We're home!

I feel like I have completely abandoned the blog. The last few days in China were a whirlwind, and then the travel home was LONG. Alliot screamed most of the flight to Beijing (3 hrs), but then we decided to give him some Melatonin for the flight from Beijing to Detroit. The bottle said to give it about 20 minutes before bedtime, and like clock work he was passed out about 20 minutes later. :) He slept most of the flight home. The flight attendants gave us a little bassinet that they attached to the wall in front of us, and he slept so well. It was lovely! Customs was a breeze, and then we had some food before we got on the short flight from Detroit to Grand Rapids. I had a salad in Detroit, and it was SO yummy!! I did have to think about where I was before I ate the salad. For over 2 weeks we had been so engrained to think about what we were eating, most of the fresh veggies and fruit in China are washed with contaminated water that will make American tummies very sick.

We were greeted at the airport in grand rapids by lots of family and friends. It was very very exciting to see everyone!! The kids wanted to have a slumber party in our room for the night, and that was totally fine! I think that we all finally settled down around 1am. I was up at 4 am (jet lag), and decided to unpack and go through the mail and kids papers that had piled up since we were gone. I got a little bit done before Alliot woke up too (although I may have woke him up with my unpacking), Dan woke up shortly after, and by 6:30am all the kids were up. Needless to say, we did take a LONG nap on saturday. Saturday night some friends brought us over dinner and ate with us, it was so nice to catch up with everyone after such a long time away. Sunday we made it to church! and Monday Dan was back to work. Avi stayed home from school on Monday. I was a little nervous to have all 4 kids by myself, but she was actually pretty helpful. We went to the Meijer Gardens and looked at the butterflies. Alliot LOVED them, and of course the rest of the kids were freaked out a butterfly might land on them. We had a cold lunch there and then got our traditional butterfly suckers as we were leaving. Tuesday Asher was back at preschool, and Avi was back at school. Today was Alliots dr. apt. The apt. was good... we have to get some lab work done, and go back to see the dr in 2 weeks. Everything else seemed to go well. He does have an ear infection... which I was suspicious about in China, but we were told his ears were completely fine... now we have medicine so that is good.

The kids are completely in love with their new brother, and are very (almost too) helpful. Alliot has already been in the little tikes shopping cart, had work googles on, and has attempted to eat lots of play food. Monday morning I found him half undressed in Avielas arms, as she was attempting to dress him for the day. Poor kid, he has one crazy new life!

Yesterday after dinner, we had a marathon hair cutting party. Asher, Dan, and Alliot needed hair cuts. Alliot was NOT a fan, to say the least. Poor kid, his hair cut is awful too... I think maybe Ill take him to get it done the next few times. I need to learn how cut Chinese hair. After the hair cutting traumatic event, Alliot was able to meet his cousins- Eleanor and Juliet, as well as Uncle Aaron, and Aunt Aimee.

Last night was the first night since being home that Alliot and I slept all night... hopefully we are kicking this jet lag. I probably wont be posting as much, I have plently keeping me busy around here now. I will try to post of Facebook more often. Thank you so much to everyone who has followed our journey, prayed for us, brought us meals, and shared in our joy. Adoption is truly a miracle, we feel lucky and blessed that he was created for our family. Our prayer is that someday he will know that he wasn't an accident, or unwanted, but his life was perfectly planned out from the very beginning.

Bassinet  on plane

At the doctor today. 

Consulate Appointment!!

Today was a big milestone.  We completed all of the paperwork for Alliot’s VISA and took an oath.  We did this all at the U.S. Consolate.  While we were there, we heard announcements over the loudspeakers about having to evacuate the building.  But, it turned out only to be a test, and we didn’t have to do anything.  We will receive Alliot’s VISA tomorrow and come home on Friday!  We are so excited to come home. 

After our VISA appointment, we did some more shopping on an island for unique Chinese items and gifts and then went to an American style restaurant and had a little taste of home (cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and fries).  The restaurant is called Lucy’s and is well known amongst adoptive parents.   Alliot was afraid of some of the statues on the island.

At the orphanage, they told us he didn’t get many snacks because of his cleft lip and palate, but he seems to eat anything we give him, if we break it up into small enough pieces.  If we don’t break his food into small pieces he will still shove it into his mouth.  Fore example, we gave him a French Fry not broken up to see what he would do, and he shoved the entire thing into his mouth.  However, he has started to cry in between bites and often acts like he is afraid he won’t get enough food.  Anytime he sees food, he fixates on it until we give it to him and throws a fit if we don’t.  We are still trying to figure out how to handle this.  We are trying to teach him that we are always going to feed him, but we are also trying to teach him not to throw a fit and cry when he wants something and that it is okay to wait more than 5 seconds between each bite.  Also, Alliot is starting to be a little bit calmer at bedtime and bath-time.

