Our First Full Day with Brooklynn!!

Getting ready to go to Breakfast.

I love my book!

Smiling for Mommy

Playing with Daddy. Clint got her to laugh for the first time today and that was the best sound ever!

She likes to play. I can't say it enough she has a beautiful smile!

Today we went to the Civil Affairs Office to complete our paper work. Wow, what a relief that is to have that finished. Alot of answering questions I know we have completed in paper work leading up to this day. We signed our name to alot of paper work. Our guide was very helpful and was good to explain what we signing. Her name is Mary (that is what we call her anyway) and she explains the history of the city as we ride to where we are going. Shanxi province is the oldest in China's History. We drove down a street today that had alot of vendors on the side of the road. It reminds me of China Town in NYC except they lay their food on the ground to sell. Brooklynn seemed nervous as we entered the Civil Affairs Building today, and did not want to let go of me. Once we left she seemed at ease and more peaceful, almost as if she knew that we were her new family. Words can not explain the emotions we felt as they told us that everything was done. Tommorrow 9-5-07 we will be going to the park with our guide Mary.

Gotcha Day 9-3-07
Eating Cheerios
We made her laugh!! That is the most beautiful smile!
I love my telephone!
Daddy and Brooklynn

Sorry it took so long to post, but we have been busy loving on our daughter. Things are going well and she seems to be adjusting fine. We will go today 9-04-07 to do our paperwork!! I will post more later with pictures.

Braxton and Davis Mommy and Daddy love you very much. We will be home soon with your new sister.

Some Pictures so Far of the Trip

Hey Braxton and Davis this is a Coke can that is in Chinese! Thought you would like to see that!

Love you!

Tonight we ordered a hamburger for dinner. It came with a piece of ham on top of the beef.
Thought that was fun ham-burger.

This is Billy and Emily they traveled with us to China.
We had a long lay over in LA so we went to do some sight seeing.

Here we are at Venice Beach.

Don't I look excited to fly. Clint made me smile, but I really did not want too.

Venice Beach, Braxton and Davis this is the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica Pier

We Made It To China!!

We finally arrived in Taiyuan today Sept. 2nd. Feels a little weird to have skiped a whole day. The flight from LA was fine, but very long. Our guide Mary said we will be going tommorrow afternoon to be able to get and meet Brooklynn for the first time. We are excited but exhausted from the travel. Mary our guide said it is a 4 hour trip from the orphanage to where we are.
Our ride to the hotel was very interesting I will have to say. People just walk out in the middle of the street and drive on both sides of the road. There are lines painted, but I think they are just there for looks. Oh, and really there is no speed limit and I don't think I saw one traffic light the whole time we were in the van. I have to say now I feel much safer riding in a NY cab in the streets of Manhattan than here any day. I ride with my eyes shut. We will post more later with pictures.

Love,
Diane