Monday, March 28, 2011

Sleeping Beauty

The walk to WalMart was wild…you have to just bravely step out in moped traffic with your child in arms and hope you make it, horns all the while beeping all around you. There was music coming from the streets and she would tic toc her head from side to side and just sing along…yes, she has my genes… WalMart was overwhelming. And boy did we get looked at! What are these white people doing kissing on this little Asian girl? That place is CRAZY…3 stories of it! So glad we brought most of her stuff and didn’t have to get much there. She wouldn’t ride in the cart at all – wanted to be held or to get down and walk with us holding her hands. We were there with our group (our guide and a family of 7 from Seattle), so it took a while! When we got home she was a bit overtired and was fussy and ready to eat and for bed. She honestly couldn’t hold out to meet her brothers on Skype…I’m sure had she known the treat she was in for, she would have J. She was out by 6:30 - needing a little help getting to sleep. What a big day for her, following her 10 hour commute to us….her first day with strange white people who speak a strange form of Chinese and can’t stop kissing her, new foods and smells, but WalMart, too…she was a trooper! Now it is 6:56 AM and we can hear her tossing and turning and sucking her finger. Tom and I are like 2 kids watching for Santa…waiting for her to wake-up…I’ve been listening out for her for about 2 hours now since she’s been making sweet little noises, and CAN’T WAIT for her to wake up and have her first- ever morning snuggles with Mommy and Daddy! It’s 12:15…the theme of this day has been “sleeping beauty.” She eventually woke up around 9 AM and looked at these light-eyed folks peering in her crib (cheesy-ly I’m sure) and then promptly fell back asleep. Poor little thing probably thought she was dreaming…this is not my orphanage and who are these people? We went ahead and scooped her up and she looked around and was back out on Daddy’s chest while we were wanting to skype with the boys…they’ve been so patient to just meet her by video and blog, as she has slept through so much of it. We quickly had to get to breakfast before the hotel buffet closed. She perked up to some seafood congee (mmm….bits of fish in gooed up gel-like rice) and watermelon, which she picked up herself but wanted us to put in her mouth for her while she dropped hers off the side and said “uh-oh-oh-oh.” So cute (and naughty, we realize)! Earlier in the meal, she dropped her sippy cup and saw that it got her attention. I think she knows the word drop now, even, because we’d say it to each other, and she’ll act out the cup going overboard. Smart little thing! We got back to the room for a bath and she started falling apart…so it was more of a rinse (and I got peed on – bonus)! She started that overtired crying again and was out… After a 14 hour night sleep, she was back to sleep by 11 AM and is still sleeping now (1.5 hours later) with no need for Tom and I to be especially quiet. Wow! So, most of our pics from today are of her sleeping sweetly. This need for sleep is expected after the huge stress of the past few days on her little self. Bless her heart! So glad the guide didn’t plan outings for us until 4 today…when we will attend a festival celebrating the different Chinese Nationalities…of which she is “Wa”…people who love music and dance and fire…fate!Digsby-Wa!

15 comments:

Karla said...

oh my goodness... i wanna squeeze all three of you! :) Elita is just precious. (Checking the blog often. Thanks for updating and sharing this journey with all of us. Love you!)

Katie and Allan said...

couldnt pick a favorite picture-the camera loves her! We are enjoying your comments and descriptions and interpretations tremendously- like Elita tic tocking her head from side to side
with the street music on the way to Walmart(and singing along too!):)Look forward to hearing about Digsby-Wa's visit to the festival!

Michelle said...

Elita is a gem!! At 430am my time all I can think about is you 3 over there and what you are up to on your 2nd day as a family. And your boys never leave my mind because I am always thinking of something fun to do with them to help pass the time. Thomas and I have CC today and he preped me on what I am suppose to do there (so matter of fact this is what mommy does)I love to love on your boys and I cannot wait to love on Elita! She looks adorable in her dress :) so looking forward to seeing your guys and letting the cousins play. Hannah is going to love having someone her size to play with! Love and miss you guys! Mxxxxxxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

So fun to see the pics and hear all the details. Like Michelle, wonder all day long what you are up to and pray regularly for you guys and sweet Elita and her big transition. Shep wanted to see the videos from the last post over and over and over again. He kept saying baby Eyeeta. So cute! He's excited to meet his new cousin! Love you guys so!

