Details...

Well, it's about 3pm here in China and Caleb is napping. He does NOT like to take naps but it is one of the few things we are insisting that he do. He cries when we put him on the bed in between us (so he can't escape!) and it breaks our hearts. But the few minutes of tears are worth the sleep that his body needs. We didn't make him take a nap the first day we were with him and we learned that when he is sleep deprived and over stimulated he gets goofy and slap happy. Oh, and almost literally bounces off the walls...not a good thing when stuck in a hotel room!

I haven't written much since we met him and I'm not sure where to start and how to share anything concisely. It has been a full 2 and 1/2 days. Monday morning we left to drive to the orphanage and Andy and I were almost sick from crazy roller coaster emotions. When we arrived there was a small group of babies sitting in exersaucers outside the entrance to the building. It broke my heart in so many ways. It also made me think of how just a few years ago that was Caleb. We walked into the building still kind of in shock that we were actually there. It was a large multi-story entry and we were kind of looking up and around and standing there waiting for our guide to meet the orphanage director when I kind of casually glanced down the hallway in front of me and there was Caleb walking hand in hand with one of the workers. We were completely not ready to see him and thought we'd be ushered into a room first. But he just kind of appeared and started quickly walking up to us full of smiles. We got none of it on camera b/c Andy wasn't prepared either. I think he was filming the entryway when I said, "there he is!" Andy put down the video recorder so he could see him and thus we have no Hallmark moment video or pictures of the moment we had been waiting for for so long. But it will be etched in our memory forever.

We were then moved into a room where we spent what seemed like forever shuffling between trying to interact with Caleb and doing paperwork all at the same time. There was another family with us so there were six of us, our guide and several orphanage workers coming in and out of the room at different times. It was pretty crazy. And full of glass tables and two young boys. Can you picture it?!

Then we were given a tour of the floor where Caleb's "class" was. I think all the children were about 4-10 yrs old. I knew that this particular orphanage was very nice but it was beyond what I expected. The halls were colorful, the rooms were much like preschool rooms, there were crafts and artwork displayed on the walls and hanging from the ceiling, and music and singing filled the air. It was so nice. But I had a hard time looking at the faces of each of the children. One little boy who was about Caleb's age came up to me and wrapped his arms around my legs to hug me. As we started to move along down the hallway, he started to follow me. Again, it broke my heart.

I took tons of photos and tried to just take it all in so that we could remind Caleb one day about the friends he left behind and the life that had for 4 years. Of all the places in China for Caleb to have to be, this was probably one of the best. He was obviously loved and well taken care of. In fact, we were told that for the past year he has been living with a foster family within the orphanage. Apparently, there are a few families that live in the building and act as foster families for several children (usually 8 at a time). We were given a small photo album of pictures of Caleb from the time he was an infant until just recently. The Half the Sky (halfthesky.org for info on this wonderful organization) workers had even compiled a scrapbook for us. It was filled with photos and artwork (aka scribbling!) that Caleb had done. Each page has a photo and handwritten notes. Of course, it is all in Chinese and we have no idea what it says. Our guide offered to translate it for us over the next several days. It will essentially be the only "baby book" he will have which, I might add, is actually nicer and more detailed than what we have for Nathan!

And as far as how Caleb is doing and adjusting...

He is just wonderful. He didn't cry at all when he left with us as we expected him to maybe do. He has attached pretty well to both of us equally although he does seem to prefer Andy. He loves to sing (Nathan, we may have another Chris Tomlin in our family!). He loves walking up and down the busy Chengdu streets. He just stares at all the cars and bikes and smiles at all the people. I think the first Chinese word we learned from him was "no". When he doesn't like something or doesn't want to do something he lets us know. He loves routines which is good b/c that is what Mommy likes!

He is awake now so I should go. He does not like it when we are on the computer. He definitely wants our full attention. And at least for the next week or so he'll get it!