Home 2 months!

Where has the time gone?!? We are home and all adjusting well. Charlie is an amazing little guy and he has shown so much growth in the very short time we've been a family. We are so happy that he is a part of our lives forever.

Day 12 GZ

We are approaching the end of our trip in China! It has been a great trip but we are ready to get back home and start life as a family of four. Yesterday (Monday) we had our consulate appointment at the US embassy. We filled all of our paperwork and they will be returning Charlie's visa this afternoon (Tuesday)! After that we are free to travel back to the US. After our CA appointment we went to the safari park with most of the other Bethany families. It was a great experience and Charlie loved seeing all the animals. He smiled and clapped his hands a lot while we were there. He also really liked riding in the stroller while we were there. While were were on the safari train at the park there was a rain storm but be had good weather the rest of the time. No cameras were allowed at the embassy so all the pictures are from the safari park :)

Days 9, 10, & 11 Guangzhou

It has been difficult getting a good connection here at the hotel so I have missed a few updates! We are enjoying some relaxing days in Guangzhou. Our schedule hasn't been as busy and we are getting some free time to play and  swim together. On Friday Charlie had his medical appointment and he was not very happy about any of it. Saturday we enjoyed a walk to lake in the city and swimming by the pool.  Charlie loves the pool and he is very relaxed while we are in the pool together. We had a nice dinner with many of the Bethany families Saturday night. The weather is soooo humid and warm here. It is very tropical feeling and it has been cloudy with chances for rain every day.

Today (Sunday) we took a bus over to the Folk Museum and then to Shamen Island for lunch and a chance to do some shopping. We got some good things today including Charlie's first pair of "squeaky" shoes. I am pretty sure those are going to drive the dog crazy! Tonight we are going to dinner with some other families that have all met as a part of our facebook group.

Tomorrow we have our appointment at the consulate @ 8:30 in the morning! That is our final step to apply for his visa to come home!!!!!!!

Jim & Charlie checking out the park map

Underground tunnels to use instead of crossing the street

Locals relaxing in front of the folk museum

Charlie loves to practice walking up & down steps 

He wasn't quite sure about these bronze statues on Shamen Island...people were laughing at him because he got in line with other "kids" :) It was very cute! 

Loving his "squeaky" shoes! 

Day 8 - Gaungzhou!!!

We've made it to our final stop in China! Today we left Beijing right after breakfast this morning and we made it back to the airport so we could catch our flight to Guangzhou. This flight was much better than the last once although Charlie was still stressed and he wanted to eat for the entire 3 hour flight. I can't imagine the 13 hour flight coming up! We better pack a lot of snacks.

We got to the China Marriott around 4:30 and we were finally able to unpack and settle into our room. We haven't really had the chance to unpack yet this trip. Tomorrow Charlie has a physical in the morning and then we will get some real laundry done (not just hand washing in the sink) & do a little grocery shopping! Charlie is not a fan of the US formula and we need to get him more of the kind he was previously using.

Tonight we walked a little around the hotel area and then settled back into the room early. Looking forward to seeing more of the city tomorrow. It is totally different here than our other stops. Very warm & humid. There are lots of tropical plants and trees. Feels like Florida. We are in another huge city. and this is a really big hotel set up to be used during the trade fairs. Everything is really nice. We are looking forward to trying out the pool and getting some Starbucks tomorrow! Our room overlooks the pool area so we have a nice view.

The most important news we heard today was that the Consulate reopened this afternoon!!! This is great news and lots of families were squeezed in today so that they could try to get home soon. We should have any delays coming home now! We were really worried that we could be looking at an extended in-counrty stay while things were being resolved! Only 6 more days until we get to take the journey back home home! Today was our 4th plane ride in a little over a week...only 2 more to go next week. We've been way north near inner the border of Inner Mongolia and now we are in one of the most Southern regions. We are definitely getting to experience lots of different aspects of China on this trip!

Here's what our day looked like today....

More time riding in the van (I have a feeling he's not going to like the car seat when we get home)

Beijing side street 

Today's plane...2nd time at this airport this week 

On our ride to the hotel - city streets in Guangzhou

Jim and Charlie (he's asleep again)

Apartments in GZ