Just love this face...

Today's Pictures - We had a good day!

Today was a very good day for us.

Welcome Home Photos on 2/2

19 days since we met Ricky.....

wow...it seems like yesterday literally.

How are things going? well to say things are all rosy and good, I would be lying.

Do not think that this is easy. It is probably one of the most difficult things I have done.

Ricky is a little toddler in the mind of an infant. Sure his movements are of a 17 month old, but his brain is really probably 9-12 months old -maybe younger. I'm not concerned about this - he will catch up in time. I called Georgia's Baby's Can't Wait program for an early evaluation. I'm not sure he will qualify for anything but I would like an experts opinion. We also moved up his pediatrician appointment from Wednesday to Monday.

The period of adjustment for all of us will go on for a long period of time. We have been home a week - Ricky has slept through the night once. It doesn't help right now, we believe he has 2 to 3 teeth coming through. Friday was full of temper tantrums as we try to set some limits on what he can and cannot do. He is very very active. Cannot sit still for more than a minute or two unless he is eating. Everything is so new for him.

Friday was tough but there are glimmers of good moments. He has a great smile and laugh. I can just hope that these glimmers turned into minutes and minutes into hours and hours into days.

So if you ask me if I'm happy - I might give a small smile or might even say not really. Does it mean I regret what we did? No. He is our son. He will be our joy just like Emily is our joy. It will just take time. I know this. He is our son.

Travel Blogs And Weather.....

Please follow our journey at the following blogs:

http://zanfamily.blogspot.com


Emily, age 7, will be writing in her blog at:

http://brotherchina.blogspot.com


Blogger might be blocked from China in the part we are going. However, I can log in through work and use the internet on their remote terminal. So I think we should be okay.

We have a winter storm advisory for Atlanta. I think we will be okay. hopefully.....

We have an 8:30 am flight out. We plan to get to the airport around 6 am or so. New York looks clear.

Packing is done!

We are done packing except for some odds and ends.

For in China travel, you are limited to 1 checked in bag which has to weigh less than 44 lbs.

So Bill, Emily and I each have a rolling duffel bag. We still have room and weight to go! Very good.

We packed 3 sets of clothing each (t-shirt, pants, and fleece top) plus a rain jacket. 3 pairs of pj's and socks /underwear. Oh on the underwear front, I'm tossing underwear as we go so I will pack 16 pairs of underwear _ a good time to clean out the old granny panties! I have this thing about strangers washing my underwear. Bill thinks I'm nuts. We packed one set of clothing (so that's number 4) in our backpacks (we each have one - Emily's is a rolling backpack) We are wearing 1 set of clothing on us so that makes 5 sets of clothing for 16 days in China. We will be doing the laundry service every couple of days. Ricky's stuff is packed with Emily's stuff.

I think I have packed everything but the kitchen sink --I did pack kitchen tongs for washing bottles though! My packing list was pages long and we have fit everything in. I feel very accomplished. We even have room in our backpacks! Normally, I'm a pack horse so this has been a challenge for me. I may have to through in a pair of shoes for good measure! So far, we are just wearing sneakers.

Family Day will be 1/21

We will get Ricky on 1/21. It is looking like we will pick him up at the orphanage. So we will get to tour where has been most of his life.

Here are our details. Remember that China is 13 hours ahead of us.

1/17 - ATL to JFK (NY) via Delta, JFK to HONG KONG via Cathay Pacific (1:55 pm flight).
1/18 - Arrive in Hong Kong 7:05 pm at night.
1/19 - Tour Hong Kong
1/20 - Leave Hong Kong for Chongqing - Staying at Golden Resources Hotel
1/21 - Family Day in the am. Also we register the adoption at 4 pm with Province.
1/21 to 1/24 Touring Chongqing, Shopping, Resting, Getting to Know Ricky time.
1/25 - Receive Ricky's passport and paperwork.
1/26 - Fly to Guangzhou - Staying at White Swan Hotel
1/27 - Free Time
1/28 - Ricky's physical and paperwork for consulate appointment.
1/29 - Consulate Appointment
1/30 - Consulate Oath - get Ricky's Visa to Enter USA.
1/31 - Leave Guangzhou for Hong Kong - Staying at the Regal Airport Hotel
2/1 - Fly Home via Cathay Pacific. Arrive in NY around 12 noon - Ricky becomes a US Citizen as soon as we touch ground. Catch 4:30 flight to ATL via Delta. Arrive at airport around 7:30 pm

2/2 - sleep.