29 Mar 2007

This Time v's Last Time

Going to China this time will be very different from our last trip there in 2003.
Here is a list of random thoughts in no particular order.

Last time we were first time parents.
This time we will have BTDT

This time we will have 2 schedules to contend with. Lily's and her Mei Mei's

We will confirm our flights out of China ourselves 48 hours prior to departure!
Last time we found out our seats from Guanzhou to Hong Kong had been sold out from under us and we had 15 minutes to pack and get to the airport. (not fun)

We will probably spend a lot of time ordering room service just so that we can get to know each other and not be surrounded by people all the time so that we can start to bond. We did this last time and it was wonderful, for us.

We won't be first time parents who carry the worlds largest diaper bag with them EVERYWHERE they go. We dragged this monster bag with us just to go downstairs. Hey, we were new at this and wanted to be prepared.

I won't spend weeks stressing about the gifts to take to China. I have so many lists about them now it will be a breeze. I can share the lists if you want them.

We won't pack quite so much stuff this time around. Everything you could possibly need is sold in China and the hotels all have laundry service.

We won't be quite as nervous this time as we have first hand knowledge that WACAP will handle everything and very well.

We will buy another stroller when we are there but this time we WILL take a sling or carrier of some type. New mummy arms are incredibly painful.

We will enjoy China this time and not be totally fixated on the adoption process.

We will take a suitcase filled with snacks and chocolate. I really missed my fix of the brown stuff. We will also take cup a soups again as we are not the most adventurous eaters. Anything with a head and eyes attached makes me YAK.

We will be taking a possible entourage with us. Hopefully my dad and Jeanne and definitely my cousin Andrea. They all know the rules with regard to the baby and they are fine with them. We can't imagine experiencing such an important time in our lives with out them. I know alot of people think this is wrong but it works for us.

When we get home we will put ourselves under house arrest for 6 weeks. This was something our agency recommended although they didn't call it house arrest. If you want to see Chopstick you have to come to us and then you leave and she stays put. It gives her a sense of home. We did it with Lily and it is hard cos you don't get to do so much but it helped her get acquainted with her new home really fast. Lily was a really easy baby so we will see with Chopstick.

We will brace for the worst and hope for the best with regard to grieving and attachement. Last time we expected a hard time and prepared for a hard time and were very pleasantly surprised.

We will have to buy another suitcase to fit all our loot in for the return journey, again. There will be more shopping this time around than last time.

We will hopefully get to meet some of you since there is a large group of us in close LID proximity and the way they are splitting up months who knows who will be there at the same time.

We will be just as incredibly giddy and excited this time.

There won't be a "last hurrah" for us in Hongkong this time around as we will have Lily with us but we will probably go to Beijing first instead.

When we leave our hands will be very full and our hearts will be overflowing with love.

P.S. I had all these cute little graphics for every thought and blogger said, "no way baby" and dumped every single one of them, the bas***d.

15 comments:

Beckyb said...

I TOTALLY agree - was thinking many of the same things myself!! We know more after the first time - oh, and another of mine??? I WON'T GET MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE this time - that stomach flu/mess/whatever was HORRIBLE!!!

3D said...

Sounds good! BTDT will make it a lot different but even better.

Def. would love to see your lists.

Keep smilin!

Polar Bear said...

I am so thankful for all you who have BTDT!

I am a huge list person. I would be so grateful if you would share. :)

I am going to copy your post and e-mail it to hubby, there are a couple of points on there I would like him to read. The biggest one is the one about confirming our plane tickets. Yikes. There is no way I could be ready in 15 minutes.

Special K said...

Oh yes! Please please share your lists! Any BTDT advice I can get I'm happy to take.

Life with JJ, Starr and Spice said...

I hear ya sista!! BTDT is such a great thing :) I cannot wait to be able to follow your journey to Chopsticks.

simply t said...

I love your list of thoughts. I think it gives us all something to think about since most of us are on our first trip. Thanks for sharing it and I would love to see your list!

Nikki said...

Sounds like you've got it all together -- I'm sure you will be a big help to the first time parents on your trip, too. (I remember what bumbling idiots we were and how much we relied on the "pros" we travelled with!

Emmie said...

It's great that you know whats comming and will be well prepared!!

Dannye said...

you really sound like the expert, I believe I will be relying on you for some first time parenting advice (although I better get my questions and things together before you go that 2nd time and really have your hands full)...oh and I need your lists too (I'm overwhelmed by the things to do, and want to be sure I'm not leaving anything out, being inexperienced at parenting and this adoption thingy!!)...thanks!!

Steffie B. said...

Yes...I agree with you too! And I'll pack more food this time because I was violently ill the day before we got Sophia1 NOT FUN!

Buckeyes & Eggrolls said...

I just love your posts and I sure hope you do share your list of things to give as gifts as well as packing lists, food lists etc. I'm not a newby to children but I'm definitely a newby to Asia and adoption and all that it has to offer so any BTDT advise is always welcome!!

E said...

Oh I love you random thoughts. I will have to reread them when it's my turn to go. So much wisdom gained from experience.

M and M said...

What great thoughts. It is so nice to hear things from BTDT people as it helps me imagine it all.

I too would like to see the lists!!!

redmaryjanes said...

I'm having trouble right now with my pictures too. I don't know what's going on. Thank you for posting this advice. I am nervous about going and getting everything right. This makes me relax a little bit.

Kris said...

I love this post- incredibly helpful to me, I'll need to revisit it in roughly 2 years.
And damn blogger- I bet the pics were great.

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