Hi everyone. This is my first chance to blog since we've been home. Xinxin is sleeping and I'm multitasking (blogging, laundry, tidying up).
We had a pretty uneventful trip home, thankfully. All of the flights within China were delayed, so we were pretty worried about the flight home with the little man. It worked out pretty decently - except for a train wreck of a time trying to get from Beijing airport to the hotel on the 11th. The flight was, of course, late and by the time we landed, the shuttle was not operational. So we had to hail a cab and hope the driver knew the hotel. Well, he didn't. So we got out of the cab, Tom's backpack opened up and stuff fell all over the street. I was carrying Xinxin in the Ergo pack on my chest, so we're going crazy trying to get everything picked up. We go back into the airport and Tom finds someone to write the hotel name down in Chinese and we head back out to try it again. At this point, I am SO DONE with China. I have an overtired, cranky child having a fit in my arms, we're missing stuff and trying to get our bags, etc. together. We get back on the taxi line and get a driver that takes us to the hotel. Our 3 hour flight turned into an 8 1/2 hour travesty. Why does the adoption agency schedule flights so late when nothing runs on time in China????
We've been home for just over a week now and have been adjusting to life with Xinxin and he's been adjusting to life with us. It's been interesting - sometimes fun, sometimes challenging, always happy to have him in our lives. He is a very energetic, smart boy and we can't wait to see him thrive here.
This past week we've spent together - the three of us, but tomorrow Tom goes back to work. I will miss his help tremendously. We've been to Lake Ronkonkoma, Atlantis Marine World and The LI Game Farm. Xinxin loves animals. You can see photos of our first day home and the Lake trip here, photos of the Atlantis outing here and photos of the trip to the Game Farm here.
Off to switch the laundry before he wakes up and misses me. Mommy can't stray too farm from him right now.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Leaving Guangzhou
We leave Guangzhou today and fly to Beijing. We are staying overnight at a hotel at the airport and we leave tomorrow (Saturday) for home!!!
We had breakfast with the McDonalds and Printys and lunch with the McDonalds. It was hard to leave them. I started crying when we left their room. They have been with us pretty much the whole way. They are wonderful people and helped us out a lot. It was hard to say goodbye to them.
We had breakfast with the McDonalds and Printys and lunch with the McDonalds. It was hard to leave them. I started crying when we left their room. They have been with us pretty much the whole way. They are wonderful people and helped us out a lot. It was hard to say goodbye to them.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Red Couch Photo Day
Today was the red couch photo for everyone in our group. All the kids were in traditional Chinese dress. Xinxin got a haircut yesterday and he looked fantastic. My boy is beautiful.
You can see the pictures from the haircut (they had a cute kitten in the salon) and the photo session here.
You can see the pictures from the haircut (they had a cute kitten in the salon) and the photo session here.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Zoo
We went ot the zoo today. Xinxin was excited to see the tigers and the lions. We got some good video of a lion roaring. I tried uploading it, but it's not working.
The strange thing was that they only gave us an hour and a half to tour the zoo, something which we could have spent 3 hours touring at our leisure, had lunch, etc. As it was, we had to race around like crazy people in the unbelievable heat and humidity. We didn't get to see everything, but at least Xinxin got to see the lions and tigers. Click here to see the photos.
The strange thing was that they only gave us an hour and a half to tour the zoo, something which we could have spent 3 hours touring at our leisure, had lunch, etc. As it was, we had to race around like crazy people in the unbelievable heat and humidity. We didn't get to see everything, but at least Xinxin got to see the lions and tigers. Click here to see the photos.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Guangzhou
We are finally in Guangzhou, starting the second leg of our trip.
The trip here was terrible; a 5 hour flight (with connection) turned into an 11 hour nightmare. Xinxin was pretty good throughout the process, although very restless. He's an energetic little guy (even when sick), so it was hard for him to be stuck in a seat. He is also back to "Mama, mama, mama" all the time and really only tolerates Baba at specific times - mealtime, bath time and when they are playing.
We had to wake him up in the middle of his nap in order to get out the hotel and to the airport, then we were stuck in the airport for a couple of hours before the flight. Then they load us onto a bus to take us to the plane and we sit there for 15 minutes (an eternity for a toddler). Then we get on the plane and we're delayed for over an hour. I finally get Xinxin to sleep and we land at one of the smallest airports I've ever seen. We get off the plane, walk across the tarmac, then stand in a lobby for about 10 minutes, then back on another plane, then we're delayed again! ARGH!!! I finally get Xinxin to sleep, then we land in Guangzhou. We got to the hotel at 1 AM and find out there's no crib. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? We get up to the room and I get him into bed with me to try and get him to sleep and he's completely punch drunk a this point. We hear a knock at the door and there's the crib. Thank God!
