This is the 2nd blog post highlighting our adoption trip to China (summarized from Facebook posts made while we were in the country).
November 6, 2015
We are safely in Guangzhou. We arrived, got all our luggage (yay!!!), and met our new guide. As soon as we stepped outside . . . BAM! Humidity! Our guide mentioned that it was "very good" weather for them, so we had high hopes that at least we could take Baby out without having to put a sweater on her or risk getting a stink-eye. We managed the 40-minute drive by playing the "Jelly Belly Guessing Game." That is where Baby fed Daddy and Mommy Jelly Belly's in the dark, and we guessed what we got. And had to eat it. Kinda like Russian Roulette, 2-year-old style.
We arrived at a GORGEOUS hotel! And our suite gives us enough room to entertain a toddler for one more week away from home. The next set of flights will be taking us home in a week! Until then, more adventures in Guangzhou.
November 7, 2015
After breakfast, we hung out in our larger room and got ready to head to the medical exam. I was not looking forward to that whole experience. It was rather routine (think "well visit" for children in America) until the TB test. They do it with a blood test, so the nurse took Baby from Hubby and went into the exam room, closing the door. Listening to her crying was heartbreaking and they brought her back out sweaty from struggling (she can squirm with the best of them when she is mad). I was waiting by the door and got a couple of hugs in before she wanted Daddy.
So yesterday was pretty rough for Baby and me, what with the missing nap and transitioning to a new location. She would not let me comfort her at all at the airport or the plane, and she was testing her boundaries with Hubby all over the place. However, today saw us taking some HUGE strides! [I suspect the new location is moving us into another stage.] She is letting me give her kisses, pick her up more often, and play with her in the room. The biggest win . . . she woke up from nap while we were watching the movie, and we heard her crying. I got to her first and picked her up. She didn't ask for Hubby, let me hug her on the couch for a minute, and then let me give her water and a snack WITHOUT asking for Hubby at all. When she was all settled in, I commented to Hubby that she hadn't asked for him. He admitted to having mixed feelings about it (Daddy loves all the extra cuddles and preference, even if he wants Mommy to get some!).
After nap time today, we found our way to a play room in the East Tower. There were two kids and an adult in there when we arrived, and I quickly realized that the kids belonged to another AAC family! When mom and dad arrived, she was as excited to see me as I was to see her, and we got to spend a wonderful time visiting and comparing our adoption experiences here in-country. What a blessing!
SIDE NOTE: There are 4 American consulates in China, but Guangzhou has the only consulate that issues American visas. Therefore, EVERY family adopting in China eventually ends up in Guangzhou. There are many, many other adoptive families around us right now and we have mostly lost our "rock star" status as the people here are much more used to seeing adoptive families with Chinese children. Oh, well, it was fun while it lasted!
November 8, 2015
We headed over to Shamian Island for some good ol' tourism! This is a classic adoption tour. It is the old French and English quarters, so it looks very much like New Orleans. And feels like it (oh, humidity!). The American consulate used to be there as well, and in the past, it is where a LOT of the adopting families stayed. Not so much these days, but it's a part of the Chinese adoption "history."
I managed to get everything that I wanted to purchase at one of the small shops. An outfit for Baby, surprises for the kids, and some musical instruments! The owner really, REALLY liked me! She told me that I was a good shopper and thanked me for shopping in her store.
We also got a lot of pictures with the statues that are everywhere. Baby LOVED the statues! She looked so adorable today at the "classic" adoption statues that even the Chinese tourists were taking pictures of her. I can't blame them; she is beautiful!
The area down by the river was fascinating. It is where all of the retired people in the area like to spend their mornings, doing calisthenics and playing a version of hacky-sack. I kid you not; they kick it good!
We hit our 1-week anniversary with Baby. In some ways, it's hard to believe it's only been a week! Time moves slowly here as we spend time waiting or in a quiet hotel room with a sleeping toddler. And she is doing SO well after only a week to boot!
