Trip To Build-A-Bear

We went to Build-A-Bear today and Zachary brought home a new friend! He named him Woof Woof and picked out his outfit. The whole drive home, he held him in his lap and petted his ears. He was talking and laughing every minute! They were having a good ol' time!

Big Hug!!!

Having Fun With His New Friend!

Zachary Laughing With Woof Woof!

Let's Color!!!

Brushing Daddy's Hair

Zachary has to do whatever we do. If we brush his hair...he has to brush ours. Here he is doing daddy's hair!

Playing Ball In The House

Okay, I know that we shouldn't play ball in the house, but it's cold outside!!! Zachary has a great arm and he loves to tackle! Uncle Brian taught him to yell "FUMBLE!" when he watches football! He must have watched a lot of sports in China because he loves them! He gets really close to the TV and yells things that I wish we could understand. I'm glad that his daddy will have someone to watch the game with....they are quite the pair!

Pushing His Bus Around

Here he is in the Halloween pajamas that Teri and Lucy got for him! So cute! He pushes his bus around the family room while Tom pushes around his plane. This can go on for hours, but it's funny to watch! When Tom makes the plane fly, the bus has to fly too! He imitates EVERYTHING!

What's With These Pajamas?

Grandma Oerter bought Zachary some footy pajamas. He loves them! We couldn't stop him from messing with the zipper and the feet....He appeared confused by the design! Hee hee hee!

Just Standing Around Looking Cute!

Zachary Just Cracks Himself Up!

I wish I could understand all that Zachary says....because he thinks he's hilarious! He is such a happy little boy!

Here We Are! Another Great Day!

He's just so darn cute!

Let's Play!

This is a typical pose for Zachary! He is always ready to play!

Big Day For Presents!

Zachary got 2 packages in the mail yesterday! One from Aunt Mary, Uncle Craig, Kyle and Kaitlyn. The other was from Mr and Mrs Adams. He was very excited!!! Thank you so much for thinking of our little guy!

Sesame Street Trance....

Dino-Mite!

Zachary looked so cute in his Dino-Mite shirt, I was teaching him to yell, "I'm Dino-Mite!!!" Mature of me, huh?

Who Put The Quarter In Zach???

After he took a 3 hour nap this afternoon, Zachary was wound up!

Morning Fun!

The day starts early in the Oerter house! Zachary wakes up ready to roll! We have a very specific routine...here goes....We get up at about 6 am. He cheers "YAY!" as we go downstairs. He needs his sippy cup filled with water. Then we have breakfast. Sometime in the middle of breakfast, he will inform me that he has to go potty. We go. Then he finishes his breakfast. After breakfast, he turns on the stereo so we can dance. #5 on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse CD. This goes on for about 30 minutes. Sesame Street is next....then some puzzles....then mega blocks. After all is said and done, he goes to get my bag, shoes and coat and points to the door. Ready to go!!!

Zachary Went To The Doctor Today

Well, our little guy went to the pediatrician today and he was such a trooper! Dr Poulos was wonderful and so were all of the nurses at the office! Poor little guy got 3 shots, but as usual, he bounced back quickly. When we were leaving, he was waving goodbye and blowing kisses to everyone in the office!

I can't believe how lucky we are to have this little guy in our lives. He amazes me every day! I can't imagine what he has been through in his 2-1/2 years...and he is still so trusting and loving! His laughter and smiles are endless! His birth parents must have been wonderful and kind-hearted people to have created this child. It breaks my heart to know that they had to make the decision to trust his life to someone else. I think of them constantly.....they will forever be in our hearts and on our minds.

We have been so blessed with our son. Since the moment we saw his face, we loved him completely and without reservation. Throughout this journey, we have gone through every emotion.....but the joy is something that cannot be described. The love we feel for him is at times totally overwhelming. We are learning as we go...and I think that we are doing wonderfully as a family. Zachary has unlimited potential and I cannnot wait to see where life takes him!

He Sleeps....

It's not easy to run Zachary down! He's so full of energy! I'm sure that waking up at the crack of dawn helps! First he had a little tantrum...then he put his butt up in the air for a little nap!

Hot Chocolate! Yummy!

Daddy was nice enough to share some hot chocolate with his little buddy!

Who Shrunk Our Family???

Climbing on the Train

Pumpkin Patch

Today we went to the pumpkin patch! Here Zach is with some of his cousins!

So Much Going On!

Hauling a backpack, talking on the phone and doing a puzzle! Zachary is a very busy boy! He's so much fun to watch....always learning something new!

Another Great Day

Today we went to Grandma and Grandpa Oerter's house for a visit. When Zach's cousin Nick was done with school, we all headed to the Choo Choo for lunch. I love that place! So did Zachary! He loved the train and learned to say "Choo Choo"! He was full of giggles and smiles all day long, even though he didn't sleep much last night. He DID take a nap this afternoon though! We'll have to see if he sleeps all night tonight!

Always Having BIG FUN!!!!