We got him some shoes that squeak when he walks.  He loves them and is a little more motivated to walk than crawl when these are on.  He even did a little foot stomping just for the fun of it.

Now that the consulate appointment is over, there isn’t much left for us to do other than wait to come home.  Tomorrow we are going start packing and attempt to enjoy the warm weather one more day before getting on the plane on Friday.  

Dan

Loving his bath

Our sweet friends from Texas, they left us today :( What a breath of fresh air they were for us

Lucy's restaurant

Some one is seriously afraid of the statues

All of the kids being adopted. The girl standing in the back is 13, and is being adopted too. Notice that Alliot is eating a shoe... He stole it from the girl sitting next to him.

Our whole group

Someone was not really excited about getting up early for his  consulate appointment today

Tuesday in Guangzhou

Today was mostly a free day.  The only thing we had scheduled was group pictures at 5.

After breakfast, we went shopping with our friends that we met from Texas.  We found some super cute traditional Chinese outfits for Alliot and some to take home for our other kids.  We bought some other fun items including a Dragon wallet and some fancy embroidered coin purses.  Jen really enjoyed bargaining with the different shops to get a lower price.  

We had a light lunch in our hotel room and went out this afternoon on a quest for some cheap fake UGG boots.  We went with our friend from Louisiana, and took a cab to get to the shoe shop.  We had never seen so many shoes in one spot before.  It was like an entire shopping mall full of different kinds of shoes.  But, we weren't able to find any UGGs, probably because they are out of season here.  Even though we didn't find what we were looking for, we still had a good time seeing the marketplace and taxiing around the city.  We were told that there might be some UGGs at another location, which we had typed in Chinese.  But when we showed the location to two different cab drivers, they both refused to take us there.  We still aren't sure why they wouldn't take us there.  So, we ended up going back to the hotel UGGless.

The group pictures were fun and we even got a picture of all of the adopted children sitting on a couch together.  We were surprised at how long they stayed on the couch without losing it.  After the group pictures, we went out with a few other families to Cantanese restaurant which was pretty good and reasonably priced.  We have met so many interesting people on our trip.  One person we met is part of a not-for-profit organization that rescues girls from human trafficking by pretending to be a dealer and buying them into freedom.  He has been all over the world, and most of their work is done in India.  We met a couple adopting a 13 year-old and another that is adopting a 6 year old.  It is so cool to see all of the work God is doing through all these people that we are meeting.

We are having a good time in China, but are definitely missing the kids and are ready to come home soon.  Tomorrow is our Consulate appointment, which means we will get Alliots visa so that he can come with us to the good ole' United States of America.

    

Medical Appointment

Sorry for the lack of blog post yesterday. It was a pretty awful day. The kids are very VERY homesick and missing us, and its very hard to see. One of the other adoptive Moms in my group knew that I was very upset, and she just asked if he could pray for me. So comforting to have another believer on this journey with you. I think Avi is having the hardest time, I asked Emily to watch her for the night and I think it was a VERY good thing. Emily said that she was laughing and giggling with kaylee.. and doing some sewing projects with Kaylee all on their own. It was a great distraction for her. I also started telling her that I would sleep with the ipad so she can text me whenever she wanted. I think that made her more comforted because she said "thank you mommy that makes me feel better." It makes me tired, but its worth it if that helps her get through the last few days. We also let the kids pick out Alliots clothes, and they think thats pretty cool.

At the medical clinic

Some of the other babies in our group waiting for their medical appointment

In the afternoon we went out shopping with a local lady named Ann... It was an interesting experience! She walks really fast, and supposedly knows where to get the best deals. Next it was time for paperwork, and in the evening Dan and I decided to go to the "island." I guess its a huge tourist attraction for adoptive families. We LOVED it! Retail therapy was exactly what I needed. I was then able to show Avi when she facetimed me everything that we got for them. She was excited.

This morning started off better. The breakfast here at the hotel is amazing! Today was his medical appointment! It is the second to last step! It is a required step before you can apply for the visa. Everything checked out well, they told us he has a cleft palate (duh?). We also found out that he gained 4 lbs in ONE week with us... kinda crazy! Then its back to the hotel for a rest. Tonight we are going on a cruise down the pearl river with our group, and having a pizza party (Papa Johns pizza)!!










