Officially Ours and Officially Happy

Today, we ventured to the registration office and notary, sealing the adoption and making Grace officially ours. She's not a U.S. citizen yet, but she's legally ours... she just can't come into the U.S. yet (that's next week's task). We've seen Grace grow so much this morning, and we have quite the happy child on our hands. All of this "official business" over here is very unceremonious. We had a quick (1 minute) interview with both the registration official and the notary, and aside from that one minute, you're just sitting around in slightly air-conditioned rooms with the rest of your travel group (ours is 12 families). Then, our guide (the absolutely indispensable, Evelyn), comes in and says, "let's go." We're done with all the stuff we have to do in Nanchang, so the next few days we'll be able to get out to see the city as we wait on the Chinese government to finish the job.

We did venture as a group to Wal-Mart today, which is, even in China, still a Wal-Mart. We picked up some diapers, wipes, a few clothes (this girl is LONG), and some snacks. Our guide told us that it's the largest tourist spot in Nanchang, which makes me sad.

Nanchang is an interesting city. I can see why some people call it grubby or dirty, but I think those monikers are incorrect. I think that Nanchang is gritty. It's a working man's city. It was never meant to be (nor does it want to be) a tourist city for western couples. Is there dirt? Yes. Smog? Yes. Noise? Yes. But, like our train ride, this is the glimpse of "real" China that we were never going to get in Hong Kong or even Shenzhen. I'm glad we are here.

Here's something I didn't expect: to feel so isolated by the food. I've read hundreds of blogs, and every time I read someone eating at KFC or ordering room service, I would think, "Come on! You're in China! Eat some Chinese food!" But, I get it now. First off, there are times because of the adoption time-line that room service is the only viable option. For example, the night Grace came, we took her back up to our room to try to get her to settle down a bit. Then, Bret had to go fill out paperwork for a while. Then, I did. Then, we wanted to call family and share the news. And by the end of all of that (much less trying to console a hysterical baby), there was no restaurant open. So, room service. And then, even the hotel lunch buffet is difficult. There are chicken claws, duck neck, and pigeon gizzards. I'm not that picky (please reference my "foot of pig" post), but I can't quite fill up on pigeon gizzards; I'll try them, but I'm not
going to make them a meal. Even the local restaurants will give you a picture menu, but when the pictures (and even subsequent English) all point to dishes that are not of the "fill up" variety, it's hard. So, I get it now.

Grace continues to amaze us. Here are some things we've noticed:
1. She's very patient. She's very content just sitting on our laps. She has not cried or fussed at all today: not when she's tired and not when she's hungry. She assumes you'll get around to feeding her or helping her sleep, and she's more than content to wait around until you give the green light. She became a little squirmy today in our arms, wanting to get down and play (or "walk" around), but on the whole, she just wants to snuggle in our arms.

2. She has started to smile (which is heart stopping) and giggling, which is this deep stomach laugh. I think the fact that she has started to really giggle show us that she trusts us more and more. Bret is the first person to get her to giggle, as she thinks Daddy is pretty funny. He also has a magic touch of getting her to sleep, for which Mommy is very grateful. Grace is a champion sleeper: she has slept through the night for the last two nights (not a peep) and takes long (three hour) afternoon naps. What a blessing!

3. Grace is also a champion eater, which is a very odd sensation as Grant has always been very picky. Grace has eaten everything we have given her: sausage, watermelon, french toast, noodles, chicken, fish, french fries, ice cream and prunes (worked a little too well), and I'm convinced she'll eat anything. We'll see how this list grows.

4. When she's tired, she pulls her shirt up and kind of sucks on it. She started doing this almost the minute we got her, and it seems to be a permanent habit. She doesn't necessarily even put the shirt in her mouth, but it is definitely her soothing mechanism.

5. She really is Daddy's girl, which Bret says is just payback for the fact that Grant is a mama's boy. She kind of endures me. She'll fall asleep in my arms or even play with me, and since she never really cries, it's not likes she's throwing a fit, but she always has to know where Bret is, and she cuddles with him. Just being in his arms leads to sleep. They have even developed their own game (a kind of flop yourself on the bed kind of thing), and when she sees him, she lights up and makes the sign for him to play. It's too cute.

6. Grace is very reserved. She is slow to smile. She's slow to get angry. We don't know if this is part of her personality... or if she is still a little shell shocked from the whole situation. We can be patient too, so we're in no rush for her to get it figured out!

I have lots of thoughts on Nanchang and the Jin Feng Hotel (plus bunches of stuff I wish I would have brought/not brought), but I'll have to get to that later. As for now, we are hopelessly in love with Grace. She's just so sweet and so beautiful. Everytime we meet with officials for this process, they comment on Grace's beauty. Evelyn, our guide, goes into a long explanation of how Grace is from Tonguu, at which point the officials shake their heads in agreement. Evelyn told us that the prettiest girls come grom Tonguu, and she told us that Grace has many of the features, especially her eyes, that the Chinese people consider beautiful. I knew Chinese people were smart.

On a final note, we miss Grant so very much, and we are so thankful to his grandparents (both sets) for making this time an easy (and FUN!) one for him. While we are enjoying China and don't want to wish away our time here in Grace's homeland, we can't wait to see Grant and be a family of four!