Monday, March 10

Monday, March 10

Sorry so much time has passed since you've heard from me!  Just after I sent my last blog update in Beijing, our email locked me out (probably because I was logged in to a public computer in a foreign country).  It wanted to "verify" it was me, but the only way to do that was through a text message or a code to another email account, neither of which are accessible to me.  I was pretty upset about it, but at that point, I didn't have any other options of communicating with anyone back in the US.  We are now with our travel group, and a very kind friend has allowed me to use her laptop, so I created a new email account, and I'm trying again.  Hopefully this one won't lock me out, since I'll be using the same computer to access it each time.  (I still may not be able to update daily, but I hope somewhat regularly!)

I could spend a lot of time talking about our sightseeing day in Beijing, because it really was fabulous!  But I'm pretty sure the update you're really looking forward to reading about has nothing to do with sightseeing!

I would post a picture if it were possible, but unfortunately it's not at this time.  But please join us in welcoming the fifth member of our family, Mei Joyann!

She is a sweet little thing with a very quiet temperament.  It was obvious that her nanny cared about her very much, and seemed to think she is a pretty special little girl.  When I had a chance to speak with the nanny, the translator said at one point, "She says, 'She a good baby.  You not worry.'"  Mei really does seem to have about the quietest and most reserved temperament I've ever seen.  It's entirely possible that we will see a whole new personality emerge as she grows accustomed to life in a family, but for now we are trying to draw her out of her shell.

This afternoon (which was about 24 hours after taking custody of her), we were blessed by her first laugh with us!  We got out the stacking cups and stacked them up, and when they fell over, it was SO funny to her!  Then we watched as she meticulously attempted to combine the cups in every way imaginable, and eventually got all but one (out of eight) nested together.  I think she probably would have got them all eventually by herself, but Daddy gave her a hand.  It was incredible to watch "the wheels turning" while she figured out the spacial relations necessary to nest them back together!

She's teeny tiny!  Our guesstimate was about right as far as clothing size, but seeing a 16 lb 2.5-yr-old with my own eyes was really not something I could have been prepared for.  She is wearing 12 and 18 month clothes...the 18 month fit better for length, but are way too big around for now.  She had on 12 month separates today, and it was great.  It's really mind-blowing how tiny she is.

But this kid can EAT!!  She has not turned down anything we've given her, and we've given her a WIDE range of foods - pretty much everything we've had on our plates (as well as typical baby and toddler foods), and she's gobbled it all up.  After a big lunch today (right before playing with the stacking cups), I sat her on the floor, and she just couldn't stop feeling her belly - first over her shirt, then under her shirt, and finally she lifted her shirt up to see what was so big under there!  I'm pretty sure she's never had that full, round toddler belly before, because she was mesmerized by it!  :)

This afternoon we went for a walk with another family - they needed a camera battery charger, and we all needed to go to the grocery store (again) for more water.  I carried Mei in the front pack.  At first she seemed pretty concerned about it and wouldn't move at all, but by the end of the trip, she was reaching out to try to touch things on the shelves.  She almost grabbed a bottle of green tea off the shelf, and when noticed what was happening, she gave me the biggest grin!

She is SO very close to walking on her own.  I'm fairly certain she could have done it long ago if she would have had the opportunity to practice and strengthen her little legs.  They are just so wobbly and get tired so fast.  But her balance is really good, and she is comfortable walking while holding on with one hand.  We're trying to get lots of "walking practice" in to strengthen her little legs.

We had our official adoption paperwork this morning at the Civil Affairs Office, and the staff member from the orphanage who was carrying Mei when she came to us was there at the "paperwork party" this morning.  Sally, our guide/translator, told us at lunch that the staff member had said how happy she was to see the babies with families instead of in the orphanage.  She told us the staff member said they were so lucky to be with a mama and daddy who will hold them all the time instead of just being in their cribs.  It makes me sad to think that Mei probably spent the first 2.5 years of her life primarily in a crib, but it made my heart glad to know that the orphanage rejoices with us in her adoption.  I just didn't really know how they felt about it.  Most Chinese people seem to regard us as an oddity, and don't understand why we would adopt a Chinese baby.

I know this post has been all over the place, but my time is limited and my brain is scattered!  I hope to be able to post again soon.  :)