Still too tired to tell the story, but here are some more photos... In no particular order:
The first time I held her, minutes after we met at the orphanage.
Breakfast this morning
She loves that bunny
she was exhausted after the ceremony, waiting for some mysterious paperwork
Before we left the orphanage for the last time (we stopped by on the way back from the ceremony) her old caretakers kept taking her away from me to hold her one last time. I understood why, but it made me sad and uncomfortable. She had just fallen asleep, and I wanted to keep her still and quiet, but I felt like I had to let them take her. It was a sort of in-between state for me between motherhood and not-motherhood
In the car on the way back to the hotel. It was 3 long hours each way.
The ceremony itself took place in a conference room at the Ministry of Justice.
With Uncle Ho himself presiding.
Official signatures in the provinvial archives
This is the very end of the ceremony, after all the papers were signed, when they hand her to us. There was a lot of staging and arranging of people to get the official picture just right.
Wonderful!
Especially the William and breakfast one. Though I think Jim's anthropological instincts will be satisfied by your pics from the ceremony!
Posted by: Nicholas Whyte | April 05, 2007 at 11:14 PM
Congratulations to both of you. She's absolutely gorgeous. Great photos. x
Posted by: Caroline Boyle | April 06, 2007 at 12:59 AM
She looks bright, alert and curious (ok - when she's not sleeping). And with unruly hair. I hope things are going well.
Posted by: Eamonn | April 06, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Congratulations to all three of you. Lovely girl, lovely family. Have loads of fun growing together.
Posted by: Myles | April 10, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Congratulations! All the very best to the three of you. It is lovely to see you all look so happy!
Posted by: Angela | April 11, 2007 at 05:56 AM