handsful

He likes looking at his photo album…we’re teaching him his brothers and sisters names. :)

Today, we took a trip down to the US Consulate. Our guides had already taken our Visa application for Dylan to them this morning, and our paperwork was approved…he’s cleared to leave the country with his new parents :) There was a room full of us, all raising our right hand and promising that the information in our paperwork was correct. Regardless of the drab meaning, we all felt a sigh of relief that we’d all passed through the LAST step to call our children ours. Whoop!!

No cameras allowed at the consulate, so no pictures. It’s probably better, since Dylan decided that today was the perfect day to start doing a little “testing”. And, at the consulate no less. Dylan will learn that his daddy is JUST as stubborn as he can be. It’s tricky beginning discipline with an adopted child…he’s likely NEVER heard the word “no” (he giggles when we say it) and has been given no sense of boundaries in his young life. He has to learn that giving him limits means we DO love him and that we want to keep him safe. Today, we began laying that foundation.

We started our day at breakfast (no, I’m NOT sick of french toast yet…), and then went back to the room and got word that Dylan’s Visa app was approved. After that, Randy attended a quick meeting in our guides room, while I dressed Dylan is his traditional clothes for the Red Couch pictures.

For those who don’t know, the White Swan hotel hosts a TON of adoptive families and years ago a tradition began of taking the kids pictures on the red couches in the White Swan.

First, each family had their photo taken – then we piled ALL of the kids on the couch and attempted to get a decent shot. Now, we completely expected some to cry, some to scream, some to crawl away, and most to not look. But, it’s something you HAVE to do. You just do.

15 kids – missing one. They had gone to the bathroom. We attempted a re-do, but it wasn’t pretty.

After that pandemonium, the whole entire group had our photo taken in front of the enormous Christmas tree.

All 16 accounted for here.

All in all, Dylan did well. No crying! We did over-estimate his size with his traditional clothes…hope he grows into it a bit more before Chinese New Year!

The inside of our hotel, standing on the 2nd floor. Gorgeous, huh??

Knowing we only had a short time for lunch before heading to the consulate, we had lunch at Lucy’s. This was our 2nd, and undoubtedly not our last, meal at Lucy’s. They serve deliciously familiar foods for us Americans – which we’re all missing right about now! I had a grilled cheese sandwich :)

Making my way back to the subject at the beginning of this post, our consulate appointment was next. Since Dylan had such a “fun” time at the consulate, we gave him some down time in the hotel playroom when we returned…thankfully, he dropped his grudge (finally) and played good and hard! Have we mentioned he’s ALL boy?

The rest of the day was pretty laid back, we picked up dinner at the deli and ate in the room, D-man had his bath, and he’s about to hit the hay. Tomorrow, we’re going to a Safari Zoo. We’ve heard it’s really amazing, so we’re looking forward to it. Only 4 families are going…our group is dwindling since some families left tonight and more leave for home tomorrow. We’re trying to contain our jealousy.

We have 3 more nights here. Missing home like crazy…soft bed, drinks with ice, showers without the worry of splashing water in my mouth. Oh, and my KIDS! And, Christmas! I realize it’s also Christmas here…there are decorations everywhere…but none of us feel it at all. Soon, soon, it’ll hit me like a brick and I’ll be pushing through jet lag to enjoy it :)