At this point, Baby does not seem to be doing any grieving-crying. She DOES cry when she doesn't get her way . . . hey, she is just a 2-year-old! This is much easier to deal with in the room, of course (Daddy started Time Outs 2 days ago). Yesterday after naps, we walked to Aeon (a local department and grocery story). Hubby was looking for a shirt, and Baby was happily wandering with me until I wouldn't let her ride a big-kid scooter. Tears and wailing! I walked her back to Daddy as quickly as I could since she still responds better to correction from him. As I reached him and he got her calmed down, I noticed a security guard and a store employee watching us VERY closely and edging closer. [No, we are NOT kidnapping our daughter.] I do have her passport with me, which I could have shown them if I needed to, but Hubby got her calmed down and we finished our shopping QUICKLY.
November 9, 2015
This morning at 10am, we headed to the Guangzhou Zoo. It required a ride on the subway ("metro"). We are starting to get around like natives. First subway ride, and I had to go to China to get it. We did end up with an extra token after some confusion getting on, but a nice English-speaking local helped us out. A perk to Guangzhou, a LOT more locals speak some English.
The zoo was a lot of fun! They kept telling us it is a "small zoo," so I was picturing something like the Eureka Zoo. This one was NOT that small, and the humidity is 80% today. We made it home without a major meltdown, although we all FELT like we were melting.
November 10, 2015
This morning, we toured the folk art museum and did a little more souvenir shopping. I am really not going crazy with the shopping, but we got some very special items, including some more surprises for the kids.
Baby was in nothing less than a rotten mood! It was really the first time that we had encountered this much 2-year-old. I suspect that she is getting tired of all of the touring and stroller-ing and such. She would be cranky with a rice roller in her hand; she would shriek if Daddy wiped her hands but let me do it; she would let Daddy carry her but not me. It was rather spastic crankiness. We opted not to try a park after the museum.
We walked to a Subway sandwich store for late lunch/early dinner. Very familiar looking food with a few differences. No ranch dressing anywhere that I've found and no yellow mustard. The bacon was a little different but recognizable.
She is definitely bonding more with me. I do a lot of the primary care, like feeding and hand washing and such. That is a key to good bonding if they will let you. She gives me kisses sometimes and let's me carry her. She will still select Hubby if upset and usually goes to him first, but I have upgraded to an acceptable second choice! Woo-hoo!
November 11, 2015
We toured a tomb! I always secretly wanted to be an archaeologist (I blame Indiana Jones). A morbid fact that the tomb had in common with the Egyptian pharaoh's tombs is the burying alive of some concubines, servants, a cook, and a musician to "take care" of the ruler in death. Until the food ran out, that is.
The other family that we have been touring with fly home tomorrow. It will be strange to be out and about without them! Other than their consulate appointment, we have done everything with them! I am feeling sad (although I would probably feel somewhat better if we were flying home tomorrow too!).
November 12, 2015
We woke up early for the consulate appointment. I actually had to set my alarm for 6am since we are finally adjusted enough to sleep past that. Just in time to fly home and get jet lag all over again!
So the consulate appt. Basically, we go the consulate after our guide got Baby's medical report. We leave our bags (and ALL recording devices) checked in and go into a plain ol' DMV-like area. We take a number and wait to be called. We hand them a packet of a bunch of forms and copies. We take an oath that everything in the packet is true to the best of our knowledge. Then we are free to go. Seriously, it felt like a DMV visit with more kids and a small play area.
We did a little more sightseeing of some of the really nice buildings. We also went up to the 70th floor of Guangzhou's 2nd-highest building. The 70th floor is the LOBBY of the Four Seasons hotel. And we thought our hotel was nice! Whew!
We are NOT doing any sightseeing tomorrow! It's our last full day before flying out, and Baby is done, done, done with touring.
