Last Day in Guangzhou

AHHHHHH!

EEEHHHH!

RRRRRRRRR

Who needs words between father and son.  Language might be a touch overrated.

Andrew took these photos.  We have had nothing to do today as we wait for our visa to arrive and then leave Guangzhou at 6pm.  We will fly into Shanghai, stay there overnight and leave the next day.  Unfortunately our flight is at 8pm so we are going to be a little bored just waiting to leave.  China a been very interesting.  We have enjoyed out time.  The biggest thing we miss is our kids.  Things are different in China then I imagined.  It has been a great trip and we get to bring home a cool souvenir.  hahha   Somehow bootleg dvds and fake jade pale in comparison.   We continue to have a great connection with Andrew.  He is so loving and amazing with us.  I think he legitimately likes us and is just beginning to love us.  We already love him and are already liking him as well.  There are a couple of habits that need to be curbed but that will come with time.  The only one we have been addressing is when we ask him to do something and he says "No!"  even after we ask a couple of times... like it's time to leave the swimming pool.  Or turn off the game it's time for bed.  We had something like that in the taxi cab yesterday and there was a clear point where he knew he was not obeying.  He was playing a game and listening to music but it was too loud.  I reached over to just turn down the volume and he snatched the game away.  I promptly grabbed his hands and took the game from him and put it in my pocked.  Using body language and motions I conveyed my disappointment in his actions and words.  He processed for a few seconds then looked away.  He felt genuinely bad that he hadn't listened.  I looked away out the window and was silent.  He tried to get me too look at something else and break the tension but I kept away.  I figured it was time he realize that actions have consequences.  After a few minutes of guilt silence, my wife prompted him to say "Sorry, Daddy." and he did.  I then smiled said it's ok and I love you.  Five minutes later I gave him back the game he was playing.  He seemed extremely contented that he could get in trouble but that it would be alright in the end.  Overall a good lesson.  I can't explain how great/strange it is to have an instant 11 year old son.  It is exciting and fun.  We really enjoy him and think the world of him already.  He is a great kid and we are blessed.  Can't wait for everyone to meet him soon.  See you later.

The Zoo

Got to go to the zoo / amusement park today.  Swim and have a great day.  Went back to the medical center to check his TB test...negative. So we are cleared to come home medically.  Visit US Consulate for his visa tomorrow then we are set!  Bringing home a former Chinese Kid, now a Thomsic...poor thing.

Handsome fellows

Loved these...He is a trainer Julie!!!

Looking cool

The animal is interested in our son

It actually bumped him with its head and he tried to pet it.

1st roller coaster with Daddy

2nd roller coaster with Daddy.  During this one he got motion sick and was looked terrible.

Love these two

Yes that is Kung Fu Panda

Dumbo and Thomsics

I wonder if Warner know about this

Roller Coaster #1

Climb, climb, climb

Exercise in Chinese Park

    Panda again

Love you all

Hope life is as good for you as it is for us.  Andrew continues to be amazing and we really love him to death.  He is not at all what we were expecting but God is good and we know he is our son.  We just have to get him to stop throwing trash on the ground.  hahaha.  You will all love him.  His english is still terrible but adding a word or two each day.  He certainly has a mind of his own and is determined to conquer different things.  He is teaching himself to swim...I am not allow to touch him while he is working.  He will watch me do it then try to copy but he wont let me help him.  He is very independent that way but only when he is trying to master something new.  We think he is used to doing things on his own and doesn't like people to treat him like he can't do things.  We are not sure since communication is difficult.  We think he is attaching well and love us but it's only been a short time.  so far so good.  Thanks for all your prayers.  Love ya.

More pictures from our other camera

These pictures are out of order but I thought they were good.  They are from the other camera.  Enjoy!!

Don't mess with Daddy

Chillin with the fish

Cute!

Dragon Palace thing

Some random park with a lake.

He sure can climb

Took a boat ride...let him drive

Someone else took these next three shots.  Beautiful.  Thanks Mark.

So now you are updated with photos.  Have a great Sunday.  We sure miss our church family.  Pray for the missions team missing church today.  We know God will do amazing work through/in them.  Be blessed.

Chill Day

Fish at our new hotel.

Uhma and Andrew in front of the hotel waterfall.

Silly face

2 silly faces

4 ft 10 inches.  77 pounds

Dead guys palace

Hugging then picking up Uhma

Ahhh too cute.  Buddhist temple

5 goats monument...don't ask.

Running up the hotel wall.  Ethan and Trevor will love this one.

