Adoption Day

Today was adoption day for us and Karen. We got up at 4:30am and began to get ready for the day. I made Karen's thermos, got her rice formula prepared in these ingenious stacking cups which screw together to hold a 4 bottle supply and packed the diaper bag. David got the money and gifts ready last night. We got dressed and left on a bus at 8:00am.

When we arrived at the registrars office Daphne and Ellen talked us through the process. We were around the 4th to the 6th couple to go into the official office. Things blur in the moment when you are excited or worried. So which number we were or what the nanny looked like who handed Karen to me is non-existent in my mind. They asked us if we wanted the orphaned baby and we rejoicing said Yes! Then she thumb printed us and foot printed Karen and it became official. Karen is legally our daughter. What a happy moment.

Then next step was to pay our adoption fees. They literally examine each and every bill. Ours were all accepted. Two couples had trouble with some of their money that made the rest of us a little nervous. But it all went off well and now all of us are legal parents to our daughters. Our group is the greatest. We feel like a family and rely upon each other. I can't image coming so far from home and being alone through this process. I also can't imagine going through this process without CCAI and all their staff. CCAI has been the best throughout the entire process.

Karen has adjusted well to our entire family. She is an active, happy baby. She lights us as long as David and Bryan are in the room. She will tell me in baby talk just how much she loves her da-da (Bryan) and her Ba-Ba (David). Ba-Ba is Chinese for dad-dad. At around 7:00pm David and Bryan decided to go swimming. The swimming pool is located on the 9th floor of this beautiful hotel. Not more than 3 minutes after they left Karen and me behind (Karen has a cold) she began to weep and wail furiously. She didn't stop and after a half-hour of walking the floors I knew I had to go find her daddy and brother for her. Luckily as she and I were getting on the elevator they were getting off the elevator. Her screaming stopped immediately upon seeing them and she looked at me with an expression pure joy. She began telling me all about seeing them with glee in her eyes. I told David this was not the same child he left me with. It was night and day difference. From a chilly spicy temper-tantrum to a sugar sweet grinning baby all in a heart beat. She is daddy and Bryan's girl; but the light of all our eyes. We love her dearly and she loves us. I asked Bryan why he and daddy came back so early from the pool (you know how he loves swimming), with tears in his eyes he said he missed Karen too much to stay without her. We are giving her medicine for her cold which is getting worse before getting better as colds often do. Hopefully she will be getting better later in the trip and can go swimming with her big brother.

Tomorrow we are going shopping at a big department store. Good thing since none of the clothes we brought with us fit her too well. We didn't pack but one outfit and four sleepers for her anyway. We felt we could buy for her in China. We packed very light and have to do laundry every other day. I am glad we brought snack food, a travel clock, travel iron and children's toys. Those are the items we couldn't live without. I would leave behind the terrible baby snuggly we bought. It only fits well on Bryan, it slips off my shoulders every time I get into it and David doesn't wear it. I would leave behind toilet paper. We haven't needed it so far.

We are doing well and are very happy and hope to be home with our spicy baby soon.

Missing everyone,
Jenny