More news on Chandler ~ She laughs aloud!

Wow! What a week this has been. Certainly its been a whirlwind and one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I've had a permanent smile on my face since 11:43am on Monday when the call came in from my agency and then of course just moments later when her photos arrived in my email inbox. Words can't begin to describe the love I have for this precious baby and the gratitude I feel to God and all of my dear friends and family. I've so much appreciated the phone calls, cards and emails of well wishes and excitement. I also have connected with a lot of families via internet from the adoption community who have daughters from China also. Thank you all so very much, I can't thank you enough!

Before I share too much more about the events of the week, let me tell you what more I have learned about Chandler since Monday. By the way, did you see those cheeks? I have stared at her photos for so long and I just can't wait to kiss that precious face. Anyhow, here's the scoop..... I worked from home on Friday morning to be sure not to miss the DHL driver when he dropped off the package coming from my adoption agency that contained Chanlder's translated medical report and details of her life. Of course in between work emails and conference calls while waiting, I would pace. Finally at about noon the yellow DHL van pulled up in the cul-de-sac. Before I get my camera and get out there to greet him he had left the package near the garage and was pulling away. I was barely back in the house when I ripped open the envelope and started digging in. It was so exciting to see all of her paperwork and the original of those darling photos. Did I mention about those cheeks? :) So I made it to her medical report which was very extensive and impressive. The best part being that all of her tests checked out great and she's a very healthly little pumpkin. Her physical was as of 1/18/08 when she was just under four months old. She was just a few days old when she arrived at the orphanage in September and was very tiny at 4.4 pounds. On the day of her medical exam in January she had already grown to 13.2 pounds! I didn't know that was possible. It was funny when I read the report to my mom and asked her if she thought it was possible for her to grow so fast she said very calmly, "Why yes Nicole, that means they are feeding her very well!" Oh yeah, silly me. I'm turning into one of those panicky moms already. At four months she was eating 8 times a day (sounds like her Mommy!). She was getting up at 8am with two naps and then back down to sleep for the night at 8:30pm. Now that is my kind of sleeping schedule! She could sit and stand up by support. Here's the part that just made my heart melt....."she laughs outloud"! Also, the report said she is excited at the food or bottle, will cry in order to get attention and when she looks in the mirror she will smile. How cute, right? Oh and one more thing, her personality is described as "lively". Uh oh! Thankfully, the box was NOT checked for "obsinate sometimes". Surely that is the truth.

While her report did not indicate that she was in foster care, I found out through a wonderful organization called Grace and Hope for Children at www.grace-hope.org that indeed she is in foster care and when I arrive in China they will deliver copies of her foster care reports to me. I am so happy about this since I know she has one family loving her all day long (and feeding her too, obviously). While this might make the initial transition to me a little difficult for her since she will be grieving the loss of her foster family, over the long term it could make her ability to attach to a new family easier than if she were in the orphanage. I am so grateful to the two adoptive families who posted on my blog earlier this week to let me know about this wonderful organization.

I need to scoot for now but will write again later today. I am in the two year olds nursery room at church this morning. You better bet I'll be sneaking around to get a peek at the 9 month old room as I dream of Chandler Elise.