June 16, 2008 - Davis And The Potty

I'm so glad to say after much work with Davis, he has had dry diapers and loves to use his new potty chair. It plays music when he goes to the bathroom. Who thinks up this stuff? But it works. It's been funny because he doesn't talk yet, (little bit of a language barrier) but he knows what we mean. He is wearing his new pull up pants with pride. We haven't had to use any reward type of things to get him to use the potty. Thank goodness. Hopefully this will continue as I really got tired of changing diapers. He will be 2 on the 19th of this month. Hard to believe. He is such a joy and good little boy. I hope that will always be the case. We've had him now for 2 months, seems like last week we were in China. Boy, time flies doesn't it. Or maybe it's our age. After 30, everything goes by fast. It looks like Davis will try to keep us young. Now let's hope the diapers are over!

Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch - May 15, 2008

Sorry it took so long to get this post up and going. The pictures wouldn't work correctly and I thought I would never get it to work.

It's hard to believe that next month June 19, Davis will be 2 years old. Seems like he has always been with us. He is such a good little boy and good natured. He just goes along with the program every day. It is such a blessing that to have a first child we got him. If he was a handful I don't know what we would do being first time parents. Now, that may change as he gets older, hope not. I have included some pictures below of his first kite flying experience. He was having a time holding on to the wheel of the kite. Almost pulled him over. It was quite funny. But it was such a pretty day on the farm. The horses were running like crazy as they were not to sure of the kites flying over their heads. Brownie didn't like it one bit. The kites make a flapping noise. But they aren't afraid of low flying loud planes, they don't even look up. Go figure.

Then there are the pictures of Davis opening up his Christmas gifts. Finally. We didn't think it would have taken so long for Davis to get here. Now the tree can go back up to the attic. Yea!

Thanks for checking in an following along. We will make every effort to keep everyone posted on how things are going, and any new adventures. This summer will be fun to see how Davis will react to the beach, the Children's Museum, Zoo, and so many other things he will do for the first time. I haven't been checking my personal emails too closely so I will get back to you as soon as I can. Davis takes up a lot of my time these days, but it's a good thing.

Keep checking back!

David and Davis.

May 8, 2008

I think that we are all finally feeling better. Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I just didn't feel like sitting up that long at the computer. Just getting things done around the house and taking care of Davis was all I could do. Since we have been home the first week Davis had his first doctors appointment. He didn't care for that one bit. Four shots was a bit much for him. And he still needs more. He has an appointment to have the cleft lip and palate checked out. Hope that one goes better. His Aunt Chris and I took him yesterday out to lunch and shopping. He still needs so much. He did very well. He is good about eating just about anything. He also behaves so well in restaurants. At least for now. We got him some more clothes, still need more though, it's amazing how you think you have enough. He will be 2 in June and is wearing 12 month t-shirts and some things in 18 months. He is a little guy. I have some clothes that are 24 months that are huge on him. Maybe he will fit into those one day. He is 24 pounds. Not 32 like we were told in China. He is adjusting well, and it will take a while for him to feel totally comfortable we are sure. He doesn't talk yet, except for saying things in Chinese, but does imitate sounds and if he really wants something he will point. We have noticed that he does understand most things we tell him or ask him to do. So I suppose in time he will be talking up a storm. We are going on vacation in July to Kiawah Island, South Carolina. We have been there before and really like it there. I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees the ocean for the first time and gets to build sand castles and put his toes in the sand.

I will be posting pictures here on the blog as much as I can. Hope everyone is well, take care!

We Are Home!! April 26,2008

After a trip that lasted 32 hours (including layovers) we are finally home. Still trying to catch up on sleep. I (cindi) slept for 12 hours straight, but it sure felt good. We had such a wonderful trip. China is going to be something we will never forget. I still laugh when I think of David and all the local Chinese people. He can talk to anyone, I've never seen anything like it. For a lot of people, being in a strange place where no one speaks your language, can be pretty taxing. Not for David. Everywhere we went, we had lots of fun. And we will have so many great memories. Davis did so well on the plane rides. He is such a little trooper. The only time he cried was when he had to be changed (diaper) in the airplane bathroom. It is so cramped in those things. The changing table was so small and he didn't like his face being so close to the wall. I think he thought he was going to fall off. Once we came out he was fine. The stewardesses thought he was such a good baby for such a long flight that they gave him his first wings and a first flight certificate. That was so nice of them. I hope all his flights from here on will be that good. We had the important "Brown Envelope" that we were given at the swearing in of his adoption in China. Once you enter through immagration in the U.S. you hand this envelope over to them and they open it, go through the papers and stamp the Chinese visa and right then and there Davis became a U.S. citizen at the Minnieapolis airport. He had no idea what a big deal that was.