Alliot must be feeling pretty comfortable with us because he is starting to scream for anything he wants. Its especially frustrating for Dan and I because we dont know what he wants. Eventually he will learn that he doesn't have to scream everytime he wants another bite of food, or be held. He really hates it if he isn't attached to one of us all the time. We have been using more language with him today, "up" "please" "more" etc. Instead of just responding to his screaming. We can't figure out how he likes to go to bed either, the first couple days were easy... now he is getting a little more picky. THe orphanage said he likes to be just put in his bed. Well... that does not work! But when we hold him, he does often act like he wants to stretch out and be left alone. So we cant figure it out. When he is falling alseep he sucks his thumb and makes a very sweet humming sound. :) Ill try to video it.

This afternoon Dan decided to venture out in the city during naptime.  He went to search for saline solution for contacts.  Our guide told us where to go under ground through the subway tunnels.  So he emerged and walked towards a big building.  He had to ask someone there where the eyeglasses store was.  When he finally got there, they spoke no English, so Dan had to point at his eyes try to explain what he was trying to buy.  Finally, he found what appeared to be contact solution and paid 28 yen.  The sales lady had to go upstairs to get change and came back 5 minutes later.  All that work for some saline solution :)

During naptime, Dan also ventured into the health spa, which was an interesting experience.  There was a hot tub in the men's locker room, but it was almost too hot to sit in, so he tried to turn down the temperature which he later realized was the emergency button.  The workers came by and motioned toward the button, but couldn't speak English either.  They wanted me to turn it off, so he did.  He tried explaining it was an accident and that he was just trying to turn down the heat.  Eventually they seemed to figure it out and turned the heat down, so he was able to get in comfortably.  Then later on a naked Chinese man walked in and sat in there with him which apparently is normal in their culture.  (Awkward).

Now its bath time!!! Right now Alliot is in the tub with dan, and NOT crying!! Thats huge progress. Last night I tired to bathe him in the sink, at the same time the housekeepers were changing our sheets. You would have thought I was starting an IV.... He was so MAD! So him not screaming in the tub right now is HUGE.

Saturday when we got here we met another couple in the playroom, who is with another agency. We LOVE them!! They also have a little one at home, a boy Ashers age. We just click.... We were able to talk about lots of stuff together- being homesick, flight home, adjustment, everything.... Its comforting to be able to talk to someone who you just click with!! They leave Wednesday, so we will miss them! They live in Texas. Hopefully we will stay in contact on Facebook. 

We are in Guangzhou!

Last stop Guangzhou!! Here he will have a medical appointment, and then apply for his visa... Then HOME! We can't wait to be home to snuggle with our babies.

It will be just a short post today, nothing really exciting that we did but fly from one city to the next. Alliot is crazy tired because we kept him up before the flight hoping he would sleep, which he did but not long enough, he is now passed out for the night.

So we have a funny story about the flight... Alliot was being a little fussy, and definitely did not want to be on our lap. Well the Chinese people behind us were "trying" to help. That is one thing about the Chinese culture that really bothers me. In america, we don't parent random strangers children. So he was crying, and wiggly... "we got this" (thats what I wanted to tell her). Instead she proceeds to pour out the bottle of whatever she was drinking (some sweet milky type something) into its lid, and feed it to Alliot... YUCK! I have no idea what she was feeding him, and she was feeding him out of something her mouth was on... Well of course she didn't stop there, she then started handing him packages of cracker type things, that were HARD as a rock.... Well of course that only calmed him down for a minute so she gave him a flower to hold onto.... Then she handed me the rest of her drink and told me to feed it to him (it was in chinese so Im only assuming thats what she meant by her hand gestures). Finally he fell asleep on my lap, but woke up after about an hour screaming... and who do you suppose thought we needed her help again?! AH! This time she motioned as if to take him to the bathroom, she said the chinese word for "pee" which is part of our limited chinese vocabulary... I hope she wasn't thinking we were going to let HER take him to the bathroom. Then she started dangling her cell phone in his face, I was really starting to get annoyed with her at this point. I just ignored her gestures and thank goodness Alliot didn't reach for anything she dangled in our seat.

