If you remember from last night, Arisson had fallen asleep in our bed around 7:30p. She wasn't interested in her bottle, so I figured she wouldn't sleep for long. I ended up moving her to the crib and she didn't stir. I had to wake her up around 6:00am this morning, and thankfully, she drank a bottle. We went down to breakfast and there she had some congee. Congee is what children eat in China. It looks like a watery cream of wheat. She was happy to eat that. When I had gone to bed last night, I was feeling a little nervous, afraid she wouldn't eat, that she didn't like us, lots of things racing through my mind. This morning she made eye contact with me while she drank her bottle, and she seemed okay.
We had to take a bus back to the Civil Affairs office for the adoption to be finalized. First we had to talk to a Civil Affairs official. She asked us many questions, like our ages, how many children we had at home, of which she was like "Four?!" We just laughed. After the questions were over and the paperwork was signed, we were officially Arisson's parents. That was awesome. After that, we had to speak to the Notary. Everyone that went before us were in and out immediately, because they were talking to a Notary Assistant. Jason (or Jackson, as the man called him at first) and I got the official Notary for our interview. He asked us similar questions that the Civil Affairs official asked. When we told him we had 4 children at home waiting for Arisson, he said "Four children, why do you want more?" We told him we loved our children and we were excited to have Arisson as our daughter. He kept asking us if we were happy. He said that he is only able to have one child because of China's policy. We couldn't figure out if he was happy or sad about that. He asked us if we were going to love her as much as we love our other children. I told him yes, that she was one of them, now, and that the kids were going to love her, too, and that they were excited for her to come home. I should mention that Arisson slept through this entire process.
At the Civil Affairs office there was a family there adopting their daughter. They are from Chicago. This is their first child. She is 9, and she is so beautiful. Yesterday when they brought her to them, she waved, and pointed at them and went right to them. It was so beautiful to see that. They told me that she is very organized, and that she has been basically telling them how to be parents. She was trying to teach her mom some dance moves while we were there. They took some Mandarin classes before they got her, and they said she has been going through the study sheets with them.
For the rest of the day, we just hung out. Arisson napped, probably for about 2.5 hours, I had to wake her again. We had to go get her picture taken for her passport, which we go apply for tomorrow at the Police Station. We do that tomorrow afternoon. Then Thursday, the six families all head out for a 2 night field trip. We are going to visit the SWI that the 5 babies came from.
As we get to know her, we can't help but love her more and more. She made me cry on the way to the Civil Affairs office because she gripped onto my finger and held on. Last night she didn't want me touching her. One thing that I love about her...she lays still during diaper changes. I never, ever had a child that did that for me. She also is good about going to sleep when she is laid down. Actually, she is sleeping, again, right now, next to Daddy. She is able to sleep through this obnoxious snoring sound coming from Jackson, I mean Jason :) Last night, I was going to report that Arisson has 2 bottom teeth. I knew that because of her crying. I am glad I didn't tell you that, because I would have left out the 2 on top that are coming in. I think they are bothering her a bit right now, because she was upset when I tried giving her a bottle earlier.
Three Signs of being a parent again:
1. We are talking poop with the other parents.
2. We inhale our meals.
3. It takes 2 people to complete any task.
Last night Jason made a 7am wake up call. I didn't think anything of it. We had to be on the bus this morning at 8:30. Oh yeah, we are out of practice. That would not have been enough time to get three of us out the door. Thankfully, I woke up around 5:30a.
m.
This morning we laughed and cried at emails from you all. The funny emails, which have been coming all week long, are from the kids. They have been tattling on one another, like I can fix things half way around the world and 13 hours difference. They are pretty funny. We cried at some of the responses, about how everyone is on this journey with us. It is all just so overwhelming the outpouring of prayer, and love that we can feel here. We are so thankful for our friends and family.
Tonight we are off to eat Thai food as a group. We look forward to that. I am missing being with all the group at meal times, since we are all trying to figure out our daughters now. I haven't eaten anything unusual since the eel, but a lot of you seem to enjoy that. I did have a club sandwich for lunch today, which I am not really sure what the main meat was, but there was a fried egg, and pickles on it, along with the usual stuff. It was good, but I like my pickle on the side. I will find something different for you tonight.
Our love to all! Happy belated birthday Joel, Happy birthday tomorrow Jacob. Hope your day back to school today was good kids. I was trying to come up with an April Fool's joke for you all, but I got nothing. We were told a joke by our guide in Beijing. I think I understand the humor.
A life of Paradise for a Man:
A job in New York, A home in London, A chef from China, A wife from Japan.
A life of Hell for a Man:
A job in China, a home in Japan, a British chef, a wife from America.
Hmmm. |
