odds and ends

Before I forget...

...last night, while in the car, Elizabeth asked me if we were near the Eiffel Tower. I said, No, it's in France. Why? She said that we need to be near the Eiffel Tower in order to use the cell phone. (She'd remembered a conversation that we'd had in the car a while ago in which I explained that the reason we'd lost the call was because we weren't near a tower)...

...Today, she "read" a story to me about a toucan, which was so very sweet, but what made it even sweeter was that she kept calling it a pecan...

...Elizabeth still struggles with sharing me with her little brother. For instance, she wants me to pick her up because I pick Jack up "all the time." I told her that she weighs as much as a big bag of dog food (about 40 lbs.), and it's hard for Mommy to pick her up because she's heavy. Jack weighs as much as a big bag of cat food (about 20 lbs.), so he's easier to carry. She said, I want to be cat food! Poor sweetie! I love her so much it hurts.

another visit with Santa

Nanny and Papa stayed at our house last night. Elizabeth and Nanny played the Dora Memory game, and Elizabeth and Papa sung Christmas carols and read stories together. It's hard to say who enjoyed the evening more...Miss Kelly had a little Christmas party at her house tonight, and--SURPRISE!--Santa was there! Jack was not pleased to visit with Santa! but nonetheless, all three of us had a great time. It's now snowing like crazy, and we're supposed to have an even bigger snowstorm (a Nor'easter) on Sunday night. I can't wait to see if Jack likes playing in the snow.

our first gingerbread house...

ready to begin!

arranging the gumdrops

mixing (and tasting) the icing

"reading" the instructions

ta-da!

...and it shows! We had fun, anyway! It was a nice way for Elizabeth and I to have some "Mommy and me" time while Jack took his morning nap. I somehow don't think it'll last until her grandparents arrive tomorrow for an overnight visit...

the ER visit

I was in the kitchen this evening, doing the dishes, when Elizabeth came in and told me that she'd put something in her nose. It turned out to be a little nut that had fallen off her doll's high chair. I tried to get her to snort it out and to blow it out--no such luck. I tried to pull it out with tweezers but was scared that I would push it farther into her nose, so...Elizabeth, Jack, and I went to Brighton First Care at 7 p.m. Elizabeth's biggest fear was that she would get a shot (remember, she got two shots last week at the pediatrician's). She was very subdued--not her normal self. The doctor was wonderful--he told her, No shots!, and that it would probably tickle when he was pulling it out of her nose. He asked her to stay very still and to "use her words" if it hurt at all. She was very quiet and as still as a statue as he used his tweezers to pull it out. As soon as he'd done so, she gave an enormous sigh of relief and then giggled. She was allowed to choose a small present on the way out. When I asked her why she put it in her nose, she said, I wanted to look like D------. (D------ has a pierced nose). I spent the next few minutes telling her to never ever put things in her nose or her ears. I think she learned her lesson. And, we STILL haven't made the gingerbread house...maybe tomorrow...

Jack's Halloween pictures

I accepted Jack's referral in August and bought this outfit for him in hopes that he would be home for Halloween. That wasn't to be. So, we had a little photo shoot this morning. Isn't he a cute little doggie? I just love this outfit! Three years ago, I ended up doing the same thing with Elizabeth (taking pictures of her in her pumpkin outfit in the middle of November). I cannot wait for next Halloween!

Sesame Street Live

Big Bird

Grover, the Police Officer

Cookie Monster, the Fire Fighter

Elizabeth, enjoying (pink) cotton candy

a smile from Jack

Big Bird and Baby Bear

the Count

feeding her little brother

We went to the Civic Center today with friends to see Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster (my personal favorite), Grover, Oscar, Bert and Ernie, and the rest of the Sesame Street characters. Elizabeth said that she was scared right before the show started, but when the music began and Big Bird came out on stage, she was all smiles. She enjoyed herself immensely. She called out to Big Bird and Elmo, but the music was so loud, and they couldn't hear her... As for Jack, he only wiggled a bit towards the end of the show, but he settled down as soon as I let him stand in front of my seat. We had perfect seats, too. We even saw another family from Elizabeth's preschool there--what a nice surprise! Unfortunately, I took more photos of the SS characters than of my own children--I think I relived my own childhood today...!

we saw Santa!

We waited in line for quite a while, but it was worth it. Elizabeth asked Santa for a violin (???). And best of all, no tears!

