Gotcha Day

Sunday was our Gotcha Day. I woke up early, like around 3am, and couldn't go back to sleep. I just laid there praying and thinking about what was going to happen on this very special day. I had dreamed about this day FOREVER, and couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that it was actually here. I was going to see and hold my baby in my arms...Forever!!! Finally around 6am, Shane and I got up and got ready for the day. We ate breakfast at our hotel and went for a little walk outside before heading back to our room to pack up our things. Our guide and driver were picking us up at 10am and taking us to the airport. On the way to the airport, Shane asked our guide if she had any idea on what time we would be meeting Addy-Kate. The itinerary we were given just said we would meet her at our hotel later that afternoon. Our guide made a quick call to our new guide in Xi'an and asked if she new the details of the day ahead. She hung up the phone, and looked back at both of us and said we would be meeting Addy-Kate RIGHT when we got off the plane! She was already in Xi'an and was waiting for us at the Civil Affairs office. She and her nanny had taken the night train from her orphanage, which was a good 12 hours away, and had arrived in Xi'an earlier that morning!!

Shane and I were both SHOCKED! We kind-of thought we had our minds wrapped around what the day might look like, but this wasn't at all what we had planned. We thought we may have a little time when we arrived in our new hotel in Xi'an to set up our room and get it ready for our girl. Now we didn't have any time at all. We would meet her RIGHT AWAY!!!! We were beyond thrilled with the news, but felt a little unprepared to receive our girl. When we got to the airport, we took a few minutes to rearrange our luggage. We took the diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, toys, and some goldfish out of our big suitcase and put it on my carry-on. That way, when we got off the plane we would be ready meet our baby.
Our guide, Sylvia, then helped us get our boarding passes and showed us how to get to our departure gate. 

We gave her a big hug, said goodbye and thanked her for showing us her city.

 

Before long, it was time to board our plane. Unfortunately, this is also were it started to rain buckets outside and our flight was delayed over and hour and a half. The time we were supposed to be LANDING in Xi'an was the time that we finally TOOK OFF from Beijing!!! 

We made up a little time in the air, but our plane was still over an hour late;( 

Thankfully, we were able to claim our luggage and locate our guide and driver quickly.

Shelly, our new guide, was super sweet and as we rode to the Civil Affairs office, she briefed us on all the details that would take place during the next few hours.

 

 When we arrived at the office, our guide led us into a small dark building. We got on the elevator and went to the second floor. When we got off the elevator, the power in the hall was out, so it was really dark. Then our guide opened the door to the office and I saw this beautiful face immediately!

 
Be still my heart!!!!!
It was LOVE at first sight!!! 

She was very unsure of me though...until our guide suggested I pull out some snacks.

That did it...Hook, line, and sinker...she was ALL mine!!

I couldn't believe that I was finally holding MY GIRL!!!
She, on the other hand wasn't too happy about it!

 

That's when Daddy stepped in and tried to calm her down!

Daddy sang "Jesus loves me" to her and she quieted right down!
I'll NEVER forget that moment!

 

Her new family!

Off to get her passport picture done and a new family photo of us for her adoption decree.

After a full and busy afternoon we finally checked into our new hotel and AK was ready for a bottle!

We still had a little paper work left to complete, so our guide came back with us to our room and helped us finish it up there!

After a L-O-N-G and very busy day, it was time for a nice warm bath!

She LOVED the tub and didn't want to get out!

Is she not the sweetest thing EVER!!!
All clean and dressed in some comfy pj's!

Oh my...What a DAY!!! 

And one that we will NEVER EVER EVER forget!!!!!

Praising the Lord for this amazing and precious gift!!!!!