Sept 20 – GOTCHA DAY!!!

Sept 20 - Saturday 6 pm. Cooler again today – jeans and a sweater weather.

Hi everyone – so we received a call late yesterday evening saying ‘yes you can pick up your daughter tomorrow morning’! WOOHOOOOOOOO! So we frantically cleaned up and put things out of a 3 year old’s reach, made some extra food and attempted (in vain) to get some sleep. We’re very excited!!!

This morning we were up early and paced the apartment waiting for 9:30. Ainuir picked us up, we bought a fancy cake as a gift for the caregivers, then we arrived at the babyhouse. The director met with us and we chatted a bit, then they brought Angelique in wearing the outfit we’d provided – tooooooo cute! We gave the cake and the rest of our gifts, posed for a couple of photos with the director and high-tailed it out of there!

Angelique was again quiet in the car, but not nearly as upset as she’d been on trip 1. Thankfully it was a short ride as there’s much less traffic on the weekends, so it took less than 15 minutes to get back.

We got into the apartment and she saw the toys we’d laid out for her (all the same things we’d been bringing to our visits, hoping they’d feel familiar), and she went right away to play with them. After approx 20 minutes she seemed very comfortable with those and some of the new toys too, then ate some lunch (chicken soup, bread, ½ an orange and some yogurt), played for a while and then had a nap.
After Angelique woke up we walked around the neighbourhood – she loves the stroller! Thanks Gretchen! Right now we’re playing with crayons and paper (from Auntie Lise), wearing multiple necklaces, bracelets and rings plus a headband, ponytails AND clips in her hair. She’s quite the fashionista -wearing a dress and jeans and tights (oops now she's in a nightgown, skirt and pj bottoms) ... She is carrying the purple backpack everywhere (from Tante Suzette), even on our walk, as well as the puppy purse from Memere. She is certainly overstimulated, but it’s worth it as we’re having so much fun just being with her and watching her! To say we’re thrilled is a HUGE understatement!!! We’re still nervous and more than a bit anxious, but over the moon happy…..

Thank you so much for your good wishes, notes and calls, especially over the last few days!

Take care, we send our love
Paul, Nicole and Angelique (finally we get to add her name!)