More About Tori and the Family

OK enough about travel and paperwork. What you all really want to
know about is what is Tori like and how are we doing as a family.
Well, we've updated some more photos (and a few short video clips) of
our family getting used to each other at the web gallery.
Here's the link again:
http://gallery.me.com/rhexalt/100027

Tuesday before the paper chase started, we all went to a nearby park
and had a blast. Tessa has been so amazing on this trip, so we
decided to give her some fun. The park was huge and had a really big
pond that rented out 4 person pedal boats. We went for it. Our first
time ever doing something like that. All the tropical plants and the
covered boat made me feel like we were on the Jungle Boat Cruise and
Disneyland. I wanted to shoot a Hippo with a cap gun with every fiber
of my being. Tessa piloted the boat under bridges and around buoys
while Christina and I provided the horsepower. After that, there was
this little log ride that lasts about a minute. Tessa and I rode on
it. Her comment at the end of the big drop: "I think I might want to
dot that again".

As we were going on the ride, there was this sort of Chinese boy band
gang (I'm not sure how else to describe them) just hanging out trying
impossibly hard to be cool. We have a candid photo of them in the web
gallery. After you see it you will think to yourself. C'mon, this
is a posed shot. No, I assure you it is candid. And it is
priceless. They all watched as Tessa and I braved the log ride. As
we cruised by them after the big splash, she gave them a thumbs up.
Totally awesome moment.

Tori is super cute. Every day she is opening up to us more which is a
huge answer to prayer. She is fast on her feet and crawling. She
can't walk on her own yet, but if she has something to hang on to, she
can shuffle around really well. She is intense. Oh my oh my is she
intense. Today we had lunch at McDonald's and she wanted the fries,
but we hadn't prayed yet so we kept them out of reach. She clinched
her fists with her arms bent at the elbow and went 'rrrrrrrrrrr' while
shaking intensely.

Tori loves her big sister. She follows Tessa around and smile at
her. They're both in the same bed tonight and as they were still
awake, Tori kept reaching over to touch Tessa. Tori displayed a
little jealousy today toward Mommy's attention as well. Tessa leaned
in to Christina and Tori protested. She got over it quick though and
they all had a group hug. This, we think, is actually a great sign
that Tori is attaching to Christina.

Tori is also showing signs of being very bright and inquisitive. Most
children at this age are discovering so much, so this is pretty
common, but it's still fun. She mimics our gestures and figures out
what things are for really quick. She picked up a doll we had brought
for her to play with and pointed to the eyes, nose, and mouth on the
doll. She then pointed to her own eyes nose and mouth. All while
smiling this super cute smile the whole time. She still loves to
share food as well which is fun.

We're loving her so much and think she is loving us too. What an
answer to the prayers of many. We are perpetually thanking God that
we are together and we look forward to bringing her home.

Good night from Guangzhou.