it is officially an international adoption trip when...

• At the civil affairs office, your new daughter needs to go to the bathroom, and you recognize the language for that need!
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• The need to go potty lands the two of you in the bathroom...and it is a squatty potty.  Navigating one yourself is one matter.  Helping your daughter successfully do so, another.  Somehow American mother didn't hold dear daughter fat enough back.  Or maybe naive foreigner didn't pull pants down correctly?  Sweet, dear daughter ends up with wet pants and a wet squatty potty.  Oops.
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• Walmart.  Enough said.  I'm still in shock at it all.
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• Eating lunch outside of walmart while waiting for rest of group to emerge. Guide mortified and horrified that you sit on ground.  Lack of sleep, sheer exhaustion and decision that spending money to send jeans to laundry is worth sitting down, all lead one to do such an act of sheer foolishness.  New daughter lends comraderie and support by sitting on lap and inhaling walmart lunch.
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• After nap entertainment includes two big brothers playing handless "head ball" with a gertie ball...all to look like fools and make their new sister laugh.  Success!
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• The iphone app for making a silly voice out of your names saves the day when tears loom large.
• Son number two plays new Chinese instrument in hotel room, and you smile with love as your ears ring.  Does that really have to come home?

And on other notes:

•  You know you have seen the hand of the Lord when you watch your daughter fall into sleep for the first time ever.  And she is five and a half years old.  
• After nap, tears slowly slide and eyes veer away as grief comes.  Good grief, soon eased by patient and quiet love from Momma and Baba.  And silly, sweet brothers.

Things we know about Emma:

• She falls asleep on her back with her hands stretched up over her head.
• Loves her rancid milk candy (says Jeb)
• Shares precious food from orphanage family with new family, piece by piece.
• Takes tops of tea cups and turns them into instruments, beating a rhythm that she loves her family to pick up in clapping.
• Montessori skills extraordinaire!
• Is a bit unsteady on her feet and has no idea to watch for steps.  Falls down stairs of bus easily.  Yikes!
• Has the kindest eyes and is willing to gaze into Momma's while settling in for nap.
• Funny little sense of humor.  Delights in laughing with her brothers.
• Loves bananas
• Prefers noodles to rice
• Not strawberry yogurt, but lychee (we think that is what it is) is really yummy
• Likes to watch sports on TV with her Daddy at 3am
• Can dribble a gertie ball as a basketball really well.
• Has the cutest cowlick in her hair.  
• Loves her sunglasses and will most likely not remove them for sometime.  We are going for incognito movie star in China.
• Eats right handed
• Colors left and right handed...hasn't crossed midline yet, I think.
• Loves Momma's bible.  The green cover with pink flowers makes her happy.
• Thinks the pink bow in her hair is really pretty.  And is glad Mom only puts small bows in her hair! :)
• Is tall.
• Laughs when her shirt is off and thinks it is funny to feel the air on her tummy.
• Calls bubbles "pow pow".
• Can already repeat the two phrases on her talking cell phone (because she played them repetitively over and over all night last night)
• Loves her Hello Kitty toothbrush and cleaned those teeth like a pro!  Has obviously brushed her teeth often and knows how to do it.
• Doesn't like Fanta.  Just ask Jeb.
• Likes to sit next to her brothers.
• Wants us to carry her.  Lots.  That is such a good thing.  My arms were breaking, but I'll carry this girl all over China and go to the Dr. Matt when I get home.  We should probably think about a stroller, but I can't bear to do that.  I'd rather have her in our arms.  The snuggles are too good and the time too important to put her in a stroller.  I actually wish I had a sling.  She's big, but it would help.  
• Has fun drawing and doing pictures.  Will attend to it for a long time.  Great concentration.
• Awesome at stickers.  
• Knows how to say flower, bunny and bird!
• Loves the photo album of our family with pictures of our house.

We are having a great time today.  Emma continues to bond well to us all.  I can't quite believe that 24 hours ago we were meeting for the first time.  SO much has happened.

We have seen God's goodness and faithfulness unfold before us.  What a brave, strong girl He fashioned so beautifully in YuXiao.  She is sweet and dear, even as she walks into a completely new life with everything new and unfamiliar.  Brave, brave, courageous daughter.  We love you so.

Off to walk and bowl!  There is a bowing lane in the basement level of the hotel!  How fun!

Love you all!