Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

Lakeview Hotel, Hongdu Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China, 16 Aug 2004

Quick rundown. Later email will attach pictures. No broadband in room so have to use biz center.

Got up yesterday all packed. Used car seat box to store clothes so we could stuff all our sovenirs into suitcases. Cases picked up at 8am. We had breakfast a bit earlier and then just hung out two hours. That was when I wrote about day 3 &4 in Beijing.

At 10am on bus to airport with our group. Then two-hour flight on Air China to Nanchang. Nice flight in old 737. Vonne and I seated far apart, but no problem.

Land in Nanchang. About 95 with 95% humidity. Place is a lot like Florida--water everywhere. Real SE Asia.

Small bus to hotel and get in room around 3:20. Told to be in conference room in 40 minutes with all the various envelopes of cash, presents for officials, and all our paperwork, plus food for baby and toys. We scramble like crazy getting bottles together and counting out cash (finally got exact figures on bus ride over). Get into conference room on dot and it is full of babies.

We stand on one wall and David, our guide, picks us out to come over and get Vonne Mei. We were about 3rd couple to receive, since third couple to show up. Took less than 3 minutes from time we walked in door. As other couples were strolling in later, bit of madhouse scene for first-time parents realizing their baby in the room already. Feel many thought they could be in room and babies would show up from outside, but otherway around.

So, as soon as we got in room, I knew we were within seconds and I started scanning baby faces. I spot Vonne Mei with just a quick sweeping glance. Woman is holding her and another child sitting on long conference table. She is almost golden looking in her orange onesie. But I recognize the face almost instantly. Then I'm a bit scared to tell Vonne, because I'm looking at the (by far) prettiest, most relaxed baby in the room and I figure, if I tell Vonne I think that's her and it's not (our photos are now 7 months old), then there will be this weird tinge of disappointment. Oddly tense moment--that.

But I did it anyway. I pointed her out to Vonne and I said, "I'm certain that's Vonne Mei. I recognize her mouth and eyes."

So when David says Barnett and we hand over our passports and other docs, I see the lady with the two babies call over another woman. That woman takes the arms of the second baby and the original nanny picks up Vonne Mei and brings her over.

Vonne is very quiet and sort of stunned by it all--she is so focused. Reminded me of her trance-like state in her labors. She is just laser-like on Vonne Mei.

I know what I have to do and whip our camcorder and digital camera and catch the handover on video and then shoot about 60 shots with my other hand.

After a while, I get to hold Vonne Mei and Vonne returns the favor with photos.

Then we crack out Cheerios, which she likes. Then some cryinging from her. Then I do the money transfers to various officials.

Vonne says she seems hungry and the water we quickly boiled in room is too hot. Elevators are jammed with people (several of these events going on at same time), so I dash up 13 flights of stairs in un-air-conditioned stairwell.

That was when I felt yesterday's Great Steps.

Getting Evian, I cut the bottle's mixture down to reasonable temp. We snipped the nipple on the Chinese bottle that Zhang Yu was kind enough to buy us in Beijing, because babies here drink formula very fast.

Vonne Mei sucks down the bottle with ease and then we spend some time just hugging and playing with toys.

Then off for official family photo and her passport photo.

Then we are cut loose for bit in room (about 20 minutes at 5:10). Then back to conference room to do official documents for hour and then interview with civil affairs official. Big question: "Why do you want Chinese baby when you already have three kids!"

We pass with flying colors.

Then to room for night. Really nice high-rise hotel. We order in room service. Vonne Mei had fallen asleep in my arms in conference room and slept until 10:30. Then we made another bottle, massaged her beautiful little body and got her back to sleep until about 5:30.

Working stroller this morning. Heading down to breakfast now.

Will send more info and some pictures later in day.

We are very pleased with how it all went. Only issue with Vonne Mei seems to be heat rash around neck and hairline.

She seems nice and strong and not thin in the empty sort of sense. Was with foster mom entire 9 months. She was removed from the home just an hour before the 3-hour ride to Nanchang. Given then, she is very accepting with us. Spent morning playing on mat with toys. Already fairly easy to make laugh.

So all in all, it went very well, if a bit rushed. Don't know how first-time parents handle it. More respect for my sister Maggie pulling it off with my Mom as a result. It is a high-stakes, high-stress moment. Fortunately for us, we have much experience in that with offspring, so we got through it with no explosions or mishaps. By and large, it went very well for the group as a whole.

All for now. Check in later.

Tom (for Vonne)