Presenting Melia Xin Ai Horner

Here she is:

We started out this morning around 8:45am and were driven to the Civil Affairs Office.  I was surprised that we were escorted to a tiny room that didn't even have a real door to the outside.  (See plastic strips hanging from the door frame.  We waited...  And waited..... and waited some more.

It's hard to entertain anxious kids for a long time, so we played Charades.  

Then we saw a minivan pull up right outside and we knew that something special was about to happen...

Suddenly in came a small child.

The first sight of our daughter was this very moment.  She had apparently been eating and the caretakers felt no need to wipe her mouth.  Cute....

First she was held by mom.  No tears, but she definitely looked stunned.

She quickly went to dad.  (Who she would later call Ma Ma ..... yes, things have already gotten confusing.  Hallie too, she called Ma Ma.)

Then, in came the kids to attack!  One big happy family!

She spent some special time with each of her brothers and sister.

Then we had to sign and fingerprint things to make it all official.

In no time at all, we even got a smile from her.  This is quite rare in this situation.  Clearly, this is one special little girl.

And then, she started all-out laughing!  What a sweet little voice.... and a great laugh!

Then we had to jump in the car to go to somewhere else and get the papers notarized and made more official.  

Then, she really won our hearts when she started giving out kisses.

Yep.  One big happy family right now!