GOTCHA 1 Year Anniversary!!!

*** PLEASE KEEP STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN'S FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS AS THEIR TEENAGE SON ACCIDENTALLY BACKED OVER AND KILLED THEIR 5 YEAR OLD ADOPTED DAUGHTER FROM CHINA- MARIA. MY HEART IS JUST BREAKING FOR THIS FAMILY. SO MANY ENTER ADOPTION BECAUSE OF THE WORK STEVEN AND HIS WIFE DO IN THE ADOPTION COMMUNITY. PLEASE LIFT THIS FAMILY UP IN PRAYER AND I KNOW THEIR LITTLE MARIA IS IN HEAVEN BEING HELD IN JESUS' ARMS.

One year ago today our lives were changed forever. One year ago today we held our baby girl for the first time. One year ago today our family was complete.

And my baby girl now-(18 months old)!!

I remember the day so clearly. I was a bit annoyed as we were scheduled to receive Mia at 3pm while every other family I had met at our hotel met their babies in the morning. All morning long we saw beautiful babies who had just met their forever families. It was beautiful yet we were longing to meet Mia.

The nerves were going strong all morning long. We were able to visit a local elementary school and that distracted us for a while but as the time went on the butterflies in my stomach became stronger and stronger. Finally it was our turn and we packed up the HUGE diaper bag and headed to the Changsha Hunan Civil Affairs Office where we were to meet our daughter.

We got to the civil Affairs Office a bit early and entered the elevator heading to the third floor. I kept looking around to see where the other families were but I saw no one. As the elevator rose I became more and more overcome with nervous excitement. What would she look like? Would she be scared of us? Would she cry? As I searched for the camcorder to give to our guide I was reeling with questions.

The bell rang for the 3rd floor and the doors opened. Again, I did not see any other families but I did see a Chinese lady at the end of the hall squatting on the floor holding the hands of a standing baby girl. I looked in shock as we walked closer to her and as we drew closer, I realized that was Mia!! That was our Mia standing with a nanny at the end of the hall—just as real as could be. I asked out guide if that was indeed Mia and she asked the lady and sure enough that was our baby girl! We asked if we could go up to her and our guide informed us that we could look at her but we could not touch or take her until the official person was there to oversee the “handover.” Come to find out, we were the only family scheduled for the afternoon and the official that oversees the “handover” had already left for the day. As our guide scrambled to contact the official and get them back to oversee our handover, we were able to take in the beauty of our daughter. For a rare and precious 2o minutes we were able to look at Mia and allow her to look at us. She was able to look at our funny faces and hear my funny voice. She was able to gaze at us and get to know us for a whole 20 minutes before we were ever able to hold her. That time was a rare and precious gift I will never forget. Those 20 minutes set the tone for the rest of our “GOTCHA” experience and those minutes were priceless.

After 20 minutes the official lady arrived and hurried us into the GOTCHA room. At 3:24pm Ba Jun Fei was placed in Kevin’s arms and officially became Mia JunFei Bock!!

Mia went to Kevin so easily and actually gave him a smile right away. She loved his facial hair and just stared in wide eyed wonderment at her new daddy. She did not fuss, she did not cry. She just stared intently at her dad. A few minutes later I was able to hold my daughter for the first time. It was a dream come true to finally hold this little person in my arms and smell her hair and feel her skin and know that she was ours—forever!! Mia came to me easily and did not fuss. Again, she stared at me with wide eyed wonderment as if she recognized me somehow. It was magical!!

As paperwork was completed we were able to get to know our daughter. She was perfect in every way and was obviously meant to be a part of our family. She never cried or even fussed. She was just perfect!!!

We said goodbye to the staff and we headed to our van. I remember thinking how odd I felt just placing Mia on my lap and not buckling her in a car seat. I remember Mia staring at me and then Kevin and then me and then Kevin—back and forth the whole ride home. We stopped by a store to buy some baby items and then back to our hotel. As I carried Mia in our ERGO people stared and commented on how beautiful she was and how young she was. I was such a proud mommy!!! I just took in every compliment agreeing whole heartedly with them all. We were hooked—completely and totally smitten and in love with this little person—our daughter!!!

We got back to the hotel and unpacked. We played a bit and changed her into her first American outfit. She looked so adorable in her little Naartjie outfit!! Mia was getting sleepy so we went to get dinner in the hotel. She did so well during dinner and just stared at us. She did not do a lot of smiling but she was watching our every move. The compliments and stares were plentiful. “She is so young and small” we received from other adoptive parents and from Chinese people we received the smile and “very beautiful girl.” Our little girl was quite the center of attention!

After dinner we went back to our room and put our angel to bed. She went down easily and Kevin and I just stared in amazement as our baby girl slept. We were in shock and amazement that we were finally united forever with our baby girl!!


There is a lot of video that follows. Do not feel like you have to watch it all but it is amazing footage of this phenomenal experience.

This is the first time we ever saw our daughter. We were in the hall waiting for the official person who had left for the day. We were the only family there—what an amazing experience!!






Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books


GOTCHA!!!!







Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books


More GOTCHA









Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books


While we waited for paperwork to be completed:









Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Interesting fact, I left my camera battery charging back in the hotel room so we did not have a camera at GOTCHA. I was very upset at first but now I am so thankful. Each and every detail of that day was divinely orchestrated and I believe if I had my camera with me that it would not have been the same. The flash may have scared her or I would have been distracted or who knows. All I know is that day was perfect in every way. The following are pictures we took once we were back to our hotel. Mia was 6 months old when she was placed in our arms. She is now 18 months old!!

Our beautiful girl!!

Daddy was smitten at first glance!!

Precious!!

Meant to be together forever!

Cute Naartjie outfit-- first American outfit!!

PERFECTION!!

Mia loved to lay on her back and play with her feet. She had all these fun games she would play-- it was very cute!!

Limber little thing!!

Eating with a spoon-- we didnt figure it out until a few days later but she was use to being table fed since she came from a foster family so as soon as we presented her with chopsticks in her face, she opened her mouth wide-- too cute!!!

Checking mommy out!

Precious!

Getting ready for bed after a long but wonderful day!!

Night Night Mia!!!

And now a year has gone by and WOW has she grown-- Mia at 18 months!

WE LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!