Playing, hugging, kissing, and sleeping!!! Our first night!!!

Ni Hao from Guangzhou!!!! (First, thank you for all the wonderful and kind messages you posted, we continue to feel your love and support even though we are on the opposite side of the world.)  Whew…we had a pretty good first night. We played, hugged, kissed, and we even got a few giggles and hums out of her. She really enjoys mimic type games. She really got into a peek-a-boo game with David (The peek-a-boo game is also called the Catch the Hidden Mystery game. Before we left we asked a wonderful co-worker of David's to translate a few questions that we could ask the Nannies about Ella when we met them.) and she also likes the "Uh-Oh Game!" with me. She started repeating what I would say when she heard me say "Uh-Oh!!!" when something would fall and I would say "Uh-Oh!!"  She is just the smartest girl ever. After we played for a bit we realized we needed to feed her. We ordered room service (Oh, I forgot to mention that we are staying at The White Swan hotel and it is beautiful…those following that have been here, understand what I am talking about, those that have not, that is for a separate post!!!).  She ate a lovely meal of fried rice, watermelon, cantaloupe, and oranges, and washed it all down with an apple juice/water combo mix (We tried both the bottle and a sippy cup. She is still trying to figure those out, but really likes the fact that David or I are happy to hold her and the bottle/cup for her.) Once our tummies David had another play session with Ella (I had about an hour of Ella time all to myself when we first arrived at the hotel, since one parent needed to complete some paperwork with the adoption facilitator here.) while I tried to unpack and get things ready for today (Official Appointment and Family Photo Day). Finally, around 8:00p.m. we decided we were all exhausted so we gave Ella a sponge bath and put her in her jammies, then all of us snuggled into one of the small (just bigger than a twin size) beds in the room. Yes, all three of us arranged in crazy positions…we just didn't want to leave her side for one moment. It didn't take her very long to calm down, she played quietly with her stuffed giraffe for about a ½ hour and then fell asleep and has been asleep and snoring ever since (it is now going on 3:30a.m.). She is just the most adorable thing ever (Don't all parents say that about their children though?) We love her to pieces and would do anything in the world for her!!!  It is amazing how all the wrongs of world can be made right by the smile and love of a child…your child. ~dee, David, and Ella