Get down here!!!  Just kidding I told him to try.  You see his disability doesn't effect his activity.

Hanging out all day, visit some sites.  Going swimming in a few minutes.  He loves swimming.  My dad will be excited about that.  He was willing to hold hands in public today.  In fact, he initiated the hand holding.  Still lots of hugs and kisses...can't beat that.  Today was nice.  Going back to the Dr. to get his TB test read tomorrow then next day to the US Consulate.  Did some paperwork today for an hour.  Things are going great.  He is a real charmer.  We love him so much.  We miss Kayla and Ethan a lot also.  See you all soon!

Guangzhou

Today was our first day in the new city.  We had a medical exam to get his visa to enter the US.  He had a complete exam and four shots.  He was scared to get them beforehand but didn't flinch when it was time to get it. What a champ.  He was worried he couldn't eat things or the medicine would hurt or cause him to have side effects.  (Guess he's had some Chinese bootleg medicine before)  We had a good time after that.  We came back to the hotel and went to the pool.  Had lots of fun.  He has been watching Naruto on youtube.  We have discovered that he is very self conscious about a couple of things.  He doesn't like to spend our money.  I am constantly telling him our money is his money and to ask if he wants something.  At the end of the day we were at 7-11, yes literally that 7-11, and we got ice cream and as we were leaving he saw some candy so he asked my wife if she wanted it she said no and he looked bummed.  I asked if he wanted it and he said yes.  Normally he would say no.  Then as we passed the counter he saw some gum he wanted and actually asked if he could have it.  First time he has asked to buy anything just for himself.  Of course when we got to the hotel he demanded that we eat some too.  This brings me to his next quirk.  If we won't eat something then he wont eat it.  He is really pushy for us to eat some of whatever he is eating.  Also, he doesn't mind being affectionate in the hotel room but is very guarded in public.  So pretty much no kisses in public or even hand holding. booo says my wife, but we will break him!!!! hahahah.  The last thing we have noticed is he doesn't care really about his hands but he is extremely sensitive about his feet.  More than anything else.  (Lucky for you Rich, he doesn't go barefoot almost ever)  When we were at the doctors office they told him to take off his shoes and he said "NO!"  they told him several times but he kept saying no.  I went over and told him it was ok and yes, so he reluctantly took them off.  What is worse after he had put them back on a second doctor came in and also asked to see his feet.  Imagine his face but he didn't say no but took them off with quite a stern face.  I wasn't really happy about the whole situation but it is hard to intervene when you don't speak the language.  I can assure you the doctors in the US will be more sensitive or else.  The rest of the day was great.  We ate Malaysian food for dinner and Americanise food for lunch.  One more step down.  We miss our kids so in that sense we can't wait to get home.  We really enjoy the time connecting with just one of our children though.  We love him so much and are so glad to be getting to know him.  He is using more English and his vocabulary is increasing.  He said, "What's your name?" and I responded and is able to respond "Andrew" when I ask him the same question.  He likes to say "Go, Go Go" when it's time to go and "Yes No?"  for a question.  Holds up the iphone...."yes no?"  We say yes.  Speaking of the iphone, sorry no pictures today, Andrew is watching Naruto on my iphone, which has taken all of the blog photos.

Guangzhu

Andrew love to exercise.  We went to the gym twice.  That is two more times then I have been to the gym since highschool.

This was at the Nanjing airport.  Today was the first time he ever went on a plane.  He LOVED it.

Waiting with Uhma.

On the plane acting silly

The last day or so has been great.  Andrew loves going to the pool and working out in the gym, he is very strong.  When we first went to the pool he wouldn't leave the edge, wouldn't let me near him and wouldn't let go of a blow up life ring.  Today, our third or fourth time to the pool he was swimming on his own.  Pretty crazy.  We are continuing to have a great time with him.  He is such a great kid.  In public he either gets real shy or real playful but in private his is calm nice and loving.  We know this is hard for him and don't expect to see his natural everyday personality for a while.  We know he is not overly emotional and loves to run, jump, play and play jokes.  He doesn't like pizza but is cool with McDonalds.  He doesn't like reading or learning...hahah  He was surprised when we explained he had to learn English.  We get lots of kisses and I Love Yous.  Can't say enough good things about him.  We left his hometown today and went on his first plane ride.  He didn't bat an eye.  Loved the plane.  Our new hotel is nicer then our other one.  We would never stay in such a nice place so I guess adoption has its perks.  We can't wait for him to be introduced to our family, church and friends.  Pretty soon now. Hope you are blessed.  We certainly are.