Our first glimpse at Elainea.
The anticipation of the parents.
Filling out the temporary placement paperwork.
Signing documents in Chinese can be a little stressful.
Her Precious Face.Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. Storm Jameson
There is no way for a new mother to really explain how it feels when she gives birth to her child. The same can be said about the experience when you finally receive your adopted child. The day was wonderful and full of emotion. We were all full of anticipation as we drove the office of civil affairs.
We were ushered into a building and were instructed to fill out some paperwork. Well this was the last thing any one of us had in mind. The air was full of excitement and heavy with anticipation for when we would be able to finally meet our children. Our guide Jo Jo was trying to help us fill out the paperwork when the nannies started bringing the babies into the room. Immediately the focus went to the children and not the paperwork. Our guide quickly sent them out of the room. We reluctantly finished filling out the paperwork (not easy as this was no longer our focus) and Jo Jo told us we could go spend time with our children. Well we all do not dare leave the room and we thought that they were bringing the children to us. Finally Jo Jo asked us if we wanted to see our children and so we started out into the hallway. But alas, there is no one in the hall. I immediately started running down the hall to find the babies. All the parents started to follow. We looked in all the doorways and finally found them outside with the nannies.
None of us spoke Chinese and the nannies were reluctant to let us start grabbing the babies. We just stood there looking at our children and unable to hold them. I studied the faces of the babies that I had learned to know through various photographs. I could not find Elainea. I recognized many of the children but I could not find my own daughter. Finally I saw her. She was at the back just checking things out. Joe and I stood there for a little while looking at her. Wanting to run and take her into my arms. Then it was a free-for-all. Parents running to their children and picking them up, that is when the crying started. Some of them were not only crying, but also throwing themselves around. Little Elainea was frightened and crying so hard. I just held her and told her not to cry. She cried and cried and could not be consoled until we broke out the cheerios. Then the eating binge began. She ate for four hours straight! The poor thing could not get enough. She was happy as long as we were feeding her, and once we fed her she realized that we were not so bad and she began to warm up to us.
We tried to give her a sippy cup with water in it and she would have nothing to do with it. Finally we figured out that it was juice that she wanted. Then she couldn’t get enough. We juggled two kids at the civil affairs office for several hours before we were able to leave. We then stopped for a family photo for the adoption registration document. After all the families were photographed we went back to the hotel.
We immediately took off the coat, puffy pants, wool sweater and such to get a good look at her. We had no idea what she looked like underneath the heavy clothing. We then quickly gave her a bath. She sat complacently in the tub and allowed me to wash her entire body and hair.
She has been into everything since. She is very inquisitive. She is very determined and does not like stuffed animals. She is all business. She likes to organize everything. We are amazed at how smart she is. Well it is time to settle into bed. We will tell you more tomorrow.
There is no way for a new mother to really explain how it feels when she gives birth to her child. The same can be said about the experience when you finally receive your adopted child. The day was wonderful and full of emotion. We were all full of anticipation as we drove the office of civil affairs.
We were ushered into a building and were instructed to fill out some paperwork. Well this was the last thing any one of us had in mind. The air was full of excitement and heavy with anticipation for when we would be able to finally meet our children. Our guide Jo Jo was trying to help us fill out the paperwork when the nannies started bringing the babies into the room. Immediately the focus went to the children and not the paperwork. Our guide quickly sent them out of the room. We reluctantly finished filling out the paperwork (not easy as this was no longer our focus) and Jo Jo told us we could go spend time with our children. Well we all do not dare leave the room and we thought that they were bringing the children to us. Finally Jo Jo asked us if we wanted to see our children and so we started out into the hallway. But alas, there is no one in the hall. I immediately started running down the hall to find the babies. All the parents started to follow. We looked in all the doorways and finally found them outside with the nannies.
None of us spoke Chinese and the nannies were reluctant to let us start grabbing the babies. We just stood there looking at our children and unable to hold them. I studied the faces of the babies that I had learned to know through various photographs. I could not find Elainea. I recognized many of the children but I could not find my own daughter. Finally I saw her. She was at the back just checking things out. Joe and I stood there for a little while looking at her. Wanting to run and take her into my arms. Then it was a free-for-all. Parents running to their children and picking them up, that is when the crying started. Some of them were not only crying, but also throwing themselves around. Little Elainea was frightened and crying so hard. I just held her and told her not to cry. She cried and cried and could not be consoled until we broke out the cheerios. Then the eating binge began. She ate for four hours straight! The poor thing could not get enough. She was happy as long as we were feeding her, and once we fed her she realized that we were not so bad and she began to warm up to us.
We tried to give her a sippy cup with water in it and she would have nothing to do with it. Finally we figured out that it was juice that she wanted. Then she couldn’t get enough. We juggled two kids at the civil affairs office for several hours before we were able to leave. We then stopped for a family photo for the adoption registration document. After all the families were photographed we went back to the hotel.
We immediately took off the coat, puffy pants, wool sweater and such to get a good look at her. We had no idea what she looked like underneath the heavy clothing. We then quickly gave her a bath. She sat complacently in the tub and allowed me to wash her entire body and hair.
She has been into everything since. She is very inquisitive. She is very determined and does not like stuffed animals. She is all business. She likes to organize everything. We are amazed at how smart she is. Well it is time to settle into bed. We will tell you more tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment