Day 2: Hospital, Civil Affairs

Today we met our guide at 8:00 a.m. for two appointments. First, the hospital to check Benjamin's TB test. All clear! It's unclear if we'll need a TB test again in Guangzhou (our guide doesn't think so!). Benjamin wanted NO part of the lady who gave him the test a few days earlier. Smart boy!


Then we were off to finalize the adoption at the Beijing Civil Affairs Office. A routine formality, sitting in front of a young girl who asked us a few questions..."will we promise to take good care of him?" "why did we choose to adopt from China?"...which I think most Chinese enjoy hearing about. Our guide said Chinese are very proud that "Westerners" adopt from their country..."our children are very cute and smart". This we know!!! 

We then signed a few papers, fingerprinted next to our signatures and then it was BenBen's turn for his handprint...NOT a big fan. Benjamin does NOT like getting his hands dirty and this was very upsetting to him. Luckily, Mama comes equips with handwipes and jelly bellies. Good to go!


We left the office as his legal guardians and parents. We will return in 48 hours (Wed. a.m.) for his adoption certificate, have it notarized, and then submit his application for a passport.

The Director from the orphanage was present at the Civil Affairs Office and we anticipated Benjamin may have a reaction...but nothing. Also, he saw another little boy, age 3, from his orphanage who was in the Gotcha Day room with us (towards the end) meeting his Mama from the Netherlands. The little boy recognized Benjamin and we think Benjamin recognized him...but again, no interest.

Our guide commented how secure Benjamin seems with us...like we've been a family forever. Awww.....


We drove around Beijing a lot to our appointments and it's such an interesting place! Very much like NYC, only Chinese!! Our hotel is in a very high-end, touristy, international area so we don't stand out much...but, the Chinese are VERY interested in us. "How did we adopt such a strong, handsome boy?"....They seem genuinely happy for Ben and are smitten with his charm....just like us!

We are looking forward to our tours (the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square) this weekend when we'll meet up with 3 other families from our agency when they arrive in Beijing, prior to meeting their children. 

Tomorrow is a free day so we're going to a beautiful park (Bei Hai) and a tour of Beijing's "yesterday", a trip to the Hutongs (old alleyways or siheyuan, the traditional courtyard residences). We may explore the narrow and curved alleys on foot, by pedicab "rickshaw" or by bike. Should be interesting. Our guide indicated the people who live there are very proud and it's a very expensive way of life.  
After the appointments our guide dropped us off at the hotel. We journeyed across the street to a "noodle" restaurant that the concierge recommended. It was DELICIOUS!!! We were seated in the "NBA" room....see pics - hilarious! We ordered Kung Pao Shrimp (for Ben), fried rice (me), noodle soup with spareribs (Sam) and fried beef with vegetables (Greg). Yummy!!! Benjamin loved the shrimp and noodles. He was determined to use the chopsticks (with the noodles) and it was a mess! He was slurping them off his plate and cracking us up! Although, all the Chinese in the room were slurping their noodles...Sam was in heaven! (always a noisy eater).

And here's where things go a bit wrong....Greg also ordered a Chinese beer - it was huge. I knew we were in trouble when he started speaking American in his Chinese accent. Not letting him order that again! 

Then, the waiter graciously informed us that it was the restaurant's 60th anniversary and they had a "special gift" for us upstairs. Hmmmm.....well, we followed him into a room covered in Chinese artwork for sale. Two ladies were also in the room and they offered to write Sam's name in Chinese. We were very pleased and they liked Benjamin very much. They informed us (by looking at the top of his head in the back) that he was a level 4 in strength. Sam and Greg sadly, only a level 1. Interesting....

Then the sales pitch, I was outside "marching" the halls with Benjamin (he loves to march Grandpa Perkins!) and Greg was pressured into purchasing a custom "silk scroll" of our family for only $23!!!

Hmmm....Greg just told me to tell y'all he "took it in the rear". Our lunch was actually cheaper. TOTAL ripoff....again, no more Chinese beer for Greg!!! :) I can't leave him alone for 2 seconds!  

