Oh What a Great and Glorious Day - Hannah is HERE!!! - Part 3

We boarded the bus around 4:30 for the return trip back to the Dolton and oh what a different ride it was!! We were now holding 10 precious babies and the bus was much louder than when we had driven the other direction. Hannah was still calm and still just trying to figure it all out. I'm guessing she had never been outside the orphanage until this morning and now, after a long 5+ hour drive from DaoXian to Changsha, and meeting her mommy, she was travelling once again. Before long my sweetie decided it was nap time and cuddled in for a rest. Ahhhhhhh!!!

We arrived back at the hotel and went to our room to wait for Sarah to come and share details from the orphange about Hannah's daily care. It was about an hour and a half before Sarah arrived and my sweetie napped during some of that time and was awake at others. We had some tears and can I say she has the sweetest little cry? She can get wound up for sure but it's still a little cry and in her most upset times her little voice squeeks which has led to the nickname of 'Little Squeek' at times.

I eventually gave her a couple of stacking cups and all was right in her little world once again. I had taken a toy to the Civil Affairs office but it had appeared to scare her so I was being cautious. It would not be unusual for her to not have really had toys or many toys until today so I didn't want to overwhelm her. I love her little hands when she holds things as she still has what I call 'baby hands' and I love it!! Her little thumbs are tucked in and stick out between her index finger and middle finger. So sweet! Note to self....catch this in a pic...don't have one yet.

Sarah came to our room around 6:00 and shared about Hannah's daily schedule. She currently has 2 bottles a day of formula with rice cereal mixed in with it. I'll continue with this for a bit to ease her transition and then move her to cereal in a bowl and formula seperately. She likes vegetables, rice, fruit, mashed pork, steamed egg and....cake! LOL...my baby girl still likes her cake!

She was described as outgoing, happy and generous and I can already see these traits in her. I cannot believe the number of smiles and giggles we get!!

Once Sarah left we decided to grab a quick bite to eat before meeting to do paperwork for the civil affairs office. I attempted to eat a little soup but was much happier taking care of my baby and feeding her a little congee.

We met the rest of the families at 7:30 where Hannah fussed a bit at first and then decided to conk out. It was her bedtime and she was ready to go to sleep. Back in the room I changed her diaper and put her down for the night. I had decided to keep her in the little outfit she came in so as not to change things too quickly. So much in her little world had changed today so if being in her orphanage clothes (which were the pj's from her care package!) would give her any comfort then I wanted to offer her this. (I've now taken these and placed them in a ziploc and will put one piece in her crib the night we move to Beijing and another piece when we go home to Canada. Trying to help her adjustment with smells that are familiar to her.)

My sweet baby girl was asleep for the night around 10:00 and she slept right though until 7:20 the next morning! I was amazed too that she didn't really move in her crib at all. The position I left her in is where she was all night....because mommy got up often to check! :o)

There you have it folks....our Family Day in the details that I can remember. Thank you for making your way through all the details. I know it's a lot but more than a blog, this is our Family Journal and I want to capture as much of it as I possibly can to share with Hannah later.

Thank you for all your comments and emails. I'm the first to admit that many sit unopened in my in box right now but please know that they are greatly appreciated! As I have time I will read and enjoy them but my focus has changed in a wonderful way to the sweet baby girl behind me who is starting to stir, ready to face another day together as mother and daughter!!!