Now in Guangzhou, Day 1

Wow, so much to write, and I don't know where to start. Let's work BACKWARDS...

 

We are now in Guangzhou at the infamous White Swan Hotel. It is infamous because the US Consulate department for adoptions used to be just down the street so all the US parents would stay here, and by the looks of the dining room at breakfast today, they still do. Chinese children and their adoptive parents are everywhere! Guangzhou is on the southwest coast of China; the breeze seems to blow the smog out of town fairly well, or at least better than we experienced in Chengdu, Xi'an, and Beijing. Guangzhou is the "export quadrant" for China, and the architecture is different, more flashy. Tonight we will go for a dinner cruise on the Pearl River.

 

Jack is down for a nap and oh, the screaming, crying, and fighting he gave Mama! Although see the fun time with Mama pictures in this post. Chris had stepped out for a while before then because, let me say again, in no uncertain terms, Jack is bonding with Daddy first, and that can be exhausting (for both of us really). I read that a child will often bond with Daddy first, and obviously he can't bond with both of us at once. All in good time, all in good time.

 

This morning, Jack and Keri had their medical appointments: check out the naked baby, temperature, length, weight, eyes, ears, nose, many tears and that's done! The kids also had their visa pictures taken. Want to guess Jack's expression?? :(  After the medical, our facilitator, Peter, walked Cathy and me through filling out all the immigration forms while Jack let Daddy chase him around the lobby. Peter is the man to get things done. He will go to the embassy three times for us while we only have to go once. 

 

The two hour flight from Chengdu to Guangzhou went pretty well for the babes (see pic of Chris and Jack), and I am SURE the three hour flight to Beijing, then the 14 hour flight to DC, and the one hour flight to Norfolk will be the same. SURE. POSITIVE.

 

I feel like we didn't get nearly enough time to see Chengdu. Time has been flying by so quickly, and keeping our little boy happy and comfortable (see sleeping flag baby) has been our focus. Five days until we fly to the USA will undoubtedly go quickly, too.

 

I feel a little sad when I think of taking him out of his home country. I expect one day he will understand, and we will come back to see his incredible China.