Our Beautiful Maeve!!!

Words cannot explain the joy we feel today! We FINALLY have our beautiful, smiley Maeve in our arms!

After arriving in the absolutely crazy city of Chongqing (it's the largest city not only in China, but also in the world...32 million people!!), we had just one hour to do more paper work and get ready for the babies! We were all rushing around in a state of delerium.

After the paper work was finished, we were told to go back to our rooms, wait for our luggage to arrive, and then come back to the conference room. Well, Dave and one of the other dads headed for the lobby with their camcorders and cameras to catch the girls arriving. Dave took one look at a sweet baby being carried in by an older gentleman and said to the other dad, "That's my daughter!" He could tell it was her right away because she has Collin's chin and Brennen's big smile.

Dave called me immediately from the lobby and said, "They're here!" Unfortunately, our luggage was the last to be delivered, so I was still gathering up a few things. Needless to say, I was in panic mode and just about stopped breathing! (I know that is difficult for most of you to imagine). The next thing I know, my dear husband was walking through our hotel room door to help...I think the dead silence on the other end of the receiver followed by a slam tipped him off that I was about to lose it!

We finished getting our things together and headed for the conference room. When we walked in, all of the girls were in the room already waiting for their moms and dads! Maeve was the first baby I saw and my heart about stopped. She is such a beautiful baby and I knew it was her the minute I laid eyes on her. I said, "Nihao, You You" and she looked at me and gave me the biggest smile Dave and I have ever seen. At last we were looking at our Maeve.

Once all of the parents arrived, we were one by one joined with our daughters. Everyone in the room had to let out a laugh and an, "Awwww", because when I took Maeve in my arms, she looked me right in the eyes and gave me the sweetest smile, as if to say, "It's going to be okay, Mom."

After going back to our room, Maeve continued to amaze us with her giggles and smiles. Then, she took a bottle and fell asleep. I have a feeling that when she wakes up, the smiles will be gone for awhile. But that's okay. We'll see that sweet smile again before we know it.

What an amazing day. Though God may give us our children in different ways, the moment you hold that child in your arms for the first time feels the same...amazing and indescribable. Life doesn't get much better than this.

For more pictures of our day, click on the "More China Pictures" link and then on the "China Day 3" folder.