Very Happy Family - Finally United!!

Hello to all,

Well I tried to post the photos in the order in which we began and ended our day - but I'm not a blogspot professional "yet". Words can't express how nervous we were this morning. You could hear a pin drop on the bus ride to the Civil Affairs office where the families got to meet our babies for the very first time after years of waiting. Dad did a repeat of the day we went to Pasadena to see her (Rachel's)photo for the first time - he was impatient, nervous, and irritable. Then as we waited on that door to open and our daughter's name "Gang Qiu Gu" to be called out - Dad (Ba Ba in Cantonese) lost it. I looked beside me and my gentle but stoic giant was crying. I was nervous but actually doing pretty good until that moment. I then wanted to run over to that double door and throw it open and run in and grab my daughter!! We didn't have to wait long. Soon out came the women w/ our babies. One by one...................................then out she came. Our Rachel was handed to me and I took her very gently and cautiously as to not scare her w/ my hysterics and tornado of emotions that were just under my shirt and heart pounding so closely underneath. She clutched me very tightly and wouldn't let go. She looked very guarded but not afraid. Ba Ba scared her a little because she has most likely not seen too many men and especially not one as big as Tim or w/ facial hair. But - she did take to him soon after a little outburst of understandable emotion. She readily wanted me (which words can't express how my heart filled up over this) and reached out for me to hold her.

We filled out papers, papers and more papers and then it was back onto the bus and back to our temporary home here at the Victory Hotel in GZ. I know that the photos are out of order - but you can most likely put the puzzle together of events and their timeline. Mom and daughter fell asleep on the couch and Dad just sat and stared sitting across the room. I placed her in her crib and she slept for over an hour. I sponge bathed her as to not scare her w/ a bath and now she smells so sweet and like baby lotion and has on her new PJ's (pink of course) and even a tiny hair bow in her very still short hair.

She's eaten and has a good appetite. First meal was Gerber's Chicken and vegetables and for dessert was applesauce. She finally took her bottle given to her by her Ba Ba. Dad put on some Bob Marley and danced/rocked her gently to sleep and he placed her gently back into her crib which is at the foot of our bed for now. Hopefully she will stay there for the entire night - if not - guess where she'll end up :) Ba Ba and Mama are in love.

We have a very early and filled day tomorrow w/ legal this and that and errands and appointments to attend. We will try to personally contact who we can first time we get our phone cards for China.

Good night and God Bless (we are so blessed already),

Kimberly and Tim and Baby Rachel