AT LAST...NO MORE PAPERWORK TO SIGN!!!!!!!

We have been in Guangzhou since Sunday, 05/22/11and it was like entering a totally different place.  It is called the Shamian Islands and it is beautiful.  It is almost a tropical feel.  The area  has beautiful trees and flowers.  People come here to have their wedding photos taken, models come to have their pictures taken...it is really a gorgeous place.  There are shops everywhere and you can get just about any kind of souvenir that you want.
 
On Monday, we had appointments to have Sophie's visa picture taken and her physical exam.  She was 26 inches long and weighed 17.2 lbs with her clothes on.  The rest of the day and Tuesday were free time and we went to a "walking street" where there was a big mall that had all kinds of jewelry: pearls/tourquois/crystal jewelry that they will string for you into a necklace and there were many different shops as well.  There were many people there, but Louise our guide said that this was nothing compared to the weekend...many more people would be there on the weekend...can't imagine!!! We went down a "snack street" that had all kinds of vendors selling Chinese foods from open stalls...unique smells were encountered...ugh! ha!  We did not venture out and get those kinds of snacks.  We walked back to the hotel and as we were on our way there we went down many different streets where they were selling live animals..fish, cats, dogs, bunnies, frogs, salamanders, turtles and birds.  Odd...they were like an outside pet store. Sad...to see all of the animals in cages outside in the heat.  Then we went down a street where they were selling Chinese herbs.  Louise said that they sell them for soups and cooking.  She said that they sell them to the entire city and hospitals.  As we were going down this street some ladies stopped us and took Sophie from Tony and just talked to her and us in Chinese...which we didn't understand.  They had Sophie just laughing.  Louise said later that they were commenting on how beautiful she was and they couldn't believe that someone had abandoned her and that she was lucky to get to go to America with us.  It made me teary-eyed.  We are the lucky, blessed ones...to get to be a part of this precious little baby girl's life...wow...we are definitely the lucky ones!  After we got back to the hotel, Sophie and Tony took a nap and Mom and I went shopping with Nicole and Jeff Massey and Nicole's dad Rick and then we went to the White Swan hotel to look around. The White Swan hotel is where many adoptive families stay. We are staying at the Victory hotel which is not quite as nice, but is much cheaper and we are very satisfied!!! 

Today is Wednesday 05/25/11 and we had our Embassy appointment at the American Consolate, where we had our official Oath Taking Ceremony and we TRULY officially became three Wardell's instead of two...and FINALLY signed our last piece of paperwork. Now all we have to do is get Sophie's Visa tomorrow, head home Saturday, and when we arrive at the airport in Chicago, Sophie Jane Sheng Wardell becomes an American citizen...YAY!!!!!