Megan looking so sad in our room.

At the Civil Affairs building.

That's not the look I was hoping for!

Mom breaking the ice!

With Mrs. Liu where she was safe.

All of us meeting and talking with Amanda.

 It is now 9:00pm and we just put Megan down to bed. This has been a wonderful, wonderful day. We met down in the lobby and got into a small van for the ride to the Civil Affairs Building to meet our children. We had no idea of course where we were going, but at one point we rounded the corner and Leslie saw Amanda, then Megan! Wow. The were all getting out of their vehicle and Megan was running around and making noises with Mrs. Liu, just as happy as could be.

  We pulled up and got out of the car and it was like she knew something was up. She went straight to Mrs. Liu and slung to her leg. We were told that Megan was a leg hugger, and you could tell that was the place where she felt safe. The Civil Affairs building had not opened yet, so our first meeting was on little sidewalk area in front of the building. It was great to finally meet Amanda and Mrs. Liu, the ones who have cared for Megan for more than a year.

 We had no idea what to expect. This was completely different from when we adopted Carly. Megan is 19 months old, Carly was 12 months. Megan is coming from a foster home where she was able to have almost one-on-one care. Carly from the orphanage where there were many more children and attention was stretched thin. We remember the progress that Carly made in 7 months when we brought her home. How she grew into a little person, coming into her personality, becoming more and more independent, and at the same time dependant on our care and love. Megan was going to have developed all of this, and then be taken from it.. by us. I know that I have said this little story before, but it became reality today. This was one of our biggest fears... not just being able to do it, but "would she like us?".

 We started trying to warm up to Megan there on the sidewalk. My first attempt was to play hide and seek around Mrs. Liu. Yes! That got a little smile and I knew I was in like Flint. Leslie resorted to the all powerful food approach. Goldfish! How could I compete with that! Sorry have to say it, she was eating out of the palm of Leslie's hand in no time. Ahh, but that wouldn't remove her from Mrs. Liu's leg. 

 Finally, the Civil Affairs building opened and we were able to move from the 80 degree sidewalk into the 90 degree building. It was still tough going in there. Megan wouldn't leave the leg. So I resorted to the Goldfish, but then pulled out the Applejacks. I felt like maybe a little progress was being made. I was able to get Megan to chase me to get at the Goldfish. That was fun.. but there was still no way that she was going to let anyone but Mrs. Liu pick her up and hold her. In the mean time, Leslie was getting briefed by Amanda. Amanda and her home overwhelmed us with information on Megan's first year. Stuff we would have never imagined we would have. Amanda and the caregivers are meticulous record keepers. While Leslie was busy with that, I was still working on breaking the ice. It didn't happen. Leslie seemed to be making more progress on less time this evening. Must be the motherly woman connection. 

 After a while, another car pulled up to the building. It was Luke, the Pellmann's son. So there went my dedicated photographers! That is their story. But I will say that they have a very cute little boy... one that is going to give Mari a run for her money!  This guy is just one solid little boy. Later in the evening while we had our pizza party, Jack Lalane was the phrase to describe him.  I'll let Vicki tell her story. 

It was time to leave the Civil Affairs building and go get our family photo for the Certificate of Adoption.  We would have to drive there so Amanda and Leslie were trying to decide if they should go along so the photo could be taken.  Since Ken had been the one trying to warm up Megan, he tried to pick her up and there was a huge crying fit.   Needless to say, we needed Amanda and Mrs. Liu to come along and try to keep Megan calm for the picture.   It was our time for the photo so Ken and I sat down and they placed Megan on our lap.  All hell broke loose with tears and a struggle but they finally got a photo.    Megan wouldn't let go of Mrs. Liu but it was time for the separation so Mrs. Liu disappeared and we tried to console Megan.   Amanda, Ken and I decided it would be best if Mrs. Liu could sneak out and we could start the heartbreaking separation.  There were a couple of times the tears were so strong I thought Ken would be wearing something!  What a trooper she didn't throw up!   She cried steadily for almost the whole 30 minute ride back to the hotel.   She was staring to get really tired and I think wore herself out.

Ken  carried her to the room and sat her on the bed.   We got out the various toys we had brought for her and she played with those until the time she fell asleep shortly before 9 p.m.   She's amazing, when we went to change her diaper she laid down and let us do our thing.   The Pellmanns came down and we had Pizza Hut.  I ordered dumplings for Megan but she didn't want to eat.  Finally we persuaded her to eat something off our pizza.   Megan shared/handed some of her toys to Lukas.  After awhile and my second attempt of trying to pick her up, I got her to stand by the bed.  She hung on my leg which made me feel wonderful!!  When the Pellmanns left we said bye bye and she waved and blew kisses. 

She was getting  tired so I walked over to the suitcase to get her PJs and she came following after me.  When I started taking her pants off, she raised her feet one by one so the pants could come off.  She also helped pull her shirt over her head.  Another smart and independent (I can do it) daughter!  I picked her up to put her in bed and she just let me hold her - no tears.  In no time at all, she was asleep like a sleeping beauty.      

Ken & Leslie.