Baby steps in father/son bonding

So much has happened today! The most significant is that Caleb officially became our son ~ October 28, 2008 is our adoption day! But I get ahead of myself...

So in the previous post, you could see where Caleb started the night. But at about 4 am I hear a whispered, "Hey Mommy?" Being the devoted mother I am, I answered, "Kylie, the sun is still ni-night, it is time to sleep." And I hear back, "Mommy... where Ta-eb?" That's all it takes to make my feet hit the floor! I switched on the bathroom light and then could see where he was. As soon as I got Kylie back to sleep (which only lasted until about 5 when I heard a whispered, "Mommy, my beddy hungy!" ~ peanut butter bagel by bathroom light again this morning...) I took a picture. Man, this kid moves around!
I was afraid that waking up would bring a round of crying like yesterday afternoon following nap time, but this is what I got instead!
Maybe I ~ Ms. Non Morning Person ~ can take some lessons from my smiling son about mornings! Anyway, after the kids were awake, it was time to get them ready for breakfast. While I was getting Kylie's toothbrush, Ian offered Caleb some Teddy Grahams and his Mickey Mouse phone and we had our first positive steps between the two of them. (I'm still somewhat scarred by last night in the Mr. Xie Restaurant ~ I'm not sure I gave a complete account of how bad our exit was! When I said Caleb wailed, I didn't include that he locked his legs in the high chair and so as Ian tried to get him out, the chair was banging around as he screamed. Cue my over tired baby girl to join in the chorus and I could have just fallen into the floor!)
Hello? We finally got both kids dressed (I fear we may never be on time for anything again...) and headed out for breakfast. Look who was holding Daddy's hand on the way to the elevator!

Following a delicious buffet meal ~ I think that the buffet here is even better than the China Hotel in Guangzhou ~ we went back to the civil affairs office to make Caleb's adoption final. We were surprised with a visit from Director Lu (who is highly respected by parents on the Xian'An City SWI yahoo group) and got to talk to him some about Caleb. He commented several times on what a clever boy Caleb is and that we were lucky to have him join our family. Director Lu kindly honored my request for him to write Caleb a personal note in the beautiful journal Traci gave me and then actually asked us if we would take a picture with him.













Our interview with the civil affairs worker was much more thorough than the one with Kylie. She wanted to know why we wanted two children and asked us "your plan for him." Kinda vague if you ask me, but we must have answered in a satisfactory fashion, because she completed the proceedings. Caleb is officially our son!

Both kids fell asleep in the van on the way back, so we headed up to our room for nap time. From there we wondered over to the RT Mart center to find some lunch. We ended up at Pizza Hut and Caleb ate as much pizza for lunch as I did. (What an amazing appetite!) Then Zoey came to our hotel to meet us. We headed to the riverside park (along the Yangtze) which was about a three mile walk. The weather was beautiful today, so the exercise getting there felt quite good. I also enjoyed that we got to see so much by foot. You really do get a much better feel for an area by walking rather than using motorized transportation.

Thankfully Kylie decided to walk with Zoey.

Chillin at the park.

It was an opportunity for the kids to check out the fish relief carvings and also to burn off some steam.

I did see Kylie trying to show Caleb the "Runners start" position.

The riverside was quite beautiful and there were many brides there getting portraits taken. None of us were dressed that formally, but it felt like getting a family photo in front of the Yangzte River was the right thing to do!
When we got back the kids played with some playdough and Caleb fed Kylie half a box of raisins. Their interaction is so cute right now!
Kylie pretty much drawfs Caleb! After dinner it was time for bath and then to hop in the bed. Look who finally let Ian hold him for the first time! I was brief, but it is a positive step ~ there were no tears!

Baba and baby boy