Introducing Shaun David Collier.

giving him a toy

Today started off much like any other normal day except we were in Zhengzhou China.  When we got up I was sitting at the computer working and outside could hear someone mowing grass, sounded just like sitting at home.    We knew this would be no normal day though for we would become parents for the seventh time today.

After a wonderful breakfast we met up with the other 9 families in the lobby for the ride to the Civil Affairs office.  They briefed us on what to expect when we arrived. We knew that some children might be waiting and were told to queue up and wait our turn.   When we arrived we saw a little boy going into the building but it was not Shaun.  When we reached the top of the steps we were told that 3 children were there and Xiao Tong (Shaun) was one of them.  I handed my camera off to David a new friend from the group as he agreed to take photos until his child arrived.

When we walked in nannies with 3 kids were sitting on the couch.  Two of them started toward us with Shaun.  He was so scared and unsure about us and all that was going on.  One other child in the room started screaming not wanting to be given to their new family. Shaun looked at them like he was wondering if he should cry.   We handed him a Winnie the Pooh bear and began to talk to him and stroke his hair. Soon we were holding him and getting to know each other. 

meeting for the first time

 

We were told that he has a bad temper and will bank his head into things when he is upset.  Seems this is true based on the bruises on his head.  He got mad at us and threw himself back onto the floor hitting his head so we may have our work cut out for us.

While we waited for all the families to get their children we bonded a bit.  From time to time I would break free to help others get photos or video of their meeting time.  Shaun did fine but started ignoring us.  When I picked him up he fought a bit and fell asleep within a couple of minutes.   Then we were told that we had to get a registration photo of us with him for the adoption decree.  We could not get him to wake up. Finally when we changed his diaper he woke up so we could get the photo.   Finally after about 2 hours all the families had their children and we headed back to the hotel.

sleeping on mommy

Shaun was very interested in all the sites as we headed back and then went to sleep and took about a 2 hour nap.  He is now on the floor playing with some toys.   More later.

on the bus before he went to sleep