We are now three

Kiyomi has officially entered our lives, and we are now a family of three. Although, I don't think Kiyomi is at all certain about this new arrangement yet (and rightly so!)

When you're preparing for this little adventure, you read and listen to peoples' accounts of the day that they got their daughters. You think you know what to expect, but nothing can prepare you for the actual experience. The range of emotions is indescribable. You are elated to see this precious little face that you've thought about for months, but you're also sad for the trauma the girls are going through, and at a loss of how to comfort her.

We headed down a little before 6. They had set aside a room on the 2nd floor restaurant for us, and we were ushered in by one of the waitresses. As we got closer, we could hear the babies crying, and were a little shocked to walk into a room already full of nannies and little girls. Some families, in fact, already had their babies in hand. There was much chaos and crying, and it wasn't at all clear how the process was supposed to go. When our turn came, Kohji was video taping for another family, and it wasn't until our guide said to me, "oh she's so beautiful" that I even realized that I was looking right at our daughter.

She seemed pretty unsure of what was going on and looked uncertainly around, although she wasn't crying. Almost as soon as they put her in my arms though, she looked up at my face and started to ball. She was pretty much unconsolable for the next 2 hours.





After significant chaos, we managed to head back to the room, but were a little shaken when we got on the elevator with 3 other families and Kiyomi started to wail at the top of her lungs. During very brief respites of wailing, we managed to get her to take about a 3rd of a bottle, but she wasn't in the mood to be forced, and she was making sure we fully understood that.

After much floor walking, she finally tired herself out (poor little monkey) and fell asleep in my arms.




A few things we've learned from the orphanage director: She weighs about 17 lbs, has 2 naps a day, and 4 meals a day, is fairly outgoing and likes to sleep on her back or side. Things we've found out for ourselves:.. She seems pretty stong - she can push herself over from her stomach to her back, and when really aggravated, she does a yoga bridge pose. She likes new scenes, and can be distracted by taking her to a room she hasn't seen before (unfortunately, not too easy when you're in a hotel room). She makes little snorfling sounds when she's trying to decide whether to wail. She makes little sucking sounds as she's falling asleep and has tiny little snore while sleeping. Oh ya, and that she's this cute when she's sleeping:



A dinner of instant noodles awaits me, so gotta go. More tomorrow.