Gotcha Day Details
2011-01-04 17:20:03.0
I just realized that a half post made it to the website. I was posting about details and got interrupted because our internet connection for the day expired so we didn't get back on until this morning so here we go again.....
Yesterday was such a whirlwind of a day filled with emotions. What took place as we met our brown-eyed boy was beyond my expectations. As with Emily, I had prepared myself for worst case scenario knowing that Joshua was leaving all that he had known and that his reaction to us had the potential to be negative. I certainly would not be a happy camper if someone plucked me out of my familiar environment and routine and left me with strange people in a world I had never seen. So I was fully prepared for a very rough ride upon our meeting.
After spending the morning resting and then enjoying a leisurely breakfast we met our guide, JoJo and headed to the civil affairs office knowing that Joshua was already in Xi'an. We arrived at the office building and found it to be quiet and empty. Our guide said that the government was still on holiday and that we were the only adoption taking place this week. We had wondered why there were no other adoptive families in our hotel. So in all of Xi'an we are the only adoption occurring this week...pretty incredible as well as lonely. We are already eager to have some connection with other families. We are feeling a little isolated having seen no other Americans. Anyway back to the details....we took the elevator up to the 6th floor and found no one to be there. It was only a few minutes until we heard the elevator and when it opened our sweet boy was there. Held by one of 3 nannies who had accompanied him on from the orphanage in Weinan City. He was all bundled up and looked like he had just gotten a haircut. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I looked at him. I was almost afraid to touch him, fear that I would upset him. He was holding the little stuffed beagle we had sent to him and after some brief introductions his nannies encouraged me to hold him, he came to me with no tears and was extremely interested in my red lips. Little did I know that he would find the red lipstick that I had chosen for the day so fascinating. The director arrived and we were ushered into an office where we began some preliminary paperwork but mostly it was just a time of greeting Joshua and spending a few moments with the ladies who had cared for him for almost 4 years. I had a little backpack prepared for him and as a way of gaining his interest I offered him a bag of trains and some small animals….they were a hit. I began making surprised faces at him which he imitated and responded with giggles. Although, he was somewhat reserved he warmed up to us so quickly and when it was time for his nannies to leave the left very discretely and he didn’t shed one tear. I was in awe of how brave he was. God had definitely poured the strength and courage I had prayed for into my little boy because he was very brave.
We stopped by a local supermarket for some snacks and water, pull ups and wipes. As always, Chinese Supermarkets are quite the experience. I was so glad that our guide was with us to help us navigate our way through the market. No stories of strange meats hanging from the ceiling due to the fact that we didn’t venture into that area. We then returned to our hotel and ate some snacks. Joshua devoured a can of Pringles potato chips some rice crackers that we purchased for him. We played for a little while and discovered that he is quite the ham, giggling, making faces and dancing to music on a toy cell phone kept me entertained for quite a while. I tried to put him to bed in a crib the hotel provided but he whimpered and looked terrified when I placed him in it so I placed him in the bed with me and he slept through the night.
To say that I am in awe of his reaction to us is an understatement. The whole transition was so smooth and really beautiful. I am confident that the Lord prepared Joshua for our arrival and gave him the confidence to embrace us with such ease. Therefore,I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1
Yesterday was such a whirlwind of a day filled with emotions. What took place as we met our brown-eyed boy was beyond my expectations. As with Emily, I had prepared myself for worst case scenario knowing that Joshua was leaving all that he had known and that his reaction to us had the potential to be negative. I certainly would not be a happy camper if someone plucked me out of my familiar environment and routine and left me with strange people in a world I had never seen. So I was fully prepared for a very rough ride upon our meeting.
After spending the morning resting and then enjoying a leisurely breakfast we met our guide, JoJo and headed to the civil affairs office knowing that Joshua was already in Xi'an. We arrived at the office building and found it to be quiet and empty. Our guide said that the government was still on holiday and that we were the only adoption taking place this week. We had wondered why there were no other adoptive families in our hotel. So in all of Xi'an we are the only adoption occurring this week...pretty incredible as well as lonely. We are already eager to have some connection with other families. We are feeling a little isolated having seen no other Americans. Anyway back to the details....we took the elevator up to the 6th floor and found no one to be there. It was only a few minutes until we heard the elevator and when it opened our sweet boy was there. Held by one of 3 nannies who had accompanied him on from the orphanage in Weinan City. He was all bundled up and looked like he had just gotten a haircut. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I looked at him. I was almost afraid to touch him, fear that I would upset him. He was holding the little stuffed beagle we had sent to him and after some brief introductions his nannies encouraged me to hold him, he came to me with no tears and was extremely interested in my red lips. Little did I know that he would find the red lipstick that I had chosen for the day so fascinating. The director arrived and we were ushered into an office where we began some preliminary paperwork but mostly it was just a time of greeting Joshua and spending a few moments with the ladies who had cared for him for almost 4 years. I had a little backpack prepared for him and as a way of gaining his interest I offered him a bag of trains and some small animals….they were a hit. I began making surprised faces at him which he imitated and responded with giggles. Although, he was somewhat reserved he warmed up to us so quickly and when it was time for his nannies to leave the left very discretely and he didn’t shed one tear. I was in awe of how brave he was. God had definitely poured the strength and courage I had prayed for into my little boy because he was very brave.
We stopped by a local supermarket for some snacks and water, pull ups and wipes. As always, Chinese Supermarkets are quite the experience. I was so glad that our guide was with us to help us navigate our way through the market. No stories of strange meats hanging from the ceiling due to the fact that we didn’t venture into that area. We then returned to our hotel and ate some snacks. Joshua devoured a can of Pringles potato chips some rice crackers that we purchased for him. We played for a little while and discovered that he is quite the ham, giggling, making faces and dancing to music on a toy cell phone kept me entertained for quite a while. I tried to put him to bed in a crib the hotel provided but he whimpered and looked terrified when I placed him in it so I placed him in the bed with me and he slept through the night.
To say that I am in awe of his reaction to us is an understatement. The whole transition was so smooth and really beautiful. I am confident that the Lord prepared Joshua for our arrival and gave him the confidence to embrace us with such ease. Therefore,I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1
