adoption morning!

We woke with a sense of anticipation–after breakfast we had our meeting with the adoption registration officials here in Huhehaote (Hohhot) that would officially make Yuan Zhong Xu a member of Team Sublett.  So we loaded up on a good breakfast and made our way to the 2nd floor meeting rooms.  The officials came to us today, rather than us traveling to the Civil Affairs office like we did before.

Our translator was very helpful in terms of us filling out all the papers, and we signed about a thousand official forms!  There were 2 other couples in the hearing, both from Australia, and both adopting baby girls.  Isaac’s two teachers were present, and the director of his orphanage showed up at the end.

After reviewing all our documents, the official asked us a couple of questions (through an interpreter) about our jobs, health, our other children, and the reasons for this adoption.  Then he called Isaac forward and asked if he was willing to go to America.  Big smile.  Then there was another question, which prompted a long silence from Isaac.  I gripped Kim’s hand a little tighter as we waited.  My mind was racing as I imagined the worst–what did he just ask, and why wasn’t there a quick reply?  It turns out that he wanted to know if Isaac had any requests he wanted to make of us–and Isaac couldn’t think of anything to ask!

Isaac signed the official adoption form, then we signed, and that was that!  We sat through the interview of the other couples before we started taking pictures and talking to Isaac’s teachers.  Josie has been INCREDIBLE!  She talks a mile a minute with these ladies, asking all sorts of good questions for us and relaying their answers.

So far we know that Isaac likes sports (basketball and ping pong), will eat just about anything, and loves to sing!  He’s not going to be trouble for us, and doesn’t even know kung fu!  He’s likely to be quiet/shy until he gets more familiar with us, but he’s already connected with Levi.  Levi brought along some transformers toys to play with Isaac, and they’re hitting it off.  He’s very little for his age, and started school a couple of years late.  I think Josie said that he’s been at the orphanage since birth, but that’s different than what we were told originally.  Not that it really matters to us–he’s a Sublett now!

He doesn’t speak a lick of English, so we’re trying to teach him our names.  He understands that we are a big family, and seems excited.  We came back up to the room to take a nap (Sadie bailed early, before the interview–she’s wiped out!) and Lilly, Josie, and Annabelle took Isaac on a walk around the hotel.  I think we’re going to buy him some clothes this afternoon.  We’ll have to take 2 taxis to get to the mall!

It feels like a full day already.  Our cup runneth over…