Ella you have waited four years for today. Our eyes only recently opened to your need. Today we put the past behind and move forward. We promise to keep you safe and in comfort. Let the games begin! We are strong and ready.
What a day! Four families all together in non descriptive government office and emotions were high all around. You could cut the anticipation with a knife. When the kids arrived we all watched them go into the play area. No one really lost it. Ella came in wearing a little bear outfit with a pink jacket and what look to be boys brown sneakers. What I'm calling her hiking sneakers. She looks well and in need of a bath. Very quiet with big inquisitive stares. When the nanny left is when the tears came and Ella lost it for about an hour on trip back to hotel. Howled at one point but we passed through that wall with some quiet cocoon time. Dawn used all her energy to keep herself and the situation together. Having a strong partner in this really pays off and I truly love the strength my wife showed. Ella and I bonded a bit over an apple. After a good period of calming we joined the other couple who adopted a two year old girl and happen to be in rooms next to us for the executive buffet dinner "happy hour". The thinking this would be a good quick, quiet spot. It was. No smiles just watching her new world.
After dinner we went up to room and decided a bath would be smart. Some boy had recently bit her toe and it looked a bit rough, she also had some old bug bites on her legs but the grandma of our travel companions who happens to be a nurse seemed to think all was looking OK.
Bath was the bridge. Actually a water bottle boat in bath was the hit. She gave me the biggest smiles for first time and at one point laughed out loud. I'll admit that's when I fell over in my heart and tears of joy just rained down. A small connection with her was established and hopefully just the start of lots of laughing and smiles to come.
After bath Dawn put her in some nice new pj's and wow what a difference a bit of soap, hair combing and new clothes can do for a little lady. She looked so pretty. Ella sat on my lap and I read her the going to bed book, seemed to like it and afterward she played with her new book for long while. At one point I just had to let Dawn go to bed because the weight of the day was wearing her down hard. So we laid Ella in her crib and turned out the lights. Goodnight moon, we were all done.
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