Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Day 2: Baby Steps

Whew...she's asleep.  Before midnight this time!  Woo hoo!  Maybe Mom and Dad can eat something and get some shut eye!
As expected, today was one step forward, two steps back.  E is sad when she whenever she wakes up.  She clearly misses her foster mama so much, and she was definitely very attached to her.  We found out today that her foster mother is young, and that E was her first and only foster daughter so this was very hard for her.  She also has another foster child, a son, who [ATTENTION THAL YAHOO GROUP COMPADRES!!!] has the same SN as E, thalassemia.  He is a little older than E, and we were told that his thalassemia has made him a little weak right now, which is why they are waiting a bit to get his papers together to make him available for adoption.  Trust me, this boy is getting wonderful care and love in E's foster family.



E was very sad at first at breakfast, but then we got her to eat some watermelon (what would I do without all of the RQ tips I've collected over the past 7 months!?!?!) and she perked up.  We had a busy morning with a very long van ride and at the Civil Affairs office and E was a total trooper!  She snacked and played and cooperated when we got her little footprint.  She even dozed in the van on the way home.






Later we embarked on Noodlefest 2012.  This little girl can really eat noodles, but she sort of refuses to eat anything without feeding it to me first.  Which is OK, because I'm getting fed, but Baba is going a little hungry.


The rest of the day was split between Driving Miss Emmie around in the stroller which she seems to love.  We walked outside until she passed out (Praise the Lord!!) and Mama and Baba took load off and drank a coffee (or ten...remember, we only slept about 3 hours last night).  We did a lot of playing in the room and bonding and we saw quite a few smiles that were just priceless.  It is amazing how the smile of a little tiny girl can power us through no sleep and pretty much no food all day.  We took E for dinner in the Executive Lounge (have I mentioned what a life saver the Executive Lounge has been?!  Never ending bottled water and snacks...just what we need!).  She pigged out on some sort of meatball and again watermelon.

We had a few heartbreakingly sad moments where E cried for her foster mama and put her coat on to leave.  We just sat by her side and comforted her until she trusted us again.  I know this is what must happen for us to become a family.  It hurts us deeply to see her suffer, but it reassures us to know that she is capable of loving someone so much, and being part of a family.

The rest of our night was playing, watching the Wiggles and Baby Einstein, taking a bath, and Driving Miss Emmie up and down the halls.

P finally went out to get us some food so we could eat a bite before bed.  This is tiring and draining and definitely pushes you to your very limits, but it is the most rewarding thing either of us have ever done.

I can't say enough thank yous to everyone for your support and love and well wishes.  It really strengthens us during the excruciatingly difficult moments.  Luckily, those are few and far between, and what we get most of the time is an adorable, sweet, giggling, noodle-eating daughter.

Off to finish our midnight fried rice dinner....

xoxo,
T + P + E

24 comments:

Bonnie, Jim, Ainsley and Sofie said...

She is absolutely precious and you all look so happy!!! Congratulations

Pattie and Joe said...

Can't get enough of your blog and her pictures, watching your evolving family. TIny steps are good - she is tiny after all! You look radiant, not tired!

Patiently waiting for Chayse said...

Congrats on your beautiful babygirl! Your pictures bring back so many wonderful memories since we were in Nanning this time last year (also at the Marriott). Our Daughter was almost 2yrs old and a great lifesaver was Ya-Ya. It is a Chinese cartoon - pleasant goat and big big wolf, it should be on in the afternoon. You should also check out the top floor of the mall beside the Marriott, it is all geared to children and had a wonderful play area. My girls loved it!
Please say Hello to Cindy for us since she was our guide as well...we were the crazy Canadians! Maybe she will remember us. :)

Kristi said...

she's beyond gorgeous! congrats!

Kara Antonelli said...

OMG.. Literally the cutest face I haver seen.. and her outfit.. !!!!!! You guys are going to be the best parents ever and she is the luckiest girl in the world!! Cannot wait to meet her!!! xoxoxoxo

Amanda said...

She's such a cutie! So happy for your family!
Amanda

chrisandlaura96 said...