Elizabeth's new tattoo

My beautiful four-year old loves tattoos, so she was thrilled that one of the gifts she received when I was in China was tattoos. She wanted to put this heart tattoo on her hip because that's (approximately) where I have a tattoo (foolish youthful indiscretion!) of a dog's pawprint. Sorry--no photographs. We also put one on her hand and one on her foot. Thankfully, hers will wash off...

goofing around

orphanage videos

I mailed a package to Jack at the orphanage before traveling to China to meet him. One of the things that I put in the box was a one-time use video camera. These are the short videos that I received, which I believe were taped on November 5, 2008 (a little more than one week before we met). I think I put a few of them on twice--sorry!

two is different than one

I feel like I've done so much this week! We went to the pediatrician on Thursday. Both children received shots: two for Elizabeth and four for Jack. They both cried all the way out to the minivan. Jack then fell asleep, and Elizabeth only stopped crying when I said we would go to lunch at one of her favorite Chinese restaurants. Elizabeth is very healthy: she weighs 39.8 lbs and is 41 3/4 inches tall. Jack weighs 21 lbs 4 oz and is 31 3/4 inches tall. As for percentiles, the nurse neglected to write those down. I'll look them up later. Jack will see a bunch of specialists in the next few weeks: the pediatric cardiologist for his heart; the surgeon for his circumcision; and others for his mouth and nose issues...I'm still putting up the decorations for Christmas. I actually bought an artificial tree this week, something that I said I'd never do, but it makes sense for now. I just can't lug a beautiful fresh tree into the house by myself anymore. Plus, cleaning up the dropped needles is a constant task that I don't have the time or patience to do right now. Two dogs and two children is my limit, I'm finding. Next week, I will get his social security card. I still have to write thank you notes for Elizabeth's birthday and for the baby shower that my great friend, LeaAnne, held for me at her house last Sunday. (It was a 'surprise.' She invited Jack and Elizabeth over to play with John and Allie and then told me that this was not a playdate that I could cancel!) Jack (and Elizabeth) received some wonderful gifts. I am very blessed! And, today I tried to take some pictures of Elizabeth and Jack for our Christmas card. Some came out rather well, others not so much. Here are a few...We will go to the Maine Mall today to buy their Christmas outfits, and I will schedule an appointment for their "photo shoot" at Picture People (hopefully this week).

E and J, on the red couch

I just thought it would be fun to look back. Two different couches, two adorable babies!

we're HOME!

on the red couch

in the elevator at the White Swan

saying good-bye to Laurie and Claire

XiXi, holding Jack, and me before leaving the White Swan for the last time

just before take-off (and ripping the frame off the window...)

"I loved the emergency instructions card" said Jack.

Elizabeth, feeding Jack

Elizabeth, feeding Jack (part deux)

and still adjusting to the time difference--13 hours' difference, to be exact. Yesterday and today, Jack woke up at 4:00 am and would not go back to sleep. He wakes several times during the night as well. And, Jack and I have colds. I am exhausted, but every day gets better. Elizabeth loves her new brother very much but struggles with having to share her Mama. She cries often and wants to be picked up and held. From the very beginning, though, she wanted to feed him and to change his diapers. She begs me to let her prepare his bottles and to pick him up and to hold him. I have to go back and re-read Siblings Without Rivalry...I know that with a little time, things will be much better.
As an aside, I'm reading Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost. In fact, I took it with me on my trip. For ANYONE who has traveled to or plans to travel to China, it is a must-read...
As for our final day in China...On Friday, I let Jack walk around the hotel room naked while I filled the bathtub. He followed me to the bathroom and watched me from the hallway. Then, without warning, he started to pee. Boys really are different from girls...Laurie, Claire, Jack, and I had breakfast at the buffet, and Laurie checked out of the hotel. She put her things in my room, because she was not leaving until 6 pm. We then did last-minute shopping, taking turns while Jack and Claire napped. We also took them downstairs for the obligatory photo shoot on the red couch. The pictures came out very well, I thought. I feel badly that I don't have similarly good pictures of Elizabeth (though I do have them, they aren't as good as they could've been...) We met the Valentis at Lucy's for dinner, and then it was time for Laurie to leave for the airport. It was very hard to say goodbye, but I know that we have forged a life-long friendship through the adoptions of our four children and that we will see each other again very soon.
Friday night, I finished packing around 11 pm and then could not fall asleep right away. I woke up at 4 am; left my luggage outside my door as instructed at 4:30 am; and was downstairs with Jack by 5 am to meet XiXi and the Valentis for our van ride to the airport. I didn't really plan on a special outfit for Jack to wear home, except for a blue one-piece fleece that had American flags all over it.

At the airport in Guangzhou, I had the "good fortune" to have my luggage hand-searched before check-in (oh, joy!). Thank goodness for packmates--my clothes were easily moved around--but after packing everything so carefully, I was ticked that everything was pulled out, felt, and shoved back inside the suitcase. One rather funny thing: After boarding our plane but before taxi-ing away from the gate, Jack decided to rip the frame off the airplane window! The flight attendant said, I've never seen that happen before! Leave it to Jack...She called a mechanic to fix it, but we were able to force it back on with a little effort. Didn't exactly inspire confidence in Northwest airplanes, though...I had the good fortune to have an empty seat next to me, so Jack slept for a portion of the flight to Narita, Japan.

