Monday, February 5, 2007
GOTCHA DAY!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
II Corinthians 9:15

We did not sleep much last night as we anticipated holding Lottie in our arms for the first time.

We got up at 4:30 and finished packing our bags to head to the airport at 6:30 this morning. At the airport, our guide Amy told us she had a surprise for us and she gave us updated information about Lottie. We were told then that she weighed 17.6 pounds and by tooth, it said she had two pieces!!! The update says she gets up at 6:00 and goes to bed at 9:00. She has a one hour morning nap and a 21/2 hour afternoon nap. It said she is active and curious. She is not afraid of strangers. She likes to imitate. She says ba-ba and ma-ma. She can wave goodbye and clap. She likes to play outdoors. She likes the walker and all kinds of new toys.

The plane ride to Guangzhou was 21/2 hours but seemed like forever as we knew what awaited us on the other end. We got to our hotel about 2:00. We had not eaten lunch, so we walked around the corner from our hotel and got-you guessed it!! – a quarter pounder with cheese!!!! Fries and a coke!!!(with ice!!!)It did not taste like home as it had a little different sauce (pimento flavored) but it was a nice change from the last 4 Chinese meals. We got it to go and took it up to our room as we were waiting on our large pieces of luggage to be brought to our room. Our room is incredible. It is actually an apartment. It has a living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom and office. We will be here the whole time before we travel home on the 16th. It is definitely more than we could ever have asked for or imagined.

We put together the gifts for the nannies and orphanage director, packed the diaper bag, got our paperwork and orphanage fee ready and then at 3:30 we went down to load the bus to go to the civil affairs office. It was here that we would meet Lottie for the first time. We went up to the 5th floor of the building. All 10 families with us went in to one large meeting room to await the babies. On our way in to the room , Shannon glanced in the room across the hall and saw babies and one she felt sure was Lottie. She told Battle, If she is in red then I saw Lottie !!! Sure enough , Lottie was the only baby in red so it was her!!!! They had planned to call the babies in to give to the families in alphabetical order by last name and we were going to be last. But SURPRISE!!!, here comes Lottie. We were first!!!!!(And the last shall be first and the first last!!)

She came to Shannon without difficulty and was playing and even laughed a few times. She also went to Battle after he realized he needed to be a little less demonstrative with his actions and was laughing with him too!!! She fussed a little when we went back to talk to the staff who came from her orphanage, and then became a little fussy as she was worn out after traveling 5-6 hours to see us. We also discovered she has 4 pieces and not 2 as her bottom two teeth are coming in now. After all the families got their babies , we loaded the bus to return to the hotel. Lottie fell asleep on the bus and slept almost 3 hours upon her return to the room- she was exhausted!!! When she woke up she was looking all around trying to figure out where she was. It is sad to think she has been taken away from everything she has ever known even though we know she will have a forever home. She fussed off and on but was easily comforted. We gave her a bath and put a clean sleeper on her as well as putting lotion on and a clean diaper. She ate some rice cereal Shannon mixed up in a bowl and a few puff snack finger foods. She really did not want a bottle. We took a few pictures, played with some toys and rubbed some baby oragel on her gums and she was ready for bed. Battle held her and she looked like she was going to go to sleep in his arms. Shannon picked her up and laid her in the crib and she went right to sleep!!!! Woohoo!!!!! We pray for sweet dreams and are so very thankful for the incredible privilege to raise this precious child of God!!!! We are blessed indeed!!!! Enjoy the first pictures of Lottie Fei Lynn!!!!


"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away!"