It is Wednesday, May 30 - our third day with Ruthie.  Last night was filled with periodic episodes of crying.  It's hard to distinguish whether these are a result of physical pain or emotional in nature.  Our Ruthie keeps pulling on her ears so we think an earache might be causing irritability.  Coupled with the teething - she's pretty resilient (tough cookie).  Just to be on the safe side we are going to take her to the medical center at 1:30pm today then on to the police station at 3:00pm where we apply for her Chinese passport. 

One of the more touching moments last night was watching her rock herself in her sleep.  She has this violent rolling back and forth that she does and our minds quickly picture her in the orphanage just a few short days ago.  Sure, she had orphanage staff that took good care of her but she didn't have a mommy.  This was probably something she did countless times before to put herself to sleep as no one else was there to do so.  This was tough for mama to watch.  Now she has someone to shush her to sleep, rub her back, play with her hair, and kiss her forehead.  A hot orphanage room crowded with baby cribs is no longer in her future.  We are grateful for our Ruthie.

Here are more pics of my girls.  The process that is required to obtain Ruthie's visa comes in stages so we have blocks in our schedule that allow me to take my girls out.  I enjoy standing behind the camera.  There is more video as well (per request of the boys - they like the vids - wanting to see the action!).

My girls before dinner on Tuesday.  They walk into the lobby of our hotel and instantly light up the room - commanding attention from all around.  The locals are not sure what to do with a read-hed holding a Chinese girl.

After dinner stop at the local fountain.

Ruthie's first ice cream experience.  She was not a big fan of the cold. 

Extremely trusting - she would have jumped in if we had let her.

Soak and wet cuteness

Guangzhou at night in front of the Garden Hotel.

Pics at the garden after breakfast.  Day 3 and we're really starting to see Ruthie come out.   She loves her mama.

Tried to feed the fish but Ruthie was more interested in feeding herself.  The girl can eat!

Met a family from Florida who just adopted a 3 year old boy the same day that we adopted Ruthie.  Friendships are quickly made with those who are walking through the same thing as you are. They also adopted a girl from China back in 2006.

Lawson and Fletcher - there were tons of fish!

 MEDICAL UPDATE: Just got back from the medical center - Ruthie does have an ear infection so we're glad we went.  Now have antibiotics and Ruthie is on the mend.