Journey to Anna Mei: 06.04.2007

We sat nervously, at least for me, in a small, hot room in the Civil Affairs Building. The babies had not yet arrived. Finally, our guide came in and told us that the first baby was here and she would be brought in. Olivia came in, walked around, looked at me as I was snapping her picture and went right to her mother. She was very quiet but seemed content. Rodney and I watched in amazement at how well she seemed to be doing. Smiling, happy and ready to play with her mommy. Then we were told that Hai Zhi Yi was here and they would be bringing her in soon. We prepared ourselves, our cameras and I tried to keep it together.

I first saw a nanny turning the corner holding a little hand. They turned the corner into the room and she just walked right into the room. I bent down on my knees to say hello and get close to her. She put her hands in mine and was studying my face, all while taking in the others in the room. She was a little overwhelmed by all the people and the commotions. I gradually moved closer to her, holding her hands and then I picked her up.

She is tiny. Her hands, feet, body, all about the size of a 6 month old baby, at least my boys at 6 months. She was very attentive and watched everything that was close to her or had the possibility of getting close to her. She had her hand on my shoulder, clutching my shirt in her hand and the other hand was on my chest. I kissed her forehead and she felt a little feverish. She turned around, looking back towards the door and I assume she realized that the nannies that brought her were gone. She began to tear up and started a small whine. She then took her hand to cover her mouth, almost spit on her palm and then ran her hand up on her cheek to her ear. She did this on both sides of her face and then would take her fingertips and rub her cheeks. I didn't know if her ears or jaw teeth were hurting her or if this is just a way that she consoles herself.

I tried to console her the only way I knew. I offered her a toy, which she did not want and then I began to bounce. We bounced for some time and it seemed to work okay. Rodney started approaching her and trying to interact. She was very hesitant and pulled her arm away from his touch.

One of the nannies returned to the room to answer some questions about Anna. She is on formula and congee. She wakes around 6 am, naps between 12 and 2 and then she said that 9 was bed. I can't imagine her staying awake that long, but maybe? Her favorite toys are things that make music...she said that she loves to follow and bounce to the beat. I asked about consoling her, what worked? She said they didn't know. I asked about illnesses, especially ear infections. She said she had never had an infection. I can't imagine her not ever having an ear infection, but again, I don't know.

Rodney again approached her and she went to him. She immediately was checking out his face and especially his facial hair. It was incredibly sweet. She would take her forearm and put it to his chin, he would rub the hair on her arm and then she would jerk it away. After about 3 times, she began to smile, then about 3 times later, she started laughing. Daddy will keep facial hair :-) Rodney kept her while I did the paperwork for day. He said that they were playing and he kissed her cheek. She came back and kissed his. Then they were rubbing foreheads together and she kissed him in the mouth. He is quite proud of the fact that he received the first Anna sugars...all while mommy was working - isn't that the way it goes! She did really good until about 2 minutes before I was finished with the paperwork and then she started getting upset again.

When I took her from Rodney he told me that she was hot, and she was. She was sweating, her hair was wet and she was coughing and had a little rattle in her chest. I took her to the window in the room and started the bouncing again. I began to hum and sing Amazing Grace, and her leg started moving back and forth and she was consoled. Finally it was time to leave.

As we were walking out of the room, we entered a larger room where there was about 15 families who had just received their babies. It was loud and chaotic. Anna began to get upset again and started the cheek rubbing. I began to massage her jaw, just in front of her ear and she liked that a lot. Again, I don't know if it is ears, teeth or just feels good to her.

We got back into the van and she again got upset. After about 2 minutes she was taking in the passing scenery. We arrived back at the hotel and went to our room. She did very, very well. We then decided to venture back out for her formula. She was excellent. No crying, just totally absorbing everything. She would look over my shoulder and then jerk it around to see in front of us, then jerk it back over my shoulder. She was really in awe of everything. We made our purchase and came back to the hotel, ordered room service congee and began to let her see things in the room. She walked around holding my hand (she is still very unbalanced, but really wants to try). She laid on the floor and let out a sigh. We were both pretty confident that she was just totally exhausted.

I laid her on our bed and changed her diaper. I bought size 3, but she needs size 2 and maybe 1s. She is very small. We didn't even attempt to wash her. That will be an adventure for tomorrow. Finally our congee arrived and I began to make her bottle. We gave her some Tylenol in case her ears or gums were hurting her. She ate about 3 ounces of her bottle and again began to cry. It was all she could do to hold her eyes open. She was rubbing her cheeks and holding her ears. I felt so badly for her. But, we just kept trying different things. I know it was probably her being sleepy and not being in a familiar place. 2 total strangers have taken her to an odd place and now are trying to get her to fall asleep. I would have been scared too.

She finally gave it up and fell asleep on my chest. I sat for about 30 minutes holding her and then stood up. She woke up, looked around, rubbed her cheeks and then laid her head back on my chest and went back to sleep. I walked into the bedroom and laid her on the bed, our bed, and laid beside her. She looked around the room, played with the edges of the pillowcases, looked at me a few times and then fell back asleep. She has been sleeping for about 4 hours now and is just precious.

She doesn't like covers on her legs. She has kicked it off multiple times when I tried to cover her up. She will seem to rouse a little, rub her cheek and she is back off again.

Tomorrow we will go back to the Civil Affairs to do the official adoption paperwork and pay the Chinese adoption fees. We will be leaving our hotel around 10:45 am. Our guide said that we will be gone for about 1 hour.

She is so sweet and amazing. I cannot express how I feel, and Rodney can't either. This has been an awesome experience and a true miracle of love. We love this little girl, even though we know she doesn't love us right now. But it will all come. We are so happy and couldn't imagine not doing what we are doing. She is ours.

Boys,

Anna is so very cute. You all are just going to love her so much. I think that she will like to play and can totally see her being a tom boy! She doesn't want to have anything to do with the "girly" toys that we brought. Instead, she has played with a wipes container...go figure! I can't wait until you all get to see her for yourselves. We love you all very much.