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For our group, they arrived on Saturday pm and we received our daughters Monday morning...after a Sunday tour of Shanghai (we had to do something while waiting for our flight to Anhui...after checking out of the hotel).

Steve and I went a week early and had pretty well recovered from the trip.  The other families were beat.  Tongling is really good.  They brought us the babies in the morning (as planned).  They had been brought to Hefei the night before and were bathed, well rested, and fed when handed to us.

Olivia was a "screamer."  It took us a couple of days to realize she wasn't used to being held so much and needed the distance of a stroller.  Other babies were like velcro.  All were the same age...and abandoned at about the same time.  They were chunky, thin, tall, skinny, strong, weak.  They pooped all day.....some were constipated for days.  They used any bottle nipple...some were picky.  They shut down for 2-3 days.....some screamed bloody murder for 2-3 days...some were just quieter than normal for 2-3 days.

Olivia was thin as a rail, clean as could be, and SCREAMED at everything!!!   We jokingly called Daddy "White Devil Daddy" because of her reaction. On the 3rd day, she started laughing and smiling. We went down to dinner and she discoved that you could: swing noodles around like lariots, dump feet in chocolate pudding...etc. All of a sudden this sullen, miserable child started laughing her head off. Our travel companions were amazed.   Olivia remains happy all of the time, well adjusted, and charming to this day.

Be prepared for ANYTHING the first 3-4 days (sometimes longer). Each personality was different.

The one aggravation that we had with our travels was that the Chinese don't write extensive schedules and lists (which I am soooo accustomed to!).  Things feel a little loose, not precise. It kind of makes you a little confused and nervous. After a little while we realized this is just how they do business.....go with the flow. They do know what they are doing!!!!

You will also find that they LOVE to give speeches!!!  It's a polite formality and actually another joy.  Although you probably won't hear a word in a room of crying babies, appreciate the Chinese ways.