Adoption Day

I found it kind of funny that last night as we ate dinner and again this morning at breakfast, the hotel restaurant was playing an instrumental version of "The Sound of Silence."  It's like our theme song.  She has not initiated any communication and just shakes her head when we offer anything.

When we first met, I had tried to show her pictures of her siblings on my iPhone, and it made her cry.  (Well, a lot of people have that reaction!  You can't blame her!)  So I put that away for later.  At dinner, I asked if she liked cats.  Head shake.  Does she like dogs?  Head shake.  With translator, "We have two gentle dogs."  Showed her a picture of Sterling.  She cried again.  Back to listening to the music.

This morning at breakfast, I considered it a success because she kept looking around and with only two mis-guesses, I was able to discover that she wanted milk.  We actually got a nod, and I found her some milk!  Yay!

Then, it was off to the Civil Affairs office for the adoption.  It was a lot different than our experience in Guangxi.   Difference in province?  Difference since the Hague Treaty?  I don't know.  It was chaotic.  Wynn would get up and walk out and around, and it's hard to judge whether to go with her or give her space.  We got to hand write a letter explaining why we wanted to adopt her and how we were going to take care of her with everyone hanging over urging us to hurry, sign our name and put thumbprints all over, get receipts for our orphanage donation, down the hall for the extremely awkward first family photo, and she's a Norton.

Chaotic office

Wynn stamping her hand agreeing to the adoption.
I don't think she has much choice in the situation, but through her teenage years, we have this picture saying she agreed that we are her parents!

After this, off to the passport office to apply for a Chinese passport.  She isn't an American citizen until she steps foot on American soil, so she needs a Chinese passport for international travel.

Passport office

also chaotic.

Wynn likes kids.  She played with a couple of little boys that she knows from the orphanage, age 2 and 3.  This little girl is 3 and was adopted from India.  She is here meeting her little brother, and she is a DOLL.  Very glad to see Wynn enjoying the children.  Pretty soon, she will have Ari glued to her!

Bonding a tiny bit over the iPhone.