I was asking myself this question. Does it seem like on month since we met Teagan? Yes and no.
No, I feel like I was just in China.
No, I can't wrap my head around the fact it has been that long when I'm still "learning" her.
Yes, when I look at her and feel like I've known her forever.
Yes, when I see how attached she is to us.
Yes, when I see how well she fits into our new family of four.
Yes, when I feel this much love.
One month down, a lifetime to go......
Teagan is walking around a good bit. I am not sure I would call her an official walker yet but she walks most of the time. She does about twelve steps before she falls (usually out of excitement). She is cutting teeth which is making her a bit cranky at night. It is out of character and I feel so bad for her.
Teagan had her first official playdate today. I met Eve and her daughter Adley on China Adopt Talk before we went to China. Adley happens to be from the same province as Teagan. They live only ten miles away! Adley is now ten months and Teagan is thirteen. It was so nice to have them over to visit while Bennett was in school. Teagan was showing her spicy side as she was constantly taking things away from Adley. (mental note: work on sharing even though only model right now is Bennett who takes things from her constantly) It is so nice to have met our new friends and even more special that the girls will grow up knowing each other.
Bennett is loving school. He is doing a great job. He is also working on sharing and taking turns but in a classroom setting with two year olds, that's the norm. He goes three days a week, three hours each day. His early intervention teachers also meet him there at times which is a fabulous thing. On Fridays the entire preschool meets at the bimah (the alter area of the synagogue) to sign songs and hear stories. I guess it was very good that Bennett's EI teacher was there as he needed some focus not to climb the handrail of the steps or knock on the stained glass! Can you say OY VEY! He loves school and we love that. TSTI preschool rocks!
Bennett has a great imagination that is coming out. He is into the Legos (Duplo size) right now as he found they can be made into other things. He loves making houses, forts and caves. The big cushions also get made into trucks and boats. I can't wait until the basement is finally cleaned up from the flooding and that play space is back. He is getting a bit better about Teagan. Slow and steady steps. They bond in the tub and play well there. She left the room today and after a bit he asked where she was. Good question........ (she was fine)
xoxoxoxoxo Monique
Happy girl on the swing
It's a bird, it's a plane...... no really, what is it Bennett?
Adley and Teagan
Bennett on the big truck we built. The lid was the steering wheel.
I am experiencing a small slice of heaven. It is 3:30 p.m. Both kids are napping. It is not hot outside, the windows are open. I have a cup of crazy dark, hot tea. (also a little sweet to nibble on). My horrid sinus infection cold thing is starting to subside. I finally have milk in the house.
Also photos of two things Bennett and Teagan sometimes (actually, rarely) do together. Sleep at the same time and eat chocolate chip cookies. I wish they slept at same time more often and wanted cookies less. (I blame Bennett's new obsession with cookies on my mom as that is sometimes breakfast at Nana's)
Not typical sleeping spots but when you have to sleep, you have to sleep......
Now I see what daddy and Bennett love so much!
What? I have chocolate where????
Well, one week down, a lifetime to go. It seems like yesterday and also a hundred years since we got home. Jet lag kicked our asses. Yes, I said it, ASSES!!!!! Thank God mom was here during the weekend. By the second day I really did not feel so great. To top things off, Teagan had her worst night Monday night. No mom in the morning. Poor Howard has to work. We survived.
I was convinced that it would last forever and then the doctor happened. Teagan went to the doctors Tuesday afternoon for her physical. Bennett also needed to go as he had a racking cough. Claire from next door came with me and helped at the office. Bennett checked out fine. Teagan gained almost a pound since we met her. She is now 19 pounds. She is cutting at least four teeth that the doctor saw / felt. Then - the shots. She ended up getting six. Man is she strong. The mix of shots and teething had her fevered and she slept through the night except for a few moments where she needed comforting!
Bennett has had a hard time getting used to a sister in the house. He was very angry and sad at first. He is slowly doing better, much less angry. The hard part of this is we cannot leave the two in the room together alone. Hard to get things done but not the end of the world. I know Bennett just needs time. New siblings are hard for kids his age. He is already getting used to her and interacting nicely.
