china doll part three

So we got us a baby girl alrighty....she was a feisty one for sure. And, just for the record she doesn't remember it as far as I can tell. We look at the pictures often and talk about it, but she is a happy well adjusted kiddo. And we are blessed.

She did not smile for over 10 L-O-N-G days. We would put her to bed, she would cry until she fell asleep. When she awoke, she would stand up in the crib, look over at us and cry. She preferred Brandt. I told him, SHE HAS TO LIKE ME!!!

So, every day we would get up, he would bathe her, get her dressed and we would eat breakfast (the only meal I trusted in the hotel...I could watch them fry the egg right in front of me). Annie would eat like she was starving. We would have to stop her from eating for fear that she would throw up. After breakfast, Brandt would find something to do so Annie and I could have some "mommy time".

One day we visited a "kindergarten" where the Chinese children live during the week. Can you imagine putting your 3 year old on a bus on Sunday nights to live at school until they return on Friday nights? This was a priveledged group of children, we were told, as it was expensive.

Most times we went for a walk. The Chinese women would stop us and talk to her and smile at me. We had a card written in Chinese that said we were adopting our little girl and promised to love her. They would smile when they read the card. Everyone was very nice.

Every day in ChangSha there were things we had to do...paperwork, notaries, paperwork and paperwork. Our guide would make sure everything was in perfect shape. Some days there were sight seeing. Once to a Buddhist Monastery, once to a needlework factory. Every day meant a ride on a bus...and it was usually preceeded by a screaming, walleyed fit as we waited to either get on or get off the bus. Obviously it was very traumatic.

One day Brandt and the other families took a 2 hour bus ride to the orphanage where Annie spent the first 27 months of her life. Annie and I stayed at the hotel. She was still very sad and I wanted to spare her from more grief. Most of the other families took their girls in hopes to find some closure. The nannies all seemed to really love our girls, which was a great comfort. Should I have taken Annie there one more time? I'll never know, and it's the only thing I might change if I could.

These faces will break your heart...