It that not the most beautiful smile??
It's been 24 hours that Kendra has been in our family. She has fit in just perfectly. She walks around the room like she's been with us forever. Here are some of our observations about her:
-she loves watching the boys be goofy and has the cutest little giggle
-she knows what she wants and lets you know it
-she loves to cuddle (mama loves that)
-she likes noodles and doesn't care if they are spicy
-it's hard for her to drink her bottle but she does it anyway
-she only likes the shoes that she came to us in. She cries every time we try to put some cute sandals on her
-we do see some scoliosis in her back now, her left shoulder is always lower than her right one
-she likes to put objects in the box, out of the box, in the box, out of the box.....
-her palate deformity starts on the right side of her mouth so her front teeth are where they are supposed to be but not the others on her right side
-she has her big sisters wrapped around her little finger and it's only been 24 hours
-she drools alot and we think it's because of her palate
-she's a determined little girl, she's already hit Elijah because she wanted the noodle first
-when she saw her caretaker today, she smiled at her but put her arms around my neck very tightly (I think she likes her new life)
-she sleeps through the night - huge bonus!!
-and of course, she's beautiful inside and out
Today we went back the the Civil Affairs Bureau and signed all the legal documents. They asked us if this is the child we wanted to adopt. Umm, let me see - YES!! How could anyone say no to that face?!? We had our picture taken with Kendra and then after signing all the official papers, put our thumbprint in red ink across our signatures. At that moment, it was all complete! Praise the Lord!
Here we are signing all the adoption papers.
Our other adventure of the day was going to Walmart! Yep, even in China. We parked in a parking garage and went up the elevator to the 2nd floor and there was the Walmart sign. Kind of different than our Walmart but many things the same. One thing that has taken us a while to get used to is the heat. The buildings are not air conditioned very well so it's very hot everywhere you go. Walmart was VERY hot! There was a fresh fish market inside. You pick out what fish you want and they clean it right on the spot. There was a lady that was filleting eels. That really grossed out the kids. One second they were squirming around and the next they were not... Even Isaiah was saying, ewww!
They had a section of the store that had dried foods - no, not fruit - chickens, birds, fish, eels! Again, ewww! We did find some treasures though, a multiple clothes hanger to hang up more clothes to dry. Laundry done in the hotel bathtub takes a LONG time to dry in the room. We've had clothes strewn all over the rooms! I miss my washer and dryer but I'm not complaining cause I'm happy to be here! :)
I'm so proud of our kids and all they've endured so far and they have not complained about anything. Well, Isaiah complained that he couldn't take his DS to the office today. Kind of thought that would be rude to have him sucked into technology at such an important event. They've adjusted so well to the time difference, the food, the no brushing teeth without bottled water, hard beds, not many toys, keeping their mouths closed in the showers, and no places to run around. The girls have been so helpful with the little kids and that has helped Todd and I out so much. They are a great bunch of kids!
I've successfully put 2 toddlers down for a nap (in the same room) for the first time. (That's why I'm able to write so much today) Now, we'll see what happens next week when I try with 3! I'll be honest, I'm a bit anxious about next week and how well Josiah will do. He looks so shy and somber in all his pictures. Adding Kendra yesterday was no big deal. I took her, Todd took Elijah, and the bigger kids just walked along. Next week, not sure which one of us has to carry 2 kiddos!! We may not be able to venture out as much as we are now. Or we'll need to buy a stroller.
Tomorrow our guide is taking us to a park so hopefully the boys can get rid of some energy!
