What a WONDERFUL 13th wedding anniversary we had today!!!
Well, after 7 of the longest months of my life - we have Anna!!!
It's amazing. Just amazing!
I just talked to my kids (who are just waking up back home) and I am overcome by emotions that I can't even begin to express. I miss my big girl Amy so much. Ashleigh is being the strong first-born. Austin is my tenderhearted little man. And Anna is my baby. I am the mom of four and that just blows my mind.
The morning just dragged on f o r e v e r... and then it was two in the afternoon and time to go to the Civil Affairs office. We got there and went upstairs and saw some younger babies - but none of them looked like Anna.
Part of me wondered if maybe they gave her a haircut and I didn't recognize her. But then I saw her director get off the elevator and behind him was a woman carrying Anna. I just wanted to grab her! But we had to wait until they officially "gave" her to us. Once everyone that had to be there was there (and we got the door to the meeting room unlocked) we were told to wait in a room and they would bring Anna to us. We waited for what seemed like forever (maybe 5 minutes - tops!) and they brought her to the door. I was down on my knees and she walked in and came to me. We snuggled and I talked to her. Chris was doing all the official paperwork and stuff; Amber was shooting pics like a pro. And for a moment - time stood still. There was no one in that room but me and Anna... Of course there WERE a lot of people around, but there was just that moment. It's like the moment that Ashleigh was placed on my chest after she was born or like that split second when Austin recognized Chris's voice and turned to him only minutes after birth. It's like the instant when I saw into Amy's soul when she walked into room 2726 in the White Swan and I saw her beautiful face for the first time. It isn't "love at first sight" - but it is the beginning of something beautiful.
After we signed some paperwork, we left the civil affairs office and headed back to the hotel. Anna took it all in as we drove the streets of Guangzhou. She warmed up to Chris fairly quickly and even smiled at his silly antics and belly laughed at his crazy sound effects. We got to our room and played for awhile. As I held her, I felt her sighing pretty deep... I knew what was coming...That cry. It sounds the same as Amy's. That cry that screams "why? what? who?" She was exhausted and finally drifted off for a short nap at about 5:15. After that there was some crying and laughter mixed together for the rest of the evening.
She is sleeping now in her American Pampers and her little Carter's pajamas. I just couldn't bear to wash her hair, though. Not yet. Her hair won't ever smell like this again and I need another day or two to make the memory...
Now for the facts :)
-she is definitely "solid"; not fat! She has some serious muscle in those thighs!
-she is still only bottle-fed! I do NOT understand how the girl can have such fat and muscle mass on formula and rice powder, but she does!
-she doesn't suck her thumb or fingers. I can't really explain what it is that she does, but it's pretty cute. I will try to get a picture of it later.
-she is the most blessed little girl on Shamian Island right now because she has the BEST three siblings a girl could ever want and
-I am the most blessed mother because I have been able to witness again the "setting" of an orphan into a family!