Ben seems to be doing extremely well and appears to be more comfortable with us than yesterday. For example, he likes to walk (sometimes) without me holding his hand. This is actually very dangerous in the streets of Beijing! People, cars and bikes everywhere (on the sidewalks!). He is testing us some, which is a good thing. I think he's grieving a little at times, wondering what is happening. Is this for real? When are these people taking me back to my home? Hard to tell with the language barrier....all we can do is love him unconditionally and make him feel secure. He's open to our affection and reciprocates, which melts my heart. Impossible to imagine what his little mind is thinking. 

We enjoyed playing with him so much on the bed today...he LOVES looking at the photo book of our family, home and Ellie & Jack. He says their names very well and can identify each of them in the photos. Ben likes to "fake sleep"...and then we tickle him. It's sooo cute. At one point, Sam and I were laughing so hard at his expressions and I asked Sam, "is he sleeping or peeking?" because it's impossible to tell with the slant of his eyes! Benjamin laughed too!! He's such a trickster!!! Sam would hide under the blankets and tickle his feet....Ben LOVES it.

He also LOVES dogs!! We saw several on our walk tonight and went crazy. Good thing for Chezzy!!!  

We decided a stroller would be a good thing after carrying him around for 2 days. After our nap at the hotel (after lunch) we headed to Wangfujing street for a stroller. We found a very expensive department store with a variety of strollers but Benjamin wanted NO part of it. We also tried the Ergo backpack (at the htoel), again NOT a fan. We may try the stroller shopping again when he's not so tired and they're cheaper! We also visited a toy store....he loved watching the little dogs do "flips" on the floor and would laugh and say "OH" each time they flipped. Everyone is so enamoured with him. He's so stinkin' cute!!! 

Benjamin is also a headstrong little guy and knows what he wants "obstinate sometimes" as reported by the orphanage would be correct! We think language plays a huge part though. He doesn't like toothepaste so we're picking our battles for now (brushing with just water).

He's also very low maintenance. He really goes with the flow except when he's overly tired. A drink of water is usually all it takes for him to calm down. We're trying to call him Ben more and he responds sometimes. He always responds to Xigang.

He also LOVES sweets!!! I carried him around the lavish breakfast buffet this morning and he only wanted the chocolate donut (pointed excitedly and said, "ohhhhhhh") and sausage....and of course, a banana. Kids under 3 eat free at the buffet. One of the servers asked Benjamin in mandarin his age, he replied 2. I think she was surprised...and perhaps thought we were trying to sneak a free breakfast! LOL!

Everyone comments on Benjamin's skin. It's beautiful and lighter than most Chinese ("more Caucasian").

Sam is doing great with Benjamin but having a rough time in general. He misses home a lot and his friends. He is still adjusting from jetlag. Hoping tomorrow is better for him.


Benjamin will tap me on the leg and say, "Mama" and point to what he wants...or sign. He understands and uses the signs for drink, eat, more and finished. He's a very quick learner! When he's upset (i.e. when we take off his shoes, or tried him in the backpack carrier) he cries deeply for "Mama"...at first, I thought he was calling for his caregivers...but I'm really not sure. He seems easily soothed and likes us, I think!


We are amazed how well he does sleeping!!!! He went to bed at 10:30 p.m. last night after being up for an hour to skype -- and going down to nap at 4 p.m. He slept until 7:30 a.m. this morning and not a peep out of him. He moves around a lot (according to Greg) but I felt nothing....the beds, pillows and down comforters are super comfy and the hotel is very quiet. He also soothes himself to asleep...usually by sucking his thumb. 

Tonight we gave him a bath (which he loves!) and then looked at books in the bed. We turned off the light and he turned over and went to sleep.

Now it's my turn...we're all exhausted. Thanks for the comments and encouragement!!! We love hearing from you all. Being away from Ellie and Jack is the most difficult part. We have a long time to go but we're enjoying every second with our sweet lil man and sweet Sammo.