1 Day To Go! Packing Up

As you can see, we are packed and ready to go. The sun is shining and the ice is melting. Flying out early tomorrow morning!

We are almost there, Ethan.

2 Days and Counting! Rob Goes to the Opera--Jan is Iced In

I leave in 2 days! I can hardly believe it. Yesterday seemed to drag by. Today is the same. Rob was able to go to the opera in Jiangzu. He is the only American in the audience and the opera is in the local dialect. Even his collegue can't understand it.

I am looking at the glaze thicken on the road. I don't know how my flight will leave on Thursday. It's not going to get any warmer. I'm a little bit panicked by it. The snow didn't bother me yesterday. I lived in Blacksburg long enought to respectfully navigate in the snow, but no one with any sense gets out in the ice.

My plan is to drive in the warmest part of the day tomorrow, spend the night in Charlotte and take a shuttle Thursday morning. My flight is at 7:35, so I don't really want to be scraping my van at 4:00AM.

I've confirmed my flight to Beijing. I've printed out all of the papers I need. I've packed--I just have to squeeze those tennis shoes into my bag. I even cleaned the refrigerator. All that is left is more house cleaning and packing the older children for Marmie and PaPa's house.

Breathe! Breathe! I'll be okay! Really??

6 Days and Counting--Updates!

I got updated sizing and pictures today!

Ethan is almost 36 inches tall, 33 pounds and his foot is 5 and 1/2 inches long. That puts him right between 2T and 3T and about a 7 shoe. I think most of the clothes I bought for him will fit. I have a few 24 months sizes I'll add to the orphanage gift. I have a set of socks that are definately too small, but I have already packed those in the other suitcase, the one that is already in China.

I guess he's sleeping in a crib. That's one question answered.

If you were reading my blog yesterday, my carry-on weighed in at 27 pounds, 5 over! The limit in China is less than international. I'm not sure what to do about that, but I'll think on it. I can't think of anything obvious to leave behind.

One Week to Go! What's in Jan's Carry-On?

So, I'm packing (or repacking) my carry-on bag today. Since I already sent one bag to China with Rob last week, I put everything else in my carry-on. I knew I wouldn't remember what I sent ahead, so I had to see everything I needed. I didn't think to take pictures. And yes, I have forgotten what I packed in that bag. I vaguely remember packing all of the gifts, warm clothes and swim suits for GZ and clothes for Ethan. I packed a diaper bag and meds for every ailment any child has ever had just in case.

Here's what I know I have in my carry-on bag:

1 warm change of clothes for Jan

1 pair of socks

sweatsuit and light pjs for Jan

a bathing suit coverup to double as a robe

underwear for Jan--Yes, I put it in a ziplock bag so that an unknown person in customs won't touch them

meds and vitamins

makeup and toiletries

kleenex

snacks--hopefully enough until we get to GZ. There is plenty of western food for Jackson in GZ.

disposable bibs

diapers

2 outfits for Ethan

pjs for Ethan

socks for Ethan

1 warm change of clothes for Jackson

underwear for Jackson

socks for Jackson

blanket--the special knitted one from Blacksburg that all of my babies have loved

IMPORTANT adoption papers

passports

gum

toys

raincoats--light hiking ones

Dickens novels for the airplane IF Jackson sleeps and I get to read

red envelopes

Dramamine--I'm no supermom

I can't forget the camera!!

Look at these sweet shirts I bought for the younger brothers. One says Big brother. The other says Little brother. I can't wait for that picture.

New Year Blessings

Happy New Years! I usually dread New Year's Day. It's the anniversary of my father's death (nine years now) and it usually approaches with such despair and dread. God has given me a new something to celebrate in January, a Gotcha Day. It looks like it will be Jan 16th. Now, I'll have a little special celebration to plan for after Christmas every year. I had so wanted to be in China before Christmas, but as usual, this works out so much better.

Rob says that it is cold, very cold. The heat is not usually left on in the hotel room during the day, though he made a special request and was accommodated. I'm afraid that our pjs won't be warm enough in Shandong, so I'm going to buy some warmer pjs for me and Ethan. LOL, another reason to go shopping!! Jackson has some warm ones I can pack, along with some lighter ones he can wear underneath.

Overall, I'm finalizing plans for the children staying home, (and our furry friends, too). I'm so ready to go! Only 9 more days!