IT'S A GIRL!

WE HAVE KATE! WE HAVE KATE! About 15 minutes after we arrived at the Civil Affairs office this morning, the asst. orphanage director walked in to the upstairs hallway (someone had gone to get the keys to open the office door) and she smiled at us. My confidence immediately flew out the window and, yes, in answer to your question, I started crying, as it registered without anyone saying a word, that this was my baby. The asst. director, Liqing, looked touched and smiled very kindly at me.
The little one she was holding was smaller than I had pictured. She said to Kate, 'Mama, Baba" and some other words in Chinese. Kate turned and looked at me as I touched her back, looked completely disinterested, turned her head and lay it back down. Kevin, however, walked up to her a moment later and said something quietly to her and she turned with arms out and went to him. It was very sweet. She just lay her head on his shoulder, like they'd been buddies forever.
We went in to the office and talked with our coordinator/translator, May, the asst. dir. Liqing, and the young woman filling out the official paperwork. It was very calm, and happy, and I think they truly shared in our joy. It was a nice time. We had to sign a lot of papers that were written in Chinese, and asked why we wish to adopt a Chinese child. I wrote a paper saying that we will raise her as our own, take care of her special-need medical care, educate her, and promise to never abandon her...."Do you promise never to abandon her?"....my eyes fill with tears as I nod, and they all laugh kindly and smile. Kate, at this point, is sound asleep on Kevin's chest. They woke her up (not intentionally) to put her delicate little baby hand in red ink, and press it onto one of many official papers. She kept looking at it later, like, 'why on earth did you paint my hand red?'
Kevin and I both held her, and there were no tears. She just sort of looked like, "well, you both seem okay, and as long as you hold me, I guess I could come with you." This little girl is a cuddler, and very calm. She only cried once for a moment, a very soft, tired little cry. I stood up and walked, "It's O.K. baby girl" and she just stopped.
The day has been a whirlwind since then. We have been to the notary, CROSSED THE STREET!!!! (which took an enormous amount of courage!) went to Walmart for water and a few items, (this is not like Walmart in America) and had passport & certificate pictures taken for Kate and the three of us together. Oh, and I'm pretty sure she had her very first bath in the tub. She started crying for a second, then I lowered her in the really warm water, dad brought a toy, and she relaxed, "well, okay, alright, this might not be so bad...feels kinda good actually." Then I had to go and blow it by washing her hair. I swear I was being really gentle, but she wasn't having any of it...BABA! Daddy came in a scooped her into a towel and she held onto his shoulders. She fit into her little 18 mo. pajamas (they're super cute pink flannel with little flowers :) and only wanted to be held...not on the hip, but chest to chest. That's understandable. She's been through a lot in one day. She's been through more in 20 months than any little person should have to deal with. But she'll be home soon...with her forever family.












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