Passport Photo Day

Today was passport photo day for Sophie, so we were on our own until 3pm.  We had a leisurely morning and skipped the hotel breakfast buffet.  Instead, Bo sprang for blueberry muffins and coffee from Starbucks, and Sophie had her very first bowl of apple and cinnamon oatmeal, which she liked very much!  After Skyping with family, we headed out to walk around the island.  We walked to the Pearl River where there was a lot of activity going on.  There was one group singing, one ballroom dancing, and others doing tai chi or playing hackey sack.  Our guide tells us that these people are either retired or self-employed. 

 

Sophie really enjoyed watching the boats go by on the river.  She kept pointing and grunting at them.  We think she's going to like the beach and the boat because she loves taking a bath too.  We continued walking through the various parks.  She likes to walk, so she would hold onto our finger as we walked around.   We watched the school kids doing their morning exercise, and then grabbed a bite of lunch before heading back to the hotel for Sophie to have a nap before heading to the police station. 

 

The actual taking of the picture was uneventful.  We just had to sit down across the desk from the police woman so that she could take Sophie's picture with a webcam.  Then we were done!  We came back to the hotel and picked up our laundry and borrowed a stroller from Jennifer's place downstairs to use when we go sightseeing.  While we were there, we picked up a traditional Chinese shirt for Bo, a dress for me, and a dress for Sophie, and then grabbed some dinner at the Cow and Bridge before heading back up to the room. 

 

We are learning more and more about Sophie every day, and she is learning new things daily.  On the first day that we met her, I started playing Patty Cake with her.  She could not really clap on her own.  Tonight she started doing it on her own, without being prompted.  She is talking and even singing some, though most of what she says or sings we cannot understand.  She does say "Xie xie", which is Chinese for "Thank You", and we think she is going to be left-handed.