We are home and completely in love!

We are home!  We left China on Christmas Eve (China time) and got home on the morning of Christmas Eve (America time).  The travel schedule home was brutal.  We flew from Guangzhou to Beijing in the evening and with a slight delay did not get into our hotel until 12 midnight.   That gave us 3 hours to sleep before we had to be up and get to the airport.  With all of our luggage (we had to add a couple of pieces with all our shopping) and a 4 year old who wanted to be carried non-stop, it was no small task.  Add that on to a little one (and 2 parents) who had not had any sleep....

I was totally dreading our 13 hour flight home with Mia.  I was so afraid that she was going to have melt downs about having to sit down and being bored.  To my delight and surprise (and I am sure because of the non-stop prayers going up) she did FANTASTIC!  Only one very small and short melt down.  She only slept for 3 hours and of course I would have loved her to sleep a bit more, but as long as she was not crying or upset, I will take it.

We thought the car seat and strapping her in was going to be the next HUGE mountain to climb (they do not use car seats in China and do not use seat belts often either).  Again, to our surprise, she did not mind at all.  After her sugar-free vanilla steamer from Starbucks, she fell asleep for the rest of the drive from Indy to Fort Wayne.  

Once we got home, she met Logan and my parents.  She instantly fell in love with Logan and they have been best friends ever since.  I am sure the newness will wear off, but my heart totally melts to see them together.  

So, as I had previously written, in China we had some pretty horrible melt downs (probably about 5 noteworthy ones) which resulted in her throwing herself on the ground, tearing off her clothes, arching her back (while we were trying to carry her up the elevator) and kicking and screaming at the top of her lungs and saying who knows what to us in Mandarin.  It was great.  Especially when we were in public (which was the case most of the time) when everyone was looking at the only Americans with a Chinese child and wondering if we were kidnapping or abusing the poor child.  I told you she has a very strong will.  :)  Anyway, after being home and forcing her to take a bath (which she absolutely loved) and then trying to get her to brush her teeth (also, not something we had any issue with in China) Mike busted out the time out chair.  She was so upset about being sat in a chair and not allowed to get up.  It appears that is exactly what she needed.  Now, any time we are having issues with her telling us how it is going to be, we simply ask her if she wants to go to time out and voila...instant princess, at least most of the time!  WHOOOOOOO!  So happy for the time out chair.  It has made a world of difference for her (and us).  

Getting back on a normal sleep schedule has been a bit difficult.  By 5-6pm, Mike, Mia and I are completely exhausted and want to do nothing but go to bed.  Of course that is not an option so we are doing our best to push ourselves to stay awake.  Mia is having a bit of a tough time in the middle of the night waking up several times.  For me it is much like having an infant although after helping her eat, potty or whatever, she goes back to sleep pretty quickly.  That said, she also is waking up around 5am - UGH!  She did NOT do that in China.  She really liked to sleep in.  I cannot wait for that to come back.  :)

Communication has been really easy.  We know a few words in Mandarin (enough to raise a four year old) and she can understand most of what we say to her.  It is AMAZING!!!

Food has been a challenge for Mia.  The first couple of days, she hardly ate anything and is reluctant to try new things.  On Christmas we even ordered Chinese and got her dumplings because she loved them in China.  She hated EVERYTHING we ordered and did not eat anything including the dumplings (I guess they were made different in China).   Poor thing had to be hungry.  By the 3rd day she ate her Ramen noodles and some fruit.  The Child LOVES her noodles.  Today she has already had two packs.   She even eats then with chopsticks which is pretty incredible to watch. 

Christmas was super fun.  It was very sweet.  She did not even know what do with the presents.  We had to show her how to open them.  It did not take her long to figure it out though.  She really loved all her girly princess things.  My house looks like a pink flamingo has blown up in it...and I LOVE IT!  :)

She was doing so well adjusting, we took her to the in-laws and although it took her about 15 minutes to warm up, she seemed to have a pretty good time.  

The next day, we went to my parents and she had a great time there as well.  

We could not ask for a better adjustment than we have been given with this sweet girl!

We are so truly blessed and cannot wait for you all to meet our wonderful little Christmas present.

Hot Chocolate on Christmas Morning!

Logan and Mia - First Christmas as a family of 4!

 

The 3 of us

My excited boy!

A mountain of presents!

Loving her princess things!

Relaxing with my little ones

Mike making the peace sign he learned from the hotties in China

Mia and her noodles

Check out all those noodles!

Helping Mom bake while eating