Its Official I'm Ba Ba

Pic: Gracie Li playing. What a Smile!

The TB skin test was normal! No chest x-ray and the last medical hurdle is now behind us. PTL.

After the test was checked we went to the shopping area near the classic White Swan Hotel where almost all of the adoptive familes used to stay because it so close to the American consolate, medical exam and of course shopping. Did i say shopping? There's no such thing as a firm price of the island and when you go to the shops that are a little off the main street they give you stuff to get you to come in a shop. Let's just say we bought some nice stuff for little money.

After shopping we went back to our room for some R&R and while Diana was napping I was playing on the floor with Gracie. Sarah was near by doing something else and suddenly the skies opened and this little angelic voice said 'ba ba' (the Chinese equal to pa pa or daddy)!!! Then she said it again and again and again with the biggest grin on her face. Those were the first 'words' that Gracie had spoken other than a little jabbering. Of course Diana missed it since she was napping but Sarah heard it so I have a witness.

Then a little later Gracie was playing with Sarah's 'Hannah' doll and prending to check her diaper and change her and after she finished she said 'good girl' to Hannah which is what Diana always says after she changes Gracie. Then as she was playing with Hannah she called her 'baby.'

These were her first words with us and probably her first english words ever. It was a great day!

We just finished dinner and it was quite an event. Gracie wanted me to feed her noodles using my chop sticks. It was like a mama bird feeding a baby chick. It was so cute. We were all laughing.

Tomorrow is an easy day for us. No appointments so we have a free day to do whatever we want. Maybe the zoo or more shopping or both.

Wednesday (Tuesday in US) will be our US consolate appointment. After that they will issue Gracie's US citizen paperwork, passport and visa and she will be offically ours in both countries. Right now she's officially ours in China, but not the US. That all changes Wednesday.

More to come.......