29 Jan 2007: AiLi is “born”!

The long awaited day has arrived and AiLi, as of 10 a.m. this morning, has been in Ira and Karen’s arms! Joanna Weinstock, the doctor accompanying our group, has examined their lovely daughter, my sweet niece, and has proclaimed her perfectly healthy.

We arrived in Hefei (pronounced her-fay), capital city of Anhui province, about 600 miles south of Beijing, yesterday afternoon. Hefei is one of China’s “smaller” cities with a mere 4.46 million inhabitants. From the little we’ve seen, it seems to be in a state between demolition and development, without Beijing’s urgent rebuilding deadline of the 2008 Olympic games. Many construction sites stand idle in what appears to be a primarily industrial city. But we understand that Hefei is ringed with parks and look forward to some family outings over the few days.

This morning we went to the Civil Affairs Office, a short 10-minute drive from the hotel, where the anxious expectant parents were to be united with their daughters. The office was just short of pandemonium, with a group of families from Quebec and a group from Australia crowded with us into the small Adoption Registration Room to receive their babies. Not long after we arrived, the various orphanages’ staff began to bring the babies to their families. Huai Qing Liang (AiLi’s Chinese name, loosely interpreted with the help of our guide as “ample celebration”) was among the first to be “delivered” to our group.

Ah, the miracle of birth, even at 18+ months! There are no words to describe completely what took place: the boundless joy of the parents and family members, the sadness of the nannies who have cared for these babies, the fearful sobbing and wailing of the children who are as yet unaware of the wonderful lives they are now beginning. As the saying goes, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

AiLi cried quietly, then dozed, while we spent an hour or so at the office. There was a small amount of paperwork, an opportunity to ask questions of the orphanage director (What was her nickname? Can she climb? What does she like to eat?), admire each others’ daughters, and present gifts to the officials. There were enough cameras and video-recorders to support a major news conference.

AiLi has taken a real shine to her “baba” Ira. (Dogs and babies, he has a way with them both.) Could it be due to his fatherly declaration that she was the most beautiful baby among all those adopted today?

Now it is afternoon, back at the hotel. AiLi has had her first bottle. After some sporadic crying, she’s shown us she can walk, and smile and play. It’s four hours into her new life and she seems truly content. She’s lying in her crib and we’re watching her fall, somewhat reluctantly, asleep. After all, there’s so much to learn and do and see. A tremendous adventure awaits.


Auntie Susan