The Girl We've Been Waiting For

We got our girl, and she is a sweet one!! As Bayley and I stepped off the elevator with our facilitator, I noticed a baby in the same dress we saw in the photos a few months ago - the same dress we sent her in a care package. Within moments of walking into a room filled with other families and tons of crying babies, Ting was placed in my arms. She pulled away but did not cry. She seemed scared and avoided looking at my face. But when Bayley stepped down and spoke to her, she made great eye contact and did not take her eyes off Bayley. We brought her back to the hotel, where I filled out tons of paperwork and little Addie Ting had her feet inked to get footprints for the documents. She refused and is still refusing to drink the formula or water or juice we offer her in a bottle. But she eats like crazy. She loves the Gerber biter biscuits-probably because she is teething. She has some monster teeth just breaking through the gums. She also loves the Gerber Puffs. We were instructed to give her a nap so she would be well rested for the afternoon appointments at the Civil Affairs Office, the Notary, and the police station. She would not sleep and just wanted to play with us. She loves the game of Drop It. Bayley and I comply and pick things up each time she throws them down. When I keep offering her the bottle she kicks at it. If I put it on the bed within her reach she kicks at it until it is away from her. She really liked her stroller and fell asleep shortly after the first interview began. We passed inspection and she is our daughter. Yes Ron, Tommy, and Jo-Jo we are at last a family of 6!!! You're going to love her, -that is if she ever takes her eyes off Bayley long enough to see you. She likes to mimic noises that Bayley makes and if Bayley pounds the bed, she does the same.

As far as her health goes- she responds very well when we call her name Ting Ting. She is much smaller than we expected. She was reported to weigh 26 pounds in May, but now she just weighs 22. There is nothing chunky about her. She does have low muscle tone, and they stressed how much improvement she had made with physical therapy. She sits very well, and stands when placed beside the bed. She still has a ways to go before walking. We worried she would be all grown up at 17 months, but she still seems so much like a baby, everyone will get their share of rocking and snuggling and feeding. Well I am going to go play with her and try to convince her that I am her mother, not Bayley.

Love to you all. We can't wait for you to meet Ms. Adeline Mei Ting Ray -Smith.