Gotcha Day!

This morning we met Denise down in the lobby to go get Cara. We met her at a little before 9:00 am, so it was right in the middle of morning traffic. We wove in and out of traffic and were inches from other cars as we headed to the hotel where we were to meet Cara.








We were brought to a conference room to fill out paperwork prior to receiving our daughter. We filled out and signed several pieces of paper. One was information about us, one was a guardianship paper for the next 24 hours until the adoption is finalized, there were a few others, but I'm not sure what they were. I was shaking so hard I could barely sign them! There were three other couples in the room waiting for their children as well.

The children arrived as we were filling out the paperwork. They would not let them in the room until we were done, but our guide, Denise brought B out where the children were, so he got to meet her first. B says he has film of her singing and dancing out in the hall, so that will be fun to watch. B got to bring her into the conference room. What an awesome big brother. They are friends already! Cara came right up to us and knew who we were. I wish the picture wasn't so blurry of her meeting us for the first time.

She liked her dolly from Aunt D and LOVED the strawberry/banana Gerber Puffs. She was thirsty and wanted water right away. She is very sweaty, but that is because of her heart condition. What a little ham! She is flirty and likes to smile and play. The orphanage director gave us a bag with diapers, formula, a book with pictures of Cara, a DVD on her orphanage, and a chop with her name. Cara also had the things we sent to her in her care package. She definately know those things are hers because she points to them and says, "Mine!" in Chinese. Cara's nanny was there so we got a picture with her.

When we left, Cara spotted her nanny out in the hall and that's when she started to cry. She cried for a little bit, but once we got out in the car she was fine. We gave her a toy Kai Lan telephone and she played with that all they way to the grocery store. We bought some water, diapers, and snacks. We pretty much just walked down the aisles and whatever she pointed to we threw in the basket. She wanted some puff things that looked like oyster crackers, crackers, and hard candy. Then we went across the street to buy bananas. She REALLY wanted apples. She will be surprised. When this kid gets home she'll have apples coming out of her ears!

We got back to the hotel and she ate a packet of crackers and almost two bananas. She really loves to draw on the magnadoodle and play ball with B. We changed her and put her down for a nap in her crib. She played with the doll quietly for about 45 minutes and is sleeping now. She looks amazing sleeping there so peacefully. I can't believe she's mine.

We learned some things about her today from Denise and the orphanage staff. Cara was born in the year of the pig, but it was also the year of the golden pig, which only occurs every 60 years. Apparently that is very special and there were a lot of babies born in 2007. We also found out the true meaning of her name. "Ao" is for the Olympics. "Huan" is for the Olympic rings. The orphanage hopes she will always show the spirit of the Olympic Games. She is indeed a very special girl and I feel so honored to be her mom.