I found your blog on the RQ site. Thanks for sharing. If your experience is anything like ours two years ago with our son, you'll have a couple of rough days but you'll get used to each other and start feeling more comfortable with each other and with China by Wednesday-Thursday. And Guangzhou, other than the medical clinic, will be a nice time. Best wishes and congratulations!

Christy said...

Tracy,

I am so happy for you guys and am just in awe of her beauty. She is quite a beautiful little girl and looks like she has asuch a sweet personality. I am happy she is warming up!! She is just precious and every day will pass and be better than the last. By the end of the trip you will look back to the first few days pictures and you will be shocked how far she has come. It is amazing how much they bond.

Loving your journey!!!

Christy :)

Alan said...

So great to see all of you together, and to read about your progress!

Lily said...

She is so cute eating noodles and you are a natural :)

Allie, Katie and Harper's Mom said...

Tracy, it's so exciting to follow your journey with E. What a comfort to know how wonderfuly treated she was by her foster mother. She is such a stunning little girl. This makes me want to get a plane for Harper today. I know our day will come, but i sure am excited for you!!!

Love,

Sindy (LadybuginAZ) Mommy to Harper Skye
with Thalassemia...

Shelah said...

Oh wow, she is so cute! It's fun to see you going through this-- being real about the struggles but also enjoying yourselves so thoroughly.

Anonymous said...

wishing E! a smooth transition! nowhere on the earth is better than a permanent home, no one is greater than a pair of loving parents --she will soon know it, if now she doesnt

I am happy for the three of you, MaMa, BaBa & little E! what a perfect family!

and thank you for allowing us strangers to follow your wonderful journey, its a great inspiration & makes me believe humans are bond by love not blood...

familyof8 said...

Your new daughter is beautiful. Enjoy each moment in China...it passes so quickly.
Blessings,

Christine

Anonymous said...

oops, I meant "bound" lol

JimandJackie said...

She is stunning! Those eyes are amazing. I know the pictures don't tell the whole story, the grief is HORRIBLE! Celebrate each little success and fine a min. to yourself, even if it is in the bathroom to take a deep breath. Congrats!

Carrie said...

I love following your journey.....just LOVE it! We are waiting TA now and to see how well a fellow RQer is doing gives me hope. Take care!

The Jiu Jiu said...

I'm lovin' every minute of your adventure -- Emmilene is a total cutie! You're right about the exhaustion, but (as you're learning) there's more than enough energy in the smile of a tiny little girl to power you all through the tough moments. It's sad how she's mourning the loss of her foster family but it's obvious that you've got all the love she'll need to adjust... just give her a little time and keep sharing those noodles! :-)

Stacia said...

So nice to hear things are going in the right direction. Sounds like you are doing a great job! Enjoy every second. :)

Edwin, Anita, Xue-Ling said...

Oh my.......... your little miss E is a total Guangxi beauty!!!!
You're doing great!

I came to your site from RQ and found that you have Cindy as a guide. SHE IS JUST GREAT. Give her our love and very warm regards. We were with her in 2010 to adopt our girl Hua Xue Ling (a Dutch group of 8 families).

I'm going to keep following you. Hope to see some more of beautiful Nanning!
Take care,

Anita
from Holland!

Kathy said...

She is beautiful, congrats. Enjoy your time in China and with your new daughter.

Margaret said...

Your daughter is beautiful. She has the most beautiful eyes. Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

T, P and E,
The pictures are beautiful, she looks like a movie star in those outfits. Keep up the great work, E will come around and know how much she is loved and wait till she gets home and everyone will be wanting to hug and kiss her. We should be so thankful that her foster Mom took so good care of her and that E loved her so much. Make sure you both take care of yourself by eating and sleeping so you will be able to E. Good Luck with the sleeping.
Love,
Auntie Maryann

Mark Antonelli said...

Congratulations! Kyle and Regan can't wait to meet their new cousin!!! They keep asking to look at her pictures. She's beautiful. Enjoy your time together.
Love,
Mark, Kim, Kyle & Regan