Chris's 2 Cents

I'll try to be brief. Today was full of anxiety and aniticipation in the morning. After some paperwork, our interpreter took us for a walk. It really helped relax us.

Everyone is so punctual here (we were told not to expect that). Our meeting with the girls was to start at 11Am - it did. I was expecting more paperwork, but they said we only needed to sign a paper then the girls would be in. A couple minutes they came in with big smiles. They were accompanied by the social worker, the caretaker of the orphanage and another assistant. The girls came to us immediately. I was surprised at how happy and unshy they were. Manuela gave me a kiss right on the lips. They were very open to hugs and us rubbing their backs.

The orphanage caretaker had so much stuff for us and the girls. They are still playing with all of the toys they came with. We really haven't given them anything other than a few books and the stuff in their backpacks. They also provided brand new pajamas (tags still on), a photo album - which Vanesa was eager to share with me when we met, certificates from their school, notebooks from school, dolls, lip gloss, ...

Vanesa is very smart. She really catches on quickly. She is also fearless. When we went to the pool, she went down a couple steps, then jumped into the water. She sank and I grabbed her and she came up laughing. It didn't phase her at all. She is a good helper too. I can ask her if things are too hot for them or what is the word for this thing I'm holding.

Tonight at dinner, the ladies in the house were asking the girls their names. Manuela piped up and said "Angee y Vanesa y Manuela y Mami y Papi." Manuela likes to be silly. She does like to have her picture taken, just like Vanesa. She was trying to take some pictures of us and had the camera upside down, but she figured it out (we didn't post any of those b/c there were of her cheek or her hand :)

Angee is very quiet. She has already attached to Paul pretty well. Angee and Paul were playing with markers on the porch and she pinched her finger in the cap. She started to cry a little; it sounded like a sad cry. Paul put her on his lap and rocked her and talked gently to her and she stopped crying soon. She gives Paul an ornery grin when she wants him to chase her.

We are looking forward to the 2nd day as a family. I think we will try to go shopping (the girls are a little smaller than I thought) and hopefully get some icecream.