(Monday November 23)

What a glorious day!

What an incredible day it has been! As I type, Hannah Faith is sound asleep in her crib behind me! Kevin has just left on hot pursuit of some more bottled water.

Let me start at the beginning. I cannot promise I will get in every detail as I am emotionally drained tonight.

We were bussed to the adoption affairs building which was approx. 20 minutes from our hotel. As we got out of the bus to walk in to the building I couldn't help but be emotional. We all were. There were 5 families total meeting their angels today. As we walked to and then into the building I kept wondering where she was at that moment. Was she in one of the many cars around the building, or perhaps inside, or only arriving shortly etc... The office was on the 26th floor and it seemed as though the elevator made 100 stops before arriving!

We walked in and our emotions were definitely running wild. We walked in to a very lovely room with benches and coffee tables around the perimeter. Towards one end of the room were a handful of men and possibly a woman sitting and standing and talking amongst themselves. I am not sure if they greeted us. I think our guide went to them. As we walked in, I could see two babies standing with their backs towards us. They were both dressed in puffy blue suits and were there with two women. We all wondered if these could possibly be our babies? No one said a word regarding that. I don't know what it was.... I couldn't see anything but the back of her but I said to Kevin that I felt it was our Hannah on the left. But, no real reason to think this. Just hoping perhaps! We stood there and waited for probably 10 minutes, but really felt like an eternity. I couldn't take my eyes off of these babies and couldn't help but wonder. They still had their backs to us.

Suddenly, the adults gathered and called Marie-Josee forward, they then handed her her baby. The baby on the right of the two standing. Her little one immediately cried. She had been crying before this too. But she really cried and it hit me! I was so emotional, I think everyone was... It was impossible not to be. What an experience. Forever etched in my mind and heart. It all happened so quickly, probably not even a minute until they called the next new parents. But it took me possibly 10 seconds from when the called Marie-Josee's name to mention that our babies are from the same place. The baby on the left had to be our Hannah Faith. Standing right there with her back to us! Before we knew it, our names were called and we came forward. All of the other families gathered to take pictures and as we approached I spoke to Hannah and didn't grab at her immediately but held out my arms to her and said Mama.... She just looked at me, and then I took her into my arms. I was holding my third miracle. My darling Hannah Faith. At the same time, the orphanage director was giving me the cameras I had sent, along with an album, some info and her bottle. I could hardly concentrate on any of that! Kevin was taking our picture. Hannah Faith was silent. Not a peep out of her. She was very still in my arms and she was just taking us in. We then went over to the side and held her. Kevin then held her and she didn't fuss at all with either of us. It went so smoothly. I knew from experience that she was in safe mode. Very still, very silent, except for her little eyes. Speaking of her eyes, she is very fair and has no eyebrows really, but her little black eyelashes are very long and very straight. She stayed silent all the while we were there and then on the bus. I should mention that while we were at adoption affairs and holding her, I gave her many kisses and touched her face alot. When I kissed her she leaned in and wanted more and more. She has done this all day! She LOVES kisses and I am only too happy to oblige her!!!! She also took my finger and held it so tightly on the bus and into the hotel. Her little eyes were very busy, but the rest of her was silent.

We came up to our hotel room and I could see that she was sweating profusely and she was soaked through her 5 layers of clothing. She also badly needed a changing. As I lay her down to change her she began to cry. I was able to soothe her though! She also has a diaper rash so I put some zincofax on her which almost seemed to soothe her instantly. She sighed! I peeled off her layers as she was so wet. After putting her into a fresh undershirt etc... she proceeded to study us deeply. She sat on my knee and I fed her the rice/veggies/ham I had put into the thermos for her. She then ate some baby fruit and drank some apple juice. She was NOT thrilled with her bottle at first, but took some of it at the end of her meal. I put her into bed as she looked exhausted, but the minute I would leave her in it she cried. I held her for quite a while and she was very content. Kevin and I eventually knew that a nap was just not in the cards. Fine by me for today! We opened the blinds and got out two toys. She sat on the bed with me and played and played! I was even able to make her squeal with delight by making this little lamb climb me and jump off my head landing on the bed. Her laugh was absolutely magical to hear. She began to make other sounds and she was clearly comfortable. She had a poopy diaper (that is a major milestone in this kind of situation) and she cried and fell asleep in my arms right before heading downstairs for supper. We didn't want her to sleep at that time! She only slept a minute or two and then opened her eyes and we headed downstairs. She wasn't happy about the prospect of sitting in her highchair as it meant leaving my arms (yes she wants to be held!) at the hotel restaurant but then was happy to sit when I handed her a Bin Bin cracker. We made her a bowl of more rice, veggies, meat and she ate like a little bird waiting for worms. So cute.... I then went to find her fruits and found a kind of fruit cocktail with melons all kind of melons all diced up. Perfect for little hands and mouthes! So she enjoyed eating these and Kevin and I were able to eat too....

Back to our hotel room and we attempted to sponge her off in the baby tub but that wasn't happening! She was far too tired for that and it wasn't something we really wanted to do on her first night. But, with her diaper rash, heavy heavy drooling, her poopy and sweat, we thought we could give it a try maybe? We didn't push it and instead I sponged her hands and face and put her into her fresh pj's. She is so tiny! Her skin is very white. Like mine really (finally another little ghost in the family LOL) and she isn't thin, nor is she plump. She looks very healthy. Aside from teething which is making her drool like mad, and I think that is why her cheeks are red and she has a slight diaper rash. I believe that she has been well taken care of and loved by her foster family. I am so thankful that in her album we have a picture of Hannah Faith Shangguan Xin Xuan with her foster mother. We were even given many pictures of Hannah with each report written. We are very fortunate and we could never begin to thank Zhan Xixian (foster mother) enough.

I tried Hannah with another bottle right before bedtime but she was beside herself. She was very overly tired and crying heavily. She wanted nothing to do with her bottle. Tomorrow we will try to find out what she was drinking and buy that for her. Anyway, I was able to soothe her and she fell asleep in my arms. Once I tried to put her into bed she awoke and cried as she did during her nap today. I rubbed and patted her chest and she watched me closely and fell asleep. She has now been sleeping almost 2 hours.

We really cannot believe all that we have been through today. It was very surreal in many ways. We have been given the most incredible gift. We adore her and cannot wait to see what tonight and tomorrow bring. Keeping my fingers crossed for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we are leaving the hotel at 8 am and will be doing paperwork until the afternoon.

This morning before leaving the hotel, when I looked out the window a verse came to mind.
It has stayed with me all day and seems so appropriate. I know God has brought us to our angel and I am eternally grateful.

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. "

xoxoxo Thank you for all of your love, prayers and wishes. Your support is so very much appreciated. Please Remember to view our pictures!
http://hannah.kjvb.com/