Bailey is Here!

It is 2:45 in the afternoon and Bailey just went down for her nap (fully clothed, including sandals and backpack on). But let me back up and tell the whole story......

We arrived at the Civil Affairs Office at 9AM and as we walked in the front door I was pretty sure I saw Bailey up ahead being escorted up some stairs and into a room. We followed and as we entered the room it became clear that it was her. She was with a man and a woman from her orphanage and Bakha and I went right up to her. She was very shy and did not want to come over. The orphanage director pulled out the photo album we had sent a couple of months ago and pointed to our pictures and then to us. She smiled but still did not come over.



The trick turned out to be bubbles. She smiled when I blew some and then did it herself (with great skill I might add). She took turns blowing them with Bakha, handing the wand to her every other turn.






She insisted on holding the bubbles by herself, accidentally spilled them all over her socks, and then let Bakha change her socks.


We spent about 90 minutes at Civil Affairs, playing doing paperwork, and taking pictures. There were approximately 6 families altogether and it was quite chaotic. Two of the kids in particular were very upset and vocal.

Bailey had to participate in the paperwork, too, by putting her hand print on a piece of paper:






I had a chance to speak with the two people from the orphanage and they answered all of my questions. They described Bailey as very easy going but noted she does not like new things. We saw that right away when it was time to leave. The orphanage director said goodbye and Bailey started screaming, crying, and kicking. She is little, but very strong when upset. I was afraid she was going to throw herself out of my arms and onto the marble floor. She kept on screaming as we waited for the van and for about five minutes into the ride. Then she decided she was interested in looking out the window and she settled down.

A couple of other things they told me about her are that she does not like very many foods and they said to me, "please be patient with her eating.". They also said her best friend, Jia, is being adopted domestically.

After Civil Affairs we had to go take an official picture and then we went to the grocery store to stock up on food, etc. Bailey insisted on being held by me until she saw some "Pleasant Goat" sandals, then she sat in the cart so she could try them on.

We came back to the hotel room and ate lunch. She ate well, although slowly. She had some ramen noodles, yogurt melts, a banana, and water.





I then put her down for a nap. Bakha retreated to Ellen's room as any time Bailey cries it really stresses her out. It is sad. She really resisted napping here in the hotel room. After crying for about 30 minutes, she insisted (through pointing) on putting all of her clothes back on, including her shoes. She then gathered up her items and put them in the little backpack the orphanage sent with her (it was filled with snacks, clothes, and toys), and put her backpack on. That's how she fell asleep.

It's been a hard day for Bailey, but a good one, too. We've already started to see her little personality with smiles and belly laughs. She is clearly bright and knows what she wants.

Here are a couple more pictures. I look drunk in this official shot, but I assure you I was completely sober at the Civil Affairs Office:-)















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