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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

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!!

26 comments:

  1. Loved reading this! What a wonderful, once in a lifetime day!
    Mia has grown so much, such a beauty!
    Dena

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  2. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
    I love rereading a year ago..
    It seems like yesterday..
    HUGS girly..
    You are an amazing family..
    Happy 1 year Gotcha Day..

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  3. Happy 1 year Gotcha Day! I remember watching your video of the special day. I can't believe it has already been a year. Mia is beautiful! Enjoy your day!

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  4. It's really hard to believe that you guys have had her a year already, isn't it?!?! I remember following you last year just HOPING we would be going soon!!! It has been a wonderful year for you guys and Mia is just adorable!!! God is SO good!! Hope you have a GREAT week!
    Blessings,
    Buffi

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  5. Congratulations! Gotcha Day is indeed awesome!

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  6. From meeting you at the reunion picnic 3 years ago to now being a complete family for one year! Wow! I remember watching the video and crying (still weeping now!)

    We tried to adopt again for 3 years and finally went to China and it's hard to believe we've been home with Caroline for 3 years now.

    What lucky mommies and daddies we are!

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  7. Congratulations on your gotcha day! Your first moments that you got to spend with your precious Mia were great. Thanks for sharing.

    Tanya

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  8. I love it! I remember following your journey as we anxiously waited for our referal at the beginning of June!! Sweet Mia carried us through and I love to see how she has grown.

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  9. What a day you must have had.
    Ali and Tom are STILL waiting and it will probably be another 1-1/2 yrs. Just looking at your blog wipes me out at times. Mia is SOOOO adorable and you are such a great mom by the looks of it. I had tears the whole time watching you guys. Loved it. AR

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  10. I remember watching your video, it was so sweet, wow how time has flown by.

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  11. Congratulations on your year anniversary! I think we need to celebrate at Disneyland!

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  12. Happy Anniversary of Forever Family Day! She was truly meant to be your daughter and what a blessing she has been. She has blossomed into the most darling toddler. It's amazing how a child can grow in your heart and the moment you see her you feel like you've known her forever.
    Julie

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  13. Christy,

    What a beautiful tribute to your
    beautiful BA BABY!!! SHE IS JUST
    BLOSSOMED OVER THE LAST YEAR!!!
    I FEEL VERY PROUD TO HAVE
    FOLLOWED YOUR JOURNEY FROM
    WHEN WE FIRST MET ON RQ. AND
    I WOULD OF NEVER DREAMED THAT
    I WOULD BE RECIEVING A BA BABY
    TO. IT'S FUNNY TO SEE THE CARE
    TAKER, SHE HANDED MIA OVER TO
    YOU, THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER
    SHE HANDED ALLIE TO ME!!! I
    CANT WAIT FOR THE DAY THAT
    OUR FAMILY'S MEET!!!

    HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU ALL!!!

    LOVE, SINDY, KELLY, AND ALLIE

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  14. Happy one year anniversary!!! Thank you for sharing you journey to Mia with us as well as allowing us to meet you in person this year!! We wish we could be there to help you celebrate! Big Mia sends hugs and kisses to little Mia! Miss you!

    Lots of love,

    Lisa, Eddie and Mia

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  15. Oh Christy, congratulations on your one year gotcha day. Mia is so adorable and I loved watching your videos.
    Such sad news about the Chapman's little girl... I can't imagine what they are going through.

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  16. Congratulations! I have tears running down my cheeks! Mia is such a adorable sweet little girl. I can see how she just completes your family! Congrats again!

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  17. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your Gotcha Day moments...Mia was just so sweet. I love her with Kevin, you were so patient to wait your turn to hold her. I think yours is so special because I know I will be standing in that same building to get my Lucy!!!

    Congratulations!!!

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  18. Wonderful post! I love seeing people's gotcha days. Look at you there just holding her and doing the Momma sway!

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  19. Christy,
    How could it be a whole year already??? SHe is as gorgeous today as she was on this special day one year ago!! Happy Gotcha:)

    I can remember checking the computer all day long while you were in China - I loved your updates and the videos made it seem to real, it helped me understand better when Rob went for Hannah.

    Enjoy celebrating, Mia is a true gift from God.

    Love,
    Heather

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  20. Am I the only one annoyed that they wouldn't let you HOLD her until the "officials" got there? Of course, Mia was just relaxin anyways:) maybe it helped her transition, her gotcha - cause it was amazing & quiet!! Of course, she liked Daddy!

    Your love for her was so obvious form the moment that you saw your daughter. I am so glad that God placed Mia in your lives and in your family.

    Happy Gotcha Day!!

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  21. p.s. **I** watched all the video!! It was fabulous :=)

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  22. How on EARTH did you restrain yourself waiting for the officials to arrive. I mean, I know you had to follow the rules and couldn't just grab her, but wow she was right there!

    Beautiful girl

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  23. Happy gotcha anniversary! I enjoyed watching your gotcha day videos again. Mia was the perfect addition to your family! Congratulations!

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  24. OK, you've made me cry! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful memories with us. She is absolutely precious.

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  25. Love reading these gotcha stories...she's a beautiful baby girl and so lucky to have such a loving family like yours.

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