Day one with Abby

Well if you have seen the photos you know it happened. We picked up our little girl. It was something amazing. Sort of strange because on the whole 2 and half hour drive over there we weren't nervous at all. Because we felt like we already knew her and there were no surprises. She was our little Abby Heng-Chen.

When we arrived at the home of the foster family she was waiting for us at the door in a stroller. Sara picked her up right away while I was shooting as many photos as I could. I held her next and right away she started smiling. She is just as we pictured her. We even saw that little sideways smile she does. We both sat on couch with her for a photo op and right away she reached over and grabbed Sara's arm. We talked to the foster mom a little about her routines and what she is used to.

We went back to the AIT office and filled out some paperwork. I have no memory of what I was signing because I was captivated by Abby. I could have signed my life away and not known it.　Then we went to a baby store and picked up all of the supplies that she is used to. The people at the store were giving us free stuff because she was so cute. I think she will be getting a lot of that. On the way back to the hotel she slept almost the whole 2 and a half hours. Back at the hotel we played a little on the bed and we realized it was time to feed her.

It was at this point that we realized something else about Abby: she is very inteligent. When we brought out the bottle she realized what was going on. She knew that we were not just a couple of people that she found amusing. She knew that we were the people that were going to be taking care of her now and that her whole world was changing. She knew that she would never again go back to the place that was her home for half of her life. Now everything was different, new smells, sounds, people, clothes. And she bagan to cry. and cry. For so long we didn't even know if she had a voice.

Now we know she can have a big one when she wants to. We thought the neighbors would start switching rooms. We tried everything for the longest time and couldn’t get her to stop. Finally we put her in the Ergo carrier and started walking her around. That did the trick. Now we know the secret.

So since then she has come to trust us more and it is going great. She is so happy and smiley and loves being carried around. We have put a lot miles on our shoes walkign her around town.

The hotel staff is so great. They are like a big family now that we have spent so much time walking in circles in their lobby. One desk worker tried to cheer her up by ringing the desk bell repeatedly. I　don't think it had the effet he was intending.

Anyway, we have had her for only about 24 hours now but it seems like so much longer. Now she acts like she has known us forever. And yes, she is so much cuter in person.