She completes us!

So, of course our family was 'complete' after every child, but knowing that Keira is our last baby provides a sense of peace that I did not expect.  She is full of joy and is making her own place within the family, and is really starting to show us who she is.

But first, Adoption Day details....we met Keira in the 'family room' of our hotel in Nanchang.  Our guide called us from the lobby and told us she was here -- we made a last scramble for cheerios and camera batteries and met them in the family room.  She was with her foster parents, and was being held by her foster mom.  Her foster dad is actually the director of the orphanage in Fuzhou.  Every so often they pick special baby to foster in their own home, and she was one.  I am thrilled to have a connection to her first family, and they have told us that they would love to receive pictures and keep in contact as she grows.  We slipped our address into a small gift just in case, before we knew they would be so welcoming.

But back to Keira.  She is about 25 lbs and 32 inches tall.  Kenna is 26lbs and 36 inches!  Keira is big and healthy, and we are so grateful for that.  No nutritional worries whatsoever.  She loves her big brother and sister so far, and has become attached to me and Nana,  Brian is another story....she does not like grown men.  This is a typical scenario in that her foster mom was involved in every aspect of her life, but her foster father was most likely not.  She has not let Brian hold her for long and seems to only want me, which is fine, but then so does everyone else!! They fed each other cheerios today, which is a big step. 

(Break for cheerios and naps)

She is not walking yet, though close.  I think Connor was this big at this age, but I did not have to carry him around everywhere!  I climbed a big section of the Great Wall of China without even a hint of soreness -- after one day of carrying Keira, I cannot feel my arms, and my back is beyond hope!!

hnhlbvnk  v  rc (keira was typing...)

After a tearful goodbye from her foster mom, we spent some time togerher and then went to the Civil Affirs office to finalize the adoption,  (break for dinner and to put the kids to sleep...)

We had two sets of brief interviews and a set of family photos for the official Adoption Decree, and then five years of waiting and hoping and wishing and wondering were over.  Just like that! 

She had a rough first night, but frankly, did much better than I anticipated.  She finally settled down around 10 and slept through the night.  She woke briefly a few times for just a few seconds, but patting her back put her right back to sleep.   Tonight she fussed every time I sat down.  It was almost comical.  Stand up, she coos and giggles.  Sit down, she screams like you're pulling out her toenails. Needless to say, I stood up for what seemed like an eternity, but she eventually fell asleep in my arms (so so sweet) and I put her down for the night. She co-slept with foster mom, so we'll do that for now. 

Earlier today we went to the local Wal Mart for diapers and a new interim wardrobe for Keira.  NOTHING I brought will fit her except for one pair of stretchy pants, but they are too short.  So she has been in the same outfit for a day and a half  'til we could do some shopping.  Wal Mart was huge and took up two stories of an what seemsed to be an office building.  No vast parking lot, but they had greeters!  Today was a "Woman's Day" holiday, so the (male) greeters were handing out samples of maxi-pads.  No joke!  There also seemed to be a hugs sale on condoms and chocolates. 

Speaking of condoms, I forgot to mention that in Bejing, our hotel room came equipped with not only a typical mini bar, full of overpriced sodas and snacks, but there was also a bar for "your consideration and pleasure" with vibrating condoms and gels -- luckily we moved those items to the closet before Connor could ask about them....of course the labels were in English and in huge letters!  Funny story -- Shirley moved them from her bathroom, too, but then got a bill for vibrating condoms!

Tomorrow we are taking the kids to a park that contains the largest ferris wheel in Asia.  I'm sure they'll enjoy it.  They are both adjusting well.  Connor has been great, and has fallen in love with Keira.  Kenna loves to hand her things she thinks she wants and put stickers all over her.  Kenna is having a hard time sharing mommy, especially since Keira has to be held a lot, but I see improvement each day with that.  I know it's hardest on her, and I hope she feels that I love her just as much today as the day before yesterday.  Thank goodness Shirley is here and can help us manage this transition.  She has been so wonderful with them.

Our guide, Jenny, has been amazing.  She is so great with Keira and knows exactly what we need even before we need it, and more importantly, where to go to get it.   She has led us through this city and all the official appointments without one single hicccup.  She even introduced us to KFC that delivers!! We would be lost without her -- left to our own devices, we would be living on leftovers from the breakfast buffet and trying to navigate the city with hand gestures and relying on the cuteness of our children to get by.

We are here in Nanchang until Friday, when we get Keira's passport.  Then we are free to leave the city.  We travel to Guangzhou Friday night and spend our last week in China there waiting for approval from the U.S. Consulate to leave the country with this amazing, special child.   It is a formality of more paperwork and more signatures from more officials, and once it's all done, we can come home.

Pictures are taking an eternity to download, so I'm leaving that to Facebook for now.  I'll update the blog with pictures when I can get a faster internet connection.

Miss everyone - can't wait to bring her HOME!!