She's Officially Our Daughter!

Today was a day of more paperwork, and they presented me with Lily Rose's red book (adoption families will understand this) at the Shanghai Marriage and Adoption Bureau. Then they stood me behind a podium and pronounced me Lily Rose's official parent. This was a new procedure from any of our previous adoptions. It was quite nice!

We came back to the hotel at noon and just ordered room service. I have a nasty cold and am feeling quite under the weather. This afternoon the girls and I were going to go for a walk and bit of shopping on Nanjing Rd. - a pedi-road (no cars allowed), but we decided to postpone it a day or two until I'm feeling better. Instead we've spent the afternoon watching DVD's on Torie's computer and the girls went to the hotel gym and worked out.

Lily Rose has entertained herself all afternoon with a few plastic spoons and stacking cups. I've brought the same stacking cups on all four adoption trips and those and the Cheerios have been mainstays for us! Lily Rose is also thrilled with the freedom to walk around the room in bare feet. Her walking is already getting steadier.

Lily Rose definitely has an opinion and a strong-will which she displays if one of her big sisters sits in the wrong spot or moves away one of her toys. She squeals and says something in the Shanghai dialect. Although we can't understand the words, the meaning is crystal clear. It makes us all laugh although we try to stifle our giggles since clearly it's not something we want to encourage!

Apart from her little strong-will, she smiles all the time. She has an amazingly good disposition.

Tomorrow we are doing some more sightseeing. We are going to the Shanghai Museum and the Yu Gardens and Old Shanghai. It should be a good day!

Thanks for all your prayers. We are truly blessed.