Gotcha Day! It's Official!!

Praise the Lord!

We began the morning waking up at 4:30 to leave the hotel at 5:50. We boarded a plane at 7:50 for Guangzhou. We arrived at 11:00, met our guide, and went to the hotel. At 2:00 we left the hotel for the provincial adoption office to get all 16 of our babies. We were in a room just waiting---however, we didn't have to wait that long because our name was the second one called.

It all happened pretty fast, but we got our baby Autumn Xiao Fen Caley that we have been waiting a long time for. She immediately came to us and didn't cry at all--(still hasn't and is now sleeping as we speak). She seemed very curious about me and was very interested in the toys that we had for her. She played with them and just looked around. She did take the bottle for just a bit. She crawled on the floor for a bit as well. We waitied for all of the families to receive their babies.

It was quite chaotic--some babies very quiet--other babies not so quiet. There were a few babies around 17-19 months old--one just kept crying out Mah Mah--wanting her mama (caretaker). It was very heartbreaking. There was also another girl who was about 5 or 6 years old going to a family from another group. They already had a girl around that age that they had adopted--however, it was very emotional for her and tramatic. I was getting emotional just watching the situation. She had obviously been taken care of by a foster family.

We brought Autumn back to the hotel and gave her a bath. She has a very dark skin tone and obviously has lots of hair. We put her in some new clothes and a bow in her hair--she's ready to roll! She played with her toys very well--she has great eye hand coordination and seems to hear just fine. She is very curious! The caretakers said that when she is tired that she will throw her head back--that proved true. I walked around the room holding her for a few minutes and now she is sleeping sound. Autumn and Esther (another little girl from our group) were cribmates in the orphanage we were told.

We had pizza hut for dinner tonight delivered. Guy is right now out getting some of the paperwork filled out. We did visit the Forbidden City yesterday--we visited a local family's home, and took a rickshaw ride while being attacked by some locals trying to get us to buy their stuff. Guy bought a little of everything--they just stood right in front of him while our guide was talking waiting for him to buy--they must have read the word "SUCKER" on his forward. I kept looking over and there was something new they were pulling out and there he was pulling out more money--however, he has learned to bargain pretty well. We will post pictures of that later.

Well my back is hurting and I should rest while Autumn rests. Enjoy the pictures. We love all of you very much and can't wait to have Autumn join our whole family.

Blessings,

The Caley6 (It's official!!)