This document to the left shows that Mia is now - according to the People's Republic of China - officially the daughter of Dan and Elise Deeble. In the words of Cindy, our CHI Guide, "No one can ever take her from you!"
It was amazing when she said that b/c I really didn't have a full understanding of what we were doing and what it would all mean. There's so much paperwork and so many appointments (still many to come too!) that it's hard to keep track with what is "what." So her words were a surprise and totally took my breath away.
Here's how it works: 24 hours after you receive your child, the Chinese government calls you back to sign all your paperwork. They call this "Harmony Day" because they want to give you a 24 hour period together so that you can be sure that you want to go through with the adoption.
Of course, to every family I've ever met it's a completely unnecessary gesture - as one Mom said today, "Are you kidding? Do you think I'd back out now after a two year wait for my little girl?"
Anyhow, today was our day for official Chinese Harmony.
So, we took off at 8 AM (can't tell you how challenging that was for us. I got up at 5:45 to make it happen and still barely made it. Moms, you're amazing. Every single one of you.) First we went back to the Adoption Center where I had to give an oath, take a family picture (without Mia's Mommy! :-( ), and sign some paperwork. Then, we got back on the bus and went to the Notary's office where I had to do
the same thing again, essentially. Then, lastly, we got back on the bus and went to the passport place where we had Mia's photo taken for her passport.
So, from 6AM - NOON we were in a mad-dash with official chinese business...oh, yeah, and not to forget that we had to mix in a feeding in there somewhere (can I tell you what a trooper my Mom is???). Needless to say, there are some serious naps happening right now. Mia has been out for 2 hours and 29 minutes thus far. Butde (aka: grandma) for nearly an hour, now. Me? Too excited.