July 11th.

(For some reason our pictures are not posting, we’ll keep trying!)


Note from Darlene: We started the day with Kaylee and I taking a leisurely stroll through the hotel while Daddy showered. Then all three of us went for a stroll on the streets of the island around 6:00 am. At 7:00 we went for a breakfast buffet in our hotel. This is free of charge since we are staying here at the Victory. Our baby girl eats EVERYTHING! She loves for her Daddy and I to feed her and she likes to feed us too. She is constantly smiling and giggling, it’s infectious! After breakfast we came back to our room and I was singing, “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands” and that’s when it happened…she said her first word since we have had her and it was “Happy!” That was so fitting since she is so happy all the time!!


She also says Mommy, Da Da, Kaylee, Blake, GG and Katie. We’re working on the rest of you so don’t feel left out. Mary, our guide, who is sooooooo wonderful, said that Merriella Vasquez and Kaylee have the same smile; they smile with their whole face and eye’s! She babbled all day long and Keith said, “I kinda miss the quiet little girl we had on the first day!” LOL Kaylee became our “official” daughter today and tomorrow is the medical examination. Afterwards we are going to the pearl and jade market, I told Keith to get a LOT of money…”baby needs squeaky shoes and pearls!"


After that we took a tour of the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum. We were served white jasmine tea in the traditional manner. The tea was awesome as was the tea ceremony. I purchased some to bring home for GG. We also went to a department store called, “Carrefour.” I have noticed that some the Chinese children stare at Keith and I, i.e. the blond hair and blue eye’s. In this store, while we were in the check out line, adults and children alike were interested in what we were buying. We had an economy size package of baby rice cakes for Merriella and Kaylee along with bottled water, sports drinks, soda and quite a few toys for Keith and Kaylee. I also got some Pantene hair conditioner with Chinese writing (I forgot mine at home) and Johnson’s baby powder. All the Chinese people I have met have been very nice and polite and more than willing to try and talk to us. We love our daughter’s heritage and we will do our best to let Kaylee know and learn of it and so she can be proud of where she came from.


I am amazed at the love I have for this little girl. I had been preparing my heart for 10 months to accept her and love her but the love I feel for her is truly amazing and it happened so instantly. I really don’t know how to explain it…and I see the same thing when I see her Daddy look and play with her too. Then I think about how our heavenly Father has an even greater love for us…amazing!