We Are Family

Today, our wonderful family of 2 has become a family of 3! Yes! We were up at 0600 (but awake much earlier) and off to Liangping with 3 other families. After a 3 hour drive north, we arrived at the Liangping Social Welfare Institute, Savannah's home since day 1. It takes up the whole 4th floor on a 6 or 7 story building at the end of a muddy street. On arrival, were greeted by 2 nannies and the orphanage director, and went right away to the crib rooms. The crib rooms each held about 8 cribs, stuck together side by side. The rooms themselves are about 10 x 8 feet, with 4 cribs lined up on each side. No Savannah in the first room, but the other families found their little ones there. In the second room, there were 2 babies sitting there. We recognized Savannah, and also saw a photo very similar to that of her finding ad stuck to the wall above her crib. The nanny handed her over to us. What a moment! She didn't cry, and before long, Rick had her babbling, and she even smiled a little once.

The orphanage director treated us to an amazing lunch, including some spicy foods (we are in Sichuan, after all!). All was delicious. It was served Chinese style, with 11 different dishes placed onto a large lazy Susan in the middle of the table. Mmmm!

Savannah was very good on the bus trip back. Had a little nap, and drank her formula with no problemos. She did cry when we got back to the hotel, but who can blame her? I think she'll miss her homies for quite a while. What a day for her!

The scenery from Chongqing to Liangping is amazing: subtropical, lush, with houses of brick here and there, anywhere you could possibly imagine (hilltops, valleys), surrounded by rolling hills and green mountains. We saw many people working the soil and tending to their plantings which carpet hillsides that in Canada would be considered non-arable land because of their pitch. Not so in China!

We're tired, but very happy, and her grandmaman and grandpapa Chartrand are thrilled.

Again, thanks to all who helped make our wait easier!