4 New Pictures Added

Hi everyone - sorry we have had limited time to post. I put 4 new pictures on the blog, this time to the right so please look at them. We really can't even tell you how much we are bonding as a family with Ella. Laura just can't help staring at her and she adores Evan. She comes to all of us with a great personality (not afraid at all, though she is learning to cry if she doesnt get her way or if mommy leaves the picture - thats OK!). She is an outstanding little baby - what more can we say (we could not be any happier). And we are happy for the emails and comments as its our connection to home - and we cant wait to get home either. Things we've done - and I wont post every day, cause I can only tell you so many times that we went to McDonalds for dinner last night (yummy!) and there is a new Starbucks 1 block away that we frequent every day. McDonalds much cheaper / Starbucks not. Both nice to have around. Enough about Food - more about Ella - - She loves to suck her thumb (DeDe). That is her source of comfort. - She has 4 teeth (Dad, can you delay retirement till braces?) - She has two big Mongolian birthmarks (these fade as Asian children get older and are completeley normal) - She has a skin tag by her ear that we need to have removed - it doesnt bother her, though (just her mom who wants to style that hair diffently). - She has a cute laugh (not what we are used to, but she laughs/smiles a lot). - She is somewhat restless, but still calm (loves to move around, so we'll continue to sit in back row at church, Donna). - She's strong and solid. - I said it before but cant stress enough, she LOVES her big brother - he is such the help on this trip and cant get enough of his little sister. - I'm sure I am missing things too - Laura needs to do some of the writing. OK everyone - I will try to post tomorrow - tonite is Thai dinner with group (travel group) and I really dont know about tomorrow yet but there are scattered meetings and plenty of free time ahead. We visit the orphanage next week (3 hours away in same province - Guangdong). We miss everyone. Bye.

Its Official

We went to the adoption agency again today to make the adoption official and it's official - we passed the interviews (OK it wasn't a hard test!). So now we are an official family of 4 (the certificate arrives tomorrow). The day got off to a rocky start, and it was't due to Ella at all. I misread the time and got the entire family up an hour early, including Ella (not a great start). But we overcame that obstacle along with Ella throwing up twice today (it seems as if the formula isn't agreeing with her totally) and Ella is very congested/coughing while Laura has a sore throat (and we hope that is the extent of it). Other than that, Evan and I are feeling fine. Even finding some spots for ice cream and American food. The rest of the day is free time. We plan to do laundry and walk around the island we are staying on today with the McFees and their beautiful daughter Maya. I am also attaching an 2 email pictures that we received from Ella's caretaker today showing her and Maya preparing to leave Yangchun for Gotcha day yesterday. More pictures to follow. Evan and Ella especially are really getting along terrifically. Evan is going to be such a good big brother. Until later on....