Here are some pictures of the hotel and surrounding area. The illuminated bridge has an integrated cascading water feature that runs the length of the span. The buildings trimmed in blue lights have high-res video screens the size of our house on their flanks. Nanning is quite a city. Oh, and I threw in another Truman picture for good measure.

A Day in the Park

We went to the People's Park today. We saw people doing Tai Chi, dancing, twirling swords, and playing traditional Chinese instruments. We fed koi fish, rode amusement park rides, and took lots of pictures. Then we went to McDonald's and Walmart. (Pretty exotic, huh?) Then, we went back to the hotel for naptime where Truman cried for nearly two straight hours while repeating his routine of putting on his shoes, gathering his things, heading for the door, and screaming "ma ma, ma ma!!!" He spent several hours yesterday and the evening before that doing the same thing. We have to get out of this hotel before it turns into the hotel from "The Shining." When we are outside of this room, Truman is the happiest, most outgoing little guy you'll ever meet. Inside, he is miserable. We leave for Guangzhou on Saturday. Hopefully a change of scenery will make the difference. In the meantime, we will relish the moments spent outside of our room.

More Pictures...

It's Legal

Today, after being interviewed by someone from civil affairs and a notary, our coordinator uttered the words, "Congratulations. You are now officially this child's parents." 'Nuff said.

The group picture includes the other adopting couple with their child Avery and the orphanage directors. Did you happen to notice the smile on our kid in that first picture? How 'bout the smile on his mama?

The First Day...

Truman is a brave little soldier. He cried quite a bit when his foster mommy left him. By the time we got back to our hotel he would grab his toys and head for the door. He wanted to go home. After a while he calmed down and played a little. Then, he brought me his shoes. I put them on his feet, he grabbed his toys and he stood at the door silently. He was fighting his new lot in life, but as time wears on, he is beginning to accept it. I managed to make him laugh a few times and he let Mama give him a bath. Apparently that woke some powerful memories. He cried a sad cry and right now is trying to get Bethany to put his shoes on. He has his old toys in hand and looks ready to go. But he isn't leaving this time. I think we're getting through to him. We tell him "hen hao" (very good) when he goes on the potty (which he has done 5 times in a row on demand with no accidents in between) and he claps and smiles when we praise him. And, he blew me a kiss a minute ago. That was freakin' awesome. It won't be easy, but we'll win him over pretty soon. We love him with all our hearts, that's for sure.