Introducing the Girls

Well as you know already, we've got our girls. We wanted to follow up with a post and some new pictures to better communicate our experience. It has been a very eventful two days, and we've hardly had time to post.

We arrived in Nanchang on Sunday afternoon and were whisked by bus to the Lakeview hotel. We barely had time to put down our luggage and get to the third floor meeting room, where the babies were to be brought to us at 4:30 sharp. There were ten couples represented in Group #409. Eight of those couples were to receive babies from the Jiujiang Social Welfare Institute, and the remaining two couple's babies from the Nanchang Social Welfare Institute.

We were only there a couple of minutes when, at 4:32, the Nannies from the Jiujiang orphanage burst into the room with the first 8 babies. We tried to get a look at each baby, searching the faces for those that matched the little pictures of them taken months earlier, which we'd received with our referral packets. Our babies were readily identifiable. It was an instant pandemonium of screaming, frightened little girls, agitated nannies and emotionally overcome mommies. On top of this cacaphony, our guide, "Cindy" was calling our last names, in alphabetical order, at the top of her lungs.

Pandemonium broke out instantly when the babies were hurried into the meeting room

"BRIDWREWR!"

Bridwells got their baby first...the life-long advantage afford those early in the alphabet. Kimberly was stunned and hesitated (only momentarily!), totally unprepared for what was to come next. She rushed over to get Lily. Poor Lily had no clue what was going on. As soon as Lily found herself in the arms of this strange woman, her mommy, she was absolutely distraught and brokenhearted - this was clearly seen in her face, and heard in her wail.

Kimberly consoles her Lily, while wannabe reporters Jason and Kenny crowd in

In just a few seconds, this pain was echoing in Kimberly's face as her inability to console or comfort her daughter began to set in.

"I'm your momma and I'm never going to leave you!"

As the rest of the names were called, Michelle and Kenny jockeyed for position to get video and still photos of Kimberly and Jason. Everything was happening so quickly - before you knew it, Cindy was calling:

"VANAWRREN!"

The nanny handed Annette over to Michelle. Jason jumped over to preserve the moment as Kenny came along side Michelle and Annette, who had begun to cry pitifully. It seems the babies were a little take aback by their mothers' blonde hair, oversized noses, and gigantic eyes. Annette felt more at home with Kenny, apparently; when he took her from Michelle, she began to settle down immediately. Annette has been a pretty easy going baby from the moment she was brought to us, and true to her name "Ning", which means "quiet" or "peaceful".

Mommy sneeks a peek at her new daughter

Within an hour or so, Kimberly and Lily had entered what we have been calling "The Vortex of Stress", wherein daughter expresses her anxiety and fear, mother responds by becoming anxious and fearful that her daughter isn't bonding to her, daughter senses mother's axieties and her stress level rises. All of this feedback culminated in Kimberly's crashing as we gathered for our interviews with the orphanage director. She was lightheaded, nauseated, white as a ghost of herself, and although fully aware of everything going on around her, unable to respond in a usual way to many things. At one point, she asked for some orange juice. Jason was out on the 3rd floor terrace trying to comfort the still-crying Lily, so Kenny went to fetch some for her. Meanwhile, Michelle got a look at Kimberly, and asked one of the Chinese guides ("Ike") to get some orange juice. Kimberly knew that Kenny had already gone for it, but couldn't muster the energy to tell Michelle or Ike. (It was just as well, as Ike brought back not orange juice, but the Chinese prescription in such circumstance: a cup of hot water).

This bodily manifestation of Kimberly's and Lily's mutual stress brought gave Kimberly a headache and even induced vomiting in both girls. Kimberly's persistence in love finally began to wear down Lily's defenses, and signs of admitance began to show through the tears.

After a good cry, Momma and Baby begin to bond

They did manage to find sleep, if even fitfully. The next morning, Kimberly likened the experience to giving birth.