Alliot has very round eyes for a Chinese. Chinese call these eyes "big eyes" and its a sign of beauty. Over the last few days numerous people have commented on his eyes and have asked to hold him. This is part of their culture that I am not comfortable with. I don't let random strangers hold my babies. :) Im flattered they think hes cute.. we of course think he is!! :)

Tomorrow we are going to visit the Buddhist temple, Old Chen house, and the Provincial arts and crafts shopping center. After that I have an appointment with Ann (a local, who is well known by the adoption community) to take me shopping! I can't wait to get a bunch of souvenirs and special things for the kids!!!

Shaolin Temple

First I should update you on the camera... So last night Dan had the front desk write a note that said "My camera is broken" in chinese, he took the note to some booths that sell electronics under the Walmart we shop at. The guy took the camera, and immediately knew what to do. He changed the lens, and like magic it worked! I was slightly confused by it because I brought two lens and I did try switching them which it didn't work... but its fine by me. We bought a new lens, and now the camera works. I am so happy to have a camera again.
The weather here is quite cool. Not snowing like Michigan, but cool. Neither Dan nor I packed clothes that were warm enough. And we dont have a coat for Alliot either. Alliot woke up pretty unhappy and with a fever so we debated on whether or not to take him. We decided that he would be pretty warm in the ergo, so we gave him so medicine and decided to go. He slept most of the time we were there. We aren't sure if he was sick or if that is just the way that he wakes up. He wakes up every morning sweating hot.

Sick baby this morning

We weren't planing on needing hats and gloves. Today it was especially cool because we were in the mountains visiting the Shaolin Temple. We got to see the grave yard where they bury the monks. They build these tall things on top of the bodies in the ground called "pagotas" which are similar to head stones in the united states.

Us in front of a pagota

Then we went to see the temple, it was very interesting. People come there to burn incense, bow, pray, kneel... its very different from our culture.

Insense burning

After we visited the temple we had lunch and it was VERY yummy! But the building was FREEZING cold! They don't have heat in the buildings, so it is very cold inside. Poor Alliot, he is warm in the ergo, but when we take him out he is freezing because we don't have a coat for him, and he isn't a fan of being wrapped in his blanket. The chinese people are always hollering at us that he isn't dressed warm enough. Its slightly annoying that they all keep talking about it. Chinese people also really like to have their picture taken with Americans. Every once and awhile we will notice them posing next to us.
The last thing we did at the temple was watch a Fungfu show. At the temple there is a boarding school for boys, some as young as 5, these boys did a show for us on stage. It was really fun and entertaining to watch.

Dan and Alliot at the temple

Alliot was very wiggly on the bus ride back to the hotel. He seemed to be feeling better later in the day. He really enjoyed eating sweet and sour pork with daddy tonight. He always has to have something in his hands. When we got back to the hotel today he had a toothbrush in his hand and refused to let it go. He took a bath with the toothbrush tonight. which he HATED, he screamed the entire time. As soon as I got him out the tears immediately stopped. After bath I got his pjs on and gave him a bottle. Then we cuddled before we went to bed. But of course the toothbrush was still in his hand. He had it in his left hand, but he realized that was a problem when he wanted to suck his thumb (He only sucks his left thumb), so he put the toothbrush in his right hand, sucked his thumb and fell asleep. I guess hes sleeping with the toothbrush tonight. :)

We got his passport today, and tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou! Its the last leg of our journey here in China! Very excited for some warmer weather, more adoptive families, and shopping! Guangzhou has lots of stores with very unique gifts special to China. We are enjoying our time here, but very ready to be home with our sweet little munchkins! We can't wait to kiss and hug them!!

Just for fun here is a "Squaty potty"

Sign outside the toilet for a "western potty"

Sign for a "squatty potty"

CUTIE! We were told by one of ourwaitresses today that he has beautiful eyes.

Relaxing day

Today was pretty much a free day for us, we didn't do much. Dan and I walked to Walmart with a couple other families and then went to pizza hut for lunch! It sure looks and smells different in the Walmart here than in the US. It was a nice taste of home. :) Then we did a little laundry in the tub and hung it around our room to dry. Little Alliot is sure a mover. He loves to be moving and is very curious. He crawls really fast and is trying very hard to walk.  Our guide went to pick up some of our paperwork from the notary today. In the paperwork was a copy of the ad they put in the paper when they found him. :(
Tomorrow is our last full day in Zhengzhou. We are going to be visiting a famous temple. Ill try to add pictures tomorrow of that. Then on Saturday we fly to Guangzhou to complete the last of the paperwork!! woohoo. Missing those sweet kids of mine back home. They are sure having a blast with their cousin though. I think that my parents are really enjoying all the noise and energy. :) Plus I heard that they are cooking some yummy food!! John told me it was really good.
Just a short post for today. Dan is running to walmart to see if they can fix my camera. Im pretty upset about it not working. Eva (another mom traveling with me) has loaned me hers to use. So that is very sweet! Right  its just me and Alliot, we are listening to frozen and munching on some yogart bites. He loves them, but he puts to many in his mouth at once!! :) We miss you all!!

