"Nobody there!"-Kai

Kai reading to himself.

The city area where we shopped.
Just thought the signs were cool.

The women writing up the receipts for our stuff.

Day #2 with Kai. We were able to capture a smile. He is so busy, it can be hard to catch him for pictures!
Kai after his first trip to the pool. He sure loved it. Thought Josh was hilarious!

A view from the street where we were shopping.

“Nobody there!”-Kai (thrust out arm with open hand to the sky in a “Ta-Da” gesture.)

While waiting to apply for Kai’s Visa the other day, Kai got a little antsy. He wanted to go over to the other end of the waiting area and look at a door with an exit sign over it. As we approached the other side and he realized that there wasn’t much to see, I put my arm out and sang, “Nobody’s there!” He immediately repeated me, “Nobody there!” Except add a huge smile with a dimpled check on the right side! All of the families in the waiting room thought this to be very humorous. He has already been assumed as American as he sings out “Hello” and “Bye Bye” and “Thank you” to those we pass, at the appropriate times too! (Are we officially parents to this boy yet? We think he is the most charming and smart kiddo around!)

Yesterday was a really good day. It seemed that Kai opens up more and more each day. I am finding this whole process very interesting as far as how you feel about things and how your mind, or at least my mind, has changed. For example, when I first arrived here, the whole White Swan swarming with adoptive families sort of almost freaked me out. Can you imagine such a thing in a big city in the US? Before we received Kai, I felt that they must all have it so easy, all comfy and cozy in their new families, while Josh and I anxiously waited to see just what our son would be like. Certainly no one else felt so scared?

Now, after having Kai for a few days, I appreciate having other families here so much. It is nice to go down to the White Swan play room and find out where children are from, how they are doing, what different triumphs and challenges have already occurred. It also doesn’t hurt that most families are delighted with Kai. “What a cool little boy.” Were the words of one woman. I find it amazing now, how vulnerable we all chose to be in order to have a child. Some of the kiddos are tiny for their age, have different skin rashes, are not eating, are crying and grieving, love playing with their shoes, enjoy taking walks, are laughing are giving first hugs and kisses, it is just amazing to see.

Today at breakfast I noticed another couple next to our table watching us with Kai. We started talking to them, and they too are in the last phase of waiting, the last couple of days before they get their daughter, in their case a 5 year old. They noticed us using signs with Kai and asked us about them. We taught them a few of the signs. They are such a nice couple. Everyone that we have met and talked to so far has been so nice and kind. We all feel that everyone’s child is beautiful and wonderful.

Kai has the sign for “eat” and “more” down. This kid loves to eat. So, at meals you can see him tapping his palm with his pointer finger for another bite. He can also say, “more please”. Oh, but we did find something he doesn’t like to eat, yogurt. Uncle August, if you are reading this, I thought of you. If I remember right you hate yogurt for a number of reasons…

Anyway, I could see Josh and I in the faces of this couple,their body language, and general interactions. It seems that Josh and I, and Kai have all come very far already. It is almost like different stages of labor, expect both parents share in the contractions before the child comes!

Ok, back to yesterday. We were supposed to do a lot of shopping that day. We went to one mall and bought Kai some new clothes. Judy, our guide sort of laughed at us because we had a list, got that stuff and then, we were ready to go. She asked if we wanted to shop anywhere else and we said “No thanks.” That was the best decision. We were then able to just come home and hang out with Kai. If you think about it, here you are, in China, adopting a child, but also realizing that you are IN CHINA. You want to see and do all that you can, but also, you need to be able to not climb in and out of a van all day long to just BE with each other. So that is just what we did.

I so appreciate this time to just be with Kai before we go home. The rest of the group will meet up with us on Sunday. We will do more sight seeing that day. I look forward to seeing just how all of the families are doing.