applying for her passport, etc.

The agenda for Tuesday was light - go to apply for passports at 1 PM (the Holt staff was working in the AM going to collect up copies of the adoption documentation in the AM).

So we had the morning to ourselves. After breakfast, we went with the Stockton's and Lamont's to a playgound the hotel as outdoors on the 5th floor. MeiLi , Nana and Beka had a blast. They are big pals. We stayed for a couple of hours - returning to the rooms at 11 for expected calls from Holt to prepare for the afternoon. Breaking away from the playground was our only difficulty of the day. MeiLi was having too much fun.

We returned to the room to find things to do as a family (or, for the girls to do as girls) - activities included doing their nails and taking a bath.

Perhaps we have another dancer?

At 1 we proceeded by bus to the office where we apply for passports, a short drive. There were a lot of people there (metro Changchun is over 7 m, so there are a lot of people everywhere) - the office was air conditioned (not assumed), much like a very large DMV in the US, but with everyone talking at the same time - very loud - just the kind of environment I really love.

We waited for about an hour - photo of adopting kid and one parent - then a bit longer for the paperwork to commence. We were called to a desk - laid everything out in front of an official - it must have already been in the system because the entire process took all of 15 seconds. We were dismissed - though I think they took a web cam shot as well. Game over for paperwork here - now we wait here for a passport for 3 days.

Aftwards we went to a mall area to some shopping. Things are pretty much like they are in the states, except - there is no space, so no parking / and things are built up not out (that is, multi-floor - e.g. the Walmart is on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a building - they don't have the ground floor).

We had lunch at a KFC (which, even with a pic of the Colonel, isn't quite the same) where MeiLi proceeded to fall asleep. We walked back to the hotel with her on my shoulder, and all took naps. In the evening was more swimming with her pals - then back to the room to play with puzzles, etc. We went out looking for a late dinnner but weren't open to much - I brought stuff back to the room while the girls did some more shopping (mostly for stuff like water and gifts for the Holt staff here - they've done a great job).

So as I write this it feels to me kind of routine - eating, playing with the kids, getting stuff done. Both Carolyn and I are gaining confidence that MeiLi really is the kind, gracious, confident, fun little girl we were hoping for. If this continues as it has started - and I pray that it does - I am so thankful, because God gave us a wonderful child.

Here is getting ready for bed (this photo and our family is also proof that one out of 4 children in this world is Chinese):

And what I found when I woke up this morning: