September 10 -- Our Forever Family Day

We are now in the province of Guangdong, in the city of Guangzhou staying at the Holiday Inn Guangzhou Shifu and it is a nice hotel with a nice spacious room for the girls but NO drawers or cupboard space. So, we are literally living out of our suitcases....but in the grand scheme of things that's a minor price to pay considering the reason for our stay is to finally meet and bring our baby home. 

With great anticipation and having used up all the patience in me, our big day arrived on September 10, 2012 at 2:15 pm.

We started the day off by having a great buffet breakfast that consisted of everything from french toast, milk & cereal to BBQ steamed buns and some amazing congee.  My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach since it was full of butterflies and I wasn't able to truly enjoy the incredible buffet.  Not to worry though because since then I have made up for it this morning..LOL.

Since we had some time before being picked up Tim took Bethany to the outdoor pool to keep her entertained.  I stayed behind getting ready and trying to sort through the clothes I had brought for our baby. I sorted through her things over and over as I was wondering how big she is and if anything would be either too small or too big.  In fact, I was really just trying to kill time and it seemed that in such a short period of time I was able to do so much....time literally stood still for me.  I guess it would not have felt that way if I had not been looking at the clock every minute.  I remember being anxious as we waited for Bethany and then I'm certain that day I had an anxiety attack to some degree.  As anxious as I was, having Bethany with us this time made a huge difference.  She was a great distraction and in a way helped calmed my nerves quite a bit.

Bethany was so excited to finally go meet her baby sister and as soon as I got her ready to go she quickly made sure to grab Pinky, Rebecca's little bear.  She also made sure to get her purse and when I asked her why she said it was because "baby Rebecca may want to wear lip gloss".  You see, Bethany brought lip gloss to China as gifts for her new friends Lilah & Phebe as well as for her baby sister Rebecca  because she says she has to teach her how to put on lip gloss.   As a big sister we had told her that she can teach her sister alot of things and right away she said she was going to teach her how to put lip gloss on.  When we said she was too little for lip gloss she responded "ok, so then I can teach her how to chew gum"......hence why she needed the lip gloss.

On our drive to the Civil Affairs office I looked out the window and people watched as I hugged Bethany.  It felt so surreal that 3.5 years ago we were on the same drive to a location where we were to meet Bethany for the first time so holding on to her made me feel less anxious.

When we arrived and walked into the office I couldn't believe I was actually walking into a room I had seen on numerous Forever Family day videos on you tube.  This was the infamous office with the red seating all along the one wall surrounded with large black and white pillows.  Tim and I had talked about how we felt at that moment and we both felt as though we were having an out-of-body experience and in total disbelief because we waited so long for this moment and now we were living it. 

The room was empty except for one other family.  At this point I was in tears especially seeing the big huge smile on Bethany's face.  There were some nannies and children in the Play room but our Guide Cathy told us that our baby had not arrived yet.  She apologised because she was late but Tim and I laughed as already she fit right into our family considering how "punctual" we are...NOT.  I had my video camera ready to film her entrance.  How hilarious is that?  Each time the elevators opened I started shaking and would look to see if I could it was her.  So, the only clip of her coming in is blurry and shaky.  At that point all I wanted to do was just follow that lady holding my baby and take her into my arms. 

By the time she arrived the room was now full of other anxious families.  We stood in front of the playroom as each child was announced and set their adoptive parents.  When it was our turn the official who was doing the announcing was wrapped up in conversation with someone and the Vice Director of the Yangxi SWI walked out with our baby and stood in front of us.  Cathy told her to wait and told us to wait as well until the official called her name.  Ok, so picture this, I'm shaking and tears are streaming from my eyes and she is right in front of me and I could not hold her.  I kept looking back at the official and he kept on talking.  After what seemed like a very long time, remember I've had time issues all day, I finally just walked back and tapped his shoulder while Cathy our Guide was saying "no no no no Elizabeth don't do that, we just wait for him".  I heard her, but I really did not hear her.  The official turned around and then walked over, said her name and I was holding my baby.

I finally had her in my arms as Tim was holding Bethany and we stood together looking at her.  Tim had made a plan on how to receive her to make things easy for Bethany and again...I heard his plan, but I really did not hear his plan.  What can I say?  I waited long enough for her, I was not about to give up the opportunity to hold her first despite his well-thought out plans A to D.

We walked over to sit down and then I started to realize that in my arms was a very very fragile, frail and scared little girl who had no idea what was going on and did not share in my moment of exhilaration.  What turned out to be the moment I've been waiting for was probably a very terifying moment for her.  Thankfuly she is still young enough to adapt to the major changes she her little life was going through in the last 24 hours.

Big Sister with Pinky and Marmaduke are so excited and ready to meet Baby Rebecca

On our way!!!!!

 

Arriving at the Guangdong Civil Affairs office.  Can't believe I'm finally in the meeting room.

Bethany all ready with half a tube of lip gloss on in order to give her baby sister bubble gum flavoured kisses with sparkles.

So happy to finally meet you my little Princess Rebecca.  You have just filled another void in my heart and from this day forward you will know and feel so much deserved LOVE....this I promise you from this day forward.  With all my love, your Mommy.

 

Just the moment Bethany was waiting for....to entertain her baby sister. It's incredible how much more at ease Rebecca was with Bethany's presence. She did not cry at all and she even had a bit of a smile as she watch Bethany jumping around and making faces at her. Not to mention her sweet baby voice and giggles. Bethany started off with her hair combed back nicely and by the time we left the room her hair was all over her face because she wanted to be so close to her baby sister that she was in arms length to have her hair pulled. As I worried that Bethany would get upset or cry from having her hair pulled she just look up with a big smile, brush her hair away from her face and give the thumbs up that she was "ok because it didn't hurt". Right from the start she was proving to be a great big sister.  See what I mean...  

 

Not to be left out is our amazing Daddy who was just as nervous and anxious to see, meet and hold his newest little Princess. The look in his eyes and the smile on his face was Priceless!!!

I am so happy I was able to capture these pictures of his proudest moments of our trip as a Daddy.

 

I'm greatful to God not only for one but two precious angels whose paths were meant to meet mine in our journey of a life time!