*Hugs from China*

Passport applied for!

Today we got up bright and early and headed to breakfast. Little Alliot is getting a little bit more picky with his food choices and is refusing some foods. I guess he is realizing there is better tastes than formula and rice soup out there. We had to go to the city where his orphanage is to apply for his passport. To get to his city we needed to take the bullet train, which travels at a speed up to 300 km/hr.  Im not really sure what that translates to in miles/hr, but it was fast. :) The train ride was 1 hr, and Alliot did ok but he was really wiggly then finally fell asleep. At the passport place it was very quick and smooth because the photos were taking already last week. So we quick applied, gave them a gift to bribe them to rush the passport for us, and we were done. One chinese women went up to us and made some comments (in chinese) about him not being dressed in enough clothes. The chinese like their children in multiple layers. Later on the same lady came up to us and reached her hands out to Alliot as if for him to come to her... hmm... NO! My momma claws came out with that one. The orphanage director and our guide told her no in Chinese, and then she left us alone. After the applying for the passport we were able to stop and visit the orphanage. It was much different than I expected. Little Alliot was his same o happy self, and did not show signs of being nervous at all. When we went into his bed room one of the nannies came over to us and began shouting his name and wanted to hold him. Of course we let her, we want her to know that he is loved and in good hands and be able to say good bye. Afterall she did a fabulous job caring for him the last 16 months. Then she sat on the floor with him and he got to play with the other kids for a minute. He tried to steal their toys. :) Some of the children began to get upset seeing Alliot with a mom and dad so they told us we couldnt stay to long. I was able to see his bed, which has already been filled with a new baby. :( A little baby 3 months old with cl/cp as well. They told us that they have about 100 children at the orphanage and about 40 others who are out at hospitals getting the care/ surgeries they need. They have 70 nannies that work at the orphanage. That is an awesome ratio! Our agency partners with a few orphanages, and this one being one of them. Our agency works with the orphanage and trains the nannies. It was not what I was expecting. Alliots demeanor made us feel like this was a happy place for him, he felt safe, he loved his friends, and loved his caretakers. Obviously there is no place like a family, but they do a great job of making it feel like home for them.
Then it was an hr train ride back. When we got home we went to eat at KFC, it tastes a little different here but at least it was a break from Chinese food. I think the marathon eating we did in Wenzhou has stunned my taste buds! American chinese sounds awesome right about now. :) After we ate we went for a walk and went to a few stores, Alliot slept in the ergo carrier so it was great. Tomorrow is a pretty relaxed day, I think we will sleep in and take our time getting ready maybe go out if it isn't to cold and rainy.  We should probably do a little more laundry in the tub too. Its pretty cool here in Zhengzhou and we don't have a hat for Alliot. I wasn't sure of his size so I didn't know what to pack, well he is very small, about 14lb pounds and fitting in size 9 months. We don't have a jacket for him either so we get lots of stares and get hollered at by old chinese women. I wish I could add some pictures today but my camera is broken :( I hope I can get it working by tomorrow. We aren't really sure what happened to it. It was working great and now the flash is going crazy and it won't take pictures. UGH! Thank you for your prayers and following our journey. I love that we can feel so close to home via the internet.

Its official!

This morning at breakfast, he wouldn't give back the chopsticks

Us at the Civil Affairs office. We thought it would be a great idea to get our picture in front of this red sign, and then we realized it doesn't say anything about adoption. We will let you figure out what it says :)

Today we went back to the civil affairs office to make the adoption official. We are now his legal parents. After the civil affairs office, we headed to the notary office. Alliot was wanting to be on the floor playing so bad. Most of the other kids were sitting very quietly on their parents laps, not him! He was babbling, wiggling, and wanting to be on the floor so bad. He was also very tired so that made him a little more restless.

