It's All About Her

We finally have a free moment and the means to communicate. Our hotel here in Nanning has computers in the room! Yippee!For 20 Yuan a day, or about $2.50, not bad to connect to the world. We just want to talk about Laina. She is awesome! Although she came to us with an ear infection, things are looking up in that aspect already. She is gorgeous, which we knew already, but really and truly amazingly so. She has a hot temper and growls when she's angry, baring her tiny 2 bottom teeth, perfectly appropriate since she is a little Leo, born in August. She doesn't have much hair still. She weighs in at 15 pounds and is the littlest in the group, as well as the loudest! Her caregiver said she was the loudest of all. Today we went to the Civil Affairs Office and were interviewed by officials and granted our Adoption Decree. It's official!They took a picture of us together and we signed lots and lots of beautiful rice paper documents with our signatures and also our thumbprints. Laina signed with a foot. They did not need Jimmy's foot, although he made sure to ask! After that, we went to a Notary office, where they asked us more questions and we signed and printed our thumbs on more papers. We promised to love and care for her as our own, promised not to neglect or abuse or abandon her, and pledged to give her everything possible. We passed and on Friday we'll get our official copies. We were able to have a talk with her main caregiver, our guide Glenn interpreted. She gave us our disposable camera back, we have to develop that, and surprised us with other gifts too. It turns out that she was with a foster family for a time, a couple with a son, and they sent a photo album for us! She also gave us Laina a beautiful book about the area where she was found, with a meaningful and poetic inscription. Today has been another amazing day in Nanning, tonight we have a birthday party with all the kids, there is a one year old today. Tomorrow we plan a trip to the zoo. More posts to come!