So far he does call us Mama and BaBa. BaBa in Chinese means Daddy. He can't quite get the daddy word so it's BaBa for now. And how he loves his BaBa. We can tell the bonding is going very well.

Check back this weekend and we will have more pictures to share. Right now sleep is calling once again.

Cindi, David and Davis

April 23, 2008

Well this has been the last day of our long trip. Here in Guangzhou, the day we arrived it was so humid. The past two days have been overcast and breezy. We have been able to dine outdoors for dinner each night. The first picture below is of the Koi fish were we eat breakfast each morning. They are huge. It is a long water way in the Hotel with bridges for you to cross and the fish are swimming every where. They are so nice to see in the morning or anytime you stroll through the hotel. There are also shops in the hotel. Then there is the first time Davis has been on a slide in the park. He loved it, and didn't want to stop. How do you like his little Chinese hat? He loves to wear hats. The waterfall is so pretty and the sound of it at breakfast is nice. Then we had our group photo taken of the families of our agency Living Hope and the children they adopted here in China. The last picture we added of the wedding couple was because every where we go there are so many couples having their pictures taken. The dresses we could tell were never new. Maybe only the very well off could afford new wedding dresses. Not sure about that one.

We have really enjoyed our time in China and hope to come back one day. Maybe when Davis is older and can understand his culture. The swearing in at the Embassy was today. I could hardly get the oath out because of crying. I guess it really hit me this was a done deal. Davis was ours. And we were told that once we hand the brown envelope (with very important papers) to immigration officials at the airport, Davis is an American Citizen. It seems that it has taken so long to get to this point. We have so many stories to tell, I'm sure we will be talking about this trip for a long time. We have enjoyed meeting the other couples and their families in our travel group as well. We all share something very special. I hope our children will continue to get to know one another, as well as our friendships with the other parents.

We can't wait to see you all,

David, Cindi and Davis

April 23, 2008

April 23, 2008

April 23, 2008

April 23, 2008

Waterfall in our Hotel.

This is our travel group and children adopted from China

April 23, 2008

We have seen so many couples having their pictures taken for their weddings.

April 22, 2008

We have made it to Guangzhou, pronounced Gwan (rhymes with wand) Joe. GwanJoe. When we landed at the airport, they have construction work going on and we had to walk down some steep steps off the airplane. I had the diaper bag and holding Davis. I thought for sure we were both going to fall down those steps. Then we had to board a bus that took us to the entrance to get our luggage. There were hardly any places to sit. You had to hold on to straps above your head. A woman told me to sit in a seat in the back of the bus, and when I went to sit down with Davis, the bus took off causing both of us fall. I fell backwards still holding Davis and my back hit some steps. Why there were steps in a bus I don't know. I thought for sure Davis was going to get his head hit hard. As the bus was going along, all these people were trying to help me up. When we finally stopped and we got off, David gave that driver a piece of his mind. The things that happen to me! We are now at the White Swan Hotel. It is very nice. The pictures below are the latest ones. It has been very hard to upload until now. We have had Daivs' medical checkup and the paper work for the Consulate is also finished. Yea!! I will try again tonight for more pictures.

April 22, 2008

Davis already showing Dad a thing or two on the computer. You know he's real smart right?

Test page

Sunday April 20, 2008

Sorry, for some reason I can't get the pictures to download. I will try again in the morning or after we arrive at our next destination. We leave in the morning at 6:00 am for Guanzhou. Today we just hung around in our area for the morning because of the rain. Then we went out and walked quite a bit further than usuall. We found the Shanxi Grand Hotel which is not far from our hotel the Yuyuan. Then to the park so Davis could walk around. So many people stare at us it is funny and we just laugh. Last night at dinner, two men were walking and looking at us that they ran right into each other. One of the men got mad at the other. Sometimes it looks like people will get whiplash from turning so quick to look back, to make sure they in fact did see what they thought. Then it happend again today. There are so many people on bikes, small motorcycles and electric scooters you won't beleive it. Hundreds every dayday. We were walking along with the stroller and two people were passing each other on the scooters, they were looking at Davis and hit each other. Bang! Head on. The guy hurt his hand. I wouldn't doubt it if it was broken. The girl looked like she didn't know what to do. We stopped, but there wasn't anything we could do. If they had only been paying attention and not staring at us. That is the way it is everyday. The people here are very interrested in knowing what we are doing with a Chinese boy. They are a very curious people. They will walk right up and start asking in Chinese (like we know what they are saying) why we have him. We can always find someone to explain in English. We just start asking people passing by if they speak English and we always find someone to help explain. By that time we have drawn a crowd. Hope the couple that wrecked are okay. Well hopefully we have pictures tomorrow. Check back.