November 13, 2015
At this point, we are BORED! For one thing, Baby is tired of touring and tired of restaurants and tired of the stroller. So we limited our excursion yesterday after nap to grabbing some dinner. Even that made her cranky. We know that we have a lovely bedroom suite, but it is rather like a gilded prison at this point. And entertaining a 2-year-old for hours on end can also get . . .
We have the visa!!! And we start flying in less than 24 hours! Woo-hoo!!!! Baby will be a U.S. citizen once we get through immigration in L.A.
November 14, 2015
So our flight(s) home went about as well as we could have hoped! Seriously, I was moderately terrified that we would be miserable for 24 hours straight, but Baby did beautifully! An early nap kept her happy through Flight #1 from Guangzhou to Beijing. 3:30pm to 6:00pm China Time. Then we had a relatively calm layover, enjoying the last of the Chinese culture in the airport. Baby charmed the young man sitting near us in the terminal into sharing his phone with her.
Then we boarded for the long flight (#2) from Beijing to LAX. We had successfully changed our seats from two in one row and one seat behind that to 3 seats in a row. This was a huge answer to prayer and a blessing to boot! Baby was asleep by 9:00pm China Time and slept NINE HOURS! We know it was night for us, but we did not know how well she would sleep on the plane. Granted, she quickly took over her seat AND mine. Luckily, the row behind us only had 1 seat taken, so I moved to the aisle seat behind her and managed about 6 hours of decent dozing.
We landed in LAX 5:00pm PST and made it through immigration, got our tickets for Southwest, and got back through security with 30 minutes to spare. Flight #3 took off at 7:45pm, but it felt like noon to Baby, so she wasn't cranky yet. She also managed to charm the flight attendant into letting her visit the cockpit and meet the pilot. I kid you not, this girl knows she's adorable!
Then we gathered all of our luggage (praise the Lord, it all made it with us!). I was persuaded not to kiss the ground only because of the disgusting amount of shoes that pass through there every day! We then loaded her into the car seat for her first car seat ride. Held our breaths . . . not a peep out of her! She grinned happily, munched on pretzels for a few minutes, and then slept the last hour home. We rolled into town just after midnight. Home Sweet Home!!!!
November 6, 2015
We are safely in Guangzhou. We arrived, got all our luggage (yay!!!), and met our new guide. As soon as we stepped outside . . . BAM! Humidity! Our guide mentioned that it was "very good" weather for them, so we had high hopes that at least we could take Baby out without having to put a sweater on her or risk getting a stink-eye. We managed the 40-minute drive by playing the "Jelly Belly Guessing Game." That is where Baby fed Daddy and Mommy Jelly Belly's in the dark, and we guessed what we got. And had to eat it. Kinda like Russian Roulette, 2-year-old style.
We arrived at a GORGEOUS hotel! And our suite gives us enough room to entertain a toddler for one more week away from home. The next set of flights will be taking us home in a week! Until then, more adventures in Guangzhou.
November 7, 2015
After breakfast, we hung out in our larger room and got ready to head to the medical exam. I was not looking forward to that whole experience. It was rather routine (think "well visit" for children in America) until the TB test. They do it with a blood test, so the nurse took Baby from Hubby and went into the exam room, closing the door. Listening to her crying was heartbreaking and they brought her back out sweaty from struggling (she can squirm with the best of them when she is mad). I was waiting by the door and got a couple of hugs in before she wanted Daddy.
So yesterday was pretty rough for Baby and me, what with the missing nap and transitioning to a new location. She would not let me comfort her at all at the airport or the plane, and she was testing her boundaries with Hubby all over the place. However, today saw us taking some HUGE strides! [I suspect the new location is moving us into another stage.] She is letting me give her kisses, pick her up more often, and play with her in the room. The biggest win . . . she woke up from nap while we were watching the movie, and we heard her crying. I got to her first and picked her up. She didn't ask for Hubby, let me hug her on the couch for a minute, and then let me give her water and a snack WITHOUT asking for Hubby at all. When she was all settled in, I commented to Hubby that she hadn't asked for him. He admitted to having mixed feelings about it (Daddy loves all the extra cuddles and preference, even if he wants Mommy to get some!).
