I'm a MOMMY!

We spent our second full day, which was also our last in Beijing by going to an International Church service.  They made us show our passports to prove that we were not Chinese citizens (or nationals…whatever they’re called…).  It was a pretty good service.  The pastor had a good message about choosing the narrow path or the wide path to travel through life.  They had quite a bit of praise and worship time, so lots of singing.

After that we went to a jade museum…they had some incredible carved pieces!  We purchased a tiger pendant for Teagin since she was born in the year of the tiger.  We also purchased a bracelet for me!  I love it!

After that, we went to lunch at another restaurant and then some more shopping at the Friendship store.  They had a huge selection of Cloisonné.  We bought some souvenirs there.  So sorry, folks, not telling what we got….don’t want to ruin the surprise!

Once we were done there, we headed to the Great Wall.  

I didn’t do much climbing since I have a really bad knee, but Jason got about halfway up, but then he turned around…too many people for his comfort.  It was onto another restaurant for a light dinner.  I had to leave for a bit while they were serving the meal.  They had put a fish dish on the table.  I’m so allergic to that food that had I stayed and everyone else had eaten it, I would have had a rash from head to toe!  Luckily, Sherry, our guide was there to save the day!  She had that dish removed and they replaced it with Kung Pao Chicken.  Everyone else seemed to enjoy that dish anyway.  A couple of people had said that they saw the fish and that was enough for them.  It didn’t look very appetizing to me either.

We went back to the motel and were able to briefly freshen up and then it was on to the Chinese acrobats.  Wow!  Those people are TALENTED!  The most impressive thing for me was watching a man climb a pole with JUST HIS HANDS!  I was a bit uncomfortable there.  I was seated next to a REALLY rude brit!  He had his legs spread out halfway into my seat AND he kept elbowing me in the side.  I’m surprised I didn’t bruise!  After the show, we went back to the Carrefor (a large international department store) to get some extra luggage.  The overweight fees here are $3 US/pound over the 44 lb weight limit.  

We had to be down in the lobby at 5:10 am to travel to the airport, so it was a very early day for us.  Our flight to Nanchang boarded at 7:20 am.  They fly differently over here.  They take off a lot faster and they land faster too!  I was a bit terrified of the landing.  It’s usually the worst part of flying for me, but that was downright awful!  I thought for sure we were going to run right off the other end of the runway…AND, if we’d not had our seatbelts on, our kiddos would have been flying.  I’m going to be hanging onto Teagin for dear life when we fly to Guangzhou.

We were met at the airport by our next guide, Mary.  She told us a bit about the province, but mostly about the babies.  She said that there was a chance that we’d get them right away once we got to the hotel.  She wasn’t kidding.  We got there, got our luggage to our room and were called and told that the babies were there.  We got down there as fast as possible and FINALLY got to hold our Teagin.  After such a long wait, I’m surprised I wasn’t a blubbering mess.  But I did pretty good.  I tried very hard not to cry because I didn’t want to scare her.  She came straight to us, wasn’t fussy at all.  She was very calm…until we got her up to the room.  It was there we found a very wet diaper.  Then the waterworks started.  She had to be absolutely terrified.  Here were these two complete strangers changing her diaper.  She wouldn’t calm down, so we fixed her a bottle.  She sucked down four ounces, even though they said she’d just had a bottle.  It was a bit of comfort for her.  We got her to sleep and then had to go across the street for our first appointment.  They had us walk across a VERY busy highway.  I don’t know HOW to describe what the traffic is like.  I was scared enough in Beijing, riding in a car, but here in Nanchang, it’s much much worse.  There are 5 lines of vehicles trying to squeeze in 3 lanes…and pedestrians do NOT have the right of way.  

We were filling out all of the adoption paperwork in a very hot room with no air-conditioning.  There were so many people there that it raised the temperature even higher!  It was awful!  The babies were cranky and once one cried, that would set the whole room off!  Our group of babies, however, was very calm and would just stare at the other babies.  We met with the official who then sent us to the notary (their version of our judges).    After that, it was on to another building to start the processing of her passport.  After that was over, we were told that ALL of the paperwork for this portion of the adoption was done!   We took a VERY exhausted Teagin (and Kristi) back to the room.  We ordered rooms service for dinner, made her a bottle, put her in a sleeper and she was out like a light (and so was mommy).  

She slept through the night and woke up this morning all smiles.  She got to play with Daddy a bit and loved it!

She is a very happy baby.  She smiles a lot, has the cutest giggles, she never lets either of us out of her sight.  She’s attaching nicely to the both of us.  I can already tell that she’s going to be a Daddy’s girl.  I’m going to teach her how to say Target, Gap, and Gymboree!!!  She is a little behind on her development, but she’ll catch up quickly.  She can’t up sit up on her own yet, but within one day, she’s staying upright longer and longer.  

They told us she likes congee (a very bland rice soup) which she wouldn’t eat at breakfast until I added some banana bread to it.  Then she ate up a storm!  I tried the congee.  I can see why she wouldn’t eat it.  Yuck!

I love her hair!  Sticks up all over the place!  And she has dimples in her cheeks!  I was especially excited to see that!  She’ll fit right in with my side of the family!!

We’ve spent the morning bonding with her.  I can’t even describe the emotions that we’re feeling right now.  It still feels like a dream, but to see that smile???  

We are so blessed.