Gotcha Day

Two very excited girls

Waiting in the Lobby getting ready to go get our daughter

Nervous Daddy

Standing outside the building.  Our guide, Michael, took a photo for us.

IT'S TIME!

 

When we got here, Valerie and the Orphanage Director were already here.  They were sitting on a small bench facing the door.  

We when approached them, they stood up.  Wow, is she a tiny little girl.  Our guide spoke with the director.  He informed me that she had done well on the two hour car ride here.  

It was very awkward.

We really didn't know what to say.  

They stood there and we stood facing them.  We got out the bear that we brought for her.

 

We sat down and the guide began asking the questions that we had prepared.  

We basically asked about her medical history, whether she had ever been hospitalized or if she was on any medications.

We asked if she slept with the light on or off.

We asked about some of her favorite foods.
She quietly told our guide in Chinese:

KFC - there is actually one in the mall near our hotel.  I guess that is where we are going for dinner!

After all of our questions were answered, Michael went to assist the other family.

There is only one other family here right now adopting.  The Pauley's.  Their daughter is a beautiful little girl who will be four in the next few weeks.(Lulu)

With the guide gone to help the other family, there was again silence.  The orphanage director, nudged Valerie in my direction and said something about Mama.

Valerie walked over to me.  

I pulled out the small bag I had in my backpack.  

We had purchased little owl necklaces and bracelets for the girls.  The girls let Valerie pick which color she wanted.  Her favorite color is yellow.

 

We stayed at the Civil Affairs office for about an hour doing paperwork.

First photo of me and my daughter Valerie.

 All three of my girls together.

 

When we were leaving and walking back to the van that would take us back to the hotel, I took her hand.

 

She loosely held my hand until we got to the van.

 

We drove back to the hotel.  When we got back to the room we showed her some photos of us and this trip.

Sitting in the lobby.  The girls bracelets are magnetic.  All the owls stick together.

Walking to the mall for dinner.

We ate KFC for dinner, she had three chicken wings and about four sips of coke.

 When we got back to the room we played UNO.