To have and to hold

It occurred to me the other day watching some program that not unlike wedding vows we say to this child - 'to have and to hold until death do us part' is as real a promise in adoption as it is in marriage.  Maybe more so. 

We met our interpreter Connie around 2 pm in the lobby and moved to the waiting bus. Not long into our journey to the Civil Affairs office, familiar places were seen.

It was hard to believe it was 2 years 8 months before we had made that same trip for much has happened in our lives since that March day in 2008. Never then did we ever dream we would be making that very same trip again.

Arriving at the Civil Affairs office we were nearly run over by a van backing out. The watchword is vigilance! As there were several families waiting to go up the elevator we had to wait a bit.

Several agencies were there with their parties and our agency having four families getting children we were put into a room by ourselves off the main room. We were in the signing room. Our guide gaves us the order of how things would go and presently after giving us our TA the process was ready to begin.

Just prior though we saw baby after baby delivered to waiting families. A couple from Georgia we had met that morning at currency exchange, getting their first child – sweet to see.

Our group receiving children from Guangzhou SWI, Longgang SWI and the others I can not remember.

A family receiving an older girl, 13; a family receiving a girl, hearing impaired, a family receiving a 7 yo girl with limb issues and us receiving Heng Xin, 9.

Then it was our turn, we were the first family called and it was the take your breath away moment that she was about to appear.  Then suddenly there she was and pictures just didn't show how tiny she is.

We sorta knew she was shorter than her brother, who she is 13 months older than. The fears we had because of his behavior issues were not present and we were thankful. They seemed to hit it off very well.  Our son, the little gentleman.

Siblings.

Tian being silly.

New best friends.

Baba in a daze again.

Do I look happy?

Taking a picture.

Ladykiller.  

Yu-Hsuan with his friend Megan Groat.

Miss Tian.

Our family of 5!

Close up of our family of five!