Our Adoption Journal: Journey to Jemma: Day 8

Friday morning, we got up and worked on packing. Jemma tried on Mama's shoes (oh my heart!).

Daddy locked the safe and we went down for our final breakfast at the buffet at our hotel in Nanjing.

French toast for Jemi

Then Starbucks for coffee

After packing, we went into the old Nanjing shops by the Confucius Temple so Phil could find a cheap knock-off of the brocade. After nearly 45 minutes, we found one (as well as a really pretty purse for $6). The young woman at the shop spoke English and loved it that her baby and ours were the same age and doing similar things. Jemma pooped in her diaper while we were talking and it must have wafted up the woman's nose because she said, "She poo-pooed?" I said yes, and she offered to let us use her mat and diapers. SO sweet. I told her we were heading back to our hotel anyway and would change her there. She said thank you for adopting our baby because now she could have a happy life with a family.

We came back and waited for Nancy to arrive with Jemma's passport and all of her paperwork. Finally about 12:30pm, our guide came with Jemma's passport! YEAH!!! The bellboy came for our luggage and we grabbed some KFC and coffee ice-cream from Haagen-daas for the car ride. Phil tipped the bellboy and I gave Nancy and the driver their gifts.

Our guide helped us get checked in and check our baggage. The weight requirements were 20kg for our bags and 10kg for Jemma's and when they were weighed, they were 19.9, 19.8 and 9.9. We chuckled with the Lord over those numbers - only God. :)

(Ok - so I have this mug from my sister that says, "I'm the crazy aunt they warned you about" and this picture kind of actually does make me look like the crazy aunt!!! LOL)

Phil and Jemma's first date - they went to the shop in the airport and bought an orange fanta for Phil.

Not much to do in an airport so I let Jemma play with the iPad - which speaking of, she used the keycard for our room as her personal iPhone. She'd hold it up to her ear and say "Way?" which is how Chinese answer their phones. And then she would tap it or swipe it - HILARIOUS!!!! So, swiping and tapping the iPad came very natural for her. Also, since I'm thinking about it, Jemma also has started babbling and it's so cute. She mimics so much of what we do!

When we got on the airplane, Jemma hopped right into the open seat next to us and peaked out the window. She is such a curious little girl! And she LOVES being a big girl and doing just what we do (especially just what Daddy does)!

We were timing the bottle feeding for take-off and ascent so Jemma's ears wouldn't cause her pain. And can I just say - it was PERFECTION! I put a slow-flow nipple in the nurser bottle so she couldn't polish it off quickly. She was asleep but still sucking at take-off and then we would wiggle the bottle around to get her to keep sucking through the ascension. She stayed SOUND asleep until we got to the gate in GZ!!!

No, this photo is not disproportionate - she is a total peanut!

In Guangzhou, safe, sound, smooth, on-time... FEELS SOOO GOOD!!!!

I cannot even tell you how good it feels to be in GZ. The first week was so stressful. The only thing I think I could relate it to is when you're giving birth and instead of having a really sweet nurse who loves her job and is excited that you're having a baby, you get the nurse who does the bare minimum and acts surprised or annoyed when you ask a question or need help. Getting to GZ, I felt like it was a shift change and I could breath again. Not to mention, Jemma's adopted now and other than the Consulate appointment, we are basically on vacation for a week. :)

Something about getting to GZ gave Jemma new understanding, too. We landed and claimed our baggage and met up with Grace our new guide. We got in the van and Jemma was sitting in Phil's lap. All of a sudden, it was like I could sense she was realizing something was different. I had explained to Grace that Jemma bonded with Phil right away because she knew he wasn't a nanny, but for me, I'm just like a nanny to her so she doesn't understand that I'm her mom. Grace, in the sweetest, gentlest, kindest voice, started talking to Jemma. I can't really describe adequately what happened. Jemma became instantly still and a look came over her face that Phil and I both witnessed. She didn't move but watched Grace as she spoke. Jemma was so quiet and still. Something was happening inside of her. A little while later, Grace spoke to Jemma again and this time the same thing happened. Grace said she told Jemma it was okay to go to sleep because she was yawning, but I know Grace said something about Mama and Baba.

Ever since that van ride, Jemma is different.

This is our room at the Garden - it smells like a garden! Have I mentioned I love it here? It is the finest hotel I could ever imagine!