She's ours!

Yesterday morning we had a farewell party at the orphanage. We arrived at 8 am and stayed until about 10 am. The orphanage staff put all the girls in pretty dresses for the party. Then they set out plates of food (Chinese bun, yogurt, little apples and pastries). We brought snack sized Hershey's bars. Our Holt social worker then took us aside and we presented the orphanage director with her gift privately.

Ms. D, the orphanage director, gave a long and wonderful speech about Madeleine and also about Vietnam-US relations on adoptions. She ended her speech asking if there was anything we wanted to tell her about how to provide for the children better. We were invited to say something. So I said that I was very impressed with the number of staff and the wonderful love that they all give the children. We were very thankful that Madeleine (Thanh) was taken care of so well. Carol then also gave a little speech. Then we all ate and we gave the kids presents. 

After a little bit we showed Ms. D the gifts for the staff and the extra supplies for the children (medicine, toothbrushes, etc.). Then we played with the kids and went to the Ministry of Justice for the Giving & Receiving Ceremony (G&R). When we arrived at the Ministry of Justice, there were plates of fruit set out and water. We ate fruit and drank water until all the officials were present.

One of the officials then got up and said a very long and nice speech about adopting Madeleine. He thanked us for finding it in our hearts to adopt an orphan. Then Eric gave a speech thanking the officials for allowing us to adopt Madeleine. At then end of his speech, Eric said we will definitely come back someday with Thanh. The Vice Chair of the Ministry of Justice, the highest ranking official at our G&R laughed and seemed pleased. Then we shook hands and we signed papers. She's officially ours!

Pictured here with Ms. D, the orphanage director.

Madeleine was kind of squirmy at the G&R. It was well past her nap time (9am-noon). However, she seemed very happy and was laughing as we left the Ministry of Justice. It was like she knew something great had happened. :)

After a 4 hour nap, Madeleine seemed better and more awake. So we hired a taxi and went out to My Khe beach. It was overcast but actually it was kind of nice because we didn't have to worry about sun screen. The water was incredibly warm and Madeleine was giddy at seeing the ocean. In her reports, it says her foster family lives near the sea and she likes going out to see the waves in the afternoon.

Today, we take a plane to Hanoi to finish her paperwork so we can come to the US. Madeleine is a little grumpy and not eating much but otherwise is doing incredibly well for being uprooted. She is bonding well with me and Andrew. She is a little tentative with Eric but today she allowed him to talk to her without screaming -- so that's good. The first day at the orphanage she called for me, me (mom in Vietnamese) and I thought she was calling to her foster mom. Yesterday though she called for me, me and I pointed to myself and said, "mom." So she's been calling me Mom for the last 24 hours or so. :)