6/4/08

Our girl of much beauty


Another Xuzhou mom, Sue, who is currently in China with her family to pick up their daughter Jia, visited the orphanage yesterday and took these lovely pictures of QiuQiu for us. I am so touched and humbled that she did this. In the midst of the journey of a lifetime, with her entire family there, and a new daughter to lavish with attention, Sue not only took the time to write to all of us waiting Xuzhou families, but also to take pictures of each and every one of our children while visiting the Xuzhou SWI.

She posted those pictures this morning so that all of us could have an update on our children. She took several, of which these are my favorites.

I am so very grateful to Sue for going above and beyond to do this, and I have so enjoyed watching her own journey to her beautiful Jia, who is truly a child of light - full of such a brave and happy spirit. I feel like Jia is just the right child for this generous and loving family.

As I pore over these new pictures of our QiuQiu, my first thought is: She's already grown!! The last pictures I saw were taken only two or three weeks ago, and she already is bigger and has more teeth! This thought came to me with a jolt, and for the first time I felt really impatient - really in a hurry to get there and scoop her into our lives. The idea that in just a handful of days she has already grown and changed without us watching over her is quite startling to me, and really brings home the fact of how quickly children grow and develop at this age. I want to be there to see each new tooth, to watch her try out her limbs and learn new skills.
The wait affects everyone differentely, and for me the hardest part was the last few months before we received QiuQiu's referral. Since the referral, it has not gotten harder for me (as it does for some people) but easier. I feel calm in the knowledge that she is there, healthy and real and in a good place, and that we will be with her before long in the scheme of things.
So this is the first time that I have felt a real jolt of urgency, a visceral impatience. I want to stay calm and in peace during this time, because I want to be in a good place, emotionally, when we meet her. I want her to feel our calm and our happiness, and take strength from it. Also because I (we both) have a lot of work to do and a lot to accomplish before we travel.
But I do hope that our approvals come sooner rather than later.

Finally, a picture of the baby room in QiuQiu's orphanage.
Thank you, Sue, for taking these wonderful pictures!

Update: Sue, dear-heart that she is, wrote something about each of our children on her blog. Here's what she wrote about our QiuQiu:
"Maia, Flynn Ava is a knock out! She has beautiful eyes, I know you can see that in the photos but in person, she is just breath-taking. Her head of shiny black hair helps too! She seemed content and liked the attention. oh, and green is her color!"

26 comments:

M said...

Wow! What an incredible gift to have those unexpected photos. She's so gorgeous!

I think the wait gets harder as you go along - you fall in love more and more - but somehow, once she's in your arms, it will feel like the time she was united with you was exactly the right time. At least, that's how it went for us.

Yoli said...

Maia, she has the sweetest face. She looks so peaceful and content. You can work all you want on being at peace but girl, when the time comes you will be nervous. Jose and I felt like little kids before Christmas, that kind of excited nervousness.

So happy this lady was so generous of heart to do this for those waiting. There are great people left in this world. Never doubt it.

chrissie said...

Maia, everytimeI see her my heart just wants to pop with excitement! I can not wait to play with her and watch her grow up!!!I think of Christmas and Birthday's and everyday in between...and all the photos that we'll get to share...and the next family picture! She is just beautiful...I could just nibble those little fingers, so sweet!!! Such a great surprise to have the photo's today!! Love!

TBG Happenings said...

what an incredible gift! aaah pictures of your beautiful baby!!

I was pretty calm before we got sophie....well that is if you don't count me starting to freak a little in the elevator:)

Juliette said...

Much beauty indeed.
How nice of this lady to send you new pics. Wonderful!
I bet you get impatient. I hope you hear good news soon.

Momtofour said...

Isn't Flynn just so precious? She even has some chunk on her legs! So adorable....I'm so excited for all of us!!!!

hugs
Angela (Sophie's mama)

Stacie said...

