Angel - Day 2 - Uncle Rob

Ella – Day 2

It is hard to believe that this is only the 2nd day that you have been with us, Ella. And so much has happened in the last day.

You slept pretty good for your first night. 7:00 – until around 1:00 – then 2:00 till around 5:30. This enabled your mom and I to get a good solid 2/3 hours in. Pretty normal for me – but not exactly what your mom’s old schedule looked like…And she is doing great taking care of you. It is strange, surreal and moving to watch someone you know so well – for 40 years – seemingly change overnight.

You are not feely so well physically (cough, runny nose), teething (you have 3 on the top right now that we can see – and 2 on the bottom) and dealing with all kinds of changes. Considering all that – you are an angel.

The day started off with the breakfast buffet. Your mom's first meal (A.E. - after Ella)was a smashing success - at least for you. You did not cry at all and only tried to pull of the tablecloth 106 times. Your mom really got her first taste of motherhood dining - she got to eat 1/2 hour after you - cold food - and only what you would let her eat before you were DONE sitting. Her lunch is still sitting in the hotel room as well.

You have two things driving you right now. You like to be with a group of people it appears, since your time at the orphanage and foster home had a lot of activity. And you do not want your mom to put you down. She doesn’t really have a problem with that right now….

You also evidently have a thing against middle aged, short, bald, goofy looking Italian men whom you don’t know, that walk around your hotel room and at all hours taking pictures of you. I can’t imagine why – but I will win you over soon.

After the two meetings and interviews that your mom did today (not exactly Law School Admission Testing stuff) – you are officially Marcella Lin Yidian Bahna as of 2006, 04, 20. They actually did ask the question – “are you happy with your baby”. I wasn’t really sure what the answer would be – but your mom made it through unscathed (this is another spot where my sarcastic wit rears its ugly head.) I was just totally and completely happy they didn’t point to me and ask her, “if you can only keep one – which one will it be?”

We went to both Walmart and McDonalds after the meetings. I am no customs official or immigration officer – but I think that officially means you are an American citizen at this point, regardless of where the official paper work is.

You really are precious. You mimick your mom talking, you like to try to repeat what she says. You love to sit and look out the window when we drive in the bus with your hand pressed against it. And I think St. Bernards must always be teething - because you could slobber with the best of them right now. Your mom has kissed you at least 500 times today, most of them followed by calling you “angel”. Hard to describe it any better than that.

Uncle Rob