17 Sep 07, Li-Na meets her mom and dad

Li-Na with her Gran (Laura's mom who is there with them from New Zealand). Laura said having gran there has been a great help so far, as Laura can now focus just on her baby. Hooray, here is the first photo we have got through of Li-Na. Isnt she stunning??

I will do my best to retell the story.......

They arrived at the Guanghzou adoption offices with butterflies in their tummies. Laura said that as she walked past a door she had a feeling the babies were in there, so she took a little peek and scanned a room full of babies till her eyes came to rest on her little angel and she became overcome with emotion. They then joined a group of Americans who were also waiting to get their babies. The parents were called one at a time to come forward and receive their baby and Laura and Eric were about the 5th ones to be called. Li-Na did not cry when she was put in her mommy's arms for the first time. She grabbed her hair and stared into her eyes and explored the two new faces in front of her. They then got an opportunity to ask Li-Na's carers some questions. Laura had taken along a milk bottle in case Li-Na was hungry when they got her, but the carers told her that she had to make it thicker with added rice powder and cut the hole in the bottle bigger too! But, Li-Na felt there was too much going on around her to have any milk. They then headed back to the hotel and thats when things started to get interesting as Li-Na started howling as soon as they got into the van and cried all the way back to the hotel. Laura felt that she may have been afraid of being in the van, having most likely never travelled before her 6 hour journey to Guangzhou.

After arriving back in the room, hot and tired and a little overwhelmed by all that was going on in her little life, the tears started again. Laura sent her mom and friend to see if they could find the right kind of bottle as shown by the carers and Laura was left alone with her baby. Li-Na was getting more and more upset, so Laura put her down on the floor and she calmed down a little and then the tears started again. After getting some advice from a friend, she walked over to her baby and said: "Now, Listen here, I am your mommy, and I am going to look after you!" Laura said Li-Na stopped crying and looked at her with big eyes as if she had understood just what her mother said. She sponged her down, changed her and offered some water with a cup, which Li-Na grabbed and drank (with alot of mess). They put the TV on and Li-Na was intstantly distracted and all the tears stopped. After that she cheered up and mum and baby enjoyed a play and getting to know each other and Laura gave her some baby rusk and a bit of baby fruit.

Li-Na then peacefully fell asleep on her mommy's lap and after a chat with Julia and Shawn, filling them in on all the news, Li-Na was put in her cot, ready for their first night together.