Announcing Kelina Faye You Smith

Today we finished the paperwork end of adopting Lina into our family.  After some brief questions, we signed papers and had Lina's footprint done.  She is now officially a Smith! 

The final paperwork happened in the hotel where Gotcha Day took place.  When we got to the hallway, we meet with Ms. Tiang and one of Lina's Ayis (Nanny) from the orphanage.  Lina leaned in on Mommy and was unsure of what was going to happen.  We are sure she thought another big change was going to happen.  Am I going back with them?  She wouldn't smile for Ms. Tiang to take a picture; she just stared with a single tear running down her cheek which Baba wiped away.  When it was time for Mommy to try and sign the papers, Lina wrapped her legs around Mama's so no one could take her away.  This is a very good sign!

Our guide Cindy with Ms. Tiang, Director of International Adoptions in Guilin SWI

After lunch at our hotel, we headed for the train station.  Our guide, Cindy is amazing!  She got us on the train early and took us directly to our seats.  She is also really good at telling Lina what is happening next; this helps Lina to not get anxious about what is happening.
A very nice "grandma" set across from Lina and they talked the whole 5 hour trip, except when they both took a nap.  I have never known a 4 year old who could talk as much as her!  She had this Grandma laughing!  She also had to show her the family photo album and her new barrette and outfit as well as her pretty pink shoes that her Foster Grandma bought her.  The Grandma shared a very delicious fruit with us.  This was so kind of her.  She also would correct Lina in Chinese when Lina would hit Baba in a playing way, "Don't hit your Baba".  When it was time to get off the train, we are pretty sure she was telling Lina to obey her parents, but the only words we really understood were Mama and Baba.  She was so sweet and said goodbye to Lina many times while touching Lina's hands and face.  It brought tears to our eyes!  And gave us a glimpse of what an interaction might have been like between Lina and her Foster Grandma.

Lina had a hard time this evening when we got to the hotel.  She started to cry and ask for her Grandma and Grandpa.  She even got off Mommy's lap and went to the phone asking us to call for them to come.  We kept repeating "We understand but we can't."  She got very upset at us.  She grabbed Mama's face and yelled into it to give me my Grandma and Grandpa.  She even yelled into Mama's ear.  This was so hard!  She so wanted comforted by me but she also would turn and stomp her foot in fustration.  It was time for a different plan, so Mama got a bath going.  Soon Lina was laughing and playing with bubbles.  We then gave her some more food and turned on the tv.  She fell asleep next to Mama (actually Mama fell asleep first).