Thank you everyone for writing back to us with your good wishes for Dalia. We feel your joy and love! This is the first time I've had a chance to email since I wrote about 30 hours ago. Hope I am not overloading anyone's inbox; part of the fun is sharing with our friends and family and journaling - if you want to skip reading, I've included a few more photos:
1) Dalia putting her stamp on the official documents
2) taking a bottle from Mama at the museum (dress by cousin Vivian)
3) real-time - napping
We had a whirlwind morning yesterday as we rushed to get our official business done in the morning before all the women of Lanzhou had the afternoon off for the International Women's Day holiday.
First to buy presents for some of the officials, then to the photographer to have official photos taken of Dalia and the three of us for the registration of her adoption. Then to the Civil Affairs building. Up the elevator and two men were looking at her, and explained to me in a very thoughtful way that the Chinese Government "the Party" is now offering free surgeries for cleft lip an palate.
We walked into an office to do the business. The the orphanage director from her orphanage in Tinshui along with the nanny, Ms. Yang from Sunday night. 2 female officials, several other men and women. Tal and I kept to Dalia, who was playful, ran around the room, went right to the locked cabinet and took out the keys. Many papers to fill out and sign - I honestly didn't pay much attention as I was playing with and holding Dalia. I brought her over to Ms. Yang to hold and give her her bottle (before they returned to Tianshui). I fought back some tears.
We put a red-inked thumbprint over our signatures on every page of every document; Dalia used her entire foot! Some of the ladies squeezed her calf and were impressed at how strong and healthy she is. When we finished, Tal picked her up, we got in the car and she conked out - asleep. Went back to the room and we all slept for 4 hours.
Throughout the entire morning- not one tear, not one fuss. We learned quickly that this is just how she is - and we had nothing to do with it. She came to us this way - just a wonderful baby, so easy, so quick to share her toys, loves to play and laugh. Puts her bottle and her shoes and her animal on the floor in a row, just so. When it's time to put her hat on, we hold out her hat and she leans forward to give us her head. When we want to walk down the hall, she grabs for our fingers.
Ventured out last night and tried to find a huo guo or "hot pot" restaurant -- we went up the escalator 2 floors and went into the wrong door - ended up having Sichuan food; will do hotpot tonight. HUGE restaurant, definately no foreigners. She had a good time, sits at the table when we do. Then to the grocery store to pick up some washcloths to pin around her neck. One thing about her CLP is that she is drooling quite a bit (but still cute!). So, we take after her nannies and just pin a towel around her. She loves to be carried, doesn't like the stroller too much.
Plays in the bathroom, reads, can hold a pencil and draw lines, likes stuffed animals. We are getting to know her little sounds and expressions, and what she is asking for. She slept from 10 AM to 8 AM (!) with only one bit of crying in the night - I picked her up, put her on top of me and she was fine.
Today, Megan, our fantastic guide, took us to the Gansu Museum of History -- fantastic, beautiful museum. The Silk Road cuts right through Gansu... so so much history here of Ancient China. So much for our guide, Megan to be proud of. I am glad that we are in this part of China and want to return.
Now Dalia is napping.
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