We are also slowly cleaning the basement. Our amazing neighbors used a wet vac to get the standing water out while we were gone. Now we are going through things and throwing out. Howard had to cut up the rug and pad to haul it out. Still very musty. Still a lot of clean up. The insurance adjustor will come on the 27th.
Teagan is amazing. Like I mentioned she has gained a good amount of weight since meeting her. She has also gone from army man style crawling to knees under. Mostly she is trying to walk though. She stands well and takes two or three steps before falling down. It will not be long. She has also been doing very well in her own crib, in her room. This is HUGE. She does not take long naps. She eats almost anything. She is pickiest about fruit. Doesn't like strawberries, bananas, applesauce, cantaloupe....... Her hair does not feel prickly anymore. It is coming in and feels softer with the length. Still jot long enough to put in clips.
Bennett is amazing. He is getting used to sharing his parents. His language has really blossomed this summer. He had a great time with his cousins, Nana and aunts while we were gone. He had his first day of school yesterday (a shortened start). He went in the room, didn't look back or say goodbye. I had a hard time getting him to leave!
I feel like I just can't get a head up with getting things done. If I told you the list you would say most things do not need to be done. But I would like to do them. I have a bad cold, sore throat thing the last few days so that is keeping me down a bit. Once Bennett has school full session three days a week, I'll be able to catch up. Hope to blog more.
Hope this finds all reading well. xoxoxoxox
My dear sweet cutie Bennett got home around 8. He gave me the longest deepest hug that was just yummy. Boy I really got missing him a lot at the end of the trip. He had a great time but I know he was happy to be home. That is until he realized Teagan wasn't going anywhere.......
First of all for those of you reading this who will be going to China soon - get help for when you return. My mom saved our collective tushes. It was a bit more hard having one kid on a time zone and another on the opposite but...... extra help would be good anyway. Have them help with laundry, meals, feedings, diapers, whatever. Even if you really do not think you will need it, have it lined up just in case. Jet lag is kicking our butts. Howard and I feel like - yuck. It is so weird to be so tired but not able to sleep.
Manon and the boys were here for just a small visit. Gosh, I really missed seeing them this summer. By lunch Howard's parents came to meet Teagan and brought lunch. Yum, I was super hungry. The kids loved their visit. By the time they left it was nap time again.
So sweet helping to feed his sister. This lasted about 5 seconds
Grandpa and Bennett reading a book. Grandpa's new hat says Ye Ye, grandpa in Chinese.
Teagan and her Nana and Grandma
Bennett and Teagan
Rub A Dub Dub, our two kids in a Tub!
We woke way before our wake up call (doesn't that always happen?). So we were ready to go and on schedule. Our car (yes, the Benz again) took us to the airport. With no traffic we were there super early. Got tickets, something to eat and waited. And waited. And waited. Well, right before boarding I went up to check on seat assignments.
The young lady said (in very limited English) that there was ONCE AGAIN something wrong with Teagan's ticket. She let us know someone was coming. She could not explain what was wrong. Needless to say with the limited sleep we had Howard and I got a bit angry. Once someone came the plane was ten minutes from leaving. He did not speak english either but the girl on phone did. They said Teagan's ticket was not paid for, it was. I already made the long story too long but basically, we threw American dollars down on the counter, told them to deal with it, and made them put us on plane. Gosh I was so made. This was the second time it happened with her tickets.
The plane was super empty so we took a row to ourselves and that helped with Teagan and her squirminess. She also ate most of our inflight breakfast. The attendants were fabulous. A quick trip in getting bags, and off to international terminal in Shanghai. We had to wait to check in and while we were waiting we A) had a snack. B) realized the bananas we packed to eat got entirely smashed in the bag and was a huge clean up C) saw Amy, Tom and kids also waiting for their flight.
