Our first day together: Mama and Na Na

words cannot describe.... but I'm certainly going to try!

after waiting what seemed an excruciating long time, it was finally time to leave for the Civil Affairs Office.  I kept asking my guide Vicky if they'd gotten there and she kept saying she didn't know/would call, did call.  who knows, i really wasn't hearing much.  When we got the to office Vicky lead us into a building under construction.  what in the world was she thinking!  there was a man working there, scaffolding set up, new flooring stacked up along the walls, the ground itself was just dirt, mud and who knows what else.  She explained that the building was actually a hotel and they were redoing the lobby.  Now as every American can imagine OSHA would have shut that site down immediately for allowing people to walk thru it and to take the elevator all the way upstairs!  but that's how it's done here.  She also told us that the adoption unit used to be part of the Civil Affairs Main Office but the employees were not happy with all the baby crying, mama crying and goings on, so they moved this dept to the top floor of the hotel.

We made our way upstairs and Vicky instantly tells me, Oh they're here.  we stop on the landing (Judy peaked in and said "she's adorable!")  we waited a moment until we got the camera out, i dumped all my bags on the bench and in we went.  she was covered head to toe in a red jacket and thick red pants.  i could barely see her,  but there in the midst of all that cold weather armor was a tiny head.  fair skinned and dark brown hair.  she was STUNNING.  oh my.  as you can imagine i started bawling my heart out.  i approached her and she wanted nothing to do with me.  the Nannies tried to assure me, she was tired, scared, etc.  It's okay i kept saying.  when she's ready.  i tried sitting down and just looking at her.  finally i could survive this no more.  i grabbed a toy from the diaper bag and tried to entice her with it.  she could care less!  I wanted to give her her space but man i wanted too much to hold her!  It didn't take that long in the end, but of course it felt like forever.  I finally grabbed her up and she clung to me for dear life.  for a tiny little squirt she's got some grip on her.  i held her and rocked her and cooed.  she's so sweet.  couldn't get enough of that baby smell.   the rest was a blur.  papers signed, questions asked, thanks given.  All the while i held on to her and she seemed quite content.  the Orphanage Director said she could tell i loved her and that Na Na would be in good hands.  We talked about her special needs and i told them we had already lined up doctor's appointments and she would be well looked after.  When i told them that any medial condition she had, that couldn't be fully healed, would be okay with us -- that we'd love her no matter what.  That made them smile.  And it's so true.  after holding her i knew I'd love her forever!

They told us she had never tasted solid foods since they were afraid of her choking on it.  I had the same fears of a bit of food being lodged in her cleft so that was no problem.  we'd keep to formula and a bottle til we got home.  She was such a good baby, as long as she was being help.  They told me she did not like change and boy they meant this.  Change included moving her from one arm to another, up or down, this or that.  she'd instantly cry but just as quickly settle back in.  After a few hours of paperwork, (where they covered her hand in ink and she left her mark (her hand print) on the adoption forms!!!)  we took some photos and then that was it.

Once back in the room i was so happy to unwrap her from her many layers.  cries, tears, okay better now.  we tried in vain to feed her.  they had told me she hadn't taken a bottle earlier so this meant she was going quite a long time with no food.  she was fine being held but she would mightily push aside anything that came near her (food, toys, anything)  even my own dinner!  we had ordered in room service and each time i grabbed some food or a drink, for me to eat, she'd push it away.  amazing i didn't end up wearing it all.  Speaking of which, i used the ergo baby carrier as soon as we got back to the room.  she fussed for a moment but then seemed to be fine.  that's how we spent the next few hours.  her in her baby carrier, me on cloud nine

We got to skype home and Dylan instantly responded to Jeff.  we kept saying Baba and she'd look at him and extend her hand towards the screen.  Why, she must have wondered, is my Baba not grabbing my hand and picking me up?  but she really seemed to like looking at him and the kids.  it was great that her new family got to meet her and she got to see and hear them.   we'll keep skypeing each day and hopefully she'll feel comfortable with her family when she gets to meet them.

Finally it was close to bedtime and again she refused the bottle.  so i laid her in her crib and she did the most cutest sweetest thing ever.  she rolled over on her belly, got up on her knees and put her forehead on the mattress.  with her little booty sticking up in the air, she'd gently slap the mattress. how cute is that!  eventually she settled in with a good juicy thumb to keep her company for the night and off she went to bed.  slept thru the whole night, except for one little cry and then quickly off to sleep again.  Sweetest Baby ever!