Adoption Day!

This morning started and we thought we would attempt something different for Heidi. We fed her formula in a bottle before heading to the breakfast buffet. She ate it but cried the whole time. We did consider later that she did better when Trent fed her so tucked that bit of info away for later.

We started out back at the Civil affairs office. It was s bright, clear day.

View from the 26th floor. 

Nothing quite like China bathrooms...

We did it! Signed the last of the paperwork to make Hong Shi Lan officially Heidi Grace Hess. She’s very impressed as you can tell. 

Lots of waiting around government buildings...

At the civil affairs office Heidi just “checked out”. She fell asleep in my arms. 

Stayed asleep when I passed her to Trent.

Slept in the bus past the monument celebrating that Nanchang is the city where the birth of communism came about. 

Slept in Sunny World, the notary office. 

She stayed asleep up to the 26 floor (again, but different building). 

Slept through all the questions in this office

And slept through the bustle of us leaving. 

Sunny World parking. Definitely only need smaller parking lots when nearly everyone drives a scooter. 

Slept through a photo with Lisa. Lisa is one of our guides here and works for Holt. She was very instrumental in getting Heidi moved out of the baby room where she remained a perpetual baby, and into a group home where she could receive better care, nutrition and attention. Lisa took the very first video of her that we ever saw. It’s a heartbreaking video of a 14 month old who can’t do anything but roll over. We are so grateful to Lisa for playing a part in Heidi’s story. She has come as far as she has because of a little intervention. 

Finally back at the hotel she woke up. I got a little grin when I shimmied off her leggings to change her diaper. 

Then a nice big, laughing smile. 

And a head bump. She loves to do this for some reason. 

Then mid-laugh she slumped over and fell asleep. 

Poor little dear. We woke her to leave the room because housekeeping was coming. 

She slept through Starbucks and a stroll through the mall. 

After a meal of baby rice cereal mixed with formula (which she hated) she looked at this book with daddy. Of all the things I brought, she likes this book and her doll the best. I would have thought those would be the least interesting. 

Too tired to sit up while we watched some strange Chinese TV. 

Met up with our group at the play area in the hotel. She crawled all the way back and forth across this room! 

And then she fell asleep.

Ate a yummy dinner from room service that was hard to order. Trent literally had to spell out what we wanted. And they still didn’t bring the R-I-C-E. 

So delicious! These rice noodles are a Nanchang specialty and they are amazing! Perfect with a Dr Pepper. 

After dinner there was more playing with her dolly. 

I had been holding her before we ate. She was contented on my lap. Then she noticed Trent across the room. She made her body limp, slid off the chair, crawled across the room and pulled herself up to stand in from of him and waited for him to pick her up. He sat her on his stomach facing him. She pursed up her lips and kissed him! I couldn’t believe it. She’s such a daddy’s girl already. But more impressive was the fact that she initiated contact. Ruthie didn’t initiate hugs or kisses until she was home more than 2 months. 

We ended our evening watching the fountain show where Heidi also fell asleep. This area feels very much like the boardwalk. There’s fried food (every thing you can imagine) on sticks, games, rides, and shops. 

Such an impressive show that Heidi slept through.

Tomorrow we have no appointments so I’m hoping to blog a little earlier so I can put some thoughts together on Heidi and her needs. 

Thank you coming along with us to China. It’s been a life-altering trip already. 

A photo doesn’t do it justice. Maybe there’s a video of it on YouTube. Check it out! Nanchang Fountain and lights show. 

Thank you all again!