After nap time today, we found our way to a play room in the East Tower. There were two kids and an adult in there when we arrived, and I quickly realized that the kids belonged to another AAC family! When mom and dad arrived, she was as excited to see me as I was to see her, and we got to spend a wonderful time visiting and comparing our adoption experiences here in-country. What a blessing!
SIDE NOTE: There are 4 American consulates in China, but Guangzhou has the only consulate that issues American visas. Therefore, EVERY family adopting in China eventually ends up in Guangzhou. There are many, many other adoptive families around us right now and we have mostly lost our "rock star" status as the people here are much more used to seeing adoptive families with Chinese children. Oh, well, it was fun while it lasted!
November 8, 2015
We headed over to Shamian Island for some good ol' tourism! This is a classic adoption tour. It is the old French and English quarters, so it looks very much like New Orleans. And feels like it (oh, humidity!). The American consulate used to be there as well, and in the past, it is where a LOT of the adopting families stayed. Not so much these days, but it's a part of the Chinese adoption "history."
I managed to get everything that I wanted to purchase at one of the small shops. An outfit for Baby, surprises for the kids, and some musical instruments! The owner really, REALLY liked me! She told me that I was a good shopper and thanked me for shopping in her store.
We also got a lot of pictures with the statues that are everywhere. Baby LOVED the statues! She looked so adorable today at the "classic" adoption statues that even the Chinese tourists were taking pictures of her. I can't blame them; she is beautiful!
The area down by the river was fascinating. It is where all of the retired people in the area like to spend their mornings, doing calisthenics and playing a version of hacky-sack. I kid you not; they kick it good!
We hit our 1-week anniversary with Baby. In some ways, it's hard to believe it's only been a week! Time moves slowly here as we spend time waiting or in a quiet hotel room with a sleeping toddler. And she is doing SO well after only a week to boot!
At this point, Baby does not seem to be doing any grieving-crying. She DOES cry when she doesn't get her way . . . hey, she is just a 2-year-old! This is much easier to deal with in the room, of course (Daddy started Time Outs 2 days ago). Yesterday after naps, we walked to Aeon (a local department and grocery story). Hubby was looking for a shirt, and Baby was happily wandering with me until I wouldn't let her ride a big-kid scooter. Tears and wailing! I walked her back to Daddy as quickly as I could since she still responds better to correction from him. As I reached him and he got her calmed down, I noticed a security guard and a store employee watching us VERY closely and edging closer. [No, we are NOT kidnapping our daughter.] I do have her passport with me, which I could have shown them if I needed to, but Hubby got her calmed down and we finished our shopping QUICKLY.
November 9, 2015
This morning at 10am, we headed to the Guangzhou Zoo. It required a ride on the subway ("metro"). We are starting to get around like natives. First subway ride, and I had to go to China to get it. We did end up with an extra token after some confusion getting on, but a nice English-speaking local helped us out. A perk to Guangzhou, a LOT more locals speak some English.
The zoo was a lot of fun! They kept telling us it is a "small zoo," so I was picturing something like the Eureka Zoo. This one was NOT that small, and the humidity is 80% today. We made it home without a major meltdown, although we all FELT like we were melting.
November 10, 2015
This morning, we toured the folk art museum and did a little more souvenir shopping. I am really not going crazy with the shopping, but we got some very special items, including some more surprises for the kids.
Baby was in nothing less than a rotten mood! It was really the first time that we had encountered this much 2-year-old. I suspect that she is getting tired of all of the touring and stroller-ing and such. She would be cranky with a rice roller in her hand; she would shriek if Daddy wiped her hands but let me do it; she would let Daddy carry her but not me. It was rather spastic crankiness. We opted not to try a park after the museum.
We walked to a Subway sandwich store for late lunch/early dinner. Very familiar looking food with a few differences. No ranch dressing anywhere that I've found and no yellow mustard. The bacon was a little different but recognizable.
