Adoption Day

Today we went back to Civil Affairs for the offical adoption of Ming Jie. We actually went in the morning, but there was a snow storm around Danyang so the orphanage director and the nannies couldn't get to Nanjing for 10:30. That meant that we had to go back this afternoon at 1:30. Ah, hello, our kiddies nap from 12:30 to 2:00. So, both our children missed their naps today. They did very, very well considering how tired they were. Jie Jie had a little more trouble then Eva, but his behaviour was manageable. At one point though he started spitting. He thought it was hilarious. We had the guide give him a good talking to about that one.

Ming Jie was happy to see the orphanage staff, but he was pretty much glued to his Baba the whole time we were at Civil Affairs. He went into the director's arms once, but he ran straight back to Jean-Pierre right afterwards.

He began to cry a couple of times today, but we were able to gently distract him out of it. Tonight though he had a good cry as we were putting his pajamas on. It's so heartbreaking. His bottom lip begins to quiver then large tears start to roll down his cheeks. He tries to hold it in because he's been told that 'big boys don't cry', but he just can't. Jean-Pierre takes Jie-Jie in his arms and tells him it's alright to cry and he begins to sob. Tonight he cried for about 5 minutes and then he fell asleep.

Ming Jie talks alot. He was walking around the hotel room singing this morning. He's started to say, 'pee pee' when he needs to go to the bathroom now instead of the Chinese phrase. He greets all the waitresses we meet with a smile and a very charming, 'Aiyee ya' (Hi auntie). They always laugh and ask him how he is. It's adorable.

So, he is bonding, he is eating, he slept through the night last night without a peep, and he's done his 'business'. He has not shut down at all and although he has moments when he feels overwhelmed, he is generally happy, curious and full of life.

He and Eva started to pay a bit more attention to each other today. They mostly parallel play, but they did a few things together. Ming Jie is amazing at sharing and his actions are very kind and gentle. He knows the 19 month old girl that was adopted by the family travelling with us and he is wonderful with her. He strokes her cheeks and gives her whatever he is playing with whenever they are together. Tonight at supper he was eating a piece of watermelon when the other family came into the restaurant for their meal. As soon as he saw the baby he gave her his last little piece of watermelon. He doesn't let Eva push him around, but he is gentle and kind about it. While we were playing in the room tonight, she danced by him and gave him a kiss on the head. Mom saw her do it, so when Eva told me about it later I asked her if she loves Sam. She said, 'yep'. She didn't say, 'I love him as long as you're not holding him', which would have been the full truth, but she is starting to bond with her ge-ge.

Francais

Nous sommes alle au bureau des affaires civiles afin de finaliser les papiers de l'adoption. Maintenant, Samuel est officielement notre fils. Nous avions rendez vous pour 10:30 ce matin mais le directeur de l'orphelinat n'a pu etre present du a une tempete de neige au nord de la province. Notre rendez vous a donc ete remis en apres midi. Ce qui etait supposer etre la sieste de nos petit devenu le rendez vous. Malgre la fatigue, les deux enfants ont quand meme tres bien fait ca. Sam a pleurer une ou deux fois mais etait facilement consolable en lui faisant changer d'idee. Ce soir en mettant son pyjama, il a pleurer un peu plus. C'est tellement touchant quand il est triste. Il bouge la levre du bas un peu et ses yeux deviennet triste pour ensuite faire couler de grosse larmes. Je le prends dans mes bras afin de le consoler et il a pleurer pour environ 15 minutes pour enfin s'endormir dans mes bras. La plupart de la journee par contre il est quand meme assez joyeux et curieux.

Il est vraiment attachant. Il est tout petit, une vrai peanut. Il aime vraiment son papa pour l'instant mais a jouer un peu avec maman aussi. Il me fait beaucoup penser a Edouard, le fils a mes amies, on pense a vous.

Il a commencer a dire pipi pour faire son besoin. Je lui lisait un livre avec des images et il repetait les mots que je lui mentionnait. Eva et Sam vont bien esemble, ils jouent un a cote del'autre sans pour autant jouer ensemble pour l'instant. Eva a donner un bis sur Sam une fois. Elle commence a aimer sa compagnie. Donc une bonne journee en general, demain nous irons visiter. Je peux ire vos commentaires, mais si vous ne pouver utiliser le site pour nous donner des nouvelles, vous pouvez toujours utiliser notre adresse habituelle qui est dawnjp@telus.net

Bye