Days 1 and 2: Getting There

We didn't think that I was going to be able to blog because we set up a VPN on Larry's laptop, but I needed to sign into it with my google account, which has 2-step verification(which requires the use of my cell phone, that of course, doesn't work here).

But I think I got in to stay by using my Kindle on some free wi-fi I jumped onto!

Abigail grabs a quick nap in JFK

I ain't gonna' sugar-coat it:  Our trip here was L.O.N.G.  Even longer than it was supposed to be.
We left our house at ~6:30 on Wednesday and got to our hotel in Beijing 31 hours later.
For all of you MVHS friends, here is one perspective:  We started our journey about the time Karl Reichart was arriving to work on Wednesday morning and didn't stop until after you were all done with 4th block on Thursday. 

Our trip from DC to NYC was pretty standard, if a little turbulent.

A nice agent in NYC got all 3 of us seats together for our Beijing flight, which was great.
Then at JFK airport, Abigail took a 1 hour nap and then we boarded our plane that we were supposed be on for 13 hours.

 But that 13 hours grew a bit when we sat on the tarmac at JFK for 1 hour, 45 minutes.
Then, after about half-a-day of staring at the flight map in our seat back screens, the "time remaining until landing" went from 50 minutes to 45 to 30 to 22 .... to 28 to 32 to 38 to 45 to "This is your pilot. We are not going to Beijing.  There is windy weather.  We are going to Hohhot." 

Hohhot is in Inner Mongolia.

 (I admit, I had a panic attack at this point.  Abigail later described it to our CCAI guide as "Mama was frustrated and disappointed.")

So damn close...

In Hohhot, the 350 or so of us sat on our plane for a few more hours.  Then, just before midnight, we were given permission from ATC in Beijing to land there.  

So, back to Beijing, stand in a customs line for awhile, hit the "30 hours awake mark", wait 30 minutes to collect our bags (YEA!! They made it!!), van ride to our gorgeous hotel, and a little bit of sleep and we are ready for a day of touring Beijing!

Fun quote of the day:
Abigail and I rode the glass elevator together to our hotel room and as it burst from the lobby floor to a 8-10 story indoor atrium filled with trees and so much beauty, Abigail observed "Wow!  This hotel is SOO beautiful.  It even has carpet!!"  (Yes, we usually stay in dirt covered places...)

Why We Moved Away from All of Our Friends

Almost 2 years ago, we moved away from all of our Charleston, SC friends.  Some had been leaving us: Jeff and Bri had to leave for career purposes, Seung Lan had to leave because her husband got stationed in Okinawa and Vernon left to pursue a higher degree closer to his son, just to name a few.  But others are still there and we miss them dearly, The Watkins Family, Betty and Larry's MPPC choir friends come to mind quickly.  (Sorry to "all y'all" who aren't mentioned individually!)

But we moved so that Abigail could grow up to know her family, so that her aunts and uncles could be almost like second parents to her, be close to her and not must be some strangers she saw twice per year.  

And a night like tonight, with Abigail nestled between her Aunt Kim and Uncle Dean, awake an hour after bedtime, adorned in Penguins gear, eating brownies she made for her Uncle's birthday, learning to cheer and yell at all of the right times like any other deranged sports fan, waiting for the next fight like any typical hockey fan, makes me happy. (Not the sports, of course, but the bonding.  The sports are insignificant compared with their shared experience.)

Sunday Snapshot: Spring Spring Wonderful Spring

"I feel the conflict within you" - Luke (Return of the Jedi)

Today we got our TA.  (For my non-adoption readers, that is our Travel Approval to finally buy plane tickets and go to China and get our son.  It is a very. Big. Deal.)

I have been anticipating this so intensely that I think the refresh button on my email no longer works.

I look at the picture of this little guy and have hopes and dreams for him.

I imagine who he is.  I think of the amazing responsibility I have to raise him to be a wonderful man.  My breath catches at the enormity of this responsibility.









And then I walk down the hall and see my first born. 

My spunky, creative, caring, intelligent wonderful daughter.

And I think about our TA and I want to cry.

Because I only have 2 weeks left with her.  Just her. 

Only 2 weeks until we make room in our lives for her brother.  

She is so innocent. And trusting. She trusts we are doing the right thing for our family.




And I have to believe that she is right.

Then I have to soak up every last bit of her, because I think the big sister we bring back from China is not going to be exactly the same kid. 

Sunday Snapshots: Hanami Weekend

Someone wasn't thrilled at first
to be in DC and not be looking
at dinosaur bones or animals or gems.

Then she got really excited because her feet fell asleep while
riding Larry's shoulders and they began to feel "tickley"

Happy to be with her Yinski and Grandma Judy

It was a long morning for her, but she was a trooper and
had no major breakdowns of any kind.  (Not that she ever does.)

An Easter Egg Monday

We decided to dye a few eggs tonight.

She instantly grabbed this and said
"I get the octagon, Mama!"

Patiently checking on the progress
of the pink one.

"Abigail, if you have 2 eggs in the carton
and 3 eggs in the cups, how many eggs
do you have?"

"Ummmmm, 5 I think.  Let me check." 

Contemplating the eggs or the
fact that she had to use a Sam Adams tumbler.

Beautiful, Inside and Out

pic taken in our yard, in Abigail's new "plain" shirt she picked out

Yesterday was the opening day of Kings Dominion, and with our season passes, we took Abigail.  She was so much more confident and brave than last year.  (She remembered where everything was too!  What an amazing memory.)  I felt so much happiness, contentedness and joy just watching her.  I love watching her body move: she is graceful, coordinated, and powerful.  I love watching her face as she laughs and squeals in delight and her happiness is so pure.  When she was on a ride, teasing Larry and me, or telling us a story about whatever, she just radiated joy and pleasure.  I cannot soak her all up.  I am so in love with this child, everything she already is, everything she promises to become.