This morning we get up around 7:30, we all bathe and go to breakfast, where we run into the McDonald's, who traveled with us to Harbin. They are really good people and we've enjoyed all the time we've spent with them. We also ran into a couple of the other families that we started the trip with in Beijing. It was wonderful to see everyone with their kids.
At 10 AM we met in the lobby to go for the medical exam and TB test. The place was a swap meet. People everywhere (I'll post pictures here. We figured we were in for a long wait, but it went pretty quickly. Thankfully, we didn't have to have all the shots for Xinxin, since we are a non-Hague family. He just had to have the TB test shot. Our guide told him that he was going to get a shot, then a piece of candy and he took it like a trooper. The kid likes his candy. Chip off the old block!
We're in the room now. Xinxin and Tom are taking a nap. We've all been sick the past couple of days. Xinxin came to us with a runny and stuffy nose, diarrhea and a cough and he's passed the cough and head cold to his Mama and Baba. Thanks kid. :o)
More later.
The trip here was terrible; a 5 hour flight (with connection) turned into an 11 hour nightmare. Xinxin was pretty good throughout the process, although very restless. He's an energetic little guy (even when sick), so it was hard for him to be stuck in a seat. He is also back to "Mama, mama, mama" all the time and really only tolerates Baba at specific times - mealtime, bath time and when they are playing.
We had to wake him up in the middle of his nap in order to get out the hotel and to the airport, then we were stuck in the airport for a couple of hours before the flight. Then they load us onto a bus to take us to the plane and we sit there for 15 minutes (an eternity for a toddler). Then we get on the plane and we're delayed for over an hour. I finally get Xinxin to sleep and we land at one of the smallest airports I've ever seen. We get off the plane, walk across the tarmac, then stand in a lobby for about 10 minutes, then back on another plane, then we're delayed again! ARGH!!! I finally get Xinxin to sleep, then we land in Guangzhou. We got to the hotel at 1 AM and find out there's no crib. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? We get up to the room and I get him into bed with me to try and get him to sleep and he's completely punch drunk a this point. We hear a knock at the door and there's the crib. Thank God!
This morning we get up around 7:30, we all bathe and go to breakfast, where we run into the McDonald's, who traveled with us to Harbin. They are really good people and we've enjoyed all the time we've spent with them. We also ran into a couple of the other families that we started the trip with in Beijing. It was wonderful to see everyone with their kids.
At 10 AM we met in the lobby to go for the medical exam and TB test. The place was a swap meet. People everywhere (I'll post pictures here. We figured we were in for a long wait, but it went pretty quickly. Thankfully, we didn't have to have all the shots for Xinxin, since we are a non-Hague family. He just had to have the TB test shot. Our guide told him that he was going to get a shot, then a piece of candy and he took it like a trooper. The kid likes his candy. Chip off the old block!
We're in the room now. Xinxin and Tom are taking a nap. We've all been sick the past couple of days. Xinxin came to us with a runny and stuffy nose, diarrhea and a cough and he's passed the cough and head cold to his Mama and Baba. Thanks kid. :o)
More later.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Gotcha Day Video
Click here to see our Gotcha Day video. It all happened so fast (the kids were supposed to arrive late and showed up early with no warning), that when he walked into the room, Tom just dropped the video camera.
The video is sideways, but you can see us with Jacob. As I get more time (when will that be?), I'll upload more videos from the trip.
The video is sideways, but you can see us with Jacob. As I get more time (when will that be?), I'll upload more videos from the trip.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
My thoughts so far...
It's June 2nd (I think). It's 1:46 in the afternoon. Xinxin is still sleeping and I'm so happy that he's finally napping.
It has been a roller coaster ride so far - so happy to have him, so tired from not sleeping (he hasn't wanted daddy at all - all mommy, all the time). This morning, Tom was able to distract him long enough for me to take a shower unwatched. He goes to the bathroom with me, runs after me wherever I go.
