Today has been a whirlwind of activity completed in a tired haze.  I don’t think I have EVER woken up at 4:00am before.  Tomorrow, we will be up at 3:00.  Whoopee!

I am packed at ready to go.  There are a few tiny last minute details to iron out, but for the most part we are ready to get on the plane.  I know I said it before, but I swear, I can’t believe this is really happening.

I can’t think of anything remotely witty due to the sleep deprivation, but I will leave you with my packing list and a sorta outline of our itinerary.

Saturday Feb 17th – Fly out of our city, through Chicago (please no snow!) and on to Shanghai.

Sunday Feb 18th – Arrive Shanghai around 3:30 local time, go to hotel on the Bund.

Monday Feb 19th – Recover from jetlag, visit with Mr. A’s aunt and squeeze in as much sightseeing as possible

Tuesday Feb 20th – Fly to baby’s provincial capital, check into hotel, get acclimated

Wednesday Feb 21st – Leave my mom and M at the hotel while a guide takes us to the baby’s finding location and surrounding vacinity.

Thurs Feb 22nd – My Birthday! Take long trainride to Guilin area.

Friday feb 23 and Sat Feb 24 – Sightseeing

Sunday Feb 25th – return to provincial capital to meet travel group

Monday Feb 26th – BABY DAY!!!  Meet the baby.  Walk around with a stunned expression all day.  Try not to puke from the stress.

yadda yadda yadda.  The rest of the trip is the typical adoption bruhaha.  Probably not that interesting, though there may be baby pictures.  I am much more likely to have time for blog posts pre-baby.

And the packing list, for those of who will be traveling in the future.

We are taking 2 suitcases.  One weighs 36.5 lbs, the other weighs 43.5 lbs.  Both under the limit for  in China travel.  I haven’t weighed our carry ons yet, but I am guessing they are probably about 15 lbs and 22 lbs.  M also has a bag that probably weighs about 12 lbs.  We are also bringing an empty carry on size bag to stuff our carry on backpacks in the layover so we can roll them rather than carrying them.  This list does not include my mom’s stuff.

Baby

Travel baby shampoo
lotion
Nail clippers

Baby tooth brush

Aspirator
Orajel
Nose drops
Diaper rash cream

Thermometer

Hydrocortisone cream

Triple antibiotic cream

Miconozole cream
Amoxicillin
Baby laxative
Cough/Cold med
Liquilyte packets (8)
Children’s ibuprofen
Children’s tylenol
Eye drops
Elimite
diapers
Baby wipes (3 packs)
Teething tablets
Benedryl
Glycerine suppository
Changing pad
adjustable Wrap sling
Ergo carrier
Toys
Links
Stacking cups
Toys
Photo album
Frog
Taggie blanket

Orphanage Worker Gifts

Gift bags
Tissue paper
Jelly Bellys

nice chocolates
Fancy Lotions
Makeup
Red envelope

liquor from duty free?

PHOTO
Video camera
extra battery
tapes

Digital camera

Battery

Recharger

mem cards

Card reader
Magic Light

ADULT TOILETRIES

Toothbrushes

Toothpaste- travel sz
Deodorant
Razor (1)
Razor blades (2)
Kleenex
Comb
Rubberbands & barrettes
Bandaids
Feminine hygiene products
Shampoo
Conditioner
Small body wash
extra contacts
Contact case
Contact solution
glasses
Saline
Pills –BC/ Dom
A’s Allergy meds
Tylenol
Benedryl
Hand sanitizer
Tampons
Panty  liners
Sunscreen
bug spray wipes
cold pills

Antibiotic for M

anti-diarrheal med

FOOD/FOOD RELATED

Granola bars

Cheerios

Snack cups
Thermos
Big Nalgene bottle
Disposable bibs
baby spoons
1 Sippy cup
Bottles
Nipples
Liners
1 Tupperware
Formula
Formula dispenser

MISCELLANEOUS
Duct tape
Laundry soap

Black pens

Adapters/converters
ziplocs, large and small
Flashlight carabiner
Nightlight to test adapter

My  clothes
2longsleeve t-shirts
4 t-shirts
1 jeans
1 jean skirt
8 underwear
4socks

2 bras

windbreaker

Slip on tennis shoes
Fleece (wear on plane)
Hiking shoes (wear)
Jeans (wear)
Black long-sleeved tshirt (wear)
Blue tshirt (wear)

A’s clothes
Who knows what he packed.

M’s Clothes
3 jeans
3 longsleeve tshirt
3 short sleeve tshirt
1 pjs
9 underwear
6 socks
Aqua fleece
Pink Fleece (wear)
Green jacket (Wear)
Green pants (wear)
Pink long sleeve shirt (wear)
Pink shoes (wear)
Bathing suit

Baby’s Clothes

Red outfit + onesie
Black outfit + onesie
Jeans + Cherry shirt & hat
Khaki pants + Pirate shirt & hat
Red heart shirt
3 more onesies
6 socks
2 pajamas
1 romper
1 robeez

Carry On

Backpacks that fit in one rolling carry-on bag
Chapstick
Melatonin
Benedryl

Hand sanitizer
M’s Nalgene bottle
carabiner

Laptop, charger, wireless card for airports

Ear plugs

Eye Mask
3 inflatable pillows
Guidebooks
Pills
Small Contact solution
glasses
Books and magazines
Travel tissues
Snacks
Video Recorder
Digital camera + case
4 headphones

DVD plyer
2 extra DVD batteries
DVDs
Polly pocket
playdough
magnet toy
silly putty
workbooks
books
2 puzzles
M’s blanket
M’s friend (1)
M’s backpack

DOCUMENTS
Passports
Plane Tickets – In China and Printouts for US flights
Photocopy of Passports & Credit cards
Passport Pictures
Adoption Documents (see travel packet)
Brown Envelope

Travel Approval

Cash in new bills
Waist packs
Credit Card copies
Contact numbers – Bank, credit card, CCAI, Drs., family

e-mail addresses and phone numbers
finding ad printout
orphanage address
hotel addresses  (Chinese and English)
hotel confirmation  printouts
attach china printout
A’s aunts phone number