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Travel Date: 1/13/2009
Subject: New Family, New Discoveries, and New Adventures

What we did today:

Today we officially have a new daughter! After 24 hours as “guardians”, today was all about completing the adoption process to become Hui Dong’s parents.

This morning Christopher had to go to the bank to exchange our US dollars for Chinese RMB so we could pay all of the fees involved in the process. Charlie our guide also helped us complete some of the paperwork that would be required. He must know me well, because we had to write paragraphs about why we wanted to adopt and about how we would care for Hui Dong. Charlie said to use short, simple sentences. Then in the afternoon we traveled back to the Marriage and Adoption Office for all of the official paperwork, photographs, and ceremonies. We promised to love and care for Hui Dong and to never abandon or abuse her, placed our red thumb prints over our signatures, and within an hour we were new parents again.

Some things we’ve learned about Hui Dong today –
1. She has two speeds: On and Off.

When she is on, she is non-stop energy and motion! When we arrived at the adoption office she was a blur - jumping into her nanny’s arms, flying around in her Mama’s arms after begging to be picked up, running here and there, and emptying her backpack of all its contents.

When she is off, she is out! While at the office another group of adoptive parents and their babies entered to complete their adoptions. Hui Dong became incredibly shy and withdrawn. She sat on my lap, silent, and with her face buried in my shoulder. Eventually she fell asleep while we waited. Then when it was time for fingerprints, promises, and the formal ceremony, we couldn’t wake her up. Not at all. Our guide, the ceremony official, and both parents were calling her name, shaking her, and even trying to stand her up, anything to wake her up. I was almost frightened because she was in such a deep sleep. Finally she began to slowly awaken.

God truly blessed us this morning while Charlie was in our room to complete some of the official paperwork. After chasing her around the room all morning, she decided to sit quietly and watch a video the entire time he was here. It was a real miracle! As soon as Charlie and Christopher left for the photo shop and bank, she came back to life!

2. She’s a Noodle Girl!

Have you ever tired to take a six-year-old through a buffet line? Now imagine she speaks Chinese and you don’t! The hotel breakfast buffet became a new challenge. I carried Hui Dong so she could see everything, Christopher carried her plate, and we pointed with accompanying head bobbles to figure out what she wanted for breakfast. The she ate…and ate…and ate. The real hit was noodles and drinkable yogurt. She had two servings of both.

For lunch, we weren’t brave enough to try adventuring out before meeting Charlie for the trip to the adoption office. We decided to try making some Ramen noodles we had brought along. Because the tap water is not “potable” (even the Chinese don’t drink straight tap water) everyday we receive bottled water and every room has its own hot pot to boil water. At first we were just going to make about half the package, but it ended up being about two-thirds of a whole package. She gobbled it all up and drank down every drop of broth.

By dinner time, we were too tired to adventure out so we just ordered in room service. Christopher and I ordered a cheese pizza to split between us and a plate of beef, vegetables, and flat noodles for Hui Dong. We were just hoping she would eat something. The noodles were a HUGE hit. Plus they came with chopsticks. She is incredibly talented with chopsticks. She tried a bite of pizza and turned up her nose with a “yucky” face.

3. Our Pretty Pony, Super Hero-loving Girl!

This morning we were trying to find a TV program for Hui Dong to watch. We found Bugs Bunny in Chinese. Then the program ended and another was beginning. It looked like a Chinese super hero, power rangers-type of show. Hui Dong seemed to know the show and like it, but we were heading out and turned off the TV.

Before dinner, we decided to adventure out to the shopping mall attached to the hotel just to get out and walk around. Shopping mall = seven stories high! It has a movie theater, a bowling alley, and an ice skating rink. We wandered around each level and happened upon a Toys R Us. We decided to be brave…we went in. We had already decided we’d let her pick out one item. As we wandered around the store, certain things caught her eye…Barbie…My Little Ponies…super hero, Nerf-type guns…shiny swords…remote controlled cars…Transformers. Finally, we settled on a pair of ponies. BEWARE BROTHERS – she will LOVE your arsenal of Nerf weapons and light-sabers!

The hardest part of today for me was while we were at the adoption office. When all the other families came in with strollers and babies in arms, Hui Dong became so shy and withdrawn. My heart was breaking. How do I communicate to my precious little girl how much we love her? I almost cried. Here were all these babies with their families. How do I tell her, “I choose YOU!”? Hui Dong is not a baby (even though she is loving being carried and pampered as the center of her parents’ universe right now), but she is the daughter of our hearts. We have missed six years with her, but today she has her forever family.

Photos... (click image to enlarge)



Favorite activity - teeth brushing



Hui Dong’s style sense



Hui Dong photographer - her sock



Marriage and Adoption Office



Waiting for her family



Hui Dong with one of her nannies