Nicole said...

I love that she has the singing gene like her mommy! It will be so much fun having a little girl voice growing up right beside you. :) I love reading your blog & the pics & updates. Heart melting.

Ogden said...

My eyes are wet! Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this. I sat down to have my devotion this morning and clicked on the quick link to your blog before i got started. Little did i know that it was through your blog that the Lord wanted to companion with me this morning. As i read and watched video and looked at your photos, God kept whispering in my ear that i am that little girl. i was lost and abandoned and unwanted, left to fend for myself. yet in his grace and by his sacrifice on the cross he has chased after me, gone to incredible lengths to make me his, and ordained a great reunion with my true Father. my eyes are not only wet as i see the beauty of your adoption of Elita, but of His adoption of me.
While she is indeed sweet and cute and cuddly, the rest of my thoughts are consumed with an image of 14-year old Elita. We live in a world that abandons kids both physically and emotionally. We are mired in broken relationships and institutions that, without the Gospel, are incapable of adequately caring for God's favorite creation. He has chosen you as an instrument of his grace to bring redemption into the life of one His precious children. I see Elita in the halls of Greenbrier HS. I see a girl that should only know the 4 walls of an orphanage. I see a girl who knows that she belongs, is loved and has been nurtured. I see a girl that should know only abandonment and rejection and stale institutional care, just a number of many who file through a system. I see a girl who is fearless yet tender, confident yet gentle, challenged yet equipped. i see a girl who knows her identity--one dearly loved of her heavenly father--because she has experienced the love of an earthly father.
What a day! The day that begins Elita's journey to wholeness, restoration and union with the one who fearfully and wonderfully made her.

The Mom Blog said...

awww... the only sound I can make after seeing and reading this. I absolutely can not wait to meet that sweet little girl

The Mom Blog said...

Ooops, can't figure out how to change "The Mom Blog" to read "Wendy"

Unknown said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE her cute face!!! cant wait to meet her!!!

Jewelia said...

Sooooo sweet!!! :) Praying for you constantly and look forward to seeing you guys in person! love you!
:) jewel

Unknown said...

Oh man!! I am so thankful you set up the blog to share your journey! I am so incredibly happy for you guys, and most of all for Elita. She will be treasured and loved like she deserves. Praying diligently for a continued smooth transition and trip home!!!

Ali said...

Sohailla, I have to giggle...remembering the sleep issues you have had before and now this little Digsby is sleeping like an angel! She is so beautiful! Thank you so much for updating and keeping us informed. We missed you today at CC...had a great time with Thomas and Michelle...everything is fine here...you keep kissing your sweet baby girl!!!

Brooke Southerland said...

OH my goodness! I have sat and watched all these videos and just cried! However, I had to laugh at the Wal-Mart and traffic story. It's ridiculous how crazy traffic is, yet they manage. PS-there are these delish little bear crackers with soft chocolate in the middle. Find those! They're amazing! So happy for you guys! I can't wait to squeeze her and say "ni hao". Love you guys! Come home already!

hgh said...

:) Your vivid description of the big day made me feel like I was right there with you. You three are in my prayers, as are the other two precious Digsby's, here. I have some cool stories to share with you someday about how famously Thomas & Hayden got along. They were inseparable and played together like they had known each other their whole little lives. We LOVED having them. Our pilates class prayed for you today and everyone at the Y sends well wishes. Funny, Marshall seems quite boring w/out my fav instructor's voice lingering down the hall. Can't wait to meet her!

Unknown said...

It has been such a joy to follow you on this wonderful journey. Elita is beautiful! There are life changing blessings for all....blessings for Elita to have such amazing parents and blessings for ya'll to have a beautiful daughter that is sent from God. I am praying for saftey and a wonderful transition for your sweet family. Diane Giddens