June 5, 2012
Matthew is officially our boy today. In a very uneventful ceremony in a very nondescript office (think DMV!), we gave an oath, turned in our paperwork, and got a hearty “congratulations” from the consulate general staff. Matthew wore his blue and yellow Chinese outfit to celebrate, which we realized later matched a little panda bear given to us by the Garden Hotel in our baby welcome basket. I know it’s a little cheesy, but we took some photos with Matthew and the bear in matching outfits (gag—I know). We are allowed a little goofy parent enthusiasm, though, as this process is clearly coming to a close.
I feel the need to clarify some of my posts—I hope they don’t sound like we are whining. We’ve been incredibly blessed to be here in China, meeting Matthew and getting to know his culture—but we’re mostly just weary, tired travelers, ready for home and ready to be with Maya and Sam again.
If you haven’t taken an adoption placement trip, I can’t exactly explain how it feels—to be in a strange culture with a strange child, living in a hotel, eating at restaurants, not being able to talk with most of the people who are around. Navigating all the stares, trying to simultaneously ignore people and please them—it’s just a strange experience, one that required a little venting (to all of you) on my part to survive. So thanks for being a listening ear, and for all of your emails filled with encouragement too.
And some of you DO truly understand this experience, if you have been in some other country adopting a child (Meegan, Kristy/Brett, Laura/Dale, Kari, Lynette, Christi and others). It’s a crazy journey, but it’s also something amazing—SO different from giving birth to a baby in a birth center bed or in a tub (like I did with Maya and Sam) but equally challenging, taxing, joyous, and incredible.
And despite the daily annoyances, the frustrations, and the weariness that we wear now, we are also continually joyful for this experience, for these days together, and mostly for this BOY (who is officially ours now!). We ARE soaking up every last minute here in China. And we are grateful for the somewhat unceremonious moment today that made Matthew part of our family forever. Now he sleeps (he’s really tired out today) and we are resting, gearing up for some sightseeing later today and then some dinner out. Two days from right now, we’ll be about to board the plane for our journey home. Man, will that feel good!
In the lobby of the consulate after the oath ceremony
Although I know I’m not the most patriotic person in the world, it was wonderful to see the U.S. flag today!
Our boy was tired from all the activity
The cute Chinese outfit
And here’s the matching bear. Laugh at me all you want—I think it’s adorable!
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