The heat, it's hot and humid here all the time. Living out of a suitcase, changing hotel rooms 3 times in one week, heating up baby food and washing clothes and bottles and dishes all in a bathroom sink. Being up half the night, every night, consoling her while she figures out where it is she is sleeping and who it is who is holding her and what it is I am saying to her. Almost never understanding what people are saying to me. Finding Chinese formula and diapers and baby food in a Walmart where you can't even read the prices. Eating strange foods and paying for it afterwards (you can read between the lines!) A sick baby, poor Grace has not been feeling well. Her digestive system is not working well (you can read between the lines!!) and she's been running a fever for days now. Changing VERY messy diapers in every imaginable inconvenient place, the train station floor, the back of a crowded taxi zipping in and out of traffic and on the floor of a restaurant (yes the restaurant, not the restaurant bathroom) with 5 Chinese women watching and grabbing Grace's legs, pushing me to do this and that with the diaper, wipes, etc. (all three of these scenarios happened on our orphanage visit Wednesday and it was almost the breaking point for me!). The pace of running around every day for appointments and orphanage visits and sightseeing is tiring to say the least. Carrying a baby with you for it all makes it even more exhausting. All of these things have made the trip hard.
Here's what has made the trip totally worth every minute...
Meeting Grace for the first time. It was chaotic and loud and hot and wonderful.
Signing the papers on Tuesday to say the adoption is final and permanent.
Watching her sleep in her crib for the first time, while she holds the back of her hand up to her mouth to soothe herself.
Seeing her gentle smile when she first wakes up.
Seeing her smile for the first time.
The moment she fell asleep in my arms on the bus to the Civil Affairs office.
The first time she snuggled into my shoulder in the middle of the night to put herself to sleep.
Playing with her in the bathtub for the first time on Wednesday. She loves the water and she shows it through her giggles.
Seeing my mom and dad interact with her.
Watching Carolyn try to make her laugh.
Listening to her laugh.
Figuring out what foods she likes and how she likes to eat them.
Walking with her through the market and having people stare at us, sometimes with blatant curiousity, sometimes smiling and nodding.
The first time she held her arms up for me to pick her up (finally yesterday!)
Like I said before... It's all good.
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