Here she is...

Hi everyone. Our daughter is now sleeping so I have a few seconds to post but I am exhausted. What an absolutely emotionally draining day. At 11:30 the assistant director of the orphanage, Brynn, her foster mom, and our guide all came to our hotel room. The foster mom was crying when I opened the door. She has had Brynn since the day she was found, so for 22 months, and she was the only child she has fostered so I can't imagine how hard this was for her. She is 52 and has three children, two boys and a girl (I was surprised to hear 3 children). Most of the care package items I sent, toys and such for Brynn, did not make it back to us. I did get the list of questions I asked back with answers, a watermelon and some bananas (favorites of Brynn's), her bottle, and two cameras with all the pictures taken. I was asked if I could get copies made to send to the foster mom so I am getting them made tomorrow so later this week, when I visit Fuzhou and Brynn's finding spot, I can drop them by the orphanage. (I think their family had a wedding recently so the pictures should be interesting). I did not get the photo album back but it was in the package with the cameras so I figure she kept it. In the foster mother's gift I gave her a framed picture of Brynn and I am glad I did because I think she will treasure it.

After about 20 minutes the guide and director were encouraging the foster mom to sneak out but I had to stop that. I thought it was bad enough that we were going this in the room she will spend a lot of time in for the next five days... I believe a goodbye was necessary and in the hallway. It wasn't exactly what I had hoped; I was hoping the foster mom would have more interaction with me at the end and give some type of approval to Brynn about the change but that is the way it goes... I learned a lot more about her early years than many do and I am thankful for that since there will always be many unanswered questions.

The rest of the day was filled with pouting and tears but Brynn was very brave. I rocked her to sleep after the foster mom left and then we had adoption appointments. She smiled and giggled one time in the car when I taught her how to open and shut the window while we waited for our guide (I tipped the driver more for all the air conditioning we wasted!). She later giggled playing with Grandpa. The rest of the time she was very serious and very inquisitive. She was okay if we were busy but otherwise she cried for MaMa and it was so sad. I rocked her to sleep tonight but I am not sure she is out for the evening.

Before I could change her out of her split pants she christened Grandpa but she did go in the potty before that and two times after. She is not sure about the pull up but I don't think her uncovered bottom would go over well in the US. I have to really look for clues though and I don't know how easy that will be during all this traveling.

She is WAY cute!! She looks more like her younger picture (from 7 months) to me than how she looked in the updated ones (15 months). She is in 18 month clothes - the 18-24 month pants I brought fell right down. We have had several hotel guest come up to us and say how cute she is and how lucky she is to be going to the US. We also had a women try to talk to her and when she turned her head, the women held up two fingers - guess her stubborness gives away her age! :) She does wave bye-bye to everyone and that is just adorable.

Today she did not respond to any name I tried, including the one the foster family called her by (yet another one) but that is okay because I noticed a guide laughing when our guide told her Brynn's nickname and later asked why. I will not say what it means but let's just say I will not be using it and I certainly hope there is a good story behind it! :) So much for trying to transition smoothly...

Okay, I need to sleep when she does in case of a crazy night. Thank you all again for all the encouraging comments and emails! I feel very blessed! Kate