Details

Hey - guess who's napping? That's right, Larry! Oh, wait, Suzannah is asleep, too. Great time to post some details of the day.

We left the hotel at 9:30. First stop, the court, where we picked up the court papers making her ours. Next we tried to find an umbrella stroller in a kids store, but no luck. Lots of lovely fancy ones, but no simple umbrellas. We then had to stop at a grocery store to pick up cakes for the baby home staff, and then we were on our way. Hard to believe it was the last time we would ever make the drive to the baby home.

Once we got there, they took the clothes we'd brought and the caregivers dressed her for the last time. We signed a couple of papers - that we were aware of her medical history, and one other. Mostly we tried to keep from hyperventilating :-) Then they brought her to us in her new little dress & shiny black Mary Janes. Everything fit perfectly. Did she remember us? Hard to tell, but she had no trouble coming to us. She seemed a bit overwhelmed by all the activity, and I'm sure none of it really registered at the time. The staff all said goodbye to her, and we headed for the door - then the kids from her group & her caregivers came to the front hall to say paka (bye-bye). We did think to get a picture of her with her caregiver, and actually that was the only time she started to cry. I think she thought we were leaving her again. But I'm glad we got even that one shot for her to keep. Next thing you know, she was making a beeline for the door.

She loves riding in cars, so it was no problem getting her ready for the ride. We gave her the little stuffed bear big sister Miri sent for her, and some animal crackers, and she was very happy.

We tried a couple of other stores on the way back, still in search of an umbrella stroller, but no luck. However, Suzannah did a great job in the stores - curious, obviously, but not overwhelmed.

Finally, we made it back to the hotel. She spent a minute checking out the lobby, then we came to the room. (Hey, Amy - we're in 314, too!!!) She spent a happy hour wandering the room, opening drawers, lying down on the big bed and grinning. She loved the little Hello Kitty fork we brought, and used it to eat all of her lunch (banana, cheese, even her yogurt!)We tried to make soup using my little electric kettle, but alas, we fried BOTH of our voltage converters. Maybe we can get a cheap one here. It would be very convenient.

The only thing she has refused to do thus far is sit on the toilet. Not surprising - they probably have only potty seats in the baby home. She'll get used to it, and in the meantime, she was happy to put on a Pull Up.

After a while it was nap time. We put her in the crib and told her it was time to sleep. She tried to get out a few times, but Larry and I went and laid down in our bed, so she could see that everyone was napping. She bopped around for a while but never cried - peeked at us, rocked herself back and forth, and finally settled into sleep. She has her thumb in her mouth and looks beyond adorable, all nestled under her blankies.

This afternoon, we'll probably go for a walk to the grocery store, get some more milk, that kind of thing. You know. Family stuff :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSH!!!