One year later....

Oh my-I can't even believe it's been a year since our Gotcha Day with Chloe! It seems to have flown by soo quickly, yet it seems as if she's always been here...
I'm reposting our Gotcha Day post from China then two before and after pictures-it still rips my heart out wheb I think back to how upset she was ang how much she GRIEVED for 4 days...we felt horrible to be taking her from everything she'd ever known...to see her today, unless you were in that room that day a year ago, you would never believe us....Thanks to all of you who have been following the blog for the past 1.5 years! We are so happy you enjoy following along about our journey to Chloe and the happenings of our family. Thank you for the comments you have all left too-I will be publishing this blog into a book for Chloe soon so we can read all about the wonderful memories we've had. We went for our 1 year post placement report today and also had her pictures taken- we are going to start a tradition of getting her pictures taken every year on her Gotcha Day anniversary. I won't get them til next Thursday, so I will post them after then...



Pretty in Pink Sleeping Beauty






This was us leaving the place where we had our family photo taken for our paperwork

This is her nanny, the orphanage director, and one unhappy girl!

Trying to comfort her

Hanging out with daddy at the window

We had to give a red thumbprint on our paperwork.

Meeting her for the first time...



The Shanxi Civil Affairs Office Building

Well, what a day it has been! It started out with the two of us being so nervous, excited, anxious, scared...wondering how the adjustment would begin. We met with our guide at 8 am and he took us to the bank of China to exchange our money. What a process that was! All the bills were brand new, and she still looked over them with a magnifying glass!
We then left for the Shanxi Civil Affairs office. It took a little longer than usual to get there, because of sitting in traffic. The other couple we met who is staying at our hotel, were there also to get their little girl. She is 3 years old. Another couple then came in and we met them in Beijing, and they were adopting a 5 year old boy. The first child to come was the little 3 year old. She was of course scared and unsure, but it brought tears to our eyes watching their Gotcha Day unfold before our eyes! The next child was the 5 year old boy. He did very well taking to his parents. He kind of was go with the flow.
And then...I heard Danny say, oh my gosh, here she comes, and in she walked, holding the hand of her nanny. The orphanage director was also there. They brought back to us everything that we had sent to her, including the scrapbook I made for her. It was very hard to watch her nanny say goodbye to her..it was very emotional for her and for us. I only wish I knew what she said to her before she left...Chloe was ok at first, but then, it hit her. SHe cried and cried and cried. Once we got in the van, they turned the air conditioner off, because they thought she was still crying because she was cold. Let me tell ya, she was soaking wet from head to toe with sweat. She had me soaked. She wanted no part of Danny at first. We then had our guide take us to Walmart to get her formula and diapers and snacks. I had read about this before from other people, but, boy did we get stared at! Not to mention that she was wearing split pants, and her cute little tush was hanging out. Once we got back to the hotel, we had to finish some more paperwork, and as we were doing this, she fell asleep on me. She slept for about 20 minutes. We then came upstairs to get her something to eat. The milk she drinks is more like a yogurt milk, but they call it sour milk. It is very thick. She sucked down 2 bottles of it, then a bottle of water.
One thing we found out that she loves is looking out the window here. She sat for an hour watching the cars and people go by. She said a few things in Chinese, and I wish we knew what she was saying!
We then busted out the stacking cups, and people, if you are adopting, you need these cups. SHe played and played with these. I then got out the bubbles, and we got HUGE belly laughs from her. We also found out then that she has dimples :)
Next, we got her in the tub, and she was a little unsure of it, but I sat on the side of the tub, and even thought she clung to me, we got her bathed. I was as wet as she was! WE then put pajamas on her, and within 5 minutes, she was out like a light. Wow, I still can't believe we have her here laying in our bed sleeping. I am already anxious to get her home to meet everyone.
Tomorrow morning, we will meet our guide at 9:15 to go back to the Office to do the official paperwork. We then are scheduled to tour a park here. We are going try to upload the video soon.
Oh, and incase anyone was wondering how big she is, let me tell you, she is HEAV-Y!

From this little squirt....

To this rambunctious little girl! Can you believe how much she's grown in only a year?