Not So Wordless Wednesday

I knew there was a story behind this one. Turns out Xiao Na had run her hand down that wall behind them and got something icky all over it. When she repeated "bird poop" after they discovered what that mess was, Hannah nearly fell over laughing just hearing that those words had come out of her little mouth. Yup, so far she says Mama, Baba, no, and poop. Seems like she's got just about all the language a 1 year old needs!

Day 2 with Xiao Na

What a difference a day makes! After they brought Xiao Na home from the Civil Affairs Office on Monday night, she had noodles, fruit, and a bottle. She crashed and slept through the night. When she woke up on Tuesday, she was still quiet but not as upset. In fact, she warmed up pretty quickly especially to Hannah who had been working hard to keep her entertained and happy. Hannah had worked very hard and thoughtfully before going to China to prepare and pack so that she could take good care of her new baby sister. She knew it might be a hard transition for Xiao Na and it appears that all Hannah's work paid off (Hannah, you're the best!) When I skyped with them, there was a lot of smiling giggling going on as they played and danced around the hotel room. I also watched as she sat on Pete's lap eating rice crackers that the foster home had given them. This little girl who could hardly look at Pete the day before spontaneously turned around, looked up at Pete, and reached up to put a cracker in his mouth. As he fed him, I heard her utter "Baba." It was so sweet!

Later they had to go back to the Civil Affairs Office to complete the paperwork that would finalize the adoption. It's obvious from the photos just how quickly the girls are bonding. Xiao Na follows Hannah everywhere and apparently they are like two peas in a pod.


Here they are on their way to the Xi'an Civil Affairs Office.








Xiao Na's adoption is final!








On there way back to the hotel:

The Moment They Met.........

When Xiao Na arrived at the Civil Affairs Building in Xi'an, she was already crying. The foster home staff said that she had been "off" for a day or two; she knew that something was up, something was changing. She cried very hard when they brought her over to Pete. She cried even harder when they told her that this was her new Baba.

Fortunately, she was willing to take a bottle from Pete and she eventually calmed down.

Hannah came prepared with toys and a photo album. Xiao Na didn't want to look at any of them, she was too scared, but Hannah kept trying. Xiao Na tried not to show interest in Hannah but she couldn't help herself. She was intrigued not only by Hannah but also by the set of plastic keys. Those keys are the same ones that were used to transition both Hannah and Emma on their adoption days and they didn't let us down this time either.

The first photo of Pete, Christopher, Hannah and Xiao Na together.

Xiao Na had traveled from the foster home with Olivia, Helen, and Shawn. They were very warm and very professional and knew exactly what to do to make things easy on Xiao N. They brought along a packet of information with them that included not only daily sheets of Xiao Na's food intake, sleep schedule, etc., but there was also a photo album and a CD that contains 963 photographs of Xiao Na taken from the first day she arrived there to the very day she left to meet her new family. What an incredible gift!

It's hard to see her looking so sad and avoiding eye contact. What a horrible experience it must have been for her. She was so brave!

What a beautiful yet bittersweet photo...with a grief-filled tear still in her eye.

Our new daughter!

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Originally uploaded by wsditmars

We have her!

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Originally uploaded by wsditmars

Happy Birthday Hillary!

She turns 20 today!!! Makes me feel so old. Wish I could be with her today but she is in Switzerland doing an internship. Haven't been able to reach her since just after midnight, but am thinking of her and hoping she is having a great day.

Hey, if you are out there Hillary, call me via Skype....miss you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. We all love you!!!!!!

At the Great Wall

From Pete:

"Hannah was a mountain goat up and down. Fearless. Not reckless. Well, running on a few parts was maybe a bit reckless. But she loved it."

From Hannah:

"Mommy, I beat everyone to the top!"