He is starting to misbehave which is good, because he's getting comfortable and adjusting to us. I feel bad when I have to discipline him because he looks so upset, but it has to be done. He must have had his caretakers at the orphanage wrapped around his finger because whenever he does something wrong, he goes into "cute boy" mode, tilting his head and smiling at me. They told me on gotcha day that he gets a lot of attention because he is so cute and I can see he knows how to work the system.
He is also a tremendous flirt. Every morning he flirts with the waitresses in the restaurant and every woman he sees in the lobby and wherever we go. He is absolutely adorable and has quite a personality on him.
The process so far has been okay, a little long in spots but okay. Yesterday (the Chinese legal ceremony) took forever. The kids had to see their caretakers again, which didn't go over too well for the other family. Poor Huahua was inconsolable after seeing her caretaker again. Xinxin was a little better.
It's been pretty hard on Tom; even though we expected him to bond to one over the other, it's hard for him. He's a little frustrated, but I told him soon enough he won't be able to shake him and he'll wish he was back hanging on me.
Off to do a few things before my little man wakes up.
More later...
It has been a roller coaster ride so far - so happy to have him, so tired from not sleeping (he hasn't wanted daddy at all - all mommy, all the time). This morning, Tom was able to distract him long enough for me to take a shower unwatched. He goes to the bathroom with me, runs after me wherever I go.
He is starting to misbehave which is good, because he's getting comfortable and adjusting to us. I feel bad when I have to discipline him because he looks so upset, but it has to be done. He must have had his caretakers at the orphanage wrapped around his finger because whenever he does something wrong, he goes into "cute boy" mode, tilting his head and smiling at me. They told me on gotcha day that he gets a lot of attention because he is so cute and I can see he knows how to work the system.
He is also a tremendous flirt. Every morning he flirts with the waitresses in the restaurant and every woman he sees in the lobby and wherever we go. He is absolutely adorable and has quite a personality on him.
The process so far has been okay, a little long in spots but okay. Yesterday (the Chinese legal ceremony) took forever. The kids had to see their caretakers again, which didn't go over too well for the other family. Poor Huahua was inconsolable after seeing her caretaker again. Xinxin was a little better.
It's been pretty hard on Tom; even though we expected him to bond to one over the other, it's hard for him. He's a little frustrated, but I told him soon enough he won't be able to shake him and he'll wish he was back hanging on me.
Off to do a few things before my little man wakes up.
More later...
Second Visit to Civil Affairs & Tiger Park Visit
Click here for photos from our second visit to Civil Affairs (at the end of the "24 hour harmonious period"), where we became a forever family in the eyes of the Chinese government and for photos from Tiger Park, which Jacob absolutely loved.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Gotcha Day!!
Gotchas Day went by so fast, we didn't get any video of him entering the room or the hand-off. Mostly because they told us they were going to be late getting in from the orphanage, then they just walked into the room. There really wasn't a hand-off, since Jacob came into the room and came right over to us when he saw us.
He kept wanting to go with his caretaker, which is understandable,m since she's been a constant in his life, but he seemed to adjust pretty well that day once we left.
He spins around like the second hand on a clock when he sleeps. He slept with us the first night, but we put him in the crib once he fell asleep last night. That was my first night's sleep since we got here. I really needed it; I was exhausted.
He wants mommy all the time. Always up, always mommy. We're calling him Xinxin right now (pronounced Zhen Zhen), so we don't confuse him. We're slowly atarting to work some English in, but we want to take it slow on the trip.
He's absolutely adorable, and I love him more than I can say.
He's obviously starting to feel more comfortable with us, since he's starting to misbehave. All expected; no surprises so far.
Don't forget to check out the photos on photobucket. Click here for Gotcha Day.
More later, as time - and Jacob - permit.
He kept wanting to go with his caretaker, which is understandable,m since she's been a constant in his life, but he seemed to adjust pretty well that day once we left.
He spins around like the second hand on a clock when he sleeps. He slept with us the first night, but we put him in the crib once he fell asleep last night. That was my first night's sleep since we got here. I really needed it; I was exhausted.
He wants mommy all the time. Always up, always mommy. We're calling him Xinxin right now (pronounced Zhen Zhen), so we don't confuse him. We're slowly atarting to work some English in, but we want to take it slow on the trip.
He's absolutely adorable, and I love him more than I can say.
He's obviously starting to feel more comfortable with us, since he's starting to misbehave. All expected; no surprises so far.
Don't forget to check out the photos on photobucket. Click here for Gotcha Day.
More later, as time - and Jacob - permit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)