Bigs, Littles and More Littles: Guangzhou, China

Tuesday, 11/1/16

Tuesday morning we ate some rolls and fruit we managed to score at a local neighborhood grocery about a block down from our apartment in Guangzhou. We went there after the kids went to sleep for diapers and a few other necessities. Quite clearly we didn't know what we were doing because we were kicked out of line for not handling our produce correctly. Finally finished up though and gave the employees some good conversation for later. Today we settled into our new digs for the next 10 days. Here we have a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a full kitchen and living area. Still cozy but better than a hotel room with no doors. Did I mention that our last hotel in Nanchang had only a GLASS door between the bedroom and the bathroom? Awkward. Here we have solid wood doors. Winning.

We needed many more groceries than what we purchased at the local market so we walked a few blocks to the nearest mall (Grandview Mall) which has a store called Aeon covering the entire basement level. It is a mix of a Walmart type store and a supermarket. We arrived just as the mall was opening and headed down with the masses to begin stocking up. Um...not sure what was going on. But I am certain that Tuesday morning at 10:00 is NOT the time to get your groceries. Not if you want to maintain any level of sanity. I have never seen anything like it. Pushing, crowding, no space to walk. It was like Black Friday grocery edition. Crazy town. I have no idea how long we were there. Seemed like forever (with everyone in tow of course.) We ended up with all sorts of things in the cart. It was laughable...or cryable....or something. Not only are there tons of customers, there are also multiple employees in every single aisle trying to "direct" you toward certain items. No, just no. The check-out process is eternal. Your grocery cart has spaces for the small handled baskets. Then you individually place each basket up on the counter with the cashier. He removes the items one by one from your basket, places a sticker ON EVERY SINGLE THING to show you purchased it. Then he places the item in an identical basket on his other side. You take the new basket and move it to a table at the end of the line. With all of the other people in China doing the same things. You bag your own groceries. And you better have bags with you, because they don't offer any. Thankfully, I had heard about that and brought some shopping totes. Never was a I so glad to be out of a store in my life. But we survived!

We got the boys down for a nap and did some unpacking and relaxing. After nap, Brant and I had to take Milo to the civil affairs office here in Guangzhou. He is originally from this province (Guangdong) so his paperwork could not be completed in Beijing even though he was living there. I would love to explain some of the strangeness that occurred during our visit this morning but I don't want to put anything out there criticizing any government agency and causing any future issues for adoptive parents. Just suffice it to say a lot of unnecessary steps for some people to save face. Sigh.

When we returned to the apartment we took the kids down to the indoor playground and let them run off some steam. Then back up for a good American dinner of spaghetti, butter and parmesan. I will not even tell you how much I had to pay for some Kerrygold butter or the tiny, tiny canister of parmesan. But the taste of home was worth it for the kids.

Bedtime was ok. Jake continues to sleep in our bed since it is what he is used to. He is a great sleeper once he gets there. Milo continues to wake up during the night. We are working oh so diligently to figure out his magic sleep formula. So far to no avail.

Our new apartment has a washer and dryer! We were so ready for fresh clothes. Spent a while getting caught up on the laundry.

A rousing game of hide-and-seek

Just say "no" to Tuesday morning grocery shopping.

The checkout lines go on forever and there are SO many of them.

Boredom buster: Blue painter's tape on the hotel floor for a racetrack, train track, follow the leader line, etc.

What happens when you don't speak or read Chinese and you try to by dishwashing detergent.

Taste of home

Fan favorite. They NEED these in the states!

Wednesday 11/2/16

More appointments today with Milo in the civil affairs offices and the notary. Jake did well staying with Dakota and the other kids today at the apartment while we ran the errands. He struggled a little yesterday with Brant being gone. Because he is ALL about Brant. Based on his behavior on the train ride to Guangzhou, I'm okay with him (temporarily) being Brant's buddy. They can be designated airplane partners. *cheese*

Hung out the rest of the day and did a little shopping with Dakota during the boys' naps. Because no one else in this place wanted to do that but us.

Appointmenting

10 story mall. Took forever to look around!

Thursday 11/3/16

Today we had the medical appointments required by the United States for the boys to obtain their visas to enter our country. They were relatively painless and the boys were great. Jake is 23 months old and weighs 26 lbs. He is wearing 18-24 month clothing for the most part. Mile is 20 months and weighs 18 lbs. So tiny. He is wearing 9 month clothing. Such a baby doll.

Jake's medical exam

Friday 11/4/16

This is one of the days we have been waiting for!!!! Safari Park! It is recognized as the leading zoological park throughout all of China. They have over 20,000 different animals and over 500 species. And they are extremely close to you. Monkeys were roaming free in the park as well as toucans and other birds. They are the only zoo in the world to have twin koalas and triplet pandas! They also have over 100 white tigers. It was really something to see. We explored there most of the day and ended the trip with the safari train ride around the park to see additional animals roaming free. Much like Animal Kingdom at Disney. So much fun for all the kids. We were exhausted by the end of it all and headed back to the apartment after we found some ice cream in the park. We haven't found ice cream in a grocery store yet so some people in this family are struggling. You know who you are.

One of my stroller pushers

Stroller pusher number 2

Jake with Daddy. Always with Daddy.

They were actually this close!

Reese has been so good on this trip. A travel trooper.

Impressed?

Van rides with Reese :)

Such a good big brother

Saturday 11/5/16

This morning I sent Brant, Gavin and Jake out to run some unnecessary errands while Dakota, Reese, Milo and I went to pickup Gavin's birthday cake I had ordered! Earlier in the week when Dakota and I went shopping, we also picked up a few balloons and a small Nerf gun from the mall. We brought the cake back to the apartment and did what decorating and setup we could before the boys returned. Surprise!!! Gavin is 12 today. What a blessing he is to us. He has a kind, sensitive spirit. He loves his family and is the life of the kid-party. Hard to believe this will be his last year before the teen years! It just goes so fast.

While the new littles napped, Brant took Dakota, Gavin and Reese to the mall where there is an arcade that takes up an entire floor. Fun day for them celebrating Gavin. This just so happens to be Gavin's second birthday to celebrate abroad! His 9th was celebrated in Colombia when we went to adopt Julieta!