She is definitely bonding more with me. I do a lot of the primary care, like feeding and hand washing and such. That is a key to good bonding if they will let you. She gives me kisses sometimes and let's me carry her. She will still select Hubby if upset and usually goes to him first, but I have upgraded to an acceptable second choice! Woo-hoo!
November 11, 2015
We toured a tomb! I always secretly wanted to be an archaeologist (I blame Indiana Jones). A morbid fact that the tomb had in common with the Egyptian pharaoh's tombs is the burying alive of some concubines, servants, a cook, and a musician to "take care" of the ruler in death. Until the food ran out, that is.
The other family that we have been touring with fly home tomorrow. It will be strange to be out and about without them! Other than their consulate appointment, we have done everything with them! I am feeling sad (although I would probably feel somewhat better if we were flying home tomorrow too!).
November 12, 2015
We woke up early for the consulate appointment. I actually had to set my alarm for 6am since we are finally adjusted enough to sleep past that. Just in time to fly home and get jet lag all over again!
So the consulate appt. Basically, we go the consulate after our guide got Baby's medical report. We leave our bags (and ALL recording devices) checked in and go into a plain ol' DMV-like area. We take a number and wait to be called. We hand them a packet of a bunch of forms and copies. We take an oath that everything in the packet is true to the best of our knowledge. Then we are free to go. Seriously, it felt like a DMV visit with more kids and a small play area.
We did a little more sightseeing of some of the really nice buildings. We also went up to the 70th floor of Guangzhou's 2nd-highest building. The 70th floor is the LOBBY of the Four Seasons hotel. And we thought our hotel was nice! Whew!
We are NOT doing any sightseeing tomorrow! It's our last full day before flying out, and Baby is done, done, done with touring.
November 13, 2015
At this point, we are BORED! For one thing, Baby is tired of touring and tired of restaurants and tired of the stroller. So we limited our excursion yesterday after nap to grabbing some dinner. Even that made her cranky. We know that we have a lovely bedroom suite, but it is rather like a gilded prison at this point. And entertaining a 2-year-old for hours on end can also get . . .
We have the visa!!! And we start flying in less than 24 hours! Woo-hoo!!!! Baby will be a U.S. citizen once we get through immigration in L.A.
November 14, 2015
So our flight(s) home went about as well as we could have hoped! Seriously, I was moderately terrified that we would be miserable for 24 hours straight, but Baby did beautifully! An early nap kept her happy through Flight #1 from Guangzhou to Beijing. 3:30pm to 6:00pm China Time. Then we had a relatively calm layover, enjoying the last of the Chinese culture in the airport. Baby charmed the young man sitting near us in the terminal into sharing his phone with her.
Then we boarded for the long flight (#2) from Beijing to LAX. We had successfully changed our seats from two in one row and one seat behind that to 3 seats in a row. This was a huge answer to prayer and a blessing to boot! Baby was asleep by 9:00pm China Time and slept NINE HOURS! We know it was night for us, but we did not know how well she would sleep on the plane. Granted, she quickly took over her seat AND mine. Luckily, the row behind us only had 1 seat taken, so I moved to the aisle seat behind her and managed about 6 hours of decent dozing.
We landed in LAX 5:00pm PST and made it through immigration, got our tickets for Southwest, and got back through security with 30 minutes to spare. Flight #3 took off at 7:45pm, but it felt like noon to Baby, so she wasn't cranky yet. She also managed to charm the flight attendant into letting her visit the cockpit and meet the pilot. I kid you not, this girl knows she's adorable!
Then we gathered all of our luggage (praise the Lord, it all made it with us!). I was persuaded not to kiss the ground only because of the disgusting amount of shoes that pass through there every day! We then loaded her into the car seat for her first car seat ride. Held our breaths . . . not a peep out of her! She grinned happily, munched on pretzels for a few minutes, and then slept the last hour home. We rolled into town just after midnight. Home Sweet Home!!!!
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