Swimmer Van

Not quite officially summer here yet but boy is it hot! A different hot from the wet sticky China humidity but 100+ degrees of hot is plenty toasty here. This was our first full weekend home as a family and it was great! Van made his first appearance on a trampoline thanks to our wonderful neighbors and he loved that. He had his laugh out loud running jumping face on the whole time. We also experimented with ice cream (well sherbet since we still aren't sure about the milk thing) and he had mixed reviews...he isn't a big fan of cold foods in general. He is apparently a fan of shopping tho...we spent some gift cards and got him some more loot and he was very interested in that process. Another shopper in the family...yippee! Today we took Daddy to the pool to show off and he couldn't get enough. He's already jumping off the side of the pool into daddy's arms. He had a blast and it makes for good sleeping so all is quiet now. Here's a couple of cute ones to keep you coming back for more...

Liking this USA place

We are slowly but surely getting our routine in a groove here. Van seems to be loving life here...enjoying new experiences every day and just a happy joyful little boy. We think he will be ready for visitors very soon so let's get some play dates scheduled! Can't wait for everyone to meet him.
Here's what everybody wants...the photos....

HOME AT LAST!!

Home...never happier to see it!

Fabulous friends gave us a warm welcome home with signs and ballons and a freezer full of food...couldn't ask for a better homecoming after our great stay at the Grandparents house. Van was living the life of a rock star there already!


We are slowly adjusting our internal clocks and sleep schedule but it's going really well so far. The cats are actually taking a very active role in the transition and Van just loves them already.
We are just enjoying every new find like grass, and sand, (thanks to the awesome new sandbox that our neighbors built for Van while we were gone!) and toys and Van's new room. Here's the photo fun moments to date. We will try to keep em coming as we continue to explore this new USA place. Thanks again to all of you for joining us on the journey. I cannot tell you how incredible it was to have you with us...I know Van feels the love of so many already.

Now comes the hard part ...

Alexandria, Virginia - 4:45am, one hour until sunrise.

I'm up, T/V are still sleeping.
Apparently, from what previous adopters have told us, the next week or so is going to be the toughest week:
- Getting him acclimated to a 12-hour shift in schedule (when toddlers are incredibly schedule/routine oriented)
- Adjusting to a new house with new toys and OMG CATS! - (that one is for you, witthaus)
- Plus our usual adult routines and going to Wal-Mart, Kroger, Starbucks, work, things like that.

So it's a lot but I think we're going to do okay. Hey, we survived 15 days in China.

First thing I need to do re-adjust the car seat so it fits him better - waiting until it's light out to do that. Plus trying to find a manual online for a car seat, somehow, is the most ridiculous thing in the world - or my two weeks behind the Chinese firewall has really messed up my search-fu. Then we'll have breakfast here and get on the road. (P.S. gas prices - WTF?)

But, really, it's so nice to be back in America, and familiar America at that.
I'm saving up all my opines about China for a later post - suffice it to say that, while a tremendously friendly place, with great people and great food, it has a long way to go in my book before I can take it seriously ...

Anyway, blah blah blah we're home blah blah blah love you all very much blah blah blah PICS:

Mr. Michael Li, our AMAZING facilitator in China. Van in a usual graceful pose.

Stylin' in some jammies on the plane!

We figured out how to open and close the window shade!

ooo, Look at all that shiny freedom, democracy, and capitalism!

Van is one sleepy new citizen!

Grandpa!

Homey

WE MADE IT! Van is now officially a U.S. Citizen!

We're at the grandparent's house in Alexandria now decompressing with some American Pizza and Real Beer ...

The camera cable is packed so no pics yet but we'll put em up once we get back to Richmond.

So far the biggest meltdown has been trying to keep him in the car seat ...

Say Goodbye, Guangzhou...

Change is in the air, and we will be too in a few hours ...
... and he's already being Mr. Grumpy so we'll have to see how he does on the plane.

Thank you, everyone, for all your well wishes and support while we've been over here.
We're probably going to need it when we get back as well!

One Last Thing about ATTACHMENT:
He will most likely one of the first time he meets you (or anyone else) do a reflexive "Please give me attention" maneuver he learned in the orphanage. It's pictured below and he's very good at it. The arms up and the pouty face are perfect. What he wants to be is picked up:

At least for the first few weeks, please DO NOT pick him up, but redirect him to us.
We are still trying to firm up the parental attachment ... we're only at about 10 days in with in his 26 month life ...

Here's the 'send me back to Momma' maneuver:

Ok, that's all for now. Will post again Saturday or Sunday when we're back in the US!!

And We're Off!

So this is it...we are really going home now. The consulate appointment was kinda cool. There were only ten kids there...3 boys including Van. They said that we were a very small group. One of the only twenty Americans who actually works there gave us a brief overview of the process and then we all stood up and swore that all the information we have provided (for the billionth time!) is actually correct...and that's it. We got Van's VISA for one way ticket to paradise and left the building. Of course I got all teary again...must be part of the mom package that I now embrace which seems to include sticky, sticky and more sticky, antibacterial gel and wipes in every pocket and repeating every word I say in a sing-song melody that Van seems to already be picking up. BTW, no more signs of allergic today at all what a relief! Today's afternoon thunderstorm waited until we needed to walk across the island for the infamous "Red Couch" photos. For those of you in the China adoption wait mode, you are all too familiar with these adorable photos but for all the rest of you, it's a tradition to dress your kids in their Chinese outfit and take a photo on the red couch at the White Swan hotel. As you can see, Mr. Cooperative, wasn't in the mood for dress up and decided to make the moment a Kodak special one!! I don't think I've ever seen a group shot without a screamer...and you've already guessed who it was in our group!
USA here we come!!!!