Introducing....

Josephine JiaYun-Marie Hubers

Josie

Josephine means "The Lord will add". He has so many good plans for Josephine. To add beauty, joy, redemption, healing, hope and love to name only a few. He has added her to our family and we are so thrilled to welcome little Josie.

All morning there was a mood of anticipation as we didn't get to go to Civil Affairs until 2:00pm. So, we spent time walking outside near the hotel.  We skipped lunch as we had butterflies anyway. Well, I know I did.  We pulled up to the office and came inside the familiar red door room. We only had to wait a few minutes before JiaYun's van pulled up. Those butterflies in my stomach quickly turned to a few tears welling in my eyes. It is such a miracle to experience this.

Her nannies promptly brought her over to us where she proceeded to stand firmly fixed a few feet away, holding tight to her new backpack. She had on her new shoes, a new outfit, new coat and a  very intense focused face. She stared at Kevin and I back and forth for a long time. She did not want to come near or play with the toys we brought or snacks we offered. We didn't push. Her nannies took out her book of the pictures we sent a few months ago. It looked well worn and they told us they showed her the book every day. She kept looking down at the pictures and up at us and down at the pictures and up at us. So much swirling around her little mind.  Her nanny was wonderful. Giving her a kiss now and then and reassuring her we were her parents. I felt an answer to prayer in that moment.

Meeting Josie

I was able to spend a little time asking some questions to the nanny as Kevin and TJ kept letting JiaYun warm up to them. During that time she said "Baba" ('Daddy") for the first time. Still hesitant to get too close, she seemed to be relaxing a very small bit. The time had now come to get our family picture taken. I was instructed to pick her up to take her there. That's when the waterworks started. So, that fun moment is now commemorated forever on her official Adoption Certificate.

We said goodbye to her caregivers and proceeded to the van. She was so sad. Kevin just held her and we sang all the way back to the hotel. Kevin slipped naturally back into "toddler dad mode" and was great with her as I finished up a little more paperwork with our guide back in our hotel room. From about 3:30pm until 9pm we spent slowly getting to know each other. TJ was amazing at responding appropriately to his new sister, offering toys gently, playing next to her if she was not interested yet in playing together. Over the evening, she opened up enough to eat a few snacks, start enjoying some of the toys and even let out a few good smiles. She was held by one of us for quite a few hours, expressing herself loud and clear that she did not want to be put down. We ordered room service so we could have a quiet dinner. She let us feed her and then finally right before bed, she was agreeable to get down from our laps and even ended up running around the hotel room with TJ with some giggles thrown in.

We were even able to do a brief skype conversation with the rest of the kids back home to introduce her. Josie didn't seem to really get what was going on, but Jude, Annie and Ben did. We're excited for them all to meet in person.

Reminiscent of Ben on our first night together, it was obvious that Josie wanted all her clothes and shoes to stay on. She had enough change for one day. Clothes and shoes should stay the same. Fair enough. She also wasn't interested in the crib, but instead fell asleep just like many a baby would prefer, on my chest. Then, like a true toddler co-sleeping with any parent, she assumed many creative sleeping positions during the night, ending perpendicular to the pillows, but surprisingly sleeping through the night.

TJ and I both noted this was our best night of sleep so far in China. When we asked Kevin if it was his best night of sleep, he said "Sure". It wasn't. He just wanted to fit in.  Please keep praying for Kevin as he has a nasty chest cough and he's up a lot in the night.

Overall, we are feeling at peace and super thankful for how our first 24 hours have gone. Josie is super fragile emotionally and is being so very brave. Lord, keep being her rock and safe presence.

Thanks again for your support of our family and little Josie.