Waterfall at rear of The Garden Hotel

Koi pond at The Garden Hotel.

Penelope exploring the camera.

Penelope in a close-up.

Daddy found the B&W feature on the camera!

You can't get that finger out of her mouth, yes we have tried the pacifier.

Ornelas Family's first dinner.

Tia Pepper crying with the rest of us.

Penelope seeing mommy and daddy for the first time.

Waiting for Penelope.

She's ours!!!!!

Yesterday was sureal and amazing. At 3pm we were taken to civil affairs office to pick up our girls. We were taken to a very hot room where we were able to hear the babies crying down the hall. The whole time I was crying. Some parents were laughing others had terror in their faces. All I wanted was for them to hand her to us. One by one we were called up and a baby would enter the room to be given to her new parents. When our names were called I turned to Joe and his eyes were tearing. Penelope entered the room and was given to us by her caretaker. At that moment everything hit me. She was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. She looked at me with a bit of confusion and put her head on my chest. Many babies were crying but not our girl. We took her back to the hotel so that we could get aquainted. Last night she slept from 9pm to 6 am. We only slept a few hours. Any noise she made, I was up making sure she was fine.
Today we went to civil affairs office to officially sign the adoption papers. The notary asked if we were satisfied with this child, we answered yes, so he said, "well, then she's yours, have fun". So Penelope is officially ours. With that said she already vomited on her daddy this morning and he just laughed. Parenthood agrees with him.

True Dodger fan.... Penelope can not wait to attend here first game.

Daddy and Penelope.

Mommy and Penelope.

INTRODUCING PENELOPE!!!!

Today we received Penelope at the Civil Affairs Office in Guangzhou. It was a extremely emotional day for all of us, as you can see on the photos. I don't know who was able to conduct themselves more, Pati or myself.

Today is Gotcha Day!

Well we made it! To day is the famous "gotcha day". This is the day all 38 families which are in our group will be receiving their babies. I just can't believe we're here. This is a day Pati and I have been anticipating for more than 16 months.

Last night we went out with a group of new friends for an early Italian dinner as married couples with no children. Of course throughout dinner, all everyone could speak of, were the babies. The pizza I had was amazing. Well, maybe not that good, but after dim sum lunches and dinners for the past 6 days... any other type of food would be spectacular.

Are hearts and prayers go out to four families which just heard that their babies have come down with the measles. One family was sent back home, to Hong Kong. Another family, which was still in LA, was stopped and may not come to China for a few weeks. Two other babies will be quarantine from the others. The two families which are in Guangzhou are hoping to take there little girls home the same time the rest of the group leaves.

After dinner we called it an early night and came back to the rooms. I tried to get some sleep, but kept tossing and turning. Thank god I went to go see my doctor before I left LA. Or perhaps I should be thanking the pharmaceutical industry. Ambien is one hell of a sleeping pill!

All I kept thinking was about was Penelope. Our dreams are now almost a reality. Penelope is about 6 hours away from being in our arms. WOW! From 16 months to only 6 hours away. I wouldn't be able to tell you where all that time went. This little girl does not know what she is about to get herself into. The love and family which is waiting for her back at home will be overwhelming. Including Ginger and Apple.... Penelope's two older sisters.

Veiw from our room at the The Garden Hotel in Guangzhou. And yes, that is a waterfall.

These are some of the gifts that await Penelope's arrival, including her yellow duck bath tub which eyes turn red, if the water is too hot. Pretty cool!

Can you interpret the meaning of these symbols?

One of many "look out" towers at the Great Wall