Zhumadian

 Today was super long! We started bright and early in the new stroller.  She slept all night and was very happy this morning.

 We went back to civil affairs and finalized our adoption. She's ours!! Then we hiked up 7 stories to a too small stuffy room where we had our adoption certificate notarized.

 We got to come home for just an hour, then 3 families, a guide, a driver, and 3 newly adopted babies climbed into a minivan and made the 3 hour trek to the babies orphanage city to apply for their passports. One of the weird things that I've noticed in China is no car seats. Anywhere. Babies are on laps in the front seat. Crazy. So off we went. The drive went well. It's odd with Emily not knowing what she likes or doesn't, or how to comfort her, or how she does on long long long car rides. She did well though. They all did. After we applied for the passports (all of 30 minutes for that long drive) we asked to go to the girl's orphanage. For whatever reason, they were not keen to take us there, but finally consented to letting us see the outside of it. It's in an obviously very poor part of town. It was an interested city all the way around. There were blocks and blocks of skyscrapers in some form of construction. All empty and abandoned. It was very dirty, with trash all over the streets and sidewalks, and not too many people or cars. Nothing like Zhengzhou.  Anyway, the orphanage was huge, pink, and nice. It was surrounded by gardens, and seemed peaceful. We saw the window of her room, which overlooked some giraffes sculptures in the garden. It was very emotional to go there. I didn't think it would be. There's a very lovely sculpture in front (this photo) of a woman and a baby. They told us the writing on the base said "mother's love". It was beautiful. We were all so grateful that China had a dozen fewer orphans today.

The drive home deserves a post of it's own, but as it happened today, It will get posted today! The babies were less than excited to be back in the van. So were the adults.  Gary brought strawberry filled oreos to share, and the baby in front of us loved them right up, then barfed them up all over her dad who was trying to keep his own lunch down as his wife hurried to clean her up. We were making the best of it when Emily decided that that would be the best time to completely flush her entire system!! There wasn't a spot on her that didn't have poo on it! Poor little dad in front of us was cracking jokes, and trying to keep positive. I've never laughed so hard. The van smelled like a sewer!! It was so funny! These families that we're traveling with are the best! It was a long nasty ride home, followed by showers all around, and an entire tub full of laundry. Yes, hand wash. It's like $6 per article of clothing to have it done.  

We're glad today is over. Tomorrow, we have nothing!! It will be nice. We are so thankful for this baby. We love her sooo much! She is getting stronger by the hour we feel like. She eats like a champ, and grinds her 4 teeth like it's her job! We have decided that she is most certainly turning 1 and not two. We asked the orphanage director today how old she was and she said "The doctor said she was younger too. The police record is what we have to go by." We'll have to sort that one out. love love love this baby!