Gotcha Day!

Yesterday was Gotcha Day!  The director of Caylie's orphanage brought her to the hotel at about 3:30.  We were waiting with our guide in the back lobby where it was quiet.  She was a little shy at first, but quickly started playing and laughing with Baba (Daddy) while Mama filled out the paperwork with Shirley, our guide.  She had a good time with all of us, sitting around a table, while we asked questions of the director.  She did NOT want us to hold her, though, and loudly let us know this!  When the director left, she was not upset at all.  Just waved goodbye.  I don't think she knew him very well.  

We played with her for awhile more in the lobby, and then it was time to go up to our room.  She was NOT happy about that.  She tried to walk away from us, and screamed loudly through the main lobby.  Then when we had to get on the elevator, there was serious wailing and gnashing of teeth!  She screamed (not cried) till we got her into the room, and then tried to get out of the door.  She soon calmed down, though, and played with bubbles and cars and stickers and coloring books and bunny and Pooh Bear with Mama and her gege's (older brothers) while Baba and Shirley went to buy bottles and formula.  (Yes, they still have her on bottles and formula!  I figured this was not the day to change that, so we'll go with it till she's comfortable and settled.)

We ordered some fried rice from room service, and she let me feed her that while picking out the shrimp herself.  She did not want her shoes taken off, which did not surprise me, as I'd heard of children needing to keep their shoes on before.  When it was time to go to bed she finally let me take them off and put pajamas on her, though I was prepared not to!  We let her drink her bottle in bed (something I have never done!) while laying with us and she went right to sleep.  After a couple of hours I moved her over to the crib, and she slept for about 10 hours.  She must be Keelan's sister, because she makes a lot of noise in her sleep!  When she woke up this morning we left her in the crib for a few minutes so she could remember where she was and realize that everything was OK, even sleeping in a crib!

She is perfectly potty trained.  She even kept a dry pull-up all night long, even after having a bottle before going to sleep.  Amazing.  If I tell her "la niao", she will go right to the potty and go pee pee.

She is SO stinking SMART.  She sees us do something one time, and does it herself, then remembers the next time.  She copies everything we say and do.  It is hilarious.  Her file says she is delayed in both gross and fine motor skills and in language.  I have no idea why.  She can walk and run and climb and color and play with small objects and feed herself, and constantly tells us what things are in Chinese.

She is SO TINY.  She's more the size of a two-year-old than four.  I think people will be surprised at her, thinking she's younger than she is, and then she will start talking and doing things that two-year-olds don't do!

We are enamored of our sweet girl.  Thank you all for your love to us during these days.  Please keep praying for her heart.  She has only grieved a little bit, and I'm sure more will come later.  Please continue to pray for her foster mother, as well, as she is also grieving a huge loss.

Lots of pics below!

Being carried in with Director Zhou and his helper.

Baba, Mama and gege Justin, waiting to meet our girl.

Our guide, Shirley.

Peek-a-boo with Baba.  (Baba looks a little scarier than he actually was, haha.)

I love her sweet, shy, smile.

Up in the room.  Yes, I do have stickers on my face.

Playing with gege Justin and gege Keelan.

Beautiful smile!