Joy!

We have had a very, very good day today. This morning I decided to bring breakfast up for Camila and I. Our hotel has a huge breakfast buffet every morning. It isn't like an American breakfast. There is rice, steak, and other meats. Also, there are lots of different breads as well. One morning there was some kind of pancakes but with cinnamon and nutmeg. They were served with butter and honey.



The balloons are constantly being played with!

So I brought up breakfast and Danny and I got ready to go to the orphanage to sign the papers that place Camila in our care or the upcoming week. This is the legal family placement week required by Peru. It will just be a week of fun and bonding with Camila. The only things going on next week dealing with the legality of the adoption process, is that a psychologist will be coming on Monday and Wednesday mornings to check on Camila's adjustment.

Danny and I caught a moto taxi with Marisa and headed to the orphanage. We got there and waited on the lawyer and psychologist to arrive. Leelee stayed with Camila, Josiah, Isaac, and Amaus so that we did not have to put Camila through further confusion of back and forth to the orphanage.
The process of signing the documents took longer than we expected. First off, there was a typo on the document with our names. It had to be re-typed. After the correction we were able to take care of the documents quickly. We were also able to ask some questions about Camila's schedule.



We came back to the apartment and ordered up lunch. There are a lot of conveniences to being in this hotel. The pool has been great for all of the kids. The breakfast has been great, and we have the convenience of sending out our laundry to be washed for next to nothing. Also, if we aren't able to cook for whatever reason, we can order really, really good Peruvian food from downstairs. The staff is very helpful, too. If they see us coming in with luggage or groceries, they carry it up several flights of stairs for us. If we need anything, one of the workers will go down the street to pick it up and bring it to us. They are very nice.
Some pics of the orphanage:








Danny and I win he orphanage director

One of the things we have to do for SNA is have a doctor give our daughter a health check up. We left to do that at 12:30 today. We had to drive to another province in Iquitos on a moto taxi. Camila loves leaving the apartment and going out and about. When we got to the doctor's office, he had left to go pick his son up at the airport and wasn't expected back until 2PM. I've found this is typical Iquitos living. It's no big deal if you're late, or the person you're meeting is late. This is all part of Iquitos life, I suppose.

So we played and played with Camila in the office while we waited on the doctor to arrive. Marisa was with us as well. It turned out to be some really awesome play time with just the three of us. She ran back and forth to us and we would tell her to "Come to mama!" Or, "Come to Daddy!" She loved this game and laughed and giggled on and on every time she would run to us and we swooped her up with kisses or tickles. We then had to take turns walking her around and holding her hand. The door was wide open in the office and she will just take off running, and fast! We would have to catch her in a hurry. However, when you hold her hand and walk with her, she loves it and doesn't let go! We walked all around the office (it was basically empty) singing songs and marching. It was fun.

The doc finally arrived about 2:15 pm and took us back into his office. She was weighed and measured, and the doctor filled out the form we needed for SNA.

While we sat in his office, Camila was being very affectionate and did not want out of my lap. She would just stare at me and play with me in the sweetest way. I would touch her nose and say, "Nose!" and then touch my nose and say, "Nose!" And then rub our noses together and repeat it. She laughed her head off! Then she touched her nose and said, "Nose!" it was so cute.



Camila thought it was hilarious to put blocks under my shirt. Lol

Camila likes to pick up things. If she sees a towel in the floor and saw me stack towels somewhere, she will go and bring the towel to that spot. If she sees something like something she's seen me throw in the trash, she will pick it up and bring it to the trash. If she sees one of the boy's shoes she will bring it to one of them. When we got back to the apartment, she picked up Amaus' shoe and brought it to Isaac. I said, "Isaac, say gracias." Well, instead, Camila said, "Gracias." Isaac thought it was hilarious.

We have been hanging out here this evening. We are all pretty tired from the fast pace of the last week. We are going to bed early. All evening Camila has just been so happy and content. She has played and wants to be held by us a lot too.

Josiah, Isaac, and Amaus are doing great. They all are having fun and being helpful gentlemen. I am eager to take them to see some cool stuff in the upcoming week. I know we will be going to a zoo, and hopefully a few other things. They have been having a ball with Leelee, too. Watching movies, playing board games, and swimming have been the name of the game. Tomorrow we may go to a market for them to find some neat stuff to bring home.

It has been a really good day. We are praising the Lord for the progress we are seeing. Family and friends, we miss you so much- and we are so thankful for all of your prayers and encouragement. Love you!