Swim date with Grandma

Amelia loves the water. Splashes and laughs until she splashes her own face. Then she gets really serious for a minute, before giggling and starting again! She's so funny, and was so good at the pool today. We were there for over 2.5 hours and we had a picnic, splashed in the pool, and she lounged about and played in her stroller. There was a nice breeze, so it wasn't too hot.

Happy Thursday

3 happy China babies, Emily, Kailee, and Amelia

Amelia and I met our friends Daphne and Emily, and Sonia and Kailee at the mall for some retail therapy. Baby duds were the order of the day, and we found some great sales.

Something must be interesting over there, huh?

Then Grandma came over to play, and Amelia kept us on our toes. She is a happy, silly, girl.

Dad and Amelia winding down at the end of the day

who knew an average thursday could be so sweet?

Home 6 days

Home 6 days? Time flies! Amelia is doing beautifully. Mommy is happy but tired, and hanging in there. In China, Miss Amelia slept 12 hour nights without getting up. At home, she wakes between 2:30 and 3:30 ready to PLAY! And is down right ticked off when mommy wants to sleep ;O we're gradually working our schedule around to get the days and nights back in the proper order. If jet lag is hard for adults, imagine how puzzling it is for a 10 month old. Not to mention all the changes she's faced in a 2 week period. The first couple of days are a challenge--be prepared for that.......Because you are all worn out, jet lagged, and out of sorts. Remember my first post from home about "oh, I think we'll be on a regular schedule after tonight?" uh......That didn't quite pan out :) you can never fault me for a lack of optimism right?

But! We are also having fun! Amelia has learned to make a fishy face and does it constantly--she looks so proud. When I pick her up in the mornings she does the fishy face and then giggles. So, so cute. She's also learned to dance. She has this little piano toy (thanks Diana) and we turn on the music and bounce and giggle. See pic below. She's really cutting a rug

Wondering when her hair will grow ;) they shave the back of the head at the orphanage to cut down on problems with lice and because they don't have air conditioning--the heat is incredible. Strangely, the right side is growing back but not the left?

We're still working on our eating. Right now I'm only feeding rice cereal mixed with formula, because that's about all she'll take from a spoon...........And still does that a little begrudgingly. She looks like she wants to cry when you sneak a bite in there, but we clap and sing and give her all kinds of positive reinforcement, so she just stares and usually smiles a little in spite of herself.

On day 6, I realized that I really had to get out of the house! Having Amelia home is wonderful, but between having our sleep/wake schedule turned around and being cooped up in the house, I was starting to feel like we were living in some weird twilight zone of bottles, diapers, and no real contrast between nights and days.

We were up half the night and then slept from 6:30 to almost noon. I woke up thinking "we're just never going to get this turned around" so here's what we did:

I curled my hair, put on some lipstick, treated Amelia and I to lunch at Chick fil-A and then a trip to Target. I felt like a NEW WOMAN. When you've been home several days and caught up on your rest, strap sister girl in her car seat and get out of the house!

You wont regret it!

Congratulations Jill and Stephanie!!!!!!!!!

Chloe, dtr of Stephanie and David, mei mei to Keegan--- webisite is papa sam link to the left

Liza Sarah, daughter of Jill and Seth, mei mei to Max and Mia

Love referral day! Congrats to all the new families made yesterday!

China Trip Tips

some of these things you've heard before............But some of them bear repeating.....

Things I packed and actually used

• Thermos--I would boil water, fill the thermos, and it was good for about 3 bottles. This was nice when we had to be out touring because Amelia likes her bottles decidedly warm.

• 3 Section Formula Dispenser---Loved it. I kept it filled for feedings outside of the hotel, but also for nights and early mornings. Who wants to stand there counting out formula scoops and boiling water when you are half asleep? I would get everything ready before bed and the first bottle of the day could be made with my eyes closed!

