She's a miracle

It's 10:00 pm and baby Yang Xi Zi Wan is asleep. Pierre hasn't lost his touch. She just finished her second bottle when Pierre wrapped her in a blanket and sang french lullabies. He has a beautiful voice, it's always worked wonders in the past, it worked tonight too.

After a few quiet kisses she fell right to sleep.

Jasmine Zi Wan is perfect. She's a miracle. She's very beautiful, and I can hardly believe she's really here.

She's right beside me now in her crib and I can't take my eyes off of her.

It's been a truly wonderful day. At 2:00 this afternoon we went to the lobby of the hotel, all of the Canadian families were gathered there. All of us excited, all of us armed with diaper bags, and bottles, and passports, and important paper work for the Chinese office of Civil Affairs.

Louis, Pierre and I hopped on the bus, with all the other Canadian families. One mum from Toronto had made the most adorable bibs, with "Gotcha Day, August 9, 2007" embroidered on each one. Her husband handed one to each of us, what a wonderful gesture!

These 15 girls will always be known as the Yangxi girls, because they all came from the Yangxi Social Welfare Institute, an orphanage that is about 3 hours west of Guangzhou.

We got off the bus, went up to the ninth floor. Our guides explained that the babies would be brought out to meet us one by one. We were all in a big room together. And then they said that Yang Xi Zi Wan would come first.

They called her name..."Yang Xi Zi Wan."

"That's us," I said to Pierre.

A nanny was holding her. We approached her, her eyes were so wide, she looked very content.

"She's a baby buddha," said one Dad. She was wearing a short sleeved outfit with orange trim, with pink and orange flowers on it, and the words, "Smart Baby" written on the fabric.

"Of course she's a smart baby, she's ours!" said Pierre.

On her back was a sticker, with her name in English and Chinese Characters. But there was no way to mistake her.

She looks just like her photo, bright eyes, a rosebud mouth, and a spray of dark hair. She has lovely round cheeks, and has obviously received excellent care from her nannies at the orphanage.

We handed her to Louis. A big brother again, what an incredible feeling.

I kept saying,"Hello Zi Wan, Ni hao Zi Wan, what a beautiful girl."

She held my finger, she grabbed her rattle, she looked peaceful.

Louis held her for a while, then I took her in my arms, and felt pure joy. There is nothing like feeling the weight of a baby.

Everyone was laughing and crying and taking pictures. It was absolutely fantastic. I held her while Pierre went in to finish up the paperwork. The nannies hovered around, with good advice for all the parents in the room.

One nanny in the room said Zi Wan was a little warm, and she pointed to the air conditioner on the ceiling and gestured to me stand underneath it for awhile. The baby perked up a little more, she's very alert, and really likes grabbing onto everything.

About an hour and a half later we were all whisked back to the hotel, for a little more paperwork. But this time the paperwork was tonnes of fun, because I had a nine month old baby sitting on my lap, grabbing my bracelet, and discovering the wonders of a pacifier.

She's had her first bath, her first bed time story, and her first lullaby tonight.

Oh goody, she just woke up. I get to rock her for awhile. She can get up anytime she likes, because there's nothing more beautiful than helping a child feel safe, and loved, and secure in this world.

There is nothing like holding a baby.