We can't believe how time flies....

... it was four years ago today that we were in China getting Hui-Hui! She had been in an orphanage and two foster homes for 18 months, waiting for her "Forever Family" (that was us!!).

It was a hot and humid day in Changsha, the capital of Hunan. We could literally see the air outside our hotel room. We waited with 10 other families, to take the short bus ride to the government office to get our babies. We all were pretty anxious and nervous, and then became even more so when the bus was late. We were assured by Chen Chen, our guide, that they would not take the babies back to their orphanages......

Finally at the govt building, we quickly took the 3 flights of stairs, which dropped us into a room full of babies! Oh my god - - "are these our babies?" we all thought? Oh-oh-oh, we scanned the room for the face we had grown so attached to in the "mug shot", but we couldn't find Hui Hui.

We were quickly shuttled into the adjacent room and given instructions on the process.

"When your name is called, come up and confirm that this is the same baby that you were referred. Then take the baby and move to the other side of the room". How could something so monumental be so chop-chop?? The next few minutes would go quickly but at the same time be in slow motion and each detail forever implanted in our minds.

"Hengshan babies!" our guide barked out. That's us! This is it!

They went in age order, so the other 2 Hengshan girls, Lea and Lily, went first, both quite upset about whole thing.

"She Zhi Hui.. Johnson Cynthia, Paul!". Oh my god, it's here.

Paul with his video camera to record the moment and Cindy having the honor to be the first to hold Hui Hui, we approached the officials and orphanage worker holding Hui Hui.





There she was, all smiles, wearing a kitchy little yellow gypsy skirt and teeny weeny jelly shoes.


"Is this your baby?" the adoption official asked?



"yes, she is ours".....





...and Hui Hui was placed in her mommy's arms. She was incredibly calm, even smiling at times.


She gently touched my face......hearts melted.







We were able to ask the orphanage workers questions and learned only a few new things that weren't in the referral papers. She liked sweets, could be comforted by being carried on her nanny's back and she would often sing herself to sleep.



Our memories are so precious of those first few hours together. That happy, joyful, singing little girl that completed our family four years ago continues to be just the same.












Her development over the past four years has blown us away and is a constant reminder to us how precious and fleeting each day is.

Thank you to our dear Hui Hui for giving us the richest life one can possibly have. And we send our thoughts and thanks to Hui-Hui's birthparents for bringing this beautiful person into the world. We hope that they can have peace in that Hui Hui is a wonderful little girl, leading a happy life and that she is surrounded by a large family and circle of friends that love her very much.

Four years have past - - below are recent pictures of Hui-Hui: fun loving, silly, and there are even moments when she is still.

















We Love you, Hui Hui!!


Love,

Mommy and Daddy

5/28/2011