• Small scissors ---I did have to cut an x hole in the nipples because Amelia was used to getting cereal through her bottle, not a spoon. Also used these to cut open her formula packages.
• Amoxycillan---Even though we were at the White Swan the whole time and there is a medical clinic there, we were glad to have an antibiotic with us, since you can only get 2 days worth of meds at a time. You essentially have to go back every other day to see the doc to get baby meds, and its just easier if you have your own supply.
• BABY MOTRIN--- Amelia is teething and I like motrin better than tylenol. I would take 2 baby motrins next time, instead of one of each.
• Triple Antibiotic cream--didn't think we'd need this, but then she had a big ole boil on the back of her head. Cleared it right up.
• Diapers--took a pack of 28--size 3 cruisers. We didn't get to the store until we had her for 3 days, so having diapers with us was a must.
• Plastic bibs---I didn't like the disposables because her neck is so little, the formula would run right under it. The plastic ones were reusable and fit snugly.
• 2 bottles and 3 nipples--50 disposable liners. This was plenty of each. Amelia had no trouble with the bottles or nipples we brought, although we did have to cut larger holes in the nipple we used for mixing formula and cereal
• stage 1 prunes---you can buy a prune-pumpkin baby food there, but if you want to use it the first day and don't get to the store for several days.......
• baby bowls with lids and spoons---she wouldn't use them, but we used them to mix tuna salad for ourselves.
• plastic bags in quart and gallon sizes---used for formula once the pack was open, used for all sorts of things.
• changing pad---started using after I had to request my sheets be changed twice.
• scented diaper disposal bags---small hotel room, stinky diapers, you get the picture. We ran out of these, and used the rest of the zip loc bags on the plane.
• 7 jammies and 2 baby outfits for each day we had the baby. Babies need to be changed a lot, and I was glad to have enough outfits to change her as often as I wanted in between washings.
• Chinese lullaby CD
• about 5 toys
• 3 lite blankets--lost one, but still had 2--airplanes are cool and the babies aren't used to AC
• Cipro and all kinds of over the counter meds for us. Great to have in case!
• hair clips---soooooo hot and humid, you'll want your hair off your neck.
• small notebook and pen
• 7 days worth of clothes for us---we only had to do laundry once
• laptop--not essential, but I wouldn't have blogged much at all without one. Its nice to be able to upload some pics during naps and after bed time. I was too tired during those times to be traipsing down to the business center or over to blendz. I needed to rest when she rested.
• healthy snacks--we took tuna pouches and lite Mayo and trail mix. You can buy cookies and chips at the 7-11 but if you want something a little healthier, these worked well for us. Sometimes we weren't hungry for lunch but wanted a little something.
• envelopes to divide your fees into different envelopes and label with the contents. Change the amount of money you'll need for the whole week, and divide out how much you need to take with you daily. Each day you can then just grab the appropriate envelope out of the safe.

didn't bother to take or didn't need

• clothes line
• duct tape
• panda phone
• baby tub
• tooth brushes--have in all hotels
• lotion and shower soap for us---we all used the baby stuff--saved space, and I love aveeno baby products anyway.
• didn't use the waist pouches because they were so uncomfortable. We used our neck pouches instead, although this may not be the safest option?
• book--who can focus on a book when your whole life is in metamorphosis?
• pacifiers---she didn't want them, and we could have bought one there if she did use one.

General Tips

• We bought a stroller for 23 U.S. bucks and its a good stroller. It reclines to 3 positions, folds easily, has adjustable handles etc. It was a good stroller for a great price, and I WOULD NOT attempt to get throughout he airports without one. You'll be tired enough as it is. We'll take it to grandma's for a second stroller.
• Beatrice' grocery is 4 blocks from the White Swan. Its cheaper than the 7-11 and has much more variety. You can get all kinds of baby supplies there, as well as western products if you forgot anything for yourself.
• When buying Chinese pampers, DO NOT BUY THE RED PACKAGE. The green pack is more comparable to the quality we have here.
• They say you cant take bags into the American Consulate for the oath. I saw lots of people with small diaper bags. Amelia cried through the whole oath because she needed a fresh diaper and was hungry. I had all those supplies on the bus, but we got held up there an extra 40 minutes, and I could have attended to her needs if I had taken in my bag. Again....LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE DID! You just have to run it though the x-ray machine.
• I always were jeans to travel---the airports in China are very hot, and jeans are a miserable choice in that kind of humidity. Do yourself a favor---leave the jeans at home.
• GUARANTEE YOURSELF A THIRD SEAT ON THE PLANE UNLESS YOU DO BUSINESS CLASS. AND TAKE BENEDRYL!
• As mentioned earlier, its much easier to change the money for all the fees the first of the week. Label an envelope for each day and divide out your money into the appropriate envelope. Grab the envelope for the day as you walk out the door. This is much easier, since you'll be fairly distracted with a new baby.
• You get a much better deal at the shops in Guangzhou if you buy multiple items from the same place. Our favorites were "A Home of Love" right by the White Swan, and "Jordans Place"
• The zoo excursion in Guangzhou is only fun if your baby likes to cruise in the stroller---otherwise its just a walking sauna carrying a soggy baby. Luckily, Amelia loves her stroller.
• We got our laundry done a second time right before we packed for home. It comes back clean, fresh smelling, pressed and neatly packed in airtight bags which save space in the suitcase and gives you clean wardrobe when you get home. dont you hate to come home from a trip with loads of laundry to do?
• Best comfort food for travel weary parents: Lucy's bar and grill---chicken fingers and fries, tomato soup and grilled cheese, diet coke, ice cream etc. OR order in Danny's bagel for great bagels with cream cheese, chicken Parmesan and pasta, great turkey clubs and Italian subs. Pizza's are "ok". We did this 4 nights, because sometimes, you just aren't in the mood to eat out, and sometimes you and your baby are pooped. :0

I unpacked the suitcases today, and boy was I all teary eyed and sentimental about our China trip. Some days when we were there, I just couldn't wait to get home; and now that we're home, I sometimes wish I were still there...........Life's funny that way.

