It is official! (Updated Pics!)

(Allen) The day began at 4:00am for Maile and I as little Amelie awoke to what are still very unfamiliar surroundings to her. She is a very sweet little girl and extremely affectionate, and yet at the same time she is still very fragile when it comes to her ever changing world. When she wakes up, she is a little frightened and somewhat inconsolable at this point. From the crying I hear in the hallway from the other babies (they put all of the families in one corner of the hotel to spare the other guests :), it would seem that each child is having her own transition challenges.

She has 100% bonded with Maile, no if's, and's or but's about it. She still doesn't fully know what to think of Daddy at this point as she doesn't have a lot of experience with men at her orphanage (she has only seen females in her entire life). She still clings to me or prefers me to a stranger, but (as it should be) if Maile is close by, then Maile is where she wants to be. So I've been focused where I should be - running baths, preparing bottles, running out for supplies, giving mommy a break for as long as possible before little Amelie begins to miss her too much.

Today we traveled back to the Notary office where we picked Amelie up. Here we went through 4 different offices and answered questions about ourselves. "Will you promise never to abandon, abuse or discriminate this baby?" - We promise. "Will you promise to love her and educate her?" - We promise. "Why did you adopt this baby?" - We fell in love with China, its people and its culture and we wanted to grow our family through adoption. We will teach her about her heritage so that she will love China too.

And with a thumb print each from Maile and I, and a cute little footprint from Amelie, "congratulations, your adoption is final. You are now her legal parents." Baba teared up a little.

Today we also met with the nannies and orphanage director. Maile delivered our gifts and also a photo album from previous Yongzhou families which was promptly devoured by the nannies as they looked at current pictures of the children they used to care for. Meanwhile, Baba and Amelie were taking a nap, until Amelie awoke, again still on unfamiliar ground, and without Maile there. Yadda Yadda Yadda - I changed my first diaper, still crying, still sad. "Oh baby, it's gonna be alright. We are never going to leave you. We love you very much." Still crying. Baba decides to make a bottle. "Where's the thing? And that other thing?" Baba stays calm (though I was in a slight panic on the inside). I made a bottle, but she didn't want it, so we took a walk out in the hallway, which seemed to calm her down. Amelie hates elevators. Tracking current history in a non-scientific manner, Amelie has a 60% chance of making a sad face (where her pouty bottom lip pokes out) when on an elevator. Mainly because the elevator is usually full.... of strangers... who are a little too close... and oogling at her. So naturally, Baba decides now that things are going so well, why don't we just get in the elevator and go up and see Maile in the play room. Sigh.

Amelie had congee and steamed eggs tonight at a local restaurant. I had a bite of rice and a bite of a little pork rib. Maile had about the same. But Amelie ate good. We'll grab something more substantial later.

Signing off as I'm currently missing the after bath play time. I will put some pictures up with this post later, maybe tomorrow. Sleep well all.

Allen

Here are the pictures:

• A tender moment
• Amelie's official signature
• Baba smelling her wonderful head!
• The embarrassing photo for when she's a teenager
• Nannies and Director oogling over the Yongzhou photo album