Things are going great with Zachary! He's such a neat little boy! From the time he wakes up in the morning to the time he goes to sleep...he's always busy! Today we went to Monkey Joe's with close friends....it was a great time. It's one of those bounce house places created to wear kids out! Didn't work! He fell asleep in the van on the way home, but was ready to run when we got back home. Good grief!

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Always Running....

He never stops!

Playing Catch in the House

I know that we shouldn't play ball in the house....

Chatting on the Phone

Zachary LOVES to talk on the phone!

I Can't Believe He's Been Home For A Week!

It has been a week since we got back to the good ol' USA. I can't believe how well Zachary has adjusted...he is such an amazing little boy! We are so thankful to everyone that has supported us throughout this whole process. Tom and I know that we are very lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives!

Zachary brings so much happiness to our world! His smile would light up any room and his laughter is contagious! He is trusting and loving....and we are so proud to be his parents.

New Car!

Zachary is shaking it so it will go! He just loves to play!

It's Chilly Here!

Zachary is not used to this chilly weather!!! Just last week, we were walking on the surface of the sun. Now the boy is wearing long sleeves, pants and socks! I can't wait for him to see snow for the first time!!!

First He Chooses His Music....

Then Zachary Heads To Funky Town!

Home

We've been home for a few days and it has been great. We've already been able to get Zach on a more regular schedule. He got a nap in today, but it was a little late in the day. Unfortunately, Sandi has been very sick since we've been home. Hopefully, she'll feel better soon.

I've learned a few new things about Zach since we've been home. He plays basketball by himself without a ball. He shoots, runs down the court, gets the rebound and then dribbles up the court to shoot again. His form is really good. He does this other thing where he jumps and swings his arm around. He swings at various speeds, so he knows whether he wants to hit it hard or soft. We think he's playing table tennis or badminton in his head. We'll figure it out in time. He also knows how the Chinese hackey-sack game is played. I'm going to make sure I teach him so he can play when we go back. I'm happy to say that after 15 years, I still have some of the hackey-sack skills I acquired in college. I knew that time wasn't wasted.

He's really funny. He was looking at pictures of himself and we kept telling him "that's you", so now he tells us "that's you". We are working on telling him to say "that's me". We're making progress on that.

I have to go to bed. I've been up too long today.

Until next time.

Everything is New to Zachary

Zachary is from Shenzhen. It's HOT there! No air conditioning in his orphanage. Up until today, we have not been able to get socks on the boy! Tom wanted to take him outside to ride his bike, so he had to get him dressed in a warm outfit....it's kind of chilly here today.

This is all new to Zach! He's probably never worn pants, socks, gym shoes, or a sweatshirt.....but he's cute as can be in the whole get-up!

Zachary and the Kitty

Tom and I were a little nervous about Zachary and the Kitty being in the same house. It has actually been fine. Zachary is curious, but he listens to us when we tell him not to run at her, yell at her and grab her. Kitty seems to know that this little one is different and isn't leaving. She likes to be in the same room as him, slept in his bedroom and even let Zach pet her. Here they are!

Wrestling Him Into A Car Seat

Getting our little boy into a car seat the first time was unpleasant! He did not like being restrained. This would make sense since seatbelts are not a big thing in China. Zach cried all the way to Grandma and Grandpa's house from the airport. Once again, he adjusted quickly. No problem getting him in one anymore.

Sleeping....

The mattresses in China were hard as rocks. Might as well sleep on the floor. The cribs were no better. They didn't even have a mattress. Just wood with a blanket. Zachary has really enjoyed the comfort of his new crib. He's zonked out!

I'm Full!!!

I'm not sure where he picked it up, but Zachary has started to say, "I'm full!!!" It's hilarious!

We Are Home...And In Heaven...

Zachary was definitely meant to be our son! We are so in love with him! He has thankfully adjusted amazingly well since we have been home. We got him to bed the first night at about 3:30 am, the 2nd night at Midnight and then 11:30 pm last night. We are getting adjusted to the time difference!

He has met Grandma and Grandpa Oerter, Uncle Mike, Alexa, Aunt Liz, Uncle Brian, Claire, Nick, Aunt Kate, Uncle Bob and Uncle Dan. Zachary had big fun with all of them! I can't believe how resilient this little boy has been! He amazes me every moment! Our hearts are so full!!!!

Thank you to everyone for your love and support! It means the world to know that Zachary is going to be showered with love!

My parents would LOVE him! I know they are looking down on us and smiling! They were the most amazing parents! My dream is to be as great a parent to my son as my mom and dad were to my brother and me!

Zachary and Trevor

Zachary became quite fond of a little one in our group named Trevor. Here they are exploring the airport in Hong Kong.

Flying From Guangzhou to Hong Kong

Zachary's first plane ride! He didn't like having to wear his seatbelt at all! Thank goodness this flight was only 50 minutes!

Talking to Aunt Kate

Zachary loves to chat on the phone! Here he is talking to his Aunt Kate!

Fire Food!

We went to a Sichuan restaurant for dinner for our last group dinner. It was delicious! Alexa, which dish would you choose?

All Packed and Ready to Come Home!

Well, I think we are all set.  Zach is sleeping...we are almost completely packed....and we are ready to come home!  Hopefully, the plane ride won't be too hard for the little guy to handle.  I guess we will find out!  See you soon!!!!

