Homecoming Day Details

We have just gotten Ava Maye (Ping Ping- her Chinese nickname) to bed the second night.  I wanted to back track a little and let you know more about the day we met her.

About 2pm we left for the Civil Affairs Office. This was already different than how we had met Will or Addie. We met both of them quietly by ourselves in a very private place.  However this time when we got off the elevator on the 8th floor we entered a room full of parents who had just met their children or were waiting to meet their child.  Needless to say it was very loud and crowded with quite a few tears.  We waited for about 45 min and finally they told us that Dan Ping had arrived.  They led us to the center of the room where there was a group and 2 little kids standing holding an adults hand.  I told Dennis "That's her in the pink!".  Sure enough she was in pink head to her toes. (the orphanage staff says she LOVES pink).

She was very hesitant to go to us (of course!) and I eventually had to just pick her up.  That elicited lots of tears, poor thing, and we brought her over to the corner.  She calmed down but those big beautiful eyes were scanning the room I think trying to figure out what was going on.  Dennis had to leave to do some paperwork and then Will took out some crackers.  Ping Ping saw them and immediately reached for them. So, just like when we met Addie, we snacked together and she calmed down a little more.

We finally were able to leave and head back to the hotel.  Ping Ping was very cautious, she stuck close to me (I think she latched onto me since I was who held her during that goodbye).  She didn't want to take her coat off and when we tried to unzip her pink suede fringe boots (yes that is what she was wearing- she loves them) she cried. So she wore those shoes for another 3 hours before we could coax her out of them.  She slowly warmed up and we even got some smiles and laughs.   

She loves to play and laugh and explore the apartment.  We don't think she ever had free range to explore so she is enjoying that.  She is babbling some words (we are guessing which chinese words they are).  She knows how to blow kisses and even enjoys dancing and clapping hands.  We have noticed that while she can walk she lacks some muscle tone so she doesn't always walk in a straight line and we find ourselves running after her to make sure she doesn't fall down. :)

Overall she is doing great! Transitions have to be slow so she doesn't get upset but for day 2 I think its going well.  Will and Addie have been huge helps.  Sweet little Addie has had some moments of adjustment but overall is doing good.

Headed to bed- just wanted to send out some more details.  More pictures tomorrow. :)