{China #3} Emerson!!

This morning we left our hotel and headed to the airport.  Had another great conversation with Angela about her faith, upbringing and also got some more insights on how the orphanages are run.  It was a little sad to say goodbye to Angela, like we were saying goodbye to a good friend.  

Our flight was delayed 1 ½ hours…seems like all the flights we are on time for are delayed and the ones that we’re late for are on time! ☺ Nanchang received a couple inches of snow today which we assumed was the cause of the delay.  It was also their first snow of the season…we seem to have brought the Illinois winter with us to China as just last week it was 70 degrees here!  

As we sat on the plane, it almost seemed surreal… is this really happening?  Are we REALLY going to meet our little girl? Once we landed, we got our checked luggage (yeah for checked luggage..3 years ago, it was lost for 2 days!) and met with our guide and driver.  Soon we were on the road, heading through the same city that Abram was from, recognizing different spots and areas as we drove past.  

The Orphanage director was already in town with our little girl (had a 6-7 hour drive to get here), so we knew that as soon as we got to the hotel, it wouldn’t be long until we saw her.

Once we arrived at the hotel and got up to our room, I scurried around the room, trying to find the snacks and books and toys that we had packed for her.  It wasn’t but 10 minutes later that they brought Emerson up to our room. OH. MY. WORD!  Can I say…cuteness?!?!  WAY cuter in person, than in the pictures we had of her.  

{Emerson & Chase}

Being held by another nanny from Emerson’s orphanage system (her foster mom didn’t come, which is typical), Emerson was quiet and shy.  Slowly she stood on her own and allowed Chase and I to show her some of the books and toys, while Jeff asked the orphanage director questions about Emerson. She didn’t warm up very fast…not fast at all, but at the same time, she didn’t cry…at least not yet.  

{Emerson with orphanage director and other nanny - not hers}

{Emerson eating a banana}

{Chase, Emerson & Daddy}

{Emerson with her new doll}

{Chase & Emerson watching a video of Aubs & Abram}

One question we had for the orphanage director…is there a nickname for Longxi (Chinese name)?...Xixi (pronounced “she she”)…means (joy, joy or double joy or double happiness.  We LOVE it, XIxi!  She definitely knows her name…xixi. ☺  We were also given a photo album of many, many pictures of Emerson, her foster mom, the other children in the orphanage, the Christmas party with the cake that we ordered for her, around her town, etc.  We were ecstatic to say the least.  They also gave us a gift of a little sack of dirt from her hometown, wrapped in red satin fabric.  

After the guide, orphanage director and other nanny left, Emerson remained quiet and yet inquisitive with the books.  Soon the lower lip started trembling and her eyes welled up with tears.  I thought I was going to cry with her, as my heart tore in half.  Her cry was soft and she let me hold her (though her body didn’t relax in my arms, she didn’t fight me, either).  Soon she stopped crying and only cried off and on throughout the next couple of hours.

{Emerson realizing something is happening & starting to cry}

Emerson came to us in 4 shirts (2 thick shirts, 2 regular) and 3 pairs of pants with no diaper (split pants….split down the crotch of the pants so the child can squat and go pee…lots of young Chinese children wear them) and one thick coat, good boots and heavy socks.  About an hour after she came, Chase was playing with her and suddenly announced, “she’s peeing!”…and sure enough, little miss Emerson was squatting and peeing on the carpet!  Couldn’t help but laugh and clean it up!

We were determined to give her a bath tonight, but Emerson wanted nothing to do with it!  She resisted and cried when each layer was taken off.  Her cry was a cry of grief…each piece of clothing is the only thing familiar to her…Everything else is new.  We have new toys, new pj’s, new clothes, new blanket, new doll, etc.  We finally gave her a sponge bath and as much as I totally wanted to get rid of all of her old clothes, we put two of her shirts back on along with a pull up.  ☺  

For bedtime we weren’t given much of any instructions other than she slept with her foster mom in bed, rather than her own crib.  Chase also got ready for bed to try & “show” her what to do.  As he laid on the couch (his bed), she reached out and stroked his hair and face and pushed at his eyes and eyebrows.  

{Emerson patting Chase's head}

Chase has been amazing in his interactions with her thus far.  You can tell she is definitely more comfortable with him than with us at this point.  Up to this point we had tried a couple different things in putting her to bed – rocking her, laying down with her, etc.  Finally Jeff thought of rolling the crib next to Chase’s bed with the railing lowered towards Chase.  She whimpered as she didn’t like the idea of being in the crib.  She reached her hand out to touch Chase’s head.  After a couple minutes we were shocked to find them both asleep!  I think she was plum tuckered out.  

We are so thankful for how today went – thank you for praying for us and her!  Pray that she can trust us and that we can have wisdom and patience with bonding and very possibly lack of sleep if she’s up throughout the night(s).  

Love,

Jeff, Chelby, Chase & Emerson