Last Day

It is our last full day in China. I'm happy to be going home, but sad at the same time.

The little guy is finally napping this morning, which is good for us. We haven't been on a steady nap schedule.

He's a real ham for the ladies. He had three women hovering around him at breakfast today. He waved and blew kisses. It was pretty funny. Then he sneezed with a mouthful of cracker and I ended up getting a cracker shower.

We went to the Disney store today, but didn't find anything. It was not like American Disney stores.

While Sandi was getting her massage last night, I am pretty sure I was suffering from dehydration sickness. I didn't feel well at all. I'm still not 100% today, but I am much better.

I'll be interested to see what the scale reads when I get home. I'm hoping to have lost a few pounds.

See you tomorrow.
Tom

2 Hour Massage....68 Yuan

I can't even believe how fabulous that massage was!  That woman hurt me!  She found knots that I didn't even know about!  I'm drinking some water and then going to bed.  $10.  Unbelievable!

Big Day Today

We didn't have anything on the agenda today, which was nice. We had breakfast and then Zach and I played at the park with another family while Sandi waited from a call from our guide to confirm that everything with Zach's visa was okay.

Zach ran around that park for two hours without letting up. He also got his first taste of Starbucks (there is one down the street from the park). I need to open a Dunkin Donuts over here. It was a vanilla swirl beverage and he seemed to enjoy it.

Then we wanted him to nap, but he was playing with a puzzle so we let him be. Big mistake. We decided to go walk around the hotel and then he fell asleep within about 5 minutes. I rushed him back upstairs and tried to put him down. He woke up and was very upset. It has to be so tough on his little body. We've been on the go constantly and you can tell he just doesn't want to miss anything.

We went to an Italian restaurant on the island tonight for dinner. It is funny to see the American families flock to this place. I had pizza and it was really good.

After dinner, Zach had a bath. I'm trying to keep that in the schedule. After the bath, he put on his jammers and went right to bed. He pointed at the crib and let me know that he'd finally had enough.

Sandi is out getting a massage. I'm jealous. I already had the 2.5 hour massage, but that seems like it was months ago. My back and arms are so sore. I'm really regretting not going to the gym before making this trip.

See you soon!
Tom

I'm Finally Getting My Massage!!!

I'm going to get my massage in about 5 minutes and I'm very excited about it!  I have never had a massage before and my back is killing me!  We have been lugging around a 2-1/2 year old and a backpack everywhere we go.    Tom is giving Zachary his bath, which they both LOVE!  We are trying to get him into a routine and bath time before bed is part of the routine!  It's just so funny to listen to them from the other room.  They are just chatting away and giggling!  I'm in heaven.   Just got back from dinner with some of our travel group.  I'm really going to miss the people we have met here.  Only 2 more days!  We go to the Consulate to take our oath tomorrow!

We're getting close

The end of our trip is near. I have mixed emotions as Sandi and I are getting ready to come home. Today was a fun day. As you've seen from Sandi's post, we did the "Red Couch" photo and somebody wasn't very cooperative. Then we swam, bought a bunch of stuff and had a group dinner. All in all, a great day.

I don't remember what I've posted recently, so I apologize if there's any repeat. Zachary was blessed by a Buddhist monk yesterday. That was really cool. I'm not sure if we have any pictures, but I'm hoping somebody in the group got one with us in the background at least.

I've learned a lot during this trip. Here are some key things:

1. Zachary is a neat, resilient little boy. He learns so quickly and we learn more about him every day. He's got a great personality.

2. This is no surprise as I knew going in that Sandi is a wonderful mother. Her heart is so full of love for this little guy.

3. The bond you feel with your travel group is incredible. There aren't many times in life where you will be with a group of people who 100% understand what you're going through. We've been together about 2 weeks, but the thought of leaving them on Friday really makes me sad.

4. The food here is great.

5. The Chinese people are wonderful. People stop to talk to us and people love waving to Zach. He's gotten very good at waving back. Some have asked us how often we plan on bringing him back to visit. We've told them as often as we are able.

6. I can't wait to come back.

7. When I do come back, I'm going to have practiced ping-pong and hackey sack so I do well.

8. I can't wait to get home so you can all meet this charming little guy (he's snoring as I write this). He can saw some logs.

I've got to go now. I don't want to wake him up. He had a big day with a late nap. He wakes up like his dad, crabby and incoherent.

Have a great day! See you soon.
Tom

Travel Group

This is the group of people with whom we have gone on this life-changing journey!  We are going to miss them when we leave China!

Another Touching Family Photo

Tom and I both look like we're a little bit nutty!  Welcome to the family Zach!

Which One Is Zachary?

Can you guess which one is our son?  Look really hard.....concentrate.....you might be able to pick him out!

Our Family On The Red Couch

So Handsome!

It is tradition when you adopt from China to take the "Red Couch" photos.  You get your little one all dressed up in a traditional Chinese outfit and take their picture on the famous "Red Couch".  Today was the day.  We got Zachary all dressed up!  He was so handsome!