Ups and Downs

Another day of ups and downs. Today has been a tough day so far. 8:30 am medical appointment with a child that is extremely weary of doctors, with good reason. We also had a photo at the visa photo place and a 2 hour paperwork session. Let the fun begin people!!

As you could imagine the meltdown and constant holding/pushing away started at the doctors and continued until he could yell no more - he finally feel asleep and is napping. This trip is no life for a toddler let me tell you - it's hard. He was tired and hungry and I had a gazillion forms, plus a few more to fill out. Thankfully we appear to have everything we need in order to get a visa for Mr. Xi Tao Chuan, AKA Action Jackson, Chuan Chuan, Squirming Worm, and baby Jackyl and Hyde. Thankfully I did not have to list all his new nicknames on the visa request form.

I really hope that some of this rage goes away - it is really hard to cope with by myself. I have only the people that I am traveling with to occasionally hold him, but it has been so, so difficult. I cannot wait to get home to a familiar place, to my family that I miss like crazy and to provide some consistency for this little guy.

Here are some pictures:

With my buddy, #2 Kern

Red Couch Chaos

I like the madness!

Mom - did you plan for me to match?

Group Photo: Homeland & Hand in Hand Families

Me & Mom

Just waking up

Trying to mingle with the ladies

The bib says it all

Adoption Medical Exam

Hello from Guangzhou!!

Why is it that everything seems better in Guangzhou - it is like the Disney World of Adoption if that makes sense. Maybe because we are that much closer to home! We are at the White Swan - definitely in need of renovations, nothing has changed since 2006, we'll probably since 1980. Anyway, they are all about service here. The scooped us up from the airport, we were all tired and hot and whisked us to the hotel. During the whisking Jackson blessed us all with a very nasty diaper that was changed via a team effort on the white slip covered seats of the bus. Thanks for everyones' assistance - hope your eyes are not still burning - whew.

He traveled like a champ - it wasn't easy - lots of redirection and diversion but we made it. I had a knot in my stomach the whole time just waiting for him to pitch a fit - it was exhausting. He promptly passed out it the stroller as we walked along the Pearl River. Ahhh-the stroller, don't jump on me I know I should be carrying him, but he has been glued to me for the last week and I think for my sanity and preparation for home life a little stroller time is a good thing. I do have to bribe him with treats and I can't stop moving at all or he needs to be either up or out. Addie was this way at 20 months too.

So after sleeping in the stroller we went to Lucy's for dinner - and I decided that he should wake up and eat a little since lunch consisted of snacks at the Nanjing airport - bad move - he was MAD!!! He cried for the better part of an hour and then went to sleep for the night 7pm-7am. He was wiped. This schedule is so hard on the children and the heat makes it even worse. Only a few more days until we are home.

I did some shopping today and got most of the "must haves" on my list at my favorite store next door then I will shop around for a few extras. We spent some time in the playroom at the WS - he loved it and there were a lot of kids there. We also had lunch with Laura G. and Emma at the deli - we had some ice cream. Jackson was not a fan, he will come around.

Here is a few photos to tide you over - it has been hard to take pictures, but maybe now that he is in a stroller it will be easier. We have red couch photos today at 5pm.

Chillin' at the Nanjing Airport

Hangin' with Mom at the White Swan

Our Pal Emma G.