Liam is with Mom and Dad

Daring to Begin


Our day began like most of others here in China, with a leisurely breakfast with our group. The only difference was that today, Monday, is Gotcha Day. I think everyone was nervous but excited. After a short bus ride to the government registration office, we were told that some of our children might be late due to yesterdays bad weather. When we arrived, there were only two babies in the play area, so two families would need to wait a bit longer for their kids. Of course that included us! We busied ourselves with photographing the families who were uniting with their children and anxiously waited for another 10 minutes before Liam and the last baby showed up. Liam was scared and hide his head in the orphanage workers shoulder and cried when he was handed over to us. It was only after we bribed him with some crackers did he stop. A Dora the Explorer car even elicited some smiles.

About 30 minutes later we piled back into the bus, babies in hand and headed back to the hotel. By this time, tears by both parents and children had ceased and everyone was able to take a deep breathe for the moment. On the way we were told that we would have to allow three babies to be taken to another government office for some formality that wasn't done on their way into town this morning. Unfortunately Liam was in the group so we handed him over again and waited with the other parents anxiously in the lobby for their return. As promised they showed up 15 minutes later none the worse for wear even though we were all terribly worried about it.

W spent the rest of the day slowly getting to know him. He started to warm up to us and smile more freely and seemed to enjoy playing games with us. He seems to be a gentle little boy with a good appetite and is very good at imitating. He also loves to dance and has a great head bob. We managed lunch, a nap, and even a trip out to dinner with some of our group. After nap he seemed a little shell shocked again, but ate a big dinner and even allowed me to give him a bath, brush his teeth and clip his nails. Then off to bed.

Tomorrow is another big day for us. Today was our "get to know you" period and tomorrow Liam becomes ours and our period to legally relinquish him back to the government ends.