More pictures...of our day

Before you start reading, we have posted 2 other posts before this one......just wanted to let you know....... ; )

Ni Hao from Kumning, Yunnan...Crystina's birth province. Well today started bright and early, we were up at 4:00am to 4:15am, we went downstairs to the lobby to meet the other 3 families at about 5:40am or so. The other 13 families had to leave the hotel by 5:30am. Our flight left at about 8:15am and we landed in Kunming at 11:45am or so...we went straight to the hotel and had to wait until 2:30pm to go down and meet our guide......so we checked our e-mail, read comments, ordered lunch, got everything that we needed and checked it twice, three times. And then we headed down at about 2:15pm, our guide, Lily, was already there waiting for us. We took a taxi to the Civil Affairs (I'll talk about the driving later on in this post...after the pictures). We arrived there within 20-30 minutes and started doing paperwork, Crystina wasn't there yet, she arrived 5-7 minutes after we started the paperwork. Of course, as soon as I laid eyes on her, I was crying, not hysterical like most of you probably think, I was SO calm about everything, I didn't want to scare her... Edgar got very nervous when he saw his girl for the first time, he even got teary-eyed. The lady from the orphanage sat right next to us, but we can't just go up to her and take our child...no, we have to wait until they say it's time. So, our guide had us do more paperwork (can you imagine, nervous hands signing VERY important documents????) and then, all of a sudden, she's like "Okay" and we were like "Okay, what?" Okay meant, you can get your child...so we made sure our guide recorded "The moment" and Edgar took pictures, VERY emotional for us both!

Crystina came to me (Barbara) with no problem, she didn't smile at first, she was very serious. And then I tried my hardest for her to go with Edgar...and no, she didn't want to. Edgar was so great about it, it's good that we don't force her on each other. We were warned that the child would prefer one parent over the other for some time, hopefully it won't be for a long time. But when I had to sign (my life) documents, he was able to hold her, she was VERY serious. When I got her back in my arms, I started to play with her and that's when I got the smiles....then with my camera I would take a picture of her and show her...she was loving that, more smiles then. I really don't remember what I was doing with her but I had her giggling...that was the BEST!

Well, here are some little facts about her that we have noticed....she definitely has the Miranda forehead (after her Tio Nathan) and the Figueroa gap, not as big as her grandpa Carlos & cousin (Alvani) but she has one. She sweats when she sleeps like her cousins (Angelica & Ayden), and, it seems like, she is willing to taste anything, like her cousin (Joshua). So, needless to say, she is definitely OUR daughter!

She is SO cute and adorable and we can't wait to take her home!! These 9 days are going to be SO long! We thank GOD for blessing us with this beautiful daughter! NOW we know why we had to wait so long........but that wait time as disappeared!

Enjoy the pictures...lots of them.

At the airport with our Beijing guide, Sherry...she was GREAT and so funny!

Our view from the plane, on our way to Kunming...it was stunning!! It's amazing at all the beauty that GOD has created! You all were with me in spirit looking at this awesome part of the world.
On our way to Kunming...do we look tired or what?
Our hotel room...yep, one bed this time.
The moment she was placed in my arms!
Yep, that's me crying....but I kept my cool. ; )
Do we look alike or what????
Signing some documents...

Signing more documents...
One of the first smiles!
Barbara's thumb print...
Edgar's thumb print...
Crystina's foot print...

what big feet...just kidding!! She's got little feet.
Daddy finally holding his baby girl!
She's not too happy.
Daddy beaming with joy!
So serious...

Feel asleep on the ride back to the hotel.
So peaceful...she had a rough day!
Daddy kissing her "goodbye"...he went to the store to buy her some things........and the shopping has begun!!! ; )
Eating Cheerios! She LOVES them!
She's pointing at the camera, because she knows it's her picture.

at the computer...
First feeding...
Yummy...she's really enjoying it!
Like father...like daughter!

Hope you enjoyed all these pictures! I definitely have TONS more but I can't post them all.

Well, for the next few days, we have lots of free-time...maybe need to do some paperwork here and there but I think we did most of it today. So, we'll be enjoying our time with our new daughter! Thank you for ALL the prayers, but please keep them coming! We still have LOTS of bonding to do and a very long flight home.

Oh, the driving....where do I start?? I thought Puerto Rico driving was crazy, China beat them by a long shot. They drive cars, buses, scooters, bikes, all on the street together and then people are walking everywhere...it's SO scary, I just don't look. The bigger the vehicle, the more right of way you have. To us, there have been many "close" calls. So scary!!!

Please, don't forget to comment...every single one for the past few days, have made me CRY! And I know the best is yet to come. (no pressure!) ; )

Miss everyone dearly! We send our love, all the way from China to everyone! God Bless!!

Signing off for the first time as a family of 3.......Edgar, Barbara & Crystina! That felt GREAT!! : )