Our guide took us to the airport so we could fly to Nanchang to receive Jaiden the next day, Christmas Eve. We figured we would arrive in Nanchang, unpack, go to the grocery store and have time to continue to adjust to the time difference. When we arrived in Nanchang we were told by our new guide (very nice as well) that we needed to hurry because we were going straight to the civil affairs office to receive our child a day early. About 4 minutes before we arrived at the civil affairs building, Erin literally passed out head first in a nap in my lap. In retrospect, I understand that God caused her to do that to avoid witnessing the trauma that she would somehow sleep through that lasted the next 45 minutes. We arrived at civil affairs with her in a coma on my shoulder to a very busy room with lots of other families that had already received their babies. Jaiden was brought over to us by the orphanage director handed to us. It took her about 40 seconds to decide this was a really bad idea. She erupted into absolute hysteria, arched back, swinging at us, and sobbing for at least the next 45 minutes. Even our guide seemed alarmed. Erin remained completely asleep. I carried her out of the civil affairs building, hence she is now quite a dad's girl, but she is warming up to me. Erin is quite relieved she is fond of her dad! When we got back to the room, she finally settled down and ate more food than we could believe! She slept somewhat fitfully, and poor Erin slept worse. She did smile the first night we were together, probably because of all the food! When she was going "poopy" her sister Erin held up her thumb and said with much conviction, "This is your thumb, blow on it, it helps!" We later learned that Jaiden had been brought to us straight from her foster family, and without the usual transition period where they return to the orphanage for a couple of weeks.
Our first encounter
What's behind door #3
Jaiden giving us the once over
December 25 --
We got up really early and gave Jaiden her first bath...she really needed one, and it was scary for her, but she got through it and started playing happily. We went back to the civil affairs office and completed nearly all of our official paperwork for this city. We were able to ask the director a lot of questions, and he substantiated what we were already starting to see...even though she was really unhappy at first, she is a really happy, fun child. She seems to have a good sense of humor too--when I was trying to give her some cold medicine, she shook her head NO and pointed for me to give it to her sister!
Both girls took a well needed nap this afternoon, and then we walked down to "the mall" which is a street of shopping and restaurants. We were literally mobbed because everyone thought we had twins. Then the "clothing police" got us. For those of you who haven't adopted from China, those are the little old women who think all babies should be in a minimum of ten layers of clothing. When we were here in June, we all thought the clothing police were hard core. They are TEN times worse in the winter. I made my poor, lame husband walk back to the hotel as fast as he could to get away from them! Tomorrow we are going shopping for the equivalent of snow suits, even though it is about 55 degrees here!
Thank you for following our Second Great Adventure. I'll try to post quicker now...I am amazed at how busy two toddlers can be! I have also been so heart broken for this amazingly sweet child that I can't seem to stop crying...my husband thinks I have absolutely gone insane since he's probably only seen me cry three times since we met! Thank you for your prayers and support!