China's like living in a lovely snow globe. A separate world inside a bubble, where time stands still..............And its just you, and your husband, and your baby, marveling together at the wonders of becoming a family, in a strange and exotic world.

What a Sweetheart

As you can see, Brody thinks he's Amelia's guardian angel. If she whimpers or cries, he's "Johnny on the Spot" checkin out the situation. She isn't afraid of him at all. Matter of fact, she lets out a little giggle every time he barks.

This is a great toy. Its the Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl. Its great for playing while sitting up, lying down or tummy time. When she begins to crawl, it can be made into a tunnel. She loves it!

This is Amelia falling asleep in her exersaucer. I was trying to keep her up since daddy doesn't get home from work until 6:00 and wanted to snuggle his little girl before she turns in for the night. She was so exhausted when we got home that keeping her up has been a challenge, but I've been trying not to let her get her days and nights mixed up---case in point---we were all up at 3:30 a.m. today because we slept too much yesterday!

We're Home!

We're home! Who can believe it? Its funny, Jimmy and I were sitting in the airport and I remember saying " Can you believe we get to take her home?" Its all so surreal--I've used that word a million times in the past month, but it just IS. All of it........The trip to China and now having her here at home. surreal and wonderful.

She's doing well! She just ate her first solid food--very messily and not a large amount, but its a start! Oatmeal with applesauce, thank you very much! She has been getting all of her feeding via a bottle, which a lot of orphanages do to save time---lots of babies to feed, so they often put the food in the bottles mixed with formula. We didn't want to stress her out too much in China, so we tried to be consistent with what she was used to. I am going to sit her in the high chair twice per day now that we're home, and introduce her to food and eating with a spoon. She still doesn't love it and sometimes still clamps her lips shut, but actually did some appreciative smacking and grinning today, so I think we're on our way.

last night she slept from about 8:30 till 10:00 and then from 11:00 until 4:30. We all went back to bed at 6:30 a.m. and slept until 11:00 she then took ANOTHER nap from 12:30 until almost 2:00. Its 5:00 now, and she has been really sleepy for the past hour or so. I'm keeping her up and will do an early bed time. The reason she has slept so well is because she (and we) came home completely exhausted. We looked like survivors of some catastrophe, and I'm pretty sure we all smelled. I said I would be honest about my experience, good or bad, so here goes. China was wonderful. The first couple of days after gotcha were a little rough but we were completely amazed to be parents, so we just rolled with it. After about 3 days, we fell into our rhythm a and had a great time. The flight home though, was torture, and Jimmy and I agree that this was the hardest 20 plus hours of our entire life. During the last 2 hours of the flight from san Fran to Atlanta, I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown and Amelia and I cried together during the final meltdown :)--from sheer exhaustion. And no, we did not use the benadryl. I bet you guessed that already. Our pediatrician said it was fine to use it to make her sleep on the plane, but that we should experiment with it first in China, because it makes some kids agitated and wide awake where they CANT sleep. Amelia was so easy going in China and fell asleep for naps wherever we happened to be, so we didn't think we needed the Benadryl and Jimmy is very anti-medication unless absolutely necessary. We were so confident we didn't need the ventral that we packed it in the checked bags----and because we never experimented with it to see if it made her drowsy or wild. I'm telling you this for a reason. TRY THE BENADRYL! TAKE IT WITH YOU IN CASE! And the other lesson is THANK GOD we had a third seat for her because if we hadn't had it on the long flight, I would have had my own meltdown much earlier :)

She would fall asleep for about a half hour and wake up screaming. THE WHOLE TRIP. You know the upside of that though? She came home tired enough to go to bed last night and is pretty much close to her normal schedule. Woo! That's why I didn't let her take a third nap today, and once we go to bed about 6:30, I think her adjustment to the time difference will be about done. So see? There's an upside to 20 hours of pure h***. Of course, let it be known that we would do it a million times over to get our little Georgia peach home. It has been a wonderful day, and Amelia just looks around completely amazed. Actually, we're pretty amazed ourselves!

Off To Take The Oath........

And wearing our stars and stripes! Amelia is contemplating the meaning of citizenship............... or perhaps just thinking she has a wet diaper..............

