3.23.09 Official Adoption Day...

Maelyne's first night with us should have been great if I did not mess up our sleep. I went to bed around 11:00 pm after Henry put Maelyne to her crib around 8:30 pm. I was in deep sleep coz I have been very tired that day. But when I woke up I thought it is already 6:00 am, so I took a shower, put my make up on and got Henry to take a shower as well. While he was taking a shower, I got Maelyne out of her crib and start undressing her to change her clothes. We have to leave at 8:00 am for notary interview, etc. and I don't want to be the last family to meet at the lobby of the hotel. We still have to eat breakfast. Henry double checked the time as soon as he came out of the shower only to find out it was only a little past midnight. Oh crap... What am I thinking? Poor Maelyne she was crying (she hates being dressed up). So we all tried to get back to bed but Maelyne took a while before she could go back to sleep again.
It has been raining and windy today. After breakfast, we went to the adoption office to finalize the adoption. The room we were in was full of families from different agencies, who have adopted here in China. We had our picture taken and a solo photo of our child. After the picture taking, we had a brief interview and signed some papers. Then we received our adoption certificate making us legal parents for Maelyne (at least in the eyes of China). :)))))
Next stop was to have our certificates notarized and then we applied for Maelyne's passport. Last stop was at Walmart to do some shopping. We bought a Size 2 diaper for Maelyne, baby bottles, etc and more water supply. Maelyne enjoyed the ride in the cart she did not want to get off. The wind is really blowing hard. Maelyne is now getting fussy I can tell but managed to be a good girl. She was even putting some smiles and try to play with us.
We finally got back to the hotel. We had the whole afternoon to be alone. We skipped the group dinner, instead we had room service. Maelyne is now getting comfortable with us. She was smiling a lot and even talking to us. She is not that quiet baby I thought she was yesterday.
We were surprised when she copied us said baba, (chinese for dad) and mama. She became a handful little girl today but we are enjoying every minute of it.
We had trouble putting her to sleep tonight. Henry and I have been switching trying to get her
to sleep but neither of us is doing the job. She did not poop today which I am concerned that it might be causing her problem. I'll see tomorrow if she doesn't still then I have to do something to relieve her. It is past 10:00 when she finally calmed down and she's now sleeping not in her crib but right next to dad. I can tell she's a Daddy's girl.
Enjoy some of her pictures taken today....

We can now cut off our red threads after having
them on for 3 years...

At the adoption service center...

At the place to apply for Maelyne's passport..

First ride in a shopping cart...

Loves to ride in the stroller...

Daddy's girl...

Maelyne loves to play with toys...