Our First Day with Maylie Grace!

What a wonderful first day we had with our little Maylie! One of our biggest concerns before we traveled was how she would adapt to a new family. It was heavy on our hearts to pray that her heart would be prepared for us. We didn't even know if she knew what a family was, or a mommy and daddy or sisters. We sent a photo album a few weeks ago through Lady Bugs and Love and prayed and hoped that her nannies would explain everything to her. How God answered our prayers!

Right now there are three other America World families in our group who are adopting from Guangdong. Also there was a family who I met through Lady Bugs. We found out that we were both adopting four year old from the same orphanage and on the same day! Their sweet girl's name is Jenna Kaiyu. (See their blog link on the side.) Our appointment at the Civil Affairs office was at 2:30. There were about 15 other families there adopting. Maylie and Jenna and their nanny were a little late. When the children first arrive with their nannies they go first to another room for a brief exam before they are brought out to meet their parents. So we saw Maylie and Jenna walk into the room and then into the exam room! They were so adorable! They kept peeking out behind the curtain at spying at us! Then they brought Jenna out. She walked right up to her parents and said "Mama, Baba!" Maylie was led out right after that but our guide was not there at the moment and so Maylie's nanny couldn't hand her over to us yet. I was dying! I just wanted to scoop her up!! She was smiling and looking at us with bright eyes and wonder. I could tell that she recognized me and seemed to be wondering why I didn't go to her right away. A few seconds later our guide, Amy, was back and we quickly had her in our arms! She was all smiles and very verbal! She kept calling me "MaMa!" and Steve "BaBa!", She lit up when she saw her sisters and said "Jie Jie!". We sat down with her a while and showed her some toys and looked at the family album we brought. She would repeat everything we said! And she loves her friend Jenna! We gave her some fruit snacks and she shared them right away with Jenna on her own accord! The nanny told our guide that on the two hour ride to the Civil Affairs office Maylie and Jenna talked about how they were getting families! Maylie said she was getting a mama and a baba and three jie jies! And Jenna told Maylie that she was getting a mama and a baba and grandparents. Isn't that just so sweet! We are so thankful that God answered our prayers!

Although Maylie's first four years of life were not ideal the Lord made sure that she was taken care of. I can tell she was loved and disciplined and taught many things. Although she is testing us to see her limits, she gladly obeys when we say no.

Mayie's nanny was so sweet. I know she loved Maylie very much. She brought a gift for us from the orphanage and all the gifts we sent to Maylie. She also told our guide that a young woman who volunteered at the orphanage would take Maylie home every Saturday for the weekend. She said this woman loved Maylie very much. And this young woman sent a backpack with clothes that she had purchased for Maylie and an absolutely beautiful photo album that she made of Maylie. (all digital - Steve was so impressed. I'll try to post some photos of it soon.) How grateful we are to this very sweet lady! She left her contact information in the album so we can send her updates. This is the inscription she had printed on the cover of the album. It is so touching to see what she wrote. Following is the exact wording: "Love You Forever 2009. I was know you in 2006, you were just one year old then, there is two years past, you are grow up and leave, our happiness will be past, what I can do for you is to leave this little memory, I hop you can have a happy and healthy life in new family! Your sincerely sister Maggie Lok." How precious this sweet young woman is! I plan to send her updates of our special Maylie.

We arrived back at the hotel. Maylie was curious about everything and investigated everything she could get her hands on. She tried on all of her shoes that we brought her. Looked at many of her new dresses (and then she would fold them and put them back). She looked at her new books and played blocks with her sisters. She loves her play cell phone and loves her little pink back pack. I gave her a bath which she absolutely loved! We let her pick out a new dress to wear and she choose pink. (How perfect she is for this family of four girls!) She wasn't too thrilled with the big pink bow at first but once the girls and Steve and I gave her lavish praise for it she decided to keep it on. We went to the Chinese restaurant here in the Marriott and we were the center of attention. I think there was about five waitresses that just stood around the table while we ate. (a bit awkward) If we even took one sip of tea they would refill our cups! Bedtime was a little harder for her. Once the PJs were on and the lights went out he started to softly cry. How different a hotel room is from an orphanage full of children sleeping with cribs side by side. I lay down with her and it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

We chose the name Maylie because we wanted a name that started with "m" like Mikyla. When we were trying to decide on a name the girls came up with Maylie. It is a combination of the names of our friends, (the Strands) two beautiful daughters. (Mae plus Esther Li = Maylie) How appropriate that name turned out to be! We just recently discovered that May lee in Chinese, means beautiful. Also the Hawaiian name, Maylie, means wildflower and that just about explains her! Maylie is full of life and personality! Sweet and beautiful with a zest for life. She is so smart and she knows many English words already! The girls are teaching her so much too! She will repeat almost anything we point to or say. Maylie is also very social and quite the comedian. She waves hello and goodbye to everyone from the hotel maids to the other guests at the hotel. She is definitely going to add a lot more energy and joy to our home! Oh! And did I mention she loves to eat!