Tonight there is one less...

We received Jillian this afternoon. Of our group of four families, she was the first to be brought out. The two nannies who accompanied her talked to her a bit and pointed at us a lot. Jillian's just shook her head no...and her little eyes welled up (but not a tear was shed!). Once we moved to a couch area to sit down, I had Lia sit beside her. We just spoke quietly to her and rubbed her back and arm a little bit from time to time. I could not have been more proud of Lia. She definitely made Jillian feel more comfortable. Slowly we introduced some toys...and before I knew it, Jillian was high five-ing and laughing out loud at our silly antics with goldfish crackers. She is quite adept with her short arm and in no time, was navigating a snack trap cup to get some goldfish herself...to eat, to feed to Lia...and eventually to me.

Her favorite toy was the play cell phone we brought...and she loved pushing the buttons and looking for Jim...who would then open HIS phone and "answer". The nannies said over and over how smart Jillian is...and used the word "easy-going" at least three times. So far we can agree!

When it was time to leave, Lia took Jillian's hand and walked her to the elevator. I had to pick her up to get her in the elevator...and she fussed for a moment...but got over it soon...and rode home on the bus on my lap.

Back here, at the hotel, we just let her play. She has a bit of a runny nose...and when I brought a tissue, she very sweetly blew her nose! Then...every time her nose would run, she started pointing to the tissue box for me to get busy. I stole a little kiss each time I did her nose. :-)

Jim and Lia elicited belly laughs by pretending to fall on the bed. We have it on tape...will post soon.

She was wearing a diaper when we met her, but her nanny said they put it on her only because the ride/day was long. When I took off her diaper, she was still dry...and she proceeded to use the potty. She let me know she had to go later as well.

She is smaller than I anticipated. We may be doing some fast shopping for a few outfits and shoes. What I brought for Lia in 2006 was a bit too small. It seems I am not a great extrapolator of size estimates. :-)

She speaks more Cantonese dialect than Mandarin. We throught this might be the case...but so far language does not seem to be throwing her and she has already repeated "all done".

Jillian brushed her teeth after watching Lia do it...but not sure she was overly fond of the flavor. She already seems to understand, at least in part, our English instructions.

I know this post is jumbled...just wanted to get down my thoughts and get some quick, unedited (how that pains me!) photos up. Right now, both girls are sleeping on Lia's bed. Jillian let me snuggle her a bit...but then pointed plainly to Lia laying on her bed. I laid down on her other side...and in no time, we were all sleeping. I got up eventually...but I am letting sleeping dogs lie with the girls. We will try a bath with Jillian tomorrow. I remember how traumatized Lia seemed by her first bath, the first night we had her...and while I really wanted to get Jillian in the tub...her security trumps that. For tonight at least. Other than the training pants I put on her, she sleeps in the clothes she came in. :-)

All in all...not a bad first day. :-) We are blessed beyond reason.

And now...onto the good stuff...