What an amazing gift you have been given! She is stunning... i agree her eyes are mesmerizing and i knew her hair would grow in so thick from her referral.

I know exactly what you mean by having your breath taken away by the realization that she is growing and changing. The saddest thing for me was to read that Z had 10 teeth and was walking on our way to "gotcha day". I will tell you that she was such a tiny little baby infant when she was handed to me and all of the sorrow of what i had missed melted away.

The baby room looks amazing and she looks so content and at peace- you will be the perfect match- just you wait and see!

Peace,
Stacie

polkadot said...

What a wonderful feeling to know she is so happy and cared for as she waits for Mama and Daddy! Congrats!

Carrie said...

she is so sweet-I would be wanting to get to her fast!I know, MJ pictures were really far apart in age-her first pictures she had baby teeth when we got her ,her baby teeth had came out and her adult teeth were in-it took me back a bit-time does not stand still-I wish it had for the kids while they wait for us to come!

(her name is Torrie) said...

I think those photos will help you push thru the last few weeks of waiting, Maia. ANd I totally understand about the wait before referral being harder. I have had the same experience. She is stunning.

Vivian M said...

Don't worry about what you have missed so far. You have the rest of your lives to savor! (Yeah, I am being a hypocrite, I worried every night about Kerri).
And as for being calm, good luck! We tried, but when you are in that room waiting for the first glimpse of your baby, your heart starts beating and the nerves build up. Not to worry though, once you hold her it all goes away!
The pictures are beautiful, and I am sure you are memorizing them. QuiQui has an amazingly beautiful face, but look at her hands, and long legs (and I could just kiss those cute feet)!
And thank you to the wonderful person who went to the orphanage and took these pictures for you!

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Oh my... what a gift to get... I have a million goosebumps right now... what a nice lady to do that for everyone... take care

Michele said...

Simply wonderful. And the baby room looks like such a bright and happy place. It is so great that she is in a nice orphanage. You will be there soon to scoop her up and love her forever but until then, having these pictures must mean the world to you.

Michele said...

Simply wonderful. And the baby room looks like such a bright and happy place. It is so great that she is in a nice orphanage. You will be there soon to scoop her up and love her forever but until then, having these pictures must mean the world to you.

Julie said...

Amazingly gorgeous. So precious. Love the legs.

J said...

Pretty girl! And the baby room looks so bright & clean.

Lost and Found said...

Wow she's getting big. Her SWI looks really nice. It's nice to see a colorful and comfy looking room.

kerri said...

Maia, I know full well what a special gift is is to get these wonderful photos of your daughter, we had a terrific woman do the same for us.
Your daughter is beautiful, and yes she has grown.
My wish for you would be to leave for China yesterday...

tracy said...

she really is just so beautiful in these photos... i can only imagine how adorable she is in person. i can't wait for you to go get her!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Pictures don't come any 'hotter from the press' than this! Isn't it amazing how fast she's growing. But that's a good sign, right. Hope you get the green light soon! xxx M xxx

Unknown said...

oh, oh, OH! I agree that she is growing - I noticed it right away.

She is truly lovely. How many hours do you gaze at her photos? : ))

Mom-of-Bean said...

As the mother of one, with nary a moment to rest. The picture of all the cribs really grabs my heart. How do those caregivers do it? And how do all those babies look so well cared for and happy? I think of Flynn every time I give Gus a quick hug - I know there is a little girl with huge eyes looking forward to hugging her parents soon.

Heather said...

Your Zen exterior isn't fooling anyone! We all know you are ready to sprout wings and fly to China now. LOL! These pictures are beautiful. I've said it before and I'll say it again: THOSE EYES!

insanemommy said...

Wow is right! What tresures have these gorgeous picturs of Flynn. She has the deepest soulful eyes. Almost as if she can see the future.

Cavatica said...

She is beautiful all right! I can't wait until I see her in your arms...

kitchu said...

how did I miss THIS post??! wow. she's as beautiful as ever and growing up already!