First let me thank you for the emails you have been sending. I will make sure to share them with Joanne. She is upstairs in the room right now with the Sleeping Beauty AKA Elizabeth Grace ShiPing Kerkvliet. She is perfect! We got the babies on Sunday night about 6:45 pm which was 4:45 Sunday morning for you. They asked us to go to the conference room on the second floor. We didn't know where it was and when we found it, the babies had just gotten there. I saw Elizabeth being held by one of the helpers. I forgot everything and got to her as fast as I could. She started crying like you wouldn't believe. She was scared and so hot. I didn't care - I was finally holding my daughter. I didn't cry because I was so happy and because I didn't want to freak her out more. Joanne got some of it on Video. Almost all 5 of the babies were crying, it was a little loud. After a bit of time, the orphanage directer and her assistant left. We were going to be able to talk to them the next day. The babies were sent up to their rooms - Elizabeth went with Joanne and we filled out paperwork. When I got upstairs, Joanne and Elizabeth looked very comfortable. Elizabeth did cry some but fell asleep wonderfully. I called Dad about midnight which was about 10 in the morning I think. Then I went to bed, I didn't sleep much because I kept listening for Elizabeth. She slept very well.
On Monday we did the official government stuff. We were running around all over and were interviewed by some officials. We got to the Provinal Affairs Office and Elizabeth and I had our first picture together. That ended up being in the final adoption certificate we got a few hours later. Not a bad picture if I do say so myself. We got back on the bus and went to the Notary and then back to the Provincial and then to a bank. Joanne and Elizabeth and the other babies and one of the parents went to the hotel. We walked back from the Bank. It was interesting to see Nanchang at that level. On this day, Elizabeth drank from the bottle very well and loves, just loves Cheerios! Glad I brought so many. At the breakfast brunch she discovered French Fries. She also had some little pieces of oranges. She is eating pretty good.
Today we toured a Pavillion in the morning. Elizabeth isn't feeling 100%, she has a cold and cough so she went in the Snuggly and stayed there all morning. Which I loved because she just wanted to snuggle and be close. That was wonderful. I think she is beginning to realize who I am and sometimes likes me. :-) We have gotten her to laugh a couple of times and smile. Today when we got back we took her up to the room and we played. Joanne got her to giggle and smile and I got it on video!
Tomorrow is a free day for us and I think we are going to explore Nanchang with the other families. Today when we were out, a few of the Chinese people came up to look at the babies. Almost all were smiling at us. One older woman came up to me and Elizabeth and she didn't smile, but she did make sure I had Elizabeth covered well. She also pointed to the Nuk which I then took out. I have a great picture of another family that was surrounded by some Chinese girls and I took it when I came down the stairs. Then they saw me and Elizabeth and were all smiling. Another woman came up to us and gestured if we could have our picture taken together so we did. Joanne got one too.
Well I guess this is long enough! Sorry it was a couple of days between posts - will write more again soon.
Love to you all and thank you for your good wishes!
Joan, Joanne and ELIZABETH!