Day 6 (3/6) First day with Suzie

Suzie Mei is officially our daughter! After an emotionally exhausting “gotcha day” yesterday, today we registered the adoption and it is official!

Suzie is such a sweetheart and she loves getting laughs. She really hams it up when she’s comfortable, but is very quiet when scared or uneasy. Today we spent a lot of time at appointments. We mostly just waited around until the time to sign some papers and get our picture taken. We were with the other 3 families adopting from the Shanghai Children’s Home this week, so we got to meet each other’s kiddos while we waited. We had to drive around to different places and poor Suzie got car sick and threw up...several times. So much for fattening her up on day 1! Thankfully it was after the family photo!

We are seeing much more of Suzie’s personality. She’s been singing and chattering a lot more for us. She’s very ticklish and has the cutest giggle! She’s very particular and does not like messes at all. She’s great at helping pick up her toys and sharing food with Addie & Mason. As we thought, she is tiny. Haven’t weighed her yet but she is probably close to 25lbs and wears a 3T size clothing for length but it’s all baggy on her, at least in the legs. Her legs have no muscle tone at all but she has great movement and can do leg lifts like none other. With her abs of steel, she can practically lift her bum off the table for me while both feet are in the air when I change her diaper. She’s also super flexible- this is common in OI, and sometimes it looks like her feet or hands are turned all the way around! She still drinks formula (this is actually good as she gets more nutrients) and uses a bottle which we hope to find at a store today. I only brought cups with lids and straws.

She seems more like a 2 year old than a 4.5 yr old, yet at times her age shows. Yesterday as we left her room at the orphanage, she was terrified and fought us. She cried and was very aware of what was happening. Not understanding it like an older child but certainly not oblivious like a younger child. She’s in the in-between where she doesn’t know what is happening but knows her world is changing and she just left the only home she has ever known.

Last night she was playing and laughing with us and fell asleep next to me peaceful and content, but she awoke this morning scared and whimpering, not remembering where she was. She had a great morning, but when we got out the stroller to leave, she got scared again. We don’t know if she thinks it will take her back or if she just knows the fear she felt while in it at her orphanage. While she was laying down for her nap today she started to cry again. It’s not a hungry, angry or sleepy cry, it’s a whimper of mourning and sorrow. She’s grieving. She has lost so much since yesterday and she knows it. It’s painfully hard to watch. I rocked her until she fell asleep and pray that she’s able to process this loss. 😢 So many emotions!

She played fetch with Mason all morning and she laughed every time. Also, she’s got two great arms- she throws with both.

I’m pretty sure she knows that sunglasses = cool.

First bath. She was scared and clung to the sides the whole time.

Kassie forgot to mention we treated ourselves to some KFC and it was good.

 They wrap everything individually, but nonetheless we did have a lot.

View from our hotel room- the city stretches as far as the eye can see.