Gotcha Day!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah!!!!!!!!! 3PM finally came, and we were off to Civil Affairs. Shortly after we arrived, we heard that Xiao E was on the 1st floor elevator. We were on the 3rd floor. We heard from an earlier phone call that Xiao E was doing well and excited about coming. She was accompanied by Director Yao and a few other staff personal. She came in loaded with treats (bribes), smiles, and kisses for her new mama and baba. The orphanage people had her perform several things. Paul tried to get some video, but he was soon wisked away to fill out a few papers. Then, he got to "play" while I signed some stuff and went over Xiao's schedule. It was not until I (Jackie) showed her a carebear that says some things, that Xiao E showed some fear. Turns out that ever since she saw a doll with its head separated from its body, she HATES dolls and such! Who would have figured. I tried to put it away on a bench, but it "talked" again. Finally, someone who could translate the situation explained the story.

The director answered a few questions (I had a ton more), and took a few pictures. Then, she and another gal decided to distract Xiao E with throwing something in the trash and made a mass exodus without her seeing. Xiao E did NOT like that. She wailed for a time! She cried on the way out to the taxi. We went to a store, and she settled there, as she picked out a pair of shoes she wanted (boy are they ever something......pink tennis shoes that light up like mad). Not mama's pick! She also decided she wanted a little toy drum, a coloring book, and we picked a dvd of songs for her. I bought one pair of pants out of desperation for her, as she seems much bigger than we thought. She is very SOLID! I brought 3T's, but am not sure that 4T's might have been better. We'll see what fits tomorrow.

She cried the way home in the taxi and screamed going into the hotel. Our guide came to our room with us, and for a while could calm her a little by talking with her in Chinese. I think that was the biggest shock for her.......mama and baba don't speak chinese. They don't understand what she is saying! Our guide finally sneaked out, and all was well. She loves to color. We played. She has asked to go back to the orphanage several times. That is what we think she is saying. She says it over and over. Daddy went to bring in some food, which she ate some of. She would rather eat junk!

We were surprised they give her "formula" (sweet milk) a couple times a day at almost 4 years old. She did happily take a bath (the first we could get her to take off her coat and her 100 layers). She was so HOT! She played in the bath. She let me put on her pj's. She was anxious for me to get in the bed with her, and after she drank her milk, she cuddled in. Her bedtime is at 9. She stayed awake quietly looking around for about a half hour and fell asleep. Hopefully, she will sleep all night!!:) We have an early morning at Civil Affairs to complete the adoption. Hopefully, she won't wake up freaked out!

Will keep you posted. Have lots to fill our time with now.