Our Second Week Together

Things are still going pretty good. Jackson is melding into the family a little more everyday. He and Addison now have some exchanges that resemble playing together which is very cute. She would love to drag him all over the house, dress him, feed him etc. She is such a helper and is being a pretty good sport about her fall from the "pedestal" she is still and drama queen, but gosh I missed all that drama and chatter while I was away.

We have had some weird weather ups and down the last week highs from the 60's to the 80's. This week and next look gorgeous and warm. Not quite fall yet. Although I am getting excited for fall and Halloween with the kids.

Great news! We got Jackson into Shriner's to see their cleft team - they are awesome and we feel so blessed to be part of their program. Our first visit is at the end of October.

Here are some pictures from this last week:

Mmmm Oreo's

Tightrope Addie

Awesome Big Sister

Making Music Together

Cheese

Whoa - is it supposed to do this?

Preppy Boy

Mmmm - Popsicle

My favorite silly face - Eeeeeeeeee!

Wow - this place is full service :)

Let There Be Sleep!!

Yeah - I cannot believe that he is sleeping through the night - hopefully I am not jinxing myself, ut it feels great as I am getting caught up on sleep too! We have been having fun - hanging out with our neighbors and family. Jackson is doing well I think - less drama every day. Addie is adjusting - she really likes to introduce her little brother and is quite possessive/protective over him it's cute.

I like to watch him navigating the house, finding his favorite spots and working his way into all the little spaces.

He is becoming Daddy's boy and gets really excited when Brody is home for lunch or at the end of the day.

Some pictures from our week (that's what you really like anyway, right!)

I am already fixin' stuff around the house

I also clean up afterward - I'm told I'm quite a catch :)

Splish - Splash

Still not sure about the sand, but the toys are fun!

Cool Dude!

Big Sister - She's so proud!

My favorite face - Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Playing at the park!

Home at Last!

Thanks everyone for the prayers - they definitely helped as we had a very, very good trip home. Jackson slept from Guangzhou to Shanghai (2 hours), he slept 11 of the 14 hours from Shanghai to Atlanta, and he slept the 2 hours from Atlanta to Chicago. The only hitch we had on our trip, besides carrying and checking our bags three times was an extra two hours on our Atlanta layover. We didn't get into Chicago until Friday morning at 12:30am. With that said the little guy was wide awake for the ride home, but he did great in the car seat as long as I gave him Cheerios.

He seemed to like Daddy right away, so that was a BIG relief to me. We finally got into bed around 3am and slept until 10:30am Friday morning. That afternoon he played with the neighbor boys while we waited for his big sister, Addie to get home. She was so excited - Auntie Lee brought her down from up north and it was truly a very awesome and emotional moment holding them both in my arms. They are doing really, really good together. Sleeping last night was another story. Jackson was up at 10, 11, 12:30, 3, 3:30 and finally for good at 6:30 this morning. My sister promptly fled the chaos - just kidding. She vacuumed the house, played with the kids while we clean up and then headed home. Huge thanks to Auntie Lee.

Jackson also met Brody's parents and will hopefully meet my parents - Nana and Poppa this weekend when they get home.

Tonight in our "keep Jackson awake" all day mission we went to the Folk and Blues festival at the college where I work, it was fun as always! Addie danced like crazy and Jackson bopped along and ate more Cheerios. He seems to be doing good at this point. The only one he is not to keen on right now is Harley the dog. Hopefully we succeeded in our mission and he will sleep tonight as we are both very tired.

Thanks for the support!

Love,

Tracy (Brody, Addison & Jackson)

Meeting Daddy

Holding my babies!

Home at last!

Am I a big sister now - You sure are!

Checking out the sandbox

Bubble Time

Man this place is great - free wagon rides!!

Baba I'm Coming Home!

[Is this how I travel to the USA?]

And big sister Addie too! I can't believe it is done. Although I think the hardest part will be the 26 hours of travel with this crunchy little man. We will fall into Baba's arms at 10:50pm. It will also be our 9th Wedding Anniversary - so two special days all in one. Please pray for a peaceful, uneventful trip home. This little guy does not do travel well - I just hope he can find some peace during the long 15 hour international flight and be able to get some sleep.

We took the oath at the consulate this afternoon - hard not to get emotional about that. I have his passport with his visa just waiting to check into our flight tomorrow morning. We leave the hotel at 7am - our flight is at 9:30am.

We can't wait to see everyone very soon!

Tracy & Jackson

Taking our oath at the consulate

It's for you - we are really low on toys

See you soon!

Almost Home!

We had our consulate appointment this morning - or rather Grace our guide did. All the families just wait in their room for the OK. We had breakfast at the WS buffet - I am so tired of buffet. Although they have the best apples I have ever tasted. Then we hit the play room for about an hour - this was very fun - so many adoptive families their with their kids. We met families from Washington, Kentucky, New York, D.C, and Arizona so far. Jackson's favorite toys are the piano and the kitchen. He seems to play well with other kids, but is always checking to make sure I'm nearby. It is one of the few places that he allows me to put him down. I got the all clear at about 11:30am - it's official - he is ours. We pick up his passport and visa tomorrow when we say the oath.

We only had a few battles today. Mostly over the stroller and the high chair. Sometimes he is so stubborn that he will launch into a huge fit over something little. We tried to go swimming again, but the pool was closed due to thunder and lightening. Maybe tomorrow. Laura G. and I did shop a little bit, but Jackson is NOT a shopper so that will certainly be evident in the amount of souvenirs that I bring home.

So a bit about Jackson - he is little. Trunk rich - aka very long torso, little short legs as my friend Lisen would say. He has cute spiky hair and tiny little feet (size 3). He is crazy flexible and can do somersaults and climb playground equipment with ease. He is very drooly - just like Addie was - maybe worse - he is teething.

Jackson likes:
Cheerios (eating them like they are going out of style - he has moved on to Laura's stash now that mine are gone - thanks Laura & Emma.
Being Held
Raspberries on his tummy
Kissing his ears
Swimming and baths
Eating anything and everything
Throwing things - including tantrums :)
His shoes - putting them on and off
Slamming drawers
Anime and Indy car racing - there isn't a lot on TV here

Jackson dislikes:
The highchair
The stroller
Being set down
Not getting what he wants immediately
Ketchup although he tries it every time we eat
Orajel - but it feels so good
Bumping his head - which he does about 10 times a day
Shopping - hates it with a passion
Running out of snacks

So that's a little bit about this silly, little man. He is very cute, very smart and quite a handful. Only two more days until we are home - wohoo!!
Chillin' at the WS Pool

Waterfall at the pool

Waterfall inside the hotel

WS Playroom - diggin' the piano

Playing at the park - Shaiman Island