Gotcha Day (Jan 14th)

So our day began with us actually sleeping past 3:00am, (we have woken up at 3:00 every morning since we got here!), we got our of bed at 7:00, Estee was still asleep.  Thinking we had all day to prepare for Chloe, we were taking it easy.  As we were getting ready to leave the room for breakfast our phone rang, Anna, our guide was calling.  "They want to deliver your baby this morning, is that ok?"  Yes, Yes, YES.  "Can you be ready at 10:15?"  Of course!  See you then!   Well that was only an hour away, so we shifted into high gear.

When we got to the Civil Affairs Office and went upstairs, Amy, another guide, began introducing herself to us, and telling us we could call her with any questions, as I was entering her phone number in my phone, I looked up and saw a little girl, "is that our daughter?"  she said, yes  "Well then why am I talking to you?!!!"

Gotcha Day...  I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Our first look

Oh No, she started crying!

As soon as we picked her up, she started crying, actually more like screaming.  She cried for like 30 minutes, then just fell asleep in Stacey's arms...  This is a very good sign, it means she bonded with the people at the orphanage, and she recognizes we aren't them.  It is normal for her to go thru a grieving process for a few days or even weeks.  All this means she was loved, and has a healthy ability to bond with her care givers!  It isn't easy to watch her cry, but very comforting to know she was so well loved and cared for!

Crying/Screaming...  Who is this woman?

All cried out

Orphanage: Director, Doctor, Administrator

Happy "bigger" family

She was OUT for the next 2 hours!

Estee made a friend with the daughter
of a family adopting twins

She woke up... sort of happy

Estee was a great help all day

Cried some more, then back to sleep

Little angel

First bottle for us

My new little sister

a quiet moment...

trying to figure it all out...

I guess these strangers aren't so bad

Now I'm ready for dinner

We went to get dinner, man this girl can eat!!  She walked the whole way, except in the elevator, where a bunch of chinese ladies got on, and she started crying...  During dinner, there was nothing we gave her that she didn't eat.  Then she just wanted to wander!  Back at the room we put her in the bath.  When Estee noticed, she stripped down and got it too!

First bath with big sister

Feeling a little better...

Then we put her down, she didn't even want her bottle!  She just went to sleep...  Big day for this little girl!