This is the view from the Gotcha room... I had to wonder just how they got all the cars in there to begin with and then how they get them all out. What if the person who owns the red car in the middle has to leave before everyone else? 'Tis a puzzlement to me...
This is the first picture we took of Jadyn... she came in so suddenly and they got her coat off so fast...
She was not amused....
While you can see the anguish in her face, you cannot hear the quiet sobbing she was doing. She was trying so hard not to break down... being so brave... who knows what she was told beforehand. Finally, right before we left for our hotel, after hearing our guide tell her not to cry, I asked her to please tell her it was OK to cry... she looked at me like I was crazy but I do NOT want YaMing to think she has to keep her feelings all locked up inside her.
They finally brought her and her things over to where we were all sitting... after she sat silently sobbing for a while, her nanny apparently suggested she give us each a lollipop...
As you can see, Piper enjoyed hers! Bill and I did too. We thought about saving them for the girls to have later but decided it would be better to eat them since they were gifts from YaMing to us. And I do love Chinese lollipops....
I think Jadyn was trying to figure Piper out... or else sizing her up... perhaps both!
Warming up to Baba....
We knew/know that kids usually pick one parent to bond with/deal with... and Jadyn definitely prefers Bill. No, my feelings are/were not hurt. It left me free to deal with Miss Piper Joy who, while a very good girl, is also operating on a 2/3 year old level which means she is in to everything. She also has to use the bathroom quite a bit right now... thank goodness our guide usually goes with us 'cause I'm not that adept at helping a child her size use the squattie...
Such a pretty girl... such apprehension in those eyes....
I can't imagine how difficult this must be for her...
so many thoughts... so many emotions... so much unknown...
The next pics were taken back at our hotel. Adoptive parents are always taken back to their hotel for a bonding period before venturing out in search of whatever... food, clothes, supplies, toys, etc. In our case, usually food....
Jadyn's eyes look better now...
She loves to color - and is pretty good at it. Very meticulous in how she does it.... I think it will be a good escape for her when she needs it.
She seemed to like the things we put in her back pack... a magna doodle, a crayola wonder set, a soft doll, a coloring book/crayons, barrettes, lip balm, and paper dolls (which she has no clue about)... but she prefers the backpack she came with, which is no surprise. Ours is much easier to pack away anyway...
As you might have noticed, I have already rearranged the room. It is actually quite small for 4 people but Bill didn't want to move. I was/am concerned about the sleeping space, but with the 2 twins moved together, we should be fine. And it gives more space in the room for the girls (and us) to move around.
After our required "family time out", we headed for WalMart! Where else? I wanted to pick up some snacks for the girls.... and a STROLLER for our chunk of a Piper! She is way too heavy to carry any longer!
She did not even want me to take her picture... although this has changed by now - as long as I immediately show her what I have taken. She even smiles for me now....
:-)
Piper loves to shop! Well, not really but she loves all the people around for her to interact with! She smiles and says "Hello!" to everyone!
She charmed the ladies in the kids' department enough that they gave each of the girls a toddler dish set - bowl, spoon and fork, along with another set of a cup, toothbrush holder, and soap dish. The tooth brush holder came apart nicely and is now a glass for Jadyn which leaves Piper with the handle cup. The only issue is how to pack it to get it home.... for home it must come. The girls really like the bowl and silverware and spend a fair amount of time playing pretend with them. They should really like the kitchen set at home!!
All in all, this was not a bad Gotcha Day. She wasn't even close to as deliriously happy as Piper was, but we didn't think she would be. We just had a feeling. At least she wasn't hysterical...
And once we got ready for bed, and into bed, she was fine. She slept snuggled up to Bill and all night through. A real blesssing that was!
I thought I had pics of her first bedtime but I can't find any! How unlike me!
