Friday, June 27, 2008
NEW CITY, NEW EXPERIENCES

We left Zhengzhou today and flew to the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. It is tropical in climate and houses the American Consulate. It is also delightful here at the White Swan Hotel and on this island. In Guangzhou Philip will have his medical exam and obtain a visa to travel home to the United States.

Our day began when we met Shirley and our van driver who promptly took us to pick up Philip’s passport. We didn’t have much time to spare before catching our flight, but things worked out well. When we went to the office to get his passport, there were several Chinese people waiting also. They were curious about why a Chinese boy would be with white parents. One man asked us how come we had a Chinese boy. We answered that we had just adopted him, and he was our son now. They all smiled. Shirley translated their comments to us. She said, “They think Dong Bao is a lucky boy.” We think we are the ones who are lucky and blessed. When we left the office, the people there all smiled and waved to us. It was a very touching moment and brought tears to our eyes.

It was tough for all of us to say good-bye to Shirley at the airport. Her flight left first. She was amazing in her support and guidance to us, and she enjoyed Philip as much as we do. Shirley is one of those wonderful people that you can never forget once you meet them. Philip was very attached to her, and we were a little worried about how he would take saying good-bye to her. When we turned to wave a final good-bye, he looked up at us and reached for both of our hands. We were so glad to see that since that is a sure sign he is beginning to realize we are somebody special to him.

Philip seemed to enjoy the flight. He likes anything the slightest bit adventuresome. His eyes got big when we took off and landed, and a huge smile appeared both times. When we arrived in Guangzhou, our local guide Helen met us at the airport. Helen was kind to talk to Philip and translate what he said to us all the way to the White Swan Hotel. She told us that he said he loved going on airplanes. Then he added he loved riding in cars and trains. I asked her to ask him if he had ridden on a train before since that wasn’t something we had done since we met him. He told her that no, he had never ridden on one, but he had seen pictures of them and they looked fun! How smart he is!! He also added that he loved his shoes, he loved his clothes and toys, and he loved our boxes. We thought a moment and realized that he meant he loved our suitcases. Philip enjoys zipping and unzipping them, and they house good things for him like his toys, clothes, and snacks. We got a kick out of him loving them.

Both Shirley and Helen have commented on how healthy and strong Philip is. He is definitely strong, and no wonder. Philip really, really enjoys eating. The first few days were tough trying to keep his hunger satisfied. We think some of that was him coping with the stress of leaving his Philip Hayden home and getting used to us.

It has been such fun watching Philip enjoy the new experiences happening to him. And boy does he enjoy them! He takes delight in walking down a long hallway holding our hands, bent over like a little old man. He looks with wonder at all of the new sights around him, on the street, out a hotel window, and through the window of a van or airplane. His beautiful eyes light up at the sights, and the most amazing smile spreads across his face. When we take off or land, swerve in traffic, or his dad looks at him with a funny face, he dissolves into fits of belly laughs that bring smiles to the faces of the people around him. And last night the sweetest thing happened in Lucy’s, a famous American-style restaurant here. An American lady with a young Chinese boy sat down next to our table. Philip looked at them, then back at us and gave us the sweetest smile as if to say, “Look, there is someone my size who looks like me.” He kept doing that all through dinner. He was so pleased to see another Chinese child.

Philip is an absolute joy! He is happy and joyful most of the time. However, he does have his typical three-year-old tantrums, and he is very inquisitive and gets into everything. We phoned Ted back home last night and told him that he should look around the house to make sure anything he values is put up, way up, so that Philip will not get it. Philip wants to take apart most things and see how they are made. There is no sitting quietly down and working on something or reading a book. It is all non-stop action at this point. He will be an adventure to raise, that is for sure. Another sure thing is that he will bring immense joy to our lives. He already has! We are so thankful that we get to parent a little boy all over again. It has been a wonderful ride the first time with Ted, and it will be a wonderful ride with Philip. We thank God each day that we have two fine sons.