Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

It's Official!

This morning we returned to the Civil Affairs office to register the adoption.  The official there asked us several questions, we signed lots of papers by stamping our fingerprints in red ink, and Amelia even signed with a red footprint.  Amelia's nannies were there again, and we saw our first smiles from her when she saw them.  They are both so sweet and obviously really love her.  When we finished at the Civil Affairs office we drove to the notary office, where our guide dropped off the paperwork to get Amelia's passport.  We came back to the hotel and had lunch in our room and then went to play in the hotel's play/exercise area.  Then Mark, Elizabeth, and Evan swam in the hotel pool (swim caps included) and I brought Amelia back to the room so she could take a nap.  When she wakes up we'll venture out for a walk and to find some dinner.  Last night we survived our first street crossings, which felt a lot like playing Frogger!  Hopefully we'll be able to find some place to eat this evening.

Amelia is doing extremely well, given what she's been through.  She fusses occasionally for just a short time, but she still hasn't had a major breakdown.  She is beginning to respond to her name.  (We've tried calling her Ran Ran, which is what the nannies called her, but we can't even come close to saying it correctly enough for her to understand.)  She will let both of us hold and feed her, which is a huge blessing.  She still prefers Mark, and when he and the kids left to go swimming she stood at the door and pointed, wanting to follow him.  She is beginning to show a bit more of her personality.  Yesterday she just sat and observed everything quietly.  Today she is letting us know more of what she wants and doesn't want by pointing or pushing things away, and she is beginning to babble a little.  She is walking on her own but seems a little unsteady.  We will have to make sure she gets lots of practice with her leg muscles.  She does really like to walk holding our hands.  We're still trying to figure out how well potty-trained she is.  She woke up dry this morning and went in the toilet when we set her there.  But it doesn't always work quite like that.  I am beginning to wish I had bought pull-ups yesterday instead of diapers.  She has a bit of a cough that woke her several times in the night last night.

We're having trouble accessing blogger today, so I'm sending this post by e-mail.  There are six photos attached.  I don't know how they will display.  Hopefully our VPN will be working again soon.  Thank you for all the comments and e-mails.  It's truly encouraging to read them!


5 comments:

  1. She's so cute! Reminds me of our 22 month old, as strange as that sounds. The pics came through just fine!

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  2. What a beautiful little girl! Hope you have fun getting to know her better every day!

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  3. Congratulations Hahns!!!! Michelle...Amelia is just so so cute and we just so enjoy all your pictures and updates! It's the highlight of every morning to see your blog!!!! Hope you are having a wonderful time....just savor and enjoy every moment of your trip because it will go by so very quickly! Amelia reminds me so much of how Alena was...she allowed both of us to feed and hold her and was always quietly observing. You are an adorable family...and now officially a family of 5! Woot woot!

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  4. Yipee, congratulations!!! Amelia is so beautiful and we can't wait to meet her. We are praying for you as you travel, that you will cherish every moment and that God will continue to bless your time.

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  5. So glad you won the game of Frogger! :) Continuing to pray for all of you and for perfect timing in picking up papers, etc.

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