We ARE Mama & Baba. . .

Today was the first day all week that we actually got some time to just relax. Most of our group spent a couple of hours this morning in a local mall shopping. I'll tell you -- if it didn't cost so much to fly get here - we would probably come once a year just to get a new wardrobe. We got Kaili 2 dresses, a pair of sandels, and a pair of tennis shoes all for 155 Yuan. How much in US dollars you ask? Well, that converts to $19.38!!! It's amazing how cheap things really are here!

One family in our group choose to visit the girls' orphanage today, which is about 2.5 hours from our hotel. We decided against the visit for several reasons, the main being how well Kaili seems to have adjusted to us.. We didn't want to take the chance of losing any of that. However, after hearing the stories from the family that went, it just confirmed that we made the right choice. I won't share their experiences here with you all - maybe at a later time.

After returning from shopping we were able to relax and enjoy some time with Kaili. We discovered that despite our reports saying that she has been crawling since 7 months of age that there is no possible way for this is to be true. She just doesn't seem coordinated enough to make that happen yet. However, with some assitance, she is walking. Today is the first time that she started "talking" so to say -- more like babbling. The only vocals we have had have been giggles and that didn't start until Tuesday. As we were playing today, we kept pointing to each of us and putting a name with each person. Well, all of sudden she said "Mama" followed by "Mama, mama, mama, mama, mama...." She was on a roll!!! Yes -- a very good moment for me!!!! Then we worked on Dada and Baba (Chinese for father). Well, "Baba" seemed to be easier for her to say. Needless to say -- we are both very ecstatic about today!!!

Tomorrow will be another restful day - for the most part. We will check-out of our hotel around 2:30pm and head to the local police station to get Kaili's visa. Then it's off to the airport for our flight to Guangzhou (Guangjoe) -- our final stop in the adoption process. Since we aren't expected to arrive there until 8ish tomorrow - we won't be able to post tomorrow evening. I know -- I can hear it all ready -- how are you all going to cope not hearing us for that long??!!! Well, I hate to break to you - but due to several adoption appointments that we have Saturday morning, we won't be able to post again until Saturday evening (our time) -- Saturday morning your time. We promise to update everyone just as soon as we can.

Until then -- our love to everyone -
Kaili and her Mama and Baba