I wasn't so lucky for the longer flight to Detroit--I had an aisle seat in the middle of the plane and held Jack for the entire flight. My arms ached by the end of it all. I sat next to a really nice guy, though, who was very patient with me and with Jack, and on our walks up and down the aisle Jack got lots of smiles from the other passengers. When we landed in Detroit, Jack became a U.S. citizen! I thought it fitting--Detroit--Motor City--cars--he's a boy...We had to retrieve our checked luggage in Detroit and then go through Customs. Thank goodness for Jay--he put my suitcases on a cart for me, and I somehow managed to push the loaded luggage cart and pull Jack in his stroller, computer case hanging off the handles, with the backpack on my back. One of the Customs employees took one look at me, said to a co-worker that she would be right back, and quickly took my luggage cart from me and pushed it over to the place where we were supposed to dump our checked luggage. She truly was a gift from God. Next was the security checkpoint from hell. Not only did I have to take out the laptop, camcorder, and camera, but also everything with a battery in it (my cellphone, for instance) AND all of the cords and chargers (for the camera, computer, camcorder, and cellphone). I also had to take off my and Jack's shoes, take him from his stroller, and fold up his stroller so that it could be placed on the conveyor belt and go through the x-ray machine. This (all of the cords and chargers) was a first for me. I was sweaty and tired and ready to just take someone's head off--but I didn't. I think it took me a good twenty minutes, once I got there, just to go through security and to put everything back in place. Do I feel any more secure for all that? Not one bit.
Our final flight from Detroit to Portland was entirely uneventful, and we were met at the airport by Elizabeth, my parents, and wonderful friends who are like family to me. It was SO GOOD to hug my little girl!!!!!!!!!! She seemed so tall! and more beautiful than I remembered! As for the drive home from the airport? Jack didn't mind his carseat a bit. I sat on the floor of the minivan on the ride home, sandwiched between him and Elizabeth. It was so good to be home!

last post from China!

Claire and Jack

waiting to get on the bus to the Consulate

sitting on the steps in front of the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou

on the bus, going back to the hotel

Lucy's (American food near the hotel)

We had some unexpected news when we woke up this morning: the other mom in our group of three was admitted to the hospital late last night, so Laurie and I watched her daughter for her and her husband today here at the hotel. My normally mellow Jack had a bit of a meltdown when I held Carolina--he didn't like it at all. That suprised me (and made me laugh!). We spent quite a bit of the morning in the Swan Room (the playroom in the hotel) with Jack, Claire, and Carolina. Jack had a really good time practicing walking backwards, of all things. At around noon, I took Jack and Carolina up to my room for a little nap--she slept in the crib, and Jack played on the bed and the floor. At one point, though, he disappeared. I quickly found him in the bathroom, staring down into the toilet with a big grin. He had thrown one of his sneakers and one of his brand-new brown squeaky shoes into the toilet! I am in trouble! (Elizabeth never did things like this--is it a boy thing?). XiXi called and said that all went well at our Consulate appointment this morning and that she wanted us to meet her at 2:30 pm to go to the U.S. Consulate for the oath. Originally, we were supposed to go to the Consulate for the oath tomorrow. This actually was much more convenient--it frees up our last day in Guangzhou to do whatever we want. So, at 3 pm, we boarded the bus with (50?) other families for the 45 minute ride to the U.S. Consulate. Everything looked the same as when I went there with Elizabeth, almost exactly three years earlier. The U.S, Consulate is located on one floor in a large modern office building. We all filed into a large room with rows of plastic seats facing Consulate employees at a long counter behind glass. After a few minutes, XiXi handed each of us photocopies of the picture page from our passport and from our baby's pasport. Then, all the parents lined up with our children and, one by one, handed the man behind the glass our photocopies. He then compared our photos to each of us, said "thank you," and we were done. Jack actually slept through this part--I had to turn to the side so that the guy could see his face! Once everyone had done this and sat down again, another Consulate employee came out to briefly address the group. He then administered the oath, which simply was this: we swore that all of the information provided in the paperwork we had submitted to the U.S. Consulate as part of our child's adoption was true and correct. I actually got a little bit teary (but it doesn't take much to make me cry...). XiXi handed us a sealed brown envelope which contains original immigration documents that we must handcarry and give to immigration officials when we first arrive at the airport in the U.S. We then boarded the bus again and drove back to the hotel. Laurie and I had dinner with Jack and Claire at Lucy's and then did a little shopping. I bought a cute pair of Chinese pajamas for Jack: they are royal blue with a gold dragon on the top and gold cuffs on the sleeves and pants legs. Pictures tomorrow. While buying them, Jack reached into my backpack and pulled out his glass baby bottle and promptly dropped it on the foor. It broke (of course). I will look for another one tomorrow. Jack fell asleep on the short walk back to the hotel and didn't wake up when I put him in the crib. He is a solid sleeper, thank goodness! Tomorrow, Jack and I will shop a little bit more and will take lots of pictures. I also need to pack!

Jack and I will leave very early on Saturday morning. I am incredibly sad to leave China, the place where my children were born, but I am more excited to come home, to hug Elizabeth, and to introduce Jack to his big sister and to his grandparents. I cannot wait!