A big day...

[Originally posted 08/09/10]

Today was a very big day for us. While it was our first full day with Ella, more importantly it became the day that she is officially ours (according to China, that is).

Last night after we got her, she had a few melt down moments and ended up passing out for the night at 5:30 p.m. She slept 10 full hours but awoke at 3:30 or 4 a.m. She had a bottle when she woke, whimpered a bit, Skyped with my mom (who got the first smile out of her), took a bath and then fell back asleep for about an hour.

We all went down for breakfast, she had a bottle and at 9 a.m. we went to the Adoption Registration office (Civil Affairs Bureau of Jiangxi Province) where we were interviewed as to why we were adopting from China and promised to never harm or abandon her. We also had to get our first family photo and her passport photo taken. Once we get to Guangzhou at the end of our trip we receive a hard bound certificate that includes our family photo and declares Dong Fan Xia Qing ours.

On the 26th floor of the office was full of other adoptive parents from many countries. It was very hot and very crowded. In China, folks are allowed to smoke everywhere (including elevators) so the rooms are hard to breathe in.

After being there for an hour we had to go to get those document notarized. That was filled with many of the same people we saw at the first office. It was slightly cooler, but not much.

It was overwhelming with emotion as other adoptive parents and their babies were all congratulating each other no matter what travel group you were in.

That process was slightly quicker.

We needed to get some supplies so after our big event, we went to the Nanchang Wal-Mart. Let me first say, I hate Wal-Mart and this experience did not help that any. Picture the dirtiest, busiest and most disorganized Wal-Mart you’ve been to and multiply by 1000 and you will have had the exact same experience. This Wal-Mart was two stories with other shops on the ground floor. We picked up water, pop and diapers.

It was an experience I will never forget, unfortunately. I do, on the other hand, now know what Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie go through with people staring. (Yes, I’m equating myself to Brad Pitt). Finger pointing, comments about Jenn’s blue eyes and whispering were made by everyone who saw us. In fact, Jennifer even got her photo taken with Ella today. They aren’t rude, but they do stare and it can make you uncomfortable.

So, more on Ella: she is an angel. I mean seriously, she’s an angel. Very laid back, easy going and just a great temperament. She only whimpers when she wants something or is tired. We did see more of her personality today with laughs, smiles and her playfulness. She must be getting used to us.

With that said, there are some issues: she is 13 months and can barely pull herself up, she cannot sit up by herself and is definitely not crawling. But the motor skills will come more and more every day.

Ella does not like to sit by herself, she wants to constantly be held. We’re not sure if this is because she wasn’t or if it’s security. Either way, we don’t care.

We weighed her today and she’s about 17 pounds at almost 14 months. She is very petite and doesn’t eat much… yet. The shoes we brought do NOT fit her. The 12 mos clothes that we have are a little big and most of the clothes we brought were 12-18 mos. So, she’ll be swimming for awhile.

Best of all, she said her first word today and it was “dada”. So that’s an homage to me… or so I think.

Attached are a few pictures of her sleeping at the Civil Affairs office. We forgot the battery to our camera and had to rely on my iPhone for photos. I know. I know.

Love to you all.

We will email as often as we can. And then will post these to MairzyDoats as soon as we have access again.

Kev & Jenn

P.S. I’m dying without Facebook!