We're packed and ready to go! we leave the hotel bright and early at 6 a.m. tomorrow............to get on a big bullet and fly 18 hours with a baby :) God be with us :)

Red Couch Tradition

Shamian Park

The coolest experience in Guangzhou doesnt cost a dime, and is right outside the White Swan. The park between the hotel and Lucy's bar and grill is called Shamian Park (not the one I mentioned earlier with the brides) This one is just to the right of the hotel along the Pearl River Promenade. Retired people and young mothers gather there every morning to practice all kinds of exercise and art. I could spend all day here just people watching. The only pics I have are from a distance, because if you get photos of people close up, or of a small grouping, you should really ask their permission, and I have a feeling they get tired of being a tourist attraction. It was tough passing up some of the wonderful photo ops but I wanted to be respectful.

The group above is doing Tai Chi along the water front. You'll see various small groups doing this and sometimes people just off on their own meditating.

There's a section set up with tables where people gather to play mah jong

These gentlemen are fishing with that gigantic net. You'll also see people swimming laps in the Pearl River and I saw one old gentlemen doing his laundry.


These women are sword dancing, but its hard to see the swords in this lighting. The coolest dances are the fan dances and the ones with colorful paper umbrellas. the umbrella and fan dancers are usually small groups, and I didnt feel comfortable getting pictures of them--they never made eye contact for me to ask permission.

They also have ballroom dancing classes, and flute players and singers.

I've seen a couple of women sketching and brush painting out there very early.

When you come to this park, close your eyes and here the flutes, old ladies gossiping, and the clack and clatter of the mah jong tiles. Its an experience you wont forget.

Cow and Bridge

Last night we went to the Thai restaurant---Cow and Bridge. It was very good, although I still say the Chinese restaurant across the street from the White Swan is the best meal we've had in China. The Cow and Bridge is beside Beatrice grocery, about 4 blocks from the hotel. It was full of adoptive families, and got so loud with talking, and babies babbling, that Amelia became a little alarmed and wanted to be held. Talk about over stimulation.

Afterwards, we walked along the park and watched several more young brides getting photographed, and finished up our shopping. For Amelia we got: 2 traditional Chinese dresses, one for now and one for the 2nd birthday, squeeky shoes, a double happiness lantern, some decorative fans, a baby doll with chinese passport, a child size Chinese umbrella with painted plum blossoms, a granite etching of her sweet baby face, a nice quality porcelin tea set, jade bracelet, and a strand of pearls for her 18th birthday.

and of course...........the "Coming Home Barbie" which is a gift from the White Swan Hotel to all adoptive families. Its a blonde barbie holding a Chinese baby. cute.

The first few days I had her, I was so homesick. I just wanted to become a mom in familiar surroundings, you know? make bottles with safe water in my own kitchen, sleep in my own bed, have my mom and friends and pediatrician a phone call away.

By the 4th day though, I started looking around and thinking, you know..........this is such a cool experience, and I'm not going to wish it away! plus, by then, I was really getting some confidence in my ability to do this mommy thing well. After that, I've had a wonderful time. I'll never forget these 2 weeks in China. If you think about it, in some ways, its the perfect way to bond with a new baby. There's no laundry to do, no cooking, no cleaning, this is all done for you. Dont feel like going out for dinner? order Danny's bagel for western food delivered to your door. Just poke you head out the hotel room door, and there's a staff member asking what you need. Matter of fact, all you have to do in China is eat, sleep and nurture that baby.........no distractions.

We are still happy to be coming home tomorrow, even though we've had a great time. A hotel room gets small after 2weeks, and I cant wait to introduce Amelia to her life back home. Little does she know, she has a puppy dog, and kitty cat, and her own room!

Shamian Island

Shamian Island is a lovely, historic place. Most of the consulates from various countries were here at one time, most of them built in the 1800s. There were also several large trading companies based here, the same ones that traded opium for tea and silk out of Canton---now Guangzhou. Guangzhou is just across the bridge. Most of the architecture on Shamian reflects its European past. The Catholic Church pictured above is dated 1888 and built by the French. There is also an Episcopal Church about a block from the White Swan, built by the British. The Episcopal Church has services in both Chinese and English on Sundays.

There is a manicured park that runs the width of Shamian Island, and it makes a really nice stroller walk with the baby. Its also kind of fun because many young brides and grooms come here for photo shoots. Even though red is the traditional bridal color in China, its very trendy amoung young folks to get photos in modern/ western wedding clothes. Tuxes and very beautiful and elaborate wedding gowns. Its kind of cool..........this park is well over a century old, yet is filled with new beginnings every day. Young people starting their married life.........Men and women pushing strollers and embarking on parenthood.

Love Blendz---its a couple blocks from the White Swan. The only really good coffee you'll get in Guangzhou. Its got AC, nice sofas, free internet access, and all the coffee and smoothies you can drink.