My Gotcha Day

Our very first picture together

In the Chinese adoption world, "Gotcha Day" is the day the new adoptive parents meet their babies for the first time. I like that term, so I decided to steal it. Yesterday, Friday November 30, 2007 was my Gotcha Day... Here's how it all went down:

I went to work in the morning, waiting for "the call." At about 10:30, Martha, my baby's social worker called me and said she had the baby and was on her way to my apartment with her!! So I flew out of work and went home to wait. At around 11:00, in the pouring rain (of course the one day it decided to rain here in San Diego) Martha pulled up in front of my apartment complex, with a sound-asleep Elizabeth Chanel in the back. Oh, she is beautiful...I can't even describe what that moment was like, when I first got to see her and hold her. I brought her up to the apartment wrapped in a blanket in the rain. Martha, and my social worker Ann spent about an hour with us, doing paperwork and chatting. Of course, I barely paid attention to what they were saying, because I couldn't keep my eyes off Elizabeth. But I signed the paperwork, and she's all mine (well as a Foster child at this point, at least). In the midst of all this, Elizabeth woke up and was smiling and gurgling, and so cuddly!!

Ann and Martha with Elizabeth


After the social workers left, Auntie Julie came over to meet Elizabeth, and brought delicious FOOD!!!! Yay Julie, you rock!!!!












Checking out her new crib

I love my swing Mommy!

She loved her bath until water got in her eyes!

Last night was long...She woke up about every hour, until about 3AM, then slept for almost 4 hours and woke up this morning very happy!!

Update

Here's the latest on Miss Elizabeth: Her social worker called me this afternoon and told me I will most likely be bringing Elizabeth home (instead of just meeting her) tomorrow (Friday)-Yay!!! Apparently, the Foster Mother does not want to meet me, or have any part of the transition. So, probably what will happen is, the social worker will pick Elizabeth up and take her to her office, where I will go get her. We'll do all the official "change of placement" paperwork, etc, and then this baby girl is all mine (well, sort of...) This will probably happen late morning or early afternoon. I am disappointed not to be able to meet the Foster Mother, because I wanted to ask her lots of questions and get her picture for Elizabeth's babybook, but I understand if she is upset. I have been in her shoes, and it's very painful, I know.
Today was sort of crazy, tying up loose ends at work before I go out on "maternity leave". I told a lot of my kids that I'll be out for a while, and showed them Elizabeth's picture. They were cute and wanted to know if I'll bring her to school so they can meet her. We'll see about that...
Anyway, that's the latest. Just got home from Babies R Us with diapers and a baby bath, and a few more goodies...Tonight is my last night (I hope!!) as a "free woman", but I won't be able to sleep because I'm way too excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe this is actually finally going to happen. I'm going to meet my daughter tomorrow...Wow...I know I should remember that this is the County I'm dealing with, so anything could change at any second. But things look good right now.
Last night as I was getting out all the little baby washclothes and bibs and babywipes that I'd had packed away since Molly left, I started remembering...Hmmm...that was kind of a lot of work, having a baby. Am I really ready to do all that again? The endless bottle washing, feeding, changing, doing laundry with an extra 10+ lbs strapped onto me. The lack of sleep. Do I really want to go through all that again? The answer is- Hell YES!!! I can't wait!!!! Yipee!!

Welcome to Elizabeth's blog!!

***Update below***

Hello everyone! Just to pass the time until I get some news about when I'll finally get to meet my little Elizabeth and bring her home, I thought I'd start this blog. Just for privacy, this blog is by invitation only. So if you are reading this post, you made the cut! Lucky, lucky you...

This blog will be a journal of Elizabeth's life, with pictures and hopefully some video clips if I can figure out how to do that. I thought it would be more fun, and easier than always emailing pictures to everyone like I did with Molly. Please keep in mind that I'm a newbie to the blogosphere, so I'm learning as I go.

Welcome, and I hope to have an update soon about when I'll get my sweet girl home! Oh, and a huge thank you to all of you for putting up with me and supporting me through this emotional roller coaster that is adoption.

Hugs and Kisses,

Anne

Update!!!!

Great news!!! Elizabeth's social worker just called me and said I get to meet the baby on Friday! I will hopefully get to bring her home that day, too. They are giving the Foster Mom the option to let me just take her on Friday, or visit with her through the week-end and actually bring her home for good on Tuesday. I vote for bringing her home this Friday!! Yay, this is finally happening!!!!!!