Gotcha Day!

Neither Tim nor I slept well last night, anticipating our newest daughter's arrival.  Labor for her only lasted almost five years. :)

We met all of the families in the lobby of our hotel at 9:15.  There are two families from the Netherlands, Karen and her daughter, another family from Alabama, and us.  We all had the same look on our faces:  joy, anticipation, and a little fear.  Jane met us in the lobby and told us we were going to the CCAA offices to meet our daughters.  She wasn't sure which orphanages were coming first since many traveled distances to get to Hefei to meet us.

Jane explaining the agenda of the day to us

The front of the CCWA building

When we arrived at the CCWA, we were escorted to a small conference room on one of the top floors.  We all crowded in and a couple of the children were waiting to meet their families.  Then, in walked Chloe "Cong" with the orphanage director and three other Huainan children, one who met her family today, and the other two who will meet their families tomorrow.

 After seeing her, we introduced ourselves and handed her the backpack that the kids helped me fill.

Chloe appeared happy and sat and played with both Tim and me.

She became a little unsure of everything when the orphanage director, nanny, and her friends were leaving, but one of our guides explained to her that we again were her Mama and Baba and she was going with us.  

The trip back to the hotel went well and she adjusted fairly well to her new surroundings...until Tim left to exchange some money.  This was the first of her two melt downs concerning her Baba leaving and her staying.  She pulled on her shoes, put on her coat, and attempted to leave with him.  When I wouldn't let her, she cried and called for Baba until he returned.

We also could not take any clothes off of her; she wouldn't let us.  Hefei was relatively warm today (in the 70s) and she had on long under ware, a long sleeve shirt, thick pants, snow boats, and a heavy jacket.  It wasn't until our guide came in and talked to her that she agreed to take her coat off.  We then presented her with a new outfit, and she then gladly stripped down for us in exchange for her new outfit.  (What girl doesn't like new clothes?)  She then informed Jane, our guide, that she wanted new shoes too.

Inspecting her tiny body (She is very tiny and undernourished.), I noticed approximately seven layers of caked dirt on her.  When Jane asked if she'd like to bathe, she told her that she bathed yesterday and she would do it again tomorrow.  (Yea, right.)  She was so dirty that her neck itched.  Jane and I tried to wash her a little with a wash cloth and water, but she definitely needed more.  However, I resolved to give it some time.

We took a trip to Walmart and bought her pink new shoes that she picked out and bananas and apples (two fruits suggested for the kids).  Then, we headed back to the hotel and I coerced her into a bath.  I just had to remove at least the first layer of dirt from her.  We then ate at the hotel's buffet and came back to the room to talk with family.  She had a lively conversation with Hannah, her older sister, blowing her kisses, waving, and giving her the thumbs up.  Shortly after, she fell asleep.

Chloe, asleep after looking at the photo album of her new family

Here are my few observations about her from today.

1. There are two things she did incessantly:  talk and eat.  I do not think her speech problem is a big issue.  Most people understood her...including her new parents.
2. She wanted to eat ALL...THE...TIME.  We finally had to hide food/take it away from her.
3. She acts more like an orphanage kid than a foster care kid in some ways, hoarding food and her things.  This could be though because she doesn't trust her situation and us completely yet.
4. When she gets tired of walking, she turns her feet out like a ballerina.  She has no meat on her bones, so I'm not sure if this is due to her lack of body fat.
5. She is a girl who definitely knows what she wants and how to ask for it.  We had several demands throughout the day.
6. She definitely wants me more than Tim at this point.  She wants me to pick her up, cuddle her, etc.  However, she likes her Baba to be close by.
7. I received three BIG kisses and many hugs...the sweetest part of my day.

Hope all is good with everyone on your side of the world.  Tomorrow she will become officially ours.  We can't wait!