Here is my sweetheart loving on Tutti
Frutti.
Once again, the hat only stayed on
long enough for the picture.  She looks
so cute in one too.
She ate her first Congee tonight off a
spoon.  Congee is like a rice pourage.  
To me it tastes like wet paper.
Here she is playing with her spoon.  
We let her play with it now for a
week before she finally used it
correctly.
Here we are in front of the Koi pond in
our hotel.  Some of the fish are bigger
than Penelope (my dog at home).  She
likes to watch them.
Me and Josie watching some TV.  She
loves the remote control and loves
watching TV.  My kind of girl, except, I
am the remote master.
July 24, 2005
Wow, it's been one week with Josephine.  We have now been parents for a week, and I still feel great.  I admit its been a little trying at
times, but nothing is better that seeing her laugh and smile when we get her going.  It just melts our hearts.  We feel very fortunate to
have made this journey to her.  We know that she loves us already and looks to us to take care of her. When I see glimpses of that, it
brings in emotions that are very indescribable.  She looks at me at times with the dad feed me look, or dad hold me look, and even the
dad thank you look.  The looks that she gives Robin is very much more than words can say.  I can tell that she is very fond of Robin
and that she knows in her heart that Robin is her mom.  Even though, she babbles dada all the time.  I taught her that one.  Today
was a very special day.  We went to the Buddhist temple to have her blessed by the monks.  It was very emotional.  She was so
intrigued by the one monk banging on his drum while blessing the babies.  It was amazing, there were about eight or so babies at a
time getting blessed at the same time and not one cried.  Our group just sat, listened, and stared at him.  Robin took the video
footage and pictures while I held Josie.  Robin almost cried.  We also bought some incense to light and say a prayer for our new
family.  Again, it was truly amazing.  There was a mass or service going on at the same time in another temple and we were allowed to
watch.  It made Robin and me feel kind of weird, because they allowed us to video it.  We felt as if we were intruding into their worship
service.  Anyway, we also went to another park today.  It was very beautiful and well taken care of.  It had a magic kingdom appeal to
it.  We didn't stay long, for it was extremely hot and sticky out again.  Later we went shopping and bought some more goodies for Josie
now and gifts for later.  Tonight we went to dinner with some of the group to the best Cantonese food on the island.  It was interesting.  
I knew I was in trouble when while we were waiting on our table, there was a picture on the wall of some of their menu items.  On it was
a picture of turtle soup.  It literally was a whole turtle in a bowl of soup.  Shell and all.  Tomorrow we Robin wants to go the the silk and
fabric market.  I could be in trouble there.  Then, our guide is taking our final paperwork to the US Consulate for us for final approval.
Josie wanted to type something for everyone to read, her it is:   lw1134y66yy ghffjh,u.,m,mkhjnhjmku,.m.,m.,.m miu nun  jff  a3zx,m,    c
Here is Josie and me about to be
blessed by the monks.  It was very
spiritual.  
Here is the monk that blessed Josie.  
She found him very fascinating.
This was taken at the buddhist
temple.  It was much more
impressive in person.
These flowers were a gift to the
buddhas for worship.  They had been
blessed already.  Robin found them to
be very pretty.  She even took this
photo.
Check out this happy family.  This was
taken at the gardens.
Look at our little monkey.  She was
born in the year of the monkey,
according to the Chinese zodiac.


July 23, 2005
Travel Day
Wise Family Album
Well, its Saturday night here.  We just got back from dinner, the playroom, and a nice stroll along the river thru the
park.  Our hotel is right on the Pearl River and at night all the buildings on both sides light up.  It is no Vegas, but the
lights are pretty cool.  Next to the hotel is a little park that you can walk thru or just go and sit.  Tonight there were
tons of people out there, some doing tai chi, some just sitting, and others making out.   We didn't stay out to long, for
the mosquitoes and everything.  It is very safe here.  This morning we went to a toy market.  It was pretty neat.  Any
toy that you could imagine was there.  We bought some things, however, we had to refrain from other purchases
because of the trip home.  We kept getting so many people coming up to us there to say how pretty our baby was
and they said how much she looked like Robin.  We have had so many people come and say that since we've had
her.  It is kind of freaky how much they look alike.  We also had many women come up to coo her and then tried to
cover her up with her blanket .  They feel babies need to be covered from head to toe, even when its 100 degrees
out.  It actually rained today, then quit so the humidity made it really sticky out.   Then this afternoon, Robin had to
go finalize some paperwork for Monday.  Monday is when our guides take our paperwork to the US Consulate for
final approval.  If given, Tuesday we take her there to be sworn in as a US citizen.  She does not officially become a
citizen of the US, until she touches her feet down on the ground in Chicago on Wednesday.  It is amazing how much
we love her in such a short while.  Tomorrow will be one week.   I truly believe that fate did bring us together and that
she was meant to be our daughter.  It is becoming more apparent each day.  This little person's life has already
brought so much love and happiness to our lives, and yet it has only been a week.  She has really become more
open and trusting toward us.  She is laughing and giggling all the time.  Even when she cries, we know that she is
bonding with us.  Tomorrow is a very special day.  We are going to the monk temple to have her blessed by the
monks.  It should be a very special day for her.  It will be a great story to share with her one day.   This whole trip will
be very nice to share.  It is the story of her, we are just interpreting it for her right now.  Then someday she can tell it
for herself.  That's why I call it Josie's story.  
Here is Josie giving mommy a kiss after
her feeding.


 We had to eat McDonald's once while
we were here.  It tasted pretty much
the same, however, much cheaper.

This a picture of Josie's jade Buddha
we bought for her at the temple.


Had to take off her shoes to get her
toes wet in the fountains.  I know this
picture looks a little off at first glance.