Saturday April 19, 2008

Today we had rain all day. So we didn't take many pictures. Emily our guide took us to the oldest Museum in the city. It is a lot like the Forbidden City in Beijing. The landscape is much more attractive. She said that the Peony's (not sure of spelling) a shrub, have been there for over 600 years. It was rather hard though taking a stroller up and down many steps throughout this place. After that tour we went looking for a tool shop in town. We finally found one that David could buy some tools called "Tap and Die" used for working on engines that are made in China. David needed these tools. Boy, was I tired of running around looking for those! When we finally found some David bought all that the guy had. David hopes that these tools work for what he needs because they are hard to find in America and apparently in China too. Then we went to a few shops, one we bought this toy that grown ups play with. It is like a giant yoyo, only bigger and you use both hands with long sticks. It is hard to do. If it is nice tomorrow, we are going to go to the park and have someone show us. They have many people playing with those things and others showing them how to do it. It is great exercise. Then we came back to the hotel since it was getting late and Davis needed to eat. He gets pretty grumpy when he's hungry or tired. Just like his Dad. lol

Davis is now talking up a storm. We don't know what he is saying and he doesn't stop chattering. But he does know what we are saying because he listens to us well. He is very good at playing by himself and he keeps his self entertained. He also will let me know when his diaper needs to be changed. He either crys or points to his bottom. It seems like we spend a lot of time making bottles and changing diapers. lol

If David has to run to the pharmacy or downstairs for something, he goes and gets his shoes so he can go too. So cute. He starts crying if David leaves without him. I think the bonding is going well to say the least. We only have one more day here, tomorrow, then on Monday we leave for Guangzhou at 8:oo am. It is about a 2 1/2 hour plane ride from here. That will be our last stop before coming home. Our first day there will be spent with Daivs' medical check up, visa photo, and visa paper work. I hope they have coffee there, it has been quite a few days since I have had a good cup of coffee. Until tomorrow, check back with us for updates.

We had to take many steps throughout this tour of the Temple. Imagine taking them with a stroller. Not many flat surfaces.

Place that the Monks used to come and pray each day. There were people praying when we walked in. It is still used by anyone who wishes to pray daily.

Temple

The Temple we visited today.

Saturday April 19, 2008

Gas prices are about the same as ours. We were kind of surprised at that.

April 18, 2008

Today started out with a little light rain. But we went to the park anyway. Today has been a very good day for Davis. He needs a nap but so far he won't take one. Hopefully he will not wake us up at 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning as he has been. The information we received said he wakes up at 7:00. Yeah right, not with us. He has been a very good eater. He will try anything you give him and not much he doesn't like, until we gave him ice cream. What child doesn't like ice cream?! At the park today we had so many people asking us about Davis. It was hard trying to comunicate since we don't speak the language. But we had other people come up that do speak English and help. They were all so interrested in finding out why these Americans had a Chinese baby. They always want to know how we got a boy, and why he has a scar above his lip. But they all say it is a great thing we are doing and he is a very lucky little boy. They know it is expensive for the adoptions and they think we are rich. They think we are doctors. You should see the look on their face when David tells them what he does for a living. One guy couldn't beleive David was a worker like him. It was right funny.

Quite a few adoptive families staying here in Taiyuan, have told us that they couldn't find anything to do here, or they couldn't find anything to eat. Well if you hang out with Daivd he will find most anything and places to go. Our guide couldn't beleive that we went so far (walking) to find a well known local museum, we still haven't found it, but we think we are getting close. lol I cound't imagine sitting in this hotel room day after day, rain or shine. Too much to do, and explore. Some of these families are afraid of the people here. Not us. They don't have crime like we do. We feel very safe walking the streets at night. David loves it here. On one of our excursions, we like to go down the side streets, we found shops that sell luggage like samsonite. We got some really good deals for a camera case and a small purse type thing for me. You just need to venture out. We haven't been eating anything but what is here, except one night David had to go to KFC for chicken. So many are going to McDonald's. We don't want to start that with Davis. He eats so good. And he eats vegatables. Just goes to show that if you start that stuff that is all they want to eat.

Davis continues to thrive every day. He does have his moments of crying that I know is just his grieving. But that is getting better. We have one of his melt downs on video. It is so funny. I have never seen a child throw themselves on the floor the way he does. He gets upset when we come back to our hotel room after being out because he knows that is the end of our day. He doesn't want the day to end. He is having too much fun being out and about. He refuses to get out of the stroller. He is a lot of fun and very smart. Have I mentioned how smart he is in any of my posts? lol Well, stay tuned for further updates.

April 18, 2008

We draw a crowd wherever we go!

Ladies dancing in the park this morning. There are dancers every day throughout the park.

April 18, 2008

This is Davis' first ice cream treat. He doesn't like ice cream can you tell by his face? It is hysterical watching him. He wants to taste it and every time we get this look from him. We don't really care for it much, it's better at home, but it isn't all that bad either.

