First Day with Evan

First Day with Evan

The day we’ve been waiting for anxiously finally arrived.  Our guide Danielle, my sister and I arrived at the Civil Affairs Office.  Inside, some simple tables and chairs stood in a sparsely appointed room.  We were the only ones there.  Shortly after, a gentleman joined us who, Danielle explained, would help facilitate the process.   About 15 minutes later the doors opened and instead of Evan, several families arrived who were also getting their babies today.  The anticipation in the room was electric.  Suddenly there was a flash of excitement as a van drove up.  It was not Evan.  Several women came in, carrying babies ranging from several months to about 2 years old.  The noise rose as Mommies and Daddies broke into exclamations, and the babies howled, not very impressed with their new families.

A short while later, the door opened again.  In the midst of the commotion, in walked Evan – like he owned the place.   Directed toward me, he said, “Mama” at his escort’s urging.  He presented me with his photo albums and a few little workbooks to show me what he did at school. I gave him a toy truck.   He took off playing with that, and I followed.  He then went around the room checking out all the other families’ stuff.  I had to follow him and keep him from “acquiring” new things.  Evan seemed somewhat happy as we took photos together.  I thought, “Hmmm….perhaps this is going to go well – this child seems to have an adventuresome spirit.  Could I have gotten lucky twice? ( Ben made a seamless transition.) 

As the room started to quiet down and we finished our business, it dawned on Evan that he was expected to go with me.  His face grew dark.  He did not want to go.  I had to pick him up (he let me) and carry him to the van.  Once inside, Evan turned away from me, but I could see a stream of tears pouring down his face.  I rubbed his back.  Then, he got Very Angry.  He kept vigorously pointing back towards where we left from, shaking his hands, telling me to, “GO AWAY” with gestures.  He made a leap for the side of the van with the door. The driver locked it. Evan was so angry that he literally gave himself a nosebleed.  Now, my darling new son – who obviously was not enchanted with me, was splattered with blood.  As I tried to get him to let me put some tissues on his nose, I thought, “This will look beautiful in the hotel lobby.”  We arrived and the bleeding had stopped.  Evan was still quite unhappy. The driver had to help me pry him from the van.   I held him on my hip, like a giant toddler and we made quick steps for the elevator. 

I breathed a sigh of relief as we stepped inside.  The guide had left us in the lobby, and now it was just my sister Anita and I, and one angry Chinese boy.  I presented him with a bag of snacks we had fortunately acquired at Walmart early this morning.  Food! A crack in the armor.  Evan opened everything and ate like there would never be anymore.  I got a facecloth and started cleaning him up. Then I gave him the new sneakers I brought for him, which light up.  He seemed to like them and let me put them on his feet.  Then, he went back to eating.  I could tell he was warming up to us because he started offering Anita and I some cookies, too.  We ordered room service and he ate very well.  Then, I put him in a bath and gave him new clothes to dress in. Maybe this “being adopted” thing is not so bad after all? 

With all that excitement, it was still only about 2 o’clock.  I suggested that we try to take him down the road to a park the guide had told us about. We went to the lobby.  Evan refused to hold my hand and wanted to run about. I grabbed his hand and we turned right back around and went back to the room.  I showed him, with gestures, that when we go out he must hold my hand.  He nodded that he understood.  We watched TV for a while and then tried again.  This time, he held my hand and even Aunt Anita’s hand.   We walked to the park, which at first looked like a large landscaped adult walking/scenic park.  Evan looked at me and opened his hands as if to say, “What are we doing here?”   He was not impressed.  After we walked for a bit, we found a section that was set up like a kiddie section at an amusement park with rides.  Evan and I rode several of the rides and he was quite happy. While we were at the park, I bought him a popsicle and a juice. When we returned, he went back to being an eating machine, plowing through the snacks. We went down to a restaurant in the hotel I ordered a noodle dish for Evan.  Anita and I sat in astonishment as Evan devoured much of the food.  I hope his eating slows down or I am going to have to get a second job!

Then, Evan decided it was time for bed.  He walked around, turning off the lights, straightened the pillows, and got in the bed.  I made him get out, brush his teeth, and put on some Batman pajamas.   He still stayed busy as I fought the urge to close my eyes.  Finally, we all went to sleep.

In between all of this, Evan and I looked at some books I had brought. He carefully stacked his belongings on a chair and then took some of the Walmart bags and packed his treasures neatly.  He showed me he could write his Chinese name in Chinese characters.  He drew a picture.  I can tell he likes drawing – like his big brother Ben.  I can also tell he is quite smart.   We Skyped with my mom and Ben.  He seemed interested in Ben, but waved my mother off as if he was dismissing her. LOL.  He is quite a character.  Tomorrow we return to the Civil Affairs Office to sign more papers.  I am sure every day will get a bit better.  More updates to follow….