Last Post from China-AMEN!

Jaida taking a picture of Mommy with her camera.

Jaida eating her own cup of ice cream!

Playing on the slide at McDonalds in Hefei.

Jaida swinging on her playground at the orphanage.

Jaida playing with the phone, one of her favorite things to do!

Jaida having fun playing on the bed!

Well, we are happy to say that this will be our last post from China and we are definitely not sad about that! It feels like we have been here for a month-it is so hard living out of a hotel room with a toddler to say the least! As Shon has said many times...We've been to China, seen it, done it, got the T-shirt...now let's go home! I can't wait to walk into a store where I am not mobbed by every salesperson trying to sell me something...anything for my "baby." Their favorite comment, "I give best price to you." Yeah right, that's what they all say! I don't mean to sound cynical although I am somewhat, just so ready to come home to the wonderful USA where I can drink the water that comes out of the faucet, not worry about Jaida swallowing some of the bathwater for fear she might get sick from the unpotable water, each fresh fruit and vegetables without worrying about getting food poisoning, drink "real" diet coke with ice, brush my teeth with water from the faucet, walk down the streets and not feel as though I need to burn my shoes from all the pollution, eat at a restaurant that isn't selling water beetles, sandworms, snakes, and frogs to saute up for my next meal, and go to a "Western" bathroom where I don't have to bring my own toilet paper and squat over a hole in the ground! Sorry, I know that may be too much information, but just had to share it with you! Well, I guess that is enough of the things I am looking forward to not having to endure anymore once we arrive home.

This morning we had the famous White Swan "Red Couch" pictures of all the babies and children. There is a red couch at our hotel and it is famous for adoptive families taking pictures of their newly adopted children on this couch before departure. Jaida was dressed in a traditional Chinese outfit in lavendar with pretty little purple shoes. Hopefully the photographer was actually able to capture one photo where all the children were sitting and looking at the camera at the same time, highly doubtful. To top it off, we were trying to get some pictures of Jaida with another family we have gotten really close to and their youngest daughter was sitting too close to the fountain and fell in all the way under the water. So, that was the end of the picture taking!

We are packing up now and will head for the Guangzhou airport early tomorrow morning for a short flight to Hong Kong and then our long flight from Hong Kong to Chicago. That will be a very interesting flight for an very ansy 2 year old. Shon thinks it will be a great flight for him since Jaida will probably be with me the whole time :) She continues to warm up to him and is making daily progress, I was just hoping to be a little further along on her liking Daddy to hold her so the flight home would be a little easier. I guess just knowing the fact that this flight is taking me back HOME will make it a little more tolerable! Can't wait to see you all!

This afternoon we have our very important appointment at the US Consulate where we will receive Jaida's passport and visa and will go through a swearing in ceremony to finalize everything! Then we are free to leave China and as soon as Jaida's feet touch US soil she is considered an American--YEAH! We will probably enjoy a dinner of Papa John's pizza tonight to have some comfort food before heading home. We look forward to sharing more of our trip with you and especially our Jaidalyn NaQun (now called Nacho by her Dad)! She actually answers to it-very cute! I will post some final pictures of Jaida here now that we have collected through the week-hope you enjoy! See you soon and love to you all!

Shon, Trish & Nacho