Journey to Nicole
April 13
Okay....now where do we begin? You already know that we are so absolutely wild about our baby girl. I will try to give you a brief synopsis of our Gotcha Day. But those of you that know me, know that brief is hard for me to do. Here we go......
Probably needless to say, Dave and I did not sleep much at all on Monday night. We ended up getting up at 4am to change rooms (long story). By the time we got moved, showers and breakfast....it was time to get on the bus.
We were all so excited to get to our daughters. The scenery on the bus ride to Fuling was amazing. Rice paddy fields were everywhere . The bus had to stop at one point and he stopped right in front of a farm. The farmer was plowing with his OX!!! I know he thought we all were crazy as 20 "big noses" (that is what the Chinese call caucasion Americans, according to our guide) get out of a huge bus and start snapping photos of him.
Finally we get to Fuling and the orphanage. We all walked down an alley type of street to the orphanage. The bus could not fit down the narrow street. I was simply ready to burst I was so excited to get Nikki in my arms. We went to the restrooms (see photo below) and what an adventure that was. The 'sqautty potties' were in a room with literally wide open windows facing an apartment building. There were 3 in a row with no stalls. Too funny! So far there have thankfully been no squatty potty accidents in the group.
Then it was TIME!! It was total chaos. We were supposed to be called 6th and they called us 2nd. We were not prepared. Dave and I handed our cameras off to our new pals the O'Malleys' and that was it. We went to the front of the room and they handed sweet Nikki to me. Oh wow, what an incredible feeling. I cried but not as much as I thought I would have. She was very frightened. She began crying. She was looking at me like...what is going on and what are you??? (I have told most of you about the blond Mommy syndrome...I was regretting not dying my hair for a moment.) As we all predicted, she took to Dave immediately. But please understand that the moment I held her in my arms I was gone. She was my daughter. I felt complete. The place in my heart that was empty and aching to be filled by my daughter for the past year was filled. The moment was simply magical. I have only felt that same feeling the day Joe was born. It is just the stuff that fairy tales are made of. WOW!!
Okay, so she did cry for awhile but began to settle down as Dave spoke to her. She was extremely curious about me. She just kept wanting to look at me but then would turn away. I was prepared for this. I was still just so in love and wanted her to just feel safe and secure so tried a few different things but eventually I just backed off and let her stare at me. Dave was on a cloud. I mean...he just kept smiling and saying, "She is so beautiful, she is just so beautiful!". He was just immediately in love. I am sure you can see it in some of the photos. He was so good with her. I could hear him whispering calming words to her. It was just so sweet.
We had noticed a man with a small baby boy outside the meeting room windows staring at us. He got our attention and was saying something. We could not understand but he was smiling and seemed to be saying something about Nikki. Finally he discretely handed Dave something thru the window. We quickly realized that it was a laminated photo of Nikki and her foster mother. (We did find out that Nikki has been in foster care and at the orphanage both.) WOW!! We were so very, very grateful. We thanked him profusely and he was gone in an instant. We are guessing that he was someone the foster mother sent as it had been explained to us that we were not allowed to meet her. What a precious gift we now have for Nikki. Our guides are going to work to try and get her name for us. We know that she must have loved Nikki very much to have done that. Many of you know that this was something I was so hopeful for. I want Nikki to have as much information as she can about her life before us. Now hopefully someday, if she chooses, she will be able to meet her foster mother or at least contact her. It makes me cry just typing this.
Then the time quickly came for a few of us to get to travel by Taxi to see our daughters finding spots. (Others were too far away and would not make it back to the bus in time.) I was all prepared to go then at the last second I told Dave to just hand her to me and go. He did and that was it. She didn't even cry. She has been fine with me and just a happy baby ever since. She is still very much a Daddy's girl and probably will always be. If she is tired, most of the time she prefers her Daddy. But she goes to both of us easily and she is just a happy, sweet, and wonderful baby girl. She has such a fun little giggle laugh. I can not wait for you all to hear it. We are so blessed.
Our entire group has been surprised to find that all of the babies are doing wonderfully. They are all pretty happy babies. It is just incredible.
I just feel like going to the top of a mountain and screaming about how wonderful adoption is. It really is a special miracle. I have spoken with many of the families in our group and we are all amazed at what a perfect match each baby is with their new family.
What more can I say? This is just an incredible journey. I know I have said this before but I have to again. This whole entire journey is just way, way more than I ever dreamed it to be. What a miracle our little Nikki is. We are so lucky and blessed to now have her in our lives.
Thanks to all of you that have sent emails. We have not had a lot of time to respond. But we have read them all. We love them. We read them to Nikki and will save them for her life book. We are so thankful that we have such incredible friends and family. Thank you so much for your love, encouragement and support of us throughout this journey.
Joe - We just know that your baby sister is going to be crazy about you. We can not wait to get her home and get home to you. We love and miss you sooooo much!! Keep having fun with Grandma and Granddad.
Thanks to the Kuhn Family and Dalal Family for taking Joe for some play time with his friends. We know he had a great time. We are grateful.
Big hugs and loads of love to all!!
Good Morning! Our first early morning with our little Princess, Wednesday, April the 13th.
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Out the bus window on the way to Fuling. Check out the little wooden rope bridge.
Farmer plowing with his Ox on the road to Fuling.
Dave and some of our group on the small street that the orphanage is located on. The gates are almost at the center of the photo, sort of beige colored stones. We are almost there.
Sweet man that gave us the foster mothers photo.
Happy Daddy. Just a few minutes after getting his precious daughter.
The 'squatty potties" - Oh my!
Daddy and Nikki on the bus ride back to Chongqing.
After bath time, getting ready to go to the Chongqing Adoption Affairs office. Going to comb Mommy's hair. She is already quite the stylist.
Another shot before we leave the Adoption affairs office of the now official (in the eyes of China) Miss Nicole Raye AiKe Longworth!!
Today, Wednesday the 13th after bath - happy and clean baby girl.
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break. -Ancient Chinese Belief
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