Our Journey to Carson

Our First Wonderful Day Has Come to an End...

If anyone had suggested that Gotcha Day would have been this smooth, I would have laughed at them. Carson has only cried for a total of maybe two minutes...when Director Yin left...and candy solved that pretty quickly!

He's pretty full of energy, God love him, so we're doing our best to keep him running throughout the day. Unfortunately, today was a rainy, chilly day, so we were stuck inside. We went to the very tiny playroom in our hotel. A few pics...

Being silly in the stroller heading to the playroom...the beach ball just HAD to go with us!!Playing with a truck...complete with mouthing all the truck noises! He actually plays very well by himself and stays entertained for a fairly decent stretch!
We were told he can't lift very heavy things. Let me tell you, he will certainly try! He was using this big purple bolster as a baseball bat and swinging it with all his might! He also has a power kick...any ball in his way gets launched. We're gonna have to look into spring soccer...

He's warming up to me pretty quickly, but he's still definitely Baba's boy...two peas in a very goofy pod...

Not to get too graphic, but he only had one accident in his pants today...during Gotcha, poor guy...but otherwise we've caught him in time to go to potty. He also had his first...ahem..."quality time" in the bathroom. We didn't try to get to the lobby for that one...he did his Baba proud, let's just put it that way. We're STILL airing out the bathroom! Our guide was afraid he wouldn't use a Western toilet since he's used to potty chairs...he's done fine!

Bath time was a little daunting, in theory. In reality, he was awesome. He only got upset when we tried to wash his hair. Like any kid, he kept leaning his head forward instead of leaning back for the shampoo to be rinsed. We couldn't explain it to him, so we did our best. Pretty much we all came out unscathed...

We put him in a Pull-up for bedtime...hope that wasn't a mistake. He kept patting the front of it like it was bugging him. We don't want regression in toilet training, but we also don't want the poor guy to end up soiling himself and the bed!

Teeth brushing was also an intimidating idea...didn't need to be! He opened right up, saying "Ahhhhh" the whole time, and was so proud of his pearly whites when we were done. Take a look at my little cheeseball...
Carson talks...non-stop! He is like a running Chinese commentary on everything we do and say. He tries very hard for us to get it, then realizes we just don't and smiles and laughs loudly! As he's warmed to me, he's also starting to really enjoy the camera. He's the funniest little dude and already seems completely comfortable with us. Meggie and I tried to lie down on the bed and watch "Shrek" with him, but he was just too full of energy...no couch potatoes in this crowd, I guess!

Speaking of Meggie, the two of them are so cute to watch...thick as thieves already, but she has an uncanny ability to redirect him when he's acting out. (Those who know Meggie are probably NOT surprised by that fact!) He follows her around like a puppy and will hold her hand while we're walking, but never mine. Take a peek...
I've been calling Carson "Pretzel Boy"...he has the loosest joints I've ever seen! His favorite way to stand...and I'm not making this up...is with his feet parallel, right foot facing forward, left foot turned inward and facing completely to the back! He's a contortionist!! I can't get a picture to show you yet...he sees the camera and runs toward me. Also, he IS able to bend his elbows normally. When he's relaxing...like tonight at dinner, in the high chair...his arms look completely normal. However, when he concentrates on using his hands, he stiffens his arms at the elbows! It's so funny, 'cause he's actually making it HARDER to accomplish his goals! He feeds himself very well with finger foods and actually maneuvers a spoon fairly well...getting better the more we force him to do it on his own. I'll be very interested to hear what the Ortho doc has to say about his joints!!

We are the only family in this hotel. There is a large conference here and the place is jam packed with business men and women. We've seen a few Americans and they talk to us a lot. The Chinese seem to watch us with disdain...our guide, Lisa, says that isn't the case, they're just curious. At dinner tonight, one of the waitresses was trying her darndest to get Carson to talk to her. He was moving away and wouldn't look in her direction...until she loaded him up on yogurt, his favorite! He ended up getting two bowls and a cupful...the yogurt here is thin and drinkable, so spoon or straw works. After all that yogurt, he talked up a storm with the girl. It was very cute...until the waitress took him out of the high chair and let him down without asking us. Suddenly, we felt a little powerless...and I worried if Carson was going to stop listening to us and go with this girl! Kevin jumped up and intervened...no harm done. It is just amazing how bold people can be. We're trying to take it all in stride, but it is challenging at times!

We decided on 8PM bedtime. He's amazing...tuck him in, smooches for all, and he just falls asleep! He's mimicking more and more words...we now get "Bye-Bye" and "Love You" at bedtime. He also loves to mimic "NO!" when he's in trouble...then we all end up in fits of laughter and forget why he was in trouble anyway! (What a con artist, huh?!)

Tomorrow we go back to the registration office where we met Carson this morning for more paperwork. After that, we have asked Lisa to take us shopping (we need some food in the room...poor Meggie is starving!) and to McDonald's. Carson tried his first French fries at dinner...took a couple to get him interested, but he was hooked! (Not a fan of ketchup, though.) We brought peanut butter crackers and Propel powder to put in water bottles, so I don't think Meggie is literally starving, but she really needs some comfort foods within easy reach. Let's hope they sell Pop-Tarts in Hefei!

Just checked on Little Man...sound asleep like an angel! Guess I'd better be off to bed myself, in case he has a rough night and wakes up a few times.

Thanks for checking on us, commenting on the blog, and keeping us in your prayers. God has been truly good to us!!