It's Even More Official

We had a free morning today, and certainly needed it.

After breakfast, we took a leisurely walk around Shaiman Island, a small island within Guangzhou on which the White Swan Hotel rests. Kate seems to really like being pushed in a stroller. In fact, she seems to like it whenever she's in motion. We were able to borrow a stroller for free from one of the plentiful local merchants who cater to the adoptive families. It's the same shop that's doing our laundry.

Then we went once again to the Adoption Center and got our official adoption certificate.



After that, we went to the police to apply for Kate's passport. Evidently, the front of the police office is the ONLY place in Guangzhou where you cannot double park, and our bus had to move. At the time, our new friends Peggy and Jason Cooksey and their new daughter Estelle were off the bus dealing with a problem with their passport photo with the help of Elsie and Simon, our CHI coordinators. The only other people not on the bus when it pulled away were Kate and Eddie. Kate was being a little fussy (to put it mildly) and Eddie was walking her. It was a strange feeling to see the bus pull away. It was the first time our new family had been separated. But all ended well.

Simon arranged for a stop at a local coffee shop, and this photo goes out to our friend Rob -



Then we were taken shopping at Carrefour, the Chinese equivalent to Walmart, if Walmart were three stories high and louder than the dickens. Honestly, as loud as it was in there, it made a Walmart feel like a Buddhist monastery.




Other photos from the day -

Sue/Mom: Get a load of those shoes!




Christi and Kate in the White Swan's garden -



Feeding is becoming easier -



Kate is introduced to books and the cats -







Family and friends - Get used to this look -


And dressing is getting easier as well -