Mia got her first Dove Soap Dip today! We started by dipping her feet into the tub and at first she resisted. She gave me these eyes that said, "Daddy, are you going to wash my feet?"
To which I replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will."
"No," said Mia, "you shall never wash my feet."
"Unless I wash you three times a day or whenever you break out in the slightest sweat," I answered, "you shall never be an American."
But soon she started to quite enjoy herself and said, "Then, Daddy," she said, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well - and, oh, could you throw in a few toys while you're at it?!?"
Monday, January 21, 2008
First Bath...
The Chinese Have a Name for Us...
Our CHI Guide, Cindy, greeted us at the airport in Nanchang and, while traveling into the city, explained to us that this city is very different than Beijing. While Beijing has 12-13 million people, Nanchang has only 3-4 million. It is 80% agricultural and most of the local people have never seen a foreigner before. But when they do, they simply call us "Big Nose People."
Which begs an interesting question: what do they call someone who is known among the "big nose people" to have himself a big nose?
Hmmmm....Confucius say....
Nonetheless, it appears that Mia has found soothing comfort in three things thus far: (1) The blankie her Mommy (Elise) packed for her, (2) the middle and index finger of her left hand and (3) my nose.
Below is Cindy, our local CHI guide, telling us what to expect:
"That Guy With His Mom...."
So, I'm pretty sure that a reputation has formed for me among the group and guides. I was tipped off to this when, today on the bus, our guide (Elsie) said over the intercom, "Okay, did everyone make sure to bring their passports?" Then she made a concerted effort to look directly at me and said, "Daniel, do YOU have your passport?"
It then dawned on me that this wasn't the first time that she felt the need to do the customized "circle back" with me. Indeed, this trend started way back in Beijing.
I'm not sure whether this is because I'm "that guy with his Mom" or b/c I really am forgetting a lot of things. Take this evening, for example. I was so proud of myself that we were the first family down to the lobby for dinner. But, since we were early, I decided to find a piano and play for Mia. So we found one - but on the 20th floor and took the elevator all the way to 
the top. Then, we came back down on time but forgot a feeding spoon for Mia. So, my Mom made the trek back up to the 12th floor and down. Then, we went to the restaurant and I reached for my camera to take a picture of Mia (b/c she was exceptionally cute in her high chair) when I realized that my camera was missing. I ran back to the hotel to look for it, condemning in my spirit all the 1.3 billion chinese people as petty thieves along the way. I employed the hotel manager, his staff, and Cindy our guide in my search. Hooray. It turned up...on the 20th floor...near the piano.
Then (you thought I was done, huh?), I got back to the restaurant...had a lovely meal...and returned back to the hotel. Our guide, Cindy, received a call from the restaurant saying that someone from our group had left their hat. As she headed out of the lobby and back to the restaurant, I gave her a very apologetic look - as if to say, "On behalf of our entire group, I'm so sorry that we're such incapable people." Which I thought was a rather statesman-like thing to do. I didn't know whose hat it was and, frankly, didn't care. I was just embarrassed at this point by the sheer volume of "dumb American group moves."
The guide returned from the restaurant and came back down the hallway of our floor with an "In & Out" hat in her hand. A black one. And before I could duck into my room, I heard someone down the hall shout knowingly, "That's Dan's hat!" Which was not a mean thing to say whatsoever. In fact, it was true. But his tone seemed to imply, "Who else could it be but the guy with his Mom?"
The scary thing is I'm really, really trying.
Harmony Day!!!
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.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Mia and Mr. Wang
Here we are with Mr. Wang, the Orphanage Director (as you saw in the earlier picture as well). We learned some great news from him today. The orphanage was built only in 2005 and is extremely new. There are, if I recall, only 18 children in the orphanage and all but a few have been adopted already.
You could really tell that Mia (and all the girls) have been dearly loved. Their "Nannies" seemed so loving and familiar with each child. They were very sweet and gentle with her and could answer our questions with great detail and specifics about each child.
One family with us in our group, that has adopted from China before, said that their last experience was very different. The girls from their prior trip seemed far more institutionalized. The Nannies seemed cold and indifferent. So, while comparisons are always bittersweet, it was helpful to see how many of our prayers for Mia have been answered.
p.s. one interesting note: Mr. Wang explained to us that these little babies have already been potty trained. They put them on a little pot and then give them the "grunt noise" (the, um, international sign for "go poop"). Then these little ones do their business. So far, my grunt noise isn't having quite the same effect as Mr. Wang's.
Play Time!
Pix #1: I call this Mia's "brown steel".....
Pix #2: this shot I call the "This gig ain't all that bad..."
Pix #3: and this pix says, "Dogs are considered family????"
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