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01.07.2005 REFERRAL!!!
03.03.2005 Travel Plans! 03.11.2005 Arrived in Beijing 3.12.2005 More on Trip 3.12.2005 Touring Beijing 3.13.2005 Second Day Beijing 3.14.2005 We Have Maya! 3.15.2005 It's Official! 3.16.2005 Shop 'Til You Drop! 3,17.2005 AM Museum 3,17,2005 PM Mother's Love 3.18.2005 Nanning Zoo 3.19.2005 Green Mountain Park 3.20.2005 Paperwork, Park, & P 3.21.2005 Guangzhou 3.22.2005 Shop 'Til You Drop! 3.23.2005 Last Day in China! 3.23/24.2005 The Journey Home 3.24.05 DFW Homecoming |
With a red thumbprint from me, and a red footprint from Maya, the adoption is official! She is part of our family forever! And already, I can't imagine our family without her. Maya slept until 4:00 a.m., in a crib right next to my bed, and woke me up by patting my face! I put her in bed with me, and she slept for another 3 hours. Zoe joined us -- in a bed a little bigger than a twin bed! What fun! We headed out to the Notary Office and back to the Civil Affairs office to finalize the adoption under Chinese law. I was so pleased that the same Civil Affairs officer who did Zoe's adoption was there to do Maya's adoption, too! I asked about visiting Guiping orphanage, Zoe's orphanage, and she looked at Zoe and said maybe when she is older! An interesting response, since up to then I was being told that no one is allowed to visit Guiping. We may not make it this visit (I haven't given up yet!) but it looks like it might be possible later on. I wonder if they want to wait until there's a new building . . . . We will, however, visit Maya's orphanage, Mother's Love, on Thursday. We'll be able to meet her foster parents then -- I've very excited to meet them. They took such good care of her, and obviously loved her very much! Maya hasn't been eating much besides those little fruit puffs. But at lunch, she definitely made up for it! She ate two bowls of noodles, and she can suck up long noodles like a pro! She ate about 5 spears of bok choi and TONS of watermelon! And, she drained about 6 ounces of water, drinking with a straw. (Consequently, we saw our first poop today!). She refuses to take a bottle, but at least I know she's getting plenty of hydration and nutrition without it. In the afternoon, we all napped, and then played. We took our beach ball out into the large foyer in front of the elevator, and Zoe and Maya played and played! Soon, other kids from our floor joined us, and we had a rockin' playdate! Later, we went for a short walk in the stroller, and Maya really loved that! She talked and sang to herself, and was obviously excited to be out and about. Her foster mom's information said one of her favorite things was going out for a walk -- she was right! Maya is feeling more and more comfortable with us. She followed me with her eyes each time I left the breakfast table to get refills from the buffet. And when she let go of my hand to readjust a toy she was carrying, she reached up to hold my hand again all on her own! As I said yesterday, she has been quite willing to accept comfort from me, and snuggles like a pro. But today, I saw her lip start quivering as she got sad, and this time she reached out to me and climbed on my lap for a hug and a snuggle! Zoe has been having a hard time sharing Mama yesterday evening and today. But by evening it was definitely getting better. She has decided that Maya is HER baby -- when we were playing in the play area, Zoe decided to go back to the room to get her coloring book. As she left, she reminded me, "Keep an eye on Maya for me, ok?" And this evening in the room, she fed her and brushed her hair! And, if you need more definitive proof -- she's even quite willingly sharing her precious Baby Joy with Maya! Thanks for posting such nice messages, we're enjoying hearing from all of y'all! |