Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Today started off very early. We met Shiyan and the group at the White Swan Hotel at 8am to travel to the same local government building where we received Ainsley yesterday. The task today was an extremely important one: David had to “register” the adoption in China. Basically, this makes everything final and official here in China. The process involved David being interviewed twice by government officials regarding his intent (and Shannon’s) concerning the adoption, answering questions concerning our family, occupations, salary, commitment to the adoption, commitment never to abandon the baby, etc. After each interview, David had to sign various papers. In addition, the officials took a picture of David and Ainsley together that will eventually be affixed to the final adoption certificate. The whole process this morning took about 2 hours.

By next week, we will receive from the government officials here in Guangdong Province, China an official adoption certificate that includes all pertinent information about the adoptive parents and Ainsley, as well as the picture that the government officials took of David and Ainsley this morning. The picture will be affixed to the official document. This will be ours to keep.

Ainsley was great the entire time we were at the government offices! David really likes the baby carrier, which he used for the first time this morning for this appointment, because it saves his arms from feeling like they are about to fall off after holding Ainsley so much (Ainsley is a lot bigger and heavier than little 3-week old Griffin!). Ainsley likes the baby carrier too. She snuggles in tight, facing David, and is so content and peaceful. What a blessing!

Prior to our 8am meeting this morning, David experienced his first morning trying to get himself and a toddler ready!! This was quite a challenge and really could not have been done without the help of the “traveling grandmas.” Despite the challenges, and in addition to the help from the “traveling grandmas” with things like preparing food (for Ainsley and David!), running errands, cleaning up and organizing, picking out clothes for Ainsley, watching Ainsley so David could shower, and much more, the morning was also made much easier by the fact that Ainsley was so great last night, essentially sleeping through the night from about 9pm until about 5:30/6:00am! We really could not have asked for a better first night.

This afternoon, however, was a different story! Ainsley must not have read her own schedule that the orphanage workers gave us (it indicated that she took a bottle of formula – a kind of mid-day snack I guess – at around 11:30am, then took a 2-hour nap from 12-2pm). And David may have read the schedule a little too much and tried to force that schedule on Ainsley. She was sleeping soundly on the bed at around 10:30am right after we returned from the government offices. She was still sleeping at 11:30am, but David decided she might want her 11:30am bottle that was indicated on the orphanage’s schedule they provided. So, he woke Ainsley up. Big mistake! We now know that Ainsley does cry and does get fussy, and that it can take quite a while for her to wind down once she gets worked up. While she did eventually take some of the bottle and did fall asleep off and on, it was nearly three hours later before she finally let David lay her down in her crib to take a steady nap. Prior to that, she would simply not let go of David without crying hysterically. She would fall asleep in his arms, but he could not lay her down without her waking up and crying like crazy. LESSON LEARNED: Never, ever wake a sleeping toddler (they are not like 3-week old Griffin who has to be woken up after so many hours so he will eat)!!

So, by the time you read this, it will likely be the start of the evening here in China. Please pray that, despite the bad afternoon, we would have another good night where Ainsley sleeps soundly until morning. And continue to pray as David and Ainsley (and the “traveling grandmas”) figure each other out. It is really an amazing experience, but is also emotionally and mentally and physically draining.

Tomorrow morning, Thursday, April 5, 2007, is free (well, as free as it can be with a toddler!). In the afternoon we meet at 2:30pm to go apply for Ainsley’s passport. That is the only “official” business we have tomorrow.

But don’t forget one very important thing about tomorrow – it is Ainsley’s birthday! She will be 1 year old tomorrow, April 5, 2007. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What a joy when you think that one year ago Ainsley was not in caring arms at this time. Rather, on the day she was born one year ago, she was left on the side of the road in Maoming City (see “About Ainsley” to refresh your memory). David and the “traveling grandmas” look forward to celebrating Ainsley’s life tomorrow and reflecting on all that has transpired over the past two years of David’s and Shannon’s adoption journey to bring us to the point of being here in China with Ainsley in our arms. Amazing!