Gotcha Day!

We met Zoe at 9am in the hotel lobby. It was time to go meet Amy for the first time. Could this be happening so soon? We just got here. Were we ready? We jumped into the van and off we went. In less than one hour we would see her for the first time. If we could get there without getting into a auto/pedestrian or auto/auto or auto/scooter or auto/bicycle accident. The roads here are amazing and the drivers even better or do I mean worse. Everyone is going every which way but no one getting into an accident. Amazing. Anyways, I digress.

We arrived at the provincial office in one piece and were early. Yes I said we were early. We went into a large board room with a long conference table like I would imagine at the White House for a cabinet meeting. We sat down in chairs off to the side of the big table to wait as we were early! Within a few minutes 5 other couples with guides came and before we could even make introductions with these families the children were brought in.

We saw Amy right away. She was the first to come in. She was wearing a pink dress holding a red bag with snacks and the things we had sent to her in our care packages. We made eye contact and could tell she knew who we were. Then there were voices...pointing ...she was moving toward us...then in front of us, and there I was watching Amy hug Teri!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was no crying or forcing things. She was on Teri's lap going through her bag, looking at everything as she pulled it out and then put things back in. The magnadoodle was a hit. Immediately, she was drawing what was obviously a house and then something that looked ilke snow. We realized she was drawing the picture of our house covered in snow that we sent with the care package. I asked Zoe to ask Amy if I could hug her. She nodded yes and there I was hugging my new daughter. Then I started with the camera.

We met with the orphanage director who answered some questions before he had to meet with other families. He was wonderful and seemed so warm. He said Amy, Wu Kang Qi, had only been in the orphanage and it was obvious that there was a connection of love and concern for her. They gave us a photo album with pictures of Amy over the last few years and pictures of the 16 kids in her "class", some of whom have been adopted and some not. We asked her to point to her "best friend". She did and we found out that she was adopted and in America somewhere.

In the eight hours we have been with her, she has shown she, likes things in their place, knows what she wants, likes to draw, has a sweet voice, has a voracious appetite, is very busy looking at everything we brought for her to play with and wants to hold both of our hands when walking. We went out to lunch and she organized all of our bowls, plates, cups, chopsticks etc.. When we returned we gave her a bath, she was very comfortable and then we read stories, ang songs and have a rest time as per her routine in the orphanage. She laid quitely for probably 1 and a half hours before falling asleep. We all slept and have been coloring/playing and now we will go find some shoes that fit. Back out into the furnace.

We are amazed that this is real and can't wait to get back home - we miss our kids bunches!!!
M and T