Well, Brandon had his first plane ride. I have posted the picture of him before the plane took off, but the best one would have been 15 minutes before landing when he was screaming his head off and everyone on the plane was staring at us. As you can imagine, I wasn't able to get my camera out at that point. That plane ride was for 2 hours, please pray for us on the 14 hour one on the way home. We arrived safely to Guangzhou which is the city that the American Consulate is located. We have to stop here before returning to the US in order to obtain Brandon's VISA. He had his photo taken this morning for his Visa photo and sat like a good boy for it. I put a bib on him before the picture because he is cutting teeth and drools like crazy and I didn't want him to have a soaked shirt. We walked around Shamian Island, which is where the White Swan Hotel is located, at the local shops. Everyone was so friendly and said that just for us they would give us a 20% off discount because we had a baby. Aren't they so nice...I think they must really like the Prater family more than anyone else here in China. We got a great deal on a stroller for our little monkey and bought it. It came to about $17 and within 4 minutes of having him in it, he passed out and took a 2 hour nap as Adam and I walked around and shopped. It was the best thing I have ever purchased in my life. Notice the face plant he put into it!
The weather here is a pleasant change from Beijing and Nanjing. It is around 73-75 degrees. Adam is even wearing shorts and a t-shirt today. Makes us feel like we are back in Florida. We also took some laundry to be done, so we'll see how that goes when we return to pick it up tomorrow. Hopefully all will go well. It's all Adam's clothes and a few shirts from drooly boy. So if you see us in the same outfit when we return, you'll know it didn't go so well. This afternoon, I have to go to a paper work meeting to make sure that all of his records are in order. Adam and Brandon will go down to the play room for a while!
This little man makes us happier every day we have him. I'm reminded of the verse in John 10:10 that states, "He came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly" Our lives have become so much richer having our son come into our world. We thought we had an abundant life already, but this has just put us over the top.
The weather here is a pleasant change from Beijing and Nanjing. It is around 73-75 degrees. Adam is even wearing shorts and a t-shirt today. Makes us feel like we are back in Florida. We also took some laundry to be done, so we'll see how that goes when we return to pick it up tomorrow. Hopefully all will go well. It's all Adam's clothes and a few shirts from drooly boy. So if you see us in the same outfit when we return, you'll know it didn't go so well. This afternoon, I have to go to a paper work meeting to make sure that all of his records are in order. Adam and Brandon will go down to the play room for a while!
This little man makes us happier every day we have him. I'm reminded of the verse in John 10:10 that states, "He came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly" Our lives have become so much richer having our son come into our world. We thought we had an abundant life already, but this has just put us over the top.
Hi there. I found out about you from Doug and Marie Bender.
ReplyDeleteWe just got back from China Dec. 24 with our son from Fujian Province :D
We were in White Swan as well and LOVED it!! The staff there are sooo helpful! Make sure that you eat at Lucy's Grill, the Italian Restaurant, and the Deli Store (it's right beside the White Swan to the right when you walk out the back) They have the BEST bread! The hotel desk will have a map with all these on it!
We also ate at Subway and Starbucks and loved both!!! Don't know if your guide told you but you can have ice at the White Swan. you just call the front desk and ask them for ice! It was amazing for us as we were ready for something COLD to drink!!
We had our laundry done there 3 times! I wanted to come home with clean laundry so I did it the day before we left as well :) They did an amazing job!! We got it done at the little shop right there to the right when you walk out of the back of the hotel. we also bought a stroller just like your little mans! Shawn LOVES it!
If you would like to check our blog, it is www.journeytoshawn.webs.com
God bless and we will be praying for your safe arrival home!
Renee (BTW~ just saw that this was from our old account before we got a son instead of a little girl lol )