So Long from China - Please Leave A Comment for Ella!!

So long everyone - we leave China in exactly 24 hours from now, at 9pm on Friday, March 9th and I will not have time to post tomorrow as our internet access expires in the morning. Evan and I went to the Guangzhou Electronics market today and Evan got a bunch of DS games (Jordan, take note of this). 20 games and a Revolution memory card/adapter for $$$, well lets just say we got a good sale. The big event today was that we took the oath (just affirming that all of the information we have given is true etc)! This was our final step which allows us to bring Ella home (we received her Chinese passport and Visa to enter the US). When she lands in the US and we pass her through customs (Non US Citizens Line), she will then officially become a US citizen (she'll also retain her dual Chinese citizenship). Then there is the matter of just some ongoing paperwork back home (Social Security #, official birth certificate etc). We also had dinner and shopping with our friends Mike and Jill, parents of Maya, who are just terrific people that we love hanging out with even though the jokes are usually at my expense - there is a salesperson here named Dong - I'll try to snap a picture of him tomorrow but suffice it to say he could sell cars in the US real well. Well Dong got the best of me on a few purchases early on in the trip and we've all had a lot of fun with this. But in closing, and speaking for Ella, we know that she wants to thank everyone who has followed our journey to bring her home. We will be absolutely certain to save these memories forever, including all of the wonderful comments we have received from all of you. It means so much to Laura and I that you all could be part of our adventure and more than that, will be a big part of Ella's childhood. She is so lucky. So if you could leave a comment for Ella, we would really appreciate it. We're definitely not done - all of you should look into starting a blog on blogspot -we'll keep this going after special events (like Ella's baptism and first birthday weekend- we've learned that its such a great way to communicate and create/share memories, plus I will help with some of the technical aspects). Thanks again everyone - So long from China, but we can't wait to get HOME!

Red Couch Day Today - 9 Pictures Below

It's freezing here everyone. Todays high was 58 or something with a low of 50, but that is cold for Guangzhou (we are on the same latitude as Key West, FL). So, we have been enjoying the White Swan for the better part of the day, with only a quick excursion out to Lucy's - a neighborhood bar/grille that is both decent and cheap ($20 on average for a meal for the three of us and you dont leave hungry)! And tonight, we are waiting on Danny's Pizza and Bagel (quite a combination!) The highlight of the day was the traditional Red Couch pictures. I am attaching pictures below showing Ella with us, our local representatives from CCAI (adoption agency) and the other babies from our travel group. Oh and they are dressed in traditional Chinese outfits and Ella looked adorable. Tomorrow morning Laura gets a massage (she is thrilled) and then we head to an electronics market to buy Evan some DS games if we can find and then come back to be sworn in at the US Consulate - its the final piece of paperwork needed before we start our trip home Friday (morning USA time). So tomorrow's update will probably be the last until we get home. Well take care everyone - a short note today but not too much going on - Enjoy the pictures of the babies.