We hung with them one last time then off for our flight. By now it was twelve hours up and one flight down. There was a collective uneasiness at the gate of who was going to end up next to us. I could see the other passengers eyeballing the kid. We had paid for bulkhead so not only did the guy have to sit next to us, he paid to do it. Teagan did ok. The bulkhead helped a lot. What didn't help was the attendants being a bit yucky and the inflight on demand system being broken. Oh well, the flight was under fourteen hours so I guess it could have been worse.
We got through immigration very quickly. Teagan was a trouper as she had not gotten much sleep and it was her 6:00 a.m. Our friend James picked us up at the airport and there was not traffic so we were home quick! My mom had just come in a bit before and greater us. So did our next door neighbors. It was such a nice welcome. We hung out a bit and then off to bed for what I could only imagine would be interesting. Bennett is expected to be brought home early by my sister Manon and her boys. Hope some sleep is had.
One last bite of moon cake before leaving China.
Yep, in the luggage carrier. Saved my arms and she was happy as a clam.
Teagan in the suitcase helping to unpack.
Howard was feeling a bit better today but we had both just hit a major wall. We ate breakfast and went back to the room and just hung out. All three of us took a long nap. We cancelled our lunch plans and just had power bars and less rich food.
We went to Shamain Island one more time. We got a small suitcase to use as a carry-on for the fun things we got along the way and a couple more items. We did a stop off at Starbucks. Teagan likes it there. All the items there are the same as home but they have a few other fun drinks and treats. We then went over to the White Swan Hotel. There we met up one last time with the other two families from our agency and waited for Peter to meet us. Peter brought us all the very important passports with visas and entry folder with paperwork for immigration. We wish we could have hung out with everyone but off we went to pack.
We did one last stop at happy hour. Teagan fell asleep on the highchair. But she was up long enough to eat. On that level you can check out so Teagan and I ate and ate while Howard checked us out. Then off to the room for the major packing. We did ok. Both big checked in suitcases were well within the 44 pound China plane ride limit. Glad we bought the new little suitcase. Well, we meet our car at 5 a.m. to go to airport. Early morning!
The evolution of Chinese Woman statue on Shamian Island. Teagan is the future!
NOT. ALL. SMILES.
All of the younger kids from our agency's group traveling this week. Three adopted this trip, all amazing!
Our guide Peter, a funny faced Teagan and Monique
Too much wine at happy hour again
We had a busy day today. We had to be up early. I do not think any of us were ready to be up before six. A quick breakfast then Peter our guide picked us up. He had one of the thief families with him. We then went to the US consulate. There's we met with our third family from our agency and a few other families were there as well. We all had appointments at 8:30. It is a very strict no camera policy. We all took an oath together then each family was called up to go through paperwork. They will then do Teagan's visa which we will get Thursday late afternoon.
From there we went to a Buddhist temple with Amy, Tom and Family. It was so amazing to see all the people there worshipping. We looked around then we were able to get a blessing from one of the monks. It was very special. Most of those photos are somehow stuck on the camera so we won't be able to post them until we are home.
We did go in some of the little shops outside of the temple. Got a few things. Then we all took taxis to our hotel. All seven of us ate at the Chinese restaurant here. It was again, an amazing meal. Amy and Tom are great (as are their kids) and are adventurous like us. Then came up to check out our room and then were off. Howard went to lay down and Teagan and I went for a girl adventure. It was hot as blazes still but did ended up wandering around and found the tea shop we kept passing in the taxi. The ladies fawned over Teagan as I was made cup after cup of tea varieties to try. I got two varieties and a tin. Then back to hotel. Howard was not feeling well and Teagan finally fell asleep so I got a Starbucks and went up to executive lounge to hang out. I laid her on couch, enjoyed my tea and read the paper.
Unfortunately, I came back to Howard really not feeling well. He tried to sleep, was drinking 7UP. I ordered him white rice and soup then Teagan and I were off to Happy Hour. Although nice, happy hour is not as happy without daddy. Back to room, some loose packing to see if we need to but another suitcase and off to bed. Hoping that Howard is feeling better in a.m.
Howard and Teagan right after consulate appointment
The Buddhist Temple
A cutie close up
Our family minus one, we are missing Bennett and can't wait to see him!
At the temple
Just some advise......