Jason says Kimberly looked uncannily like this after giving birth - this time she gave emotional birth

Kenny and Michelle took Annette back to their room. She was still a little tenative, and would not allow Michelle more than a moment's glance before tearing up and bawling, but she was willing to cling to Kenny, and content to lie in her crib. Fortunately, sleep seems to come easy to both babies - they have pretty much slept through the night both nights we've had them.

Annette in her crib in our hotel room. These are the clothes in which they brought her

Going...going...

Gone...finally settled and asleep

Somewhere between 4:30 Sunday afternoon, and noon the next day, Lily and Kimberly turned the corner. Lily began to cry of "Oma" (sounds like "Ahamah") when Kimberly handed her over to Jason, and stopped crying when handed back to Kimberly. She stopped fussy so much between naps. She started responding to Kimberly's voice. As of now...you'd never even guess that any of the above-described trauma had taken place.

Sneeking in a moment to stare between "bonding sessions"

Annette woke up at 6:30 or so...ready to take on the day. Michelle gave her a bath and got her dressed and ready for the day. However, Michelle herself had fought back food poisoning in the night, and didn't feel much like breakfast. So she fixed baby Annette a bottle and sat down for her morning feeding.

Annette gets her morning bath

While Kimberly and Lily got their strength back, Michelle and Kenny took Annette down for what may very well have been her first meal of solid food. She likes to eat with her hands. She enjoys crackers, watermelon and little bites of ham. She has taken a bottle once or twice, but doesn't seem much intersted in it now that Cheerios are available.

First lunch with Mommy and Daddy at the hotel

Whew! I need a break...this baby business is serious stuff. I tell ya - there has been no shortage of fodder for our fear factor food feature! No wonder they say people tend to lose weight on these trips. Let's take a look at today's pick...


Near Miss

Hey Matilda Mae - what do we do with these aliens now that thair daid?

Warming up to Momma...and offering kisses

Are you my mother?

Ahhh...you are my mother!

Grasping mamma's hand

Michelle on Annette...


Annette… what can I say. She is a marvelous girl. She is letting me know just what she needs. She is an "easy read". I saw a dimple emerge just last night when she gave me her first QUICK smile. I nearly had to stand on my head acting goooooooofy to get it. She is easily offended and knows what she wants in much the same way Abby is. She is much more sedate and proper acting, however. Her skin is clearing up nicely. The boil on her arm remains at bay. Don't know where that's going. She must be really teething. Aleady two bottom teeth and two on top slightly visible. Two others on top are close behind.

When she wakes in the morning I say, "morning, Ning, Ning!" It sounds like I'm stuttering! I am having a hard time calling her Annette cuz it just seems her native language is so much a part of her. The Nannies nicknamed her Yong Yong. It is even said differently than it looks. More like Yeeong. I've tried that on her also. She just looks at me like, get it right, lady!


Kimberly on Lily...


Lily... our beautiful and emotional sweetheart. After the first difficult night Lily has been unseperable from mommy. She is bonding very quickly and has a strong need for this connection. She often pulls my face toward hers and looks me deep in the eyes as if to ask "are you mine?" She loves to be held all the time with her face close to mommies. Lily waves bye-bye and bops her head to music. She loves to eat meat and drink water from her sippie. Jason is very happy this afternoon because she is taking a liking to him now. She fell asleep in his arms for her nap.

Lily is a lot longer than Annette and seems very strong (not all of these chinese babies are tiny). My arms are very sore from the constant holding of of this 19 pound bundle. The nannies told me "she a very smart baby"

Mother daughter moment

Our daughters, Lily and Annette

We're having a great time getting to know Lily and Annette, and watching them get to know us. Again we have to say that sharing this experience has greatly multiplied it's value and memorability. They each already have a built-in new aunty and uncle in the other's parents. And we're so glad that they get to grow up together.

We can't wait to get them home to all of you!

Budz for life!

© 2004 All text and images copyright Ken Van Allen. All rights reserved.