The best things in life are definitely worth waiting for….as we’ve learned from the incredible joy that Kaylee and Madison have brought to our lives. We’ve been waiting for TWO YEARS to hold little Jenna….and we are so excited that she will finally be joining our family in just a few more days!!!

This is the first picture we received of Jenna (Huai Xin Ying)—the one that Kaylee and Madison saw on the computer screen and wouldn’t stop hugging and kissing.

We were told that “Huai” is the last name of all of the children at that orphanage (named after the city of HuaiHua), “Xin” means “new”, and “Ying” means “intelligent”. They told us that she has a ready smile, is fond of listening to music and playing games, is active, and that she loves brightly colored toys that make noise. (And instantly we knew that she was meant to be part of our family!!!)

The next day, we received two more pictures, which were taken in January, when Jenna was four months old. Madison woke up the following morning, went out to the living room, grabbed these two pictures and brought them in to me in bed. Half asleep still, I said, “Are you excited about your baby?” and with a very sad voice she said, “no.” Immediately I woke up and said, “You’re not? Why not? What’s wrong?” To which she replied, very sincerely, “Me baby have no hands, MaMa.” She was VERY relieved to know that the nannies had just dressed her up in clothes that were too big for her, and her hands were really hiding inside. :)
 

A couple weeks later, we were thrilled to get two more recent pictures of Jenna, taken in May, as well as a report from her orphanage. I can’t tell you how many hours we’ve spent staring at her sweet little face. (And yes, Madison still points out that she really does, indeed, have hands!

The orphanage report told us where she was found, what she was wearing, and that her birthmother left milk formula and a milk bottle with her. That alone, brought tears to my eyes. Based on her physical development, the doctor estimated that she was about five days old, and assigned her a birth date of September 2nd. The staff at the orphanage named her Huai Xin Ying. They said, “ ‘Xin Ying’ means novel and different from others, which carries our hope that she can grow up happily.”

“Huai Xin Ying is an active little girl who is not afraid of strangers and loves to smile. She is very intelligent. She normally likes to “communicate” with adults. She especially likes to listen to children’s songs while lying in an adult’s arms to talk at the same time. When she is happy, she can make “yaya” sounds, as if she is communicating with people. She likes to be with other children and play games with adults. She enjoys it when her hands are touched and her face is kissed. (Good thing! I hope she’s ready to be attacked with kisses from her two big sisters!!!) When she feels bored staying on the bed, she will roll over, kick off the blanket and open her arms asking to be held. Huai Xin Ying likes the toys that can make noise and be held by hand to shake. She cries when going to bed, and often kicks off the blanket in the evening. Huai Xin Ying is a good, healthy, and lovely little baby.”

We will always be grateful to the nannies at HuaiHua SWI for taking care of Jenna these last nine months.