After the notary we headed back to the hotel so he could take a nap. We tried putting him in his crib but he immediately pulled himself up and looked at us, then started crying. We made him a bottle, which he is starting to take a little better for us, and then I laid with him in bed. He feel asleep for only a few minutes and then woke up screaming. We think he was probably having a bad dream, or maybe showing a little grieving. I undressed him down to his diaper, changed his pants, and then put him in our Ergo (which he and I both love). I then walked around in the halls singing to him. He began to relax and suck his thumb making sweet humming noises. We came back in the room and I laid him by me again. This time he slept for much longer before he woke up screaming. This time Dan took him and they are still resting peacefully. It is good that he is noticing that things are different, and its good for Dan and I to learn ways to comfort him. Yesterday was so easy, so this is good. We of course would love your prayers that his transition continues to be smooth.

In his crib

Not happy about being in there

Tomorrow is the big day that we get to visit the orphanage (hopefully), it depends on how long it takes to apply for his visa. If we have time after we apply for the visa then we will be able to stop at the orphanage. I really really hope we can, because I want to see the place that he has grown up in, and thank all the wonderful nannies for taking such good care of him. Dan and I debated on whether or not we would take him inside the orphanage, or if one of us would wait outside with him. Being that he seems to be attaching well, we didn't want any set backs. But after talking with some adoptive mommas I think we decided that we will take him in. We want the nannies to see him happy with us so that they can have closure, and we want him to have closure was well. Keep the prayers coming tomorrow will be an interesting day and probably very emotional (for all of us)

Sleeping so peacefully now. I just LOVE that thumb :)

.

Alliot Hudson XiaoJohn Einfeld!!

One of the orphanage directors that handed him to us

Eva and I with our babies

Another orphanage director with us. We wanted to take a picture by the red sign behind us and she said it says something about marriage :)

Back at the hotel and all cleaned up

We got to meet our sweet boy today!! He is absolutely perfect, we are in love!! Alliot was handed to us in a very deep sleep. I was afraid that when he woke up he would be very afraid of us. I think he slept for 20 minutes or so in our arms before he woke up. He was wearing layers and layers of clothes. When we got home I peeled them off.. he had a winter coat, sweater, two quilted shirts, and a t shirt on his top half, on the bottom half was three very warm pairs of pants. He couldn't move his arms to grab the toys we brought for him. The Chinese like to have their children very bundled up. When he woke up we were able to feed him some puffs that we brought, and he LOVED them. We even taught him how to put them in his own mouth, and then he was being curious how to open the container himself. He is very smart and learns things very quickly. We stayed at the Civil affairs office for a couple hours to finish paperwork. The orphanage director told us that he is very happy, easy going, and always smiling. He loves to bounce on our legs. I help him bounce on my lap and he giggles and giggles. He seems to be doing very well, we haven't noticed many signs of him grieving. I am sure it will happen eventually. He likes to play games with us his favorite is throwing his car and wanting us to pick it up for him, repeat, repeat. He did great on the bus ride back to the hotel. Towards the end he was falling asleep and was sucking his thumb. (I just love having a thumb sucker!) We are still trying to figure out how he drinks from the bottle. With his cleft palate it is more difficult for him to get suction. He is a babbler too. He likes to say "mama" and "baba" and "ah ah" Baba means daddy in Chinese. :) He really likes to make noise with his toys.

When we got back to the hotel I wanted to change his clothes and clean him up a bit. He was sweating from all the layers. They warned us ahead of time that he didn't like his bath. Dan got in the tub with him and he was not a fan, he was easily distracted though. We cleaned him up quick, and I swaddled him in a towel and held him for awhile. He laid his head on my chest and sucked his thumb. I kissed his check and he turned to kiss me on the lips. So so sweet! I laid him on the bed to get him dressed and he cried, after he was dressed I cuddled him and he settled down. Thats really the only time he has cried. Dan played on the floor with him for awhile and then laid with him and he feel asleep so quickly. He is sleeping so peaceful on our bed.  I just love him, love him, love him! It seems to surreal that he is in our arms, forever! There is ONE LESS orphan in the world tonight!

Right now we are doing laundry in the tub, the chinese way!! Then we are going to take a rest, then fill out paperwork, and tomorrow we are going to make it official!! I can't wait to facetime with the kids later tonight, he is going to fit in so perfect. He is so happy just like his brother!

His name is Hebrew like his brother and sisters. It means "Jehovah is God" We used "XiaoJohn" like we previously picked meaning "little John" He is named after all the Johns in our life. Dans dads middle name, and of course his biggest Chinese brother. :) Johns parents thought that was pretty special.

My Thumb sucker, just like mom was

Naptime with daddy