Gotcha Day - In Nanchang

Here it is. The blog you have all been waiting for…. Sophie’s Gotcha Day!!!! Our day started with a quick ride to the Beijing airport. We got there with an hour and a half to spare before the flight. Things were definitely in our favor for a smooth day, or so we thought. Note the first two pictures: our destination was Nanchang, the capital of Jianxi province. Jainxi is not on the coast and the Nanchang airport should not have a big sign on it that says, “Fuzhou”. Our flight was re-routed due to bad weather. Fortunately, this only puts us off-schedule for about 2 hours and we arrived in Nanchang with a whopping 20 minutes to ready ourselves to go and get the babies. I quickly showered, Ileana got her shit together (about as much as new parents can in 20 minutes) and we headed down to the lobby to gather to go and get the babies.

Nanchang is interesting. It is located on the largest river in China. It is very industrial and many of the buildings look like construction started several years ago and were halted last year. Concrete structure with rusting rebar is the norm. We are staying in a nice hotel (The Gloria) by the river (unfortunately we have the view to the alley as opposed to the river and tower on the other side. They even set up a bed for Sophie.

Gotcha day is chaotic. Our total group consisted of the seven or so families that were in Beijing and an additional group of families already here to form a group of about 16 families. We were all loaded on this big bus and brought to the local civil affairs building to receive the babies. We walked through room that had all of the girls in them to a waiting room beyond. We couldn’t find Sophie in the crowd but weren’t to concerned given the chaos. Then they start calling names and the parents come up and receive the girls.

We were incredibly lucky. Sophie cried a little but once we gave her the little book that Ileana’s friend Lisa got her (good buy Lisa!!!), she was content. She was one of very few that was not crying. We then quickly got back on the bus and came back to the hotel. Ileana then “inspected” Sophie for any strange growths, extra limbs, etc. I am happy to say, she is intact and seem healthy, except for a little cold and some rash marks (we can’t figure out what they are but will save worrying about it until we get back to the states).

Ileana quickly bathed her and then threw her into my arms and ran downstairs to fill out paperwork. I quickly began to write and e-mail to the family telling them that we had her and before I could even log on, she had fallen fast asleep (see picture of Sophie and her sexy shirtless daddy!). Within a half hour, Ileana came back to the room to tell me there was a change in plan and we all had to go down to do paperwork. So, a sleeping Sophie and I came down and we finished the signing and fingerprinting.

We came back tot the room and Ileana got some instructions on mixing formula from our guide from Harrah’s, Betty, and Sophie was then wide awake and feeding. I took some time to run down to the grocery store. If you have been following my blogs, you would note that I think that everything in China is eventful… …even a trip to the store. I walked up the street and saw this huge building with two girls in sequined dresses up on boxes dancing in front of a crowd of about 200 people in front of the store. Inside the store, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was blaring and the store was crowded with shoppers – on a Monday at 9:00 pm. I just don’t get it. I spent about 8 bucks and came home with 8 bottled waters, a four pack of Dannon yogurt, 2 - 40 oz. bottles of Nanchang’s finest Nanchang Beer (which I am enjoying while I write this), 2 bags of dove chocolates, and 2 bottles of Pepsi (since meeting Eric Tolman, we try to stay clear of Coke products), and 2 cans of Guinness (which Ileana and I might enjoy later, when food arrives).

Sophie has been laughing up a storm. She is settling in very well. Now, if we can only get her to sleep. Oh, good, she has just crashed out. We are now going to order room service and get at those Guinnesses

-Chris