We began our day with another delicious breakfast buffet here at the hotel and then it was off to the Notary Public Office for some more paperwork. When we arrived at the Government building Bob informed us we had to climb 7.......yes SEVEN sets of stairs as this building had no elevator. Ok, so imagine Jennifer carrying her bag with paperwork and toys along with a 36 lb (yep, she’s a brut) child up those stairs. I thought when I reached the top I was going to pass out, haha! But we made it and I think this was the most emotional day so far. The Notary (like the Judge here) asked me a serious of questions after which I promised to love and take care of Madelyn and never leave her, on behalf of Matt too! I lost it after one question and blubbered my way through it with tears. After that our guide took us to a local “supermarket”, kind of like a Wal-mart or at least they offered the same kinds of things. THAT was interesting......... Sally and I were the center of attention since she has blonde hair and I have red. The local residents would follow us around or just stop and stare and then speak something to each other in Chinese. Most if not all of the children 2 and under were wearing split pants, which means the center of them is cut out so they don’t wear any diapers. I will let your imagination take the rest of that image :) Most of the clothes were much like what we have in the USA and the shoes were New Balance, Nike, things like that. I did buy Madelyn her first toy and let her choose what she would like. We can home with a plastic dress up kit that included high heal slippers, sunglasses and lipstick....she has yet to put it down. I can’t wait for Joshua to see what I got him!
Madelyn is still calling herself Maddie, I am “mama” and Nana Paula is “NiNi. I have been showing her pictures daily of our family and anytime she sees the pic of Matt and Joshua she starts kissing it and telling everyone that is her “baba” (daddy) and “gugu” ( brother). She is very proud of them. Maddie loves to color and when she is ready for a different toy she puts those up and gets out what she wants. She is very independent, of course I am sure she has had to be. Once she gets us in the morning she is ready to get dressed and get going. This morning she wanted her shoes on at 6am and pointed to the stroller telling me it was time for breakfast by rubbing her tummy! She is so amazing, I still cannot believe she is ours to keep and I don’t have to give her back. While riding in the van today with the other family and our guide, Maddie was getting tired and singing to herself. Bob started laughing and I asked him to translate. She was singing “Happy Birthday to me”. I can’t wait for everyone back home to meet her, she will steal your heart just as she has mine! She just will not stop talking though, between her and Joshua, Matt and I will have our hands full!
We are still confused on the time zone difference so at 8pm we are exhausted and the latest I have slept so far is 5:30am.
Tomorrow we have another appointment for some more paperwork and then we think we are going to a museum for children. We have been so fortunate that everything we have done so far has be indoors. But again the temp has been about 85 and although the humidity is bad, it has been tolerable!
Till Tomorrow - Jennifer & Madelyn |
