IT’S OFFICIAL!!!

Well it’s official, we are a family of five and Benjamin will be spending his first night with us tonight. 

The day started with the four of us taking a tour of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.  The architecture was beautiful and it was very interesting to see more about Taiwan’s history.  The kids loved the changing of the guards.  See pictures:

 Out in front of the memorial

 We watched the "changing of the guards"

 A view from the top

 There was a museum inside...these two are not into museums!

We then came back to the hotel for lunch and a little rest before going to pick him up at 2pm.  We arrived to the Chung Yi Foundation and we had to go through some paperwork.  They had to give us some of the official documents (adoption agreement, birth certificate, passport, etc…).  They also gave us everything that he owns, which all fit into a small suitcase that we brought.  Interestingly we filled it up with some of Elise’s old clothes to donate to the orphanage and now everything that Benjamin has fits nicely into it.  Most of the items were things that we had sent him while we were waiting to come get him.  Since he has been at this orphanage since 5 days old, we were really surprised to get his baby book and a photo album filled with his baby pictures!!  What a very special surprise!!

As we were going through some of his prior history with the social worker, another lady took Bryce and Elise to go play with him.  After we got everything squared away, they brought him to us.  We were very excited and he was very calm and just taking in the whole situation.  At one point he told one of the social workers that “I’m going to America, isn’t that great”.  We played for some time, took a lot of pictures and just hugged on him and let him know that we loved him. 

 Arriving with his big brother and sister!

 Dad and son

Mama loving on her new boy! 

The beach ball was a hit!! 

Another family picture.

We left Chung Yi and headed back to the hotel, this is when it really sank in that he was ours and it also made him a little sad.  As we drove to the hotel, he stared out the window with tears filling his eyes and running down his cheeks.  He never really cried out loud in the van but he was sad and we could see it in his face.  Our hearts were hurting with him and we just hugged and loved on him.  Bryce and Elise were so very kind.  Elise sat and held him with Nanette in the van.  When we got back to the hotel room, he lost it and was upset.  So we changed the scenery to keep busy and went up on the 20^th floor of the hotel that has a garden overlooking the city and just sat for a while.  He continued to be sad but just took it in and didn’t do much of anything.  After a short time he started to cry so we knew it was time to change locations again. 

That is when we decided to go to a park that we had been to the previous day.  It was called Peace Park and it is a short walk from the hotel.  While we were walking we played some games and Scott gave him a ride on his shoulders and he started to liven up and have fun.  Again Bryce and Elise naturally started to do “kid” things, which he quickly participated in like walking on benches or walls.  At the park, there were swings, slides, and an old fashioned teeter-totter.  All the kids ran around and just had a great time.  Scott even recognized the words that he needed to go to the bathroom, found one, and successfully completed the job!

 Giving him a lift, this was a hit!

 Big fun!

 Benjamin grabbed Elise's hand and was taking her over to play!

Not a juice box, but rather a tea box!

We then walked back to the hotel and stopped to have dinner.  We weren’t really prepared (no toys, games, or any other distraction) but we made it through and just kept him sandwiched between the two of us.  We got back to the hotel, gave him a bath and he is lying in the bed right now.

Overall, it was a great day and simply couldn’t have gone any better.  He is already learning his name and Bryce and Elise’s names.  Amazingly, his first sentence that in very clear English was “I love you”.  We’re pretty sure he doesn’t know what it means but it sounds cute and we get very excited when he says it!  Hopefully he will sleep through the night and we can have a great weekend. God has definitely answered prayers today in an amazing way and we give Him the glory for our first day as a family of five!!

By the way, our luggage was delivered 30 minutes before we went to meet Benjamin yesterday, so Scott and I did not have to wear dirty clothes to meet our son! (another answered prayer!) =)