The next day

Today was even better. Even more food that she likes.
A successful night was had by all. Haley went to sleep about 9:00pm and Barb and Andy soon followed. All slept (Andy and Barb off and on) until just after 5:00am until little Haley woke up from her deep sleep. The tasks for the day would have to wait while Haley was changed and bathed. Then off to breakfast (all the breakfasts are large buffet style western breakfasts). Haley sucked back a bottle of formula (which she would not take the day before – a good sign I think). Today is the day of the official adoption from China – these are the legal papers and stuff in order for Andy and Barb to become the official legal parents of young Haley.

The bus left just after 8:00am and we were back to the same provincial government office as the day before. A short interview would be required by each couple and then several administrative fees were required to be paid. At 10:30am we were off to another government office. There was another short interview with a lawyer and the adoption was legalized. So what does every good family do now that they have made the adoption official – the same as any family in Canada – it was straight to the local Walmart. What a place – the mothership of all Walmarts I suspect. While most prices were relatively similar to Canadian prices there were exceptions. Blue jeans, for example, has a sale price of 2.40 Yuan. That’s about $0.40 CDN. (That’s not a typo).

After the Walmart experience it was back to the hotel to relax. By this time we have again met up with Gary and Joyce and have a quiet lunch of noodles in our hotel room. Haley is now laughing and playing and is much more open than she was even yesterday. She seems to get a kick out of Joyce. A quick nap and then it is off to meet the orphanage director. We gave him some gifts and he answered some general questions.

Next it is dinner time - off to a local chinese restaurant for beef, noodles, pork, chicken, beer, rice and other fine food. Haley was up and down at dinner but in the end took her bottle (I think that this was the fourth or fifth one of the day) and was pretty good. After dinner it was back to the hotel for playtime, a bath, more food and finally some sleep. Bedtime was now about 9:30pm. Tomorrow is a big day - three hours on a bus each way to the orphanage in Nanfeng.