Today our guides processed our Visa paperwork at the U.S. Consulate. All we had to do was sit by the phone for a couple of hours in the event they had questions about our application. All went well and we received the notarized documents later today. Tomorrow we go to the consulate to take the oath with our babies in an official ceremony.
At noon today all of the families met in the lobby for the famous "red couch" photo. It is tradition when staying here at the White Swan Hotel to have a group photo taken with all the babies in traditional Chinese dress sitting on the red couch in the lobby.
I have several traditional Chinese outfits for Phoebe Li, but of course I chose the one with all frog buttons instead of snaps. I know, those of you with kids are laughing at me now, saying what is she thinking trying to dress a squirmy baby in such an outfit? We were so exhausted after dressing her (she twists and turns faster than our four arms can move), we could barely get down to the red couch in time for the photo. In the end all went well, and Phoebe Li sat very politely on the red couch at photo time. I was expecting her to be the one pulling the hair of the other babies, but she was too busy staring at the other babies who were crying and falling over on top of each other. It was chaos, as there are 12 in our group...multiply that times two parents each and a photographer all vying for the photo. Phoebe Li's pants stayed on just long enough for the money shot, then off they came since the elastic was loose and the pants too big for her little body. It was really fun to see the babies all dressed in different Chinese outfits.
After all that excitement Phoebe Li took a two hour nap, Dan did some reading, and I did a little shopping. The people in the shops here are so incredibly polite. They quietly invite you into their store, only asking once. And once in the shop, they tiptoe behind you to be at your beck and call for whatever questions you may have. While I waited, an artist made a Chop with Phoebe Li's Chinese name, Haocai....this is officially now her middle name...and it means Good Luck. The Chop is a seal or stamp used to sign your name in red ink at the end of a letter or work of art. The man carved it especially for her at the shop in 10 minutes while I passed the time playing with their cat (missing my Noel!) and buying Phoebe Li yet another Chinese outfit with frog buttons. They packed the Chop in a little box with a porcelain ink pad for 65 yuan (about $10 U.S.) and I was on my way.
We'll be home soon! (I know if we don't get home soon Memere and Auntie Sue will be on the next plane to China.)
