time we return to the U.S.