April 18, 2008

A very talented lady was on the street selling paintings of your name and what it means. We got one for Davis. She will interpret your name and paint with a strange looking round item. It is not a brush of any type. It only takes her around 12 minutes.

April 18, 2008

We thought this picture was so pretty with all the tulips. In this park we love to go to, they plant the tulips of different colors all throughout the grass areas. Unfortunately, you can't walk on any grassy areas even without anything planted. So Davis can't play in the grass with his ball. The landscaping is beautiful and pictures just don't do it justice.

Note To Candy and Uwe

Hi you guys,

I know it takes a while for you to download emails and such, so I'm leaving you a note here. Thanks for your email and everything is going well. Davis is a real joy. We have so much fun watching him explore things and figure stuff out. He should be settled well by the time you meet him. He is so funny. I'll keep the pictures coming on our blog. We have enjoyed our stay here in the province of Shanxi. David can always find places to go and he really is enjoying the local people. We have found they are all very nice and helpful. It's been a great experience.

Cindi

April 17, 2008

Davis continues to do better and better every day. We still have the times during the day when he goes through a process I call a melt down, but they don't last that long and he recovers very well. He watches every thing David does and tries to copy. He makes us laugh constantly. We have had him out making him walk. He is wobbly but likes to be on the go. He has a lot of fun when we go out during the day. He has a cold now and when he sneezes he will go and get a tissue for you to clean his face. Today he went and got the tissue and actually blew his nose. We were laughing. He has figured out how to get on the bed by himself, so he gets on and off a million times. It doesn't take very long for him to get something. He also has a temper. If he doesn't get his way he stomps his feet. It's funny to watch so I have to turn my head so he won't see me laugh. We call him the little emperor. Everything must go his way. (lol)

We walked to a different part of the city today and went into some shops on the street. It's kind of neat how they are small but each one is different. Like one may be for shoes, another for bags like carrying cases etc. We will venture out again tomorrow, more fun stuff to do!

Davis loves his daddy.

We buy Davis something everyday. He is so funny to watch with things he has probalby never expierenced before.

This is Emil our facilitator. Some of you may have had her.

April 17, 2008

This picture we took at breakfast this morning. From left to right is Davis, a little girl named Alice who is only 14 months old. Very tiny little thing. Her parents are from Holland. They told us she was an under weight baby and malnourished when found. But she is doing great now. She is just precious. Then the other baby (can't remember his name) is 22 months old. Davis looks huge next to them. lol

Wednesday April 16, 2008

Davis is coming out of his shell little by little. He still cries for his foster mother during the night when he sleeps (so sad) he will cry when he first wakes up, after his nap, and at night before bed. But the in between times he is great. It will just take some time. We know this, but it is still so hard to watch at times. He loves to get in the stroller and go out anywhere. He hates it when we come back to the room and you take him out. Then it is melt down time. We met some other famlies from other countries adopting Chinese children. They were ajusting very well. Wonder if it is because they had other children to play with in their families. One little girl who I thought was around 8 months old, turned out to be 14 months. She was just the tinest thing. These other families told us some places to go and take Davis, and things he would like to eat. Today we went back to the big park. It is such a nice park. And it is really big. So many people walking, excersing, playing games etc. We were so impressed at the older ones and I mean older, playing these games. Makes us look pretty bad as far as being in shape back in the U.S. Davis had some things that we call "Firsts" that we are sure he has never had or done before. His little face just lights up. He is so cute the way he tries to imitate David. He watches everything David does and then tries to copy him. If David makes funny sounds at him, he will try to do the same thing. David is soooo good with him. Enjoy the photos.

Davis' first ballon. He has had more fun with this thing.

Davis gets his first popsicle. It was an apple taste but we think it may have had a sour taste.

For those of you who have asked us about the children in split pants, here is a good picture. There were so many in the park today. Real cute.

A lot of the people here walk around holding hands, or arms around each other. Young girls and women especially. Something we used to do as kids. It is quite sweet seeing people of all ages doing this.

This man was playing with a yoyo type thing. Not sure what it is but we would like to find one to buy. People were in the park playing with them.

We just loved the many different birds in this park down the street. They are about the size of a crow. There is also black and white birds.

Things are getting better

Davis has a bad cold with congestion, lucky us. So he is having his grieving, and not feeling well at the same time. We got him some medicine and it seems to be working. The picture of the adoptions office is funny. The girl in pink was one of Davis' nannies. He wanted nothing to do with any of them today. Guess he was mad at them. lol Things are better though. He is really coming around. I think getting him out has been good for him. Can't wait for you all to meet him, he will melt your heart. It's going to be hard to say no. Post more soon.

Office of Adopions in Taiyuan.