She's Here and Fabulous!

Well, we had to find things to amuse ourselves until 3:30, and by 3:00 pm, we couldn't wait any more. We left our room and our guide was waiting for us. The building where we were to receive Talia was just next door. It was so exciting packing up the baby bag, walking over, seeing other non-asian families arriving too, most with a jie jie (big sister) like Lydia Grace in tow. One family was speaking French. Maybe 6 other families were there, and a room full of ayi's (nannies) with babies, but not our baby; word was they were still on the way, as it was a 6 hour drive. We got to watch other families meet their babies for the first time, some babies were happy and smiling, some serious and somber appearing and others crying. It was interesting to just be just an observer at that point. Then the ding of the elevator and our guide went around the corner . . . "your baby has arrived." She was so much smaller than I expected--smaller than 9 month old Tulia at HRC! My mama estimate is 15 to 17 pounds at almost 14 months old. She had very pink cheeks, thick hair and was wearing a 2-piece denim outfit that was much too big with new shoes and no socks. She just looked at us and we at her as she was held by her nanny and accompanied by the orphanage director. Mama got to hold her first and she cried and cried. Our guide had coached us what to say--Wo ai ni Tao Tao, Bu ya ku, Tao Tao, Hao le (I love you, don't cry, it's okay. Tao Tao is her nickname in the orphanage. She did stop crying and stared with interest at us. She wasn't interested in the water bottle we brought, but the Director said that the Pigeon bottle (a special bottle for babies with cleft palate that we brought was the one she was most familiar with. We decided to try a snack, and jie jie Lydia Grace was the first to finger feed her some Gerber snacks that melt in the mouth. Wow, was that baby hungry. Fu Tao er le (hungry)! She got quite happy and we saw 4 bottom teeth and 2 top teeth! She was content on the walk back, with a couple more smiles during an impromptu game of Peek-a-boo. Our guide went to get food for the baby and came back with what looked like won ton soup with greens--who knew? Talia ate and ate--4 dumplings cut up in small pieces, greens and broth. She then drank quite a bit of water from the bottle that baba was feeding her. She has a congested sounding chest, so the guide suggested a warm bath to loosen her chest. Talia did not like getting undressed and really didn't like the first bath. But then we lotioned and diapered her (bit of diaper rash) and put her in soft new pajamas. Mama gave her more bottle and she fell asleep in my arms about 6:15, so sweet softly snoring away. Dad and Lydia Grace went out for take out dinner while I got Talia settled in her crib. We ate a delicious dinner of rice and chicken and beef and noodles with cantaloupe juice to drink and local beer for mom and dad to celebrate the newest member of the family. By 7:15 Lydia Grace had announced that she was full, tired and ready to go to bed, so she did. We are making this post about 7:45 pm and are all tired from our big day. Tomorrow we will continue to get to know one another, and continue our journey as a family of four. For tonight, wan an (evening peace) and may it be a peaceful evening for all.