OUR13HOURADOPTION: Day 7 - Chongqing Panda Zoo

We went to the zoo this morning! It was great fun. First bath for Kalyn today too!

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We have been doing something different everyday to keep busy while we wait for Kalyn's passport to be issued on Friday. Then he can fly to our next stop. Basically we traveled and have stayed in his city of residence, Chongqing to #1 meet & take Kalyn home, #2 finalize Kalyn's adoption paperwork, #3 apply for his passport and #4 visit the orphanage. If we aren't at the civil affairs office for business or touring the city we are staying busy bonding in the hotel room and exploring the local shopping, and soaking in the culture so we can share it with Kalyn later in life. It's been fun but we are nearing the end of our stay in Chongqing and Kalyn's passport will be in our hands soon. It's a bitter sweet feeling to know that we first met Kalyn here, we began bonding with Kalyn here, and we have made many memories here. We will miss you CQ (Chongqing); the keeper of our sons' beginnings!

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Michael picked us up shortly after 9am and we rode in the car about 30 minutes to the Chongqing Panda Zoo. On the way Michael told us some history and even more jokes about pandas. We laughed a lot. Here is just a glimpse of his stories...
- Pandas live in solitaire except to mate. (Michael said some people believe they are examples of the one child rule)
- Pandas eat and sleep. Have simple lives similar to babies.
- The pandas lifelong dream is to have a colored picture!
- Q: Why do pandas sleep alot?
A: To make the dark circles around their eyes smaller.

Needless to say, Michael has enriched our time in Chongqing. He is yet another gift sent by God! We believe our trip to the zoo provided time for Michael to spend quality time with Kalyn. They can communicate and it's fun to hear, through Michael, what our son is saying. Love seeing God at work!!!!!

We arrived at the zoo and Michael pulled a stroller out of the trunk. Wow! Now that would be easier than the ergo. Well it was slightly except for all the thousands of beautiful stones steps we climbed throughout the zoo!

We enjoyed seeing pandas, baby pandas, zebras, hippos (Kalyn's favorite), giraffes, elephants, lions, lion cubs, tigers, deer, birds, ducks, and monkeys too! Kalyn told Michael that "lion looks like a big dog," "three giraffes," "two bears" (yep he can count!), "feeding the bears popcorn," & "mo mo aqua" (river horse...his favorite!). He totally amazed all of us.

The greenery and gardens at the zoo were beautiful. We discovered that Jeremiah loves bamboo, we saw mandarin ducks, and even spotted a flower bed that looked like broccoli plants. So cool!

While at the zoo we got a lot of happy looks, smiles, hi hi, and bye byes from the people. Mostly grandparents with their grandchildren or older folk hanging with other older folk. It is winter break here so parents are working and children stay with grandparents. Fun times seeing the culture here. It's way different than good ole rural KS, U.S.A.

We captured many great videos of Michael and Kalyn talking about the animals and photos capturing their time together. We will be forever grateful for Michael and the gift of sharing his love for CQ and helping families connect with their children.

We walked for a while - oh about 2 hours - and made it through the exhibits. It was a day to remember forever, even though it was a simple trip to the zoo. God's plans for our lives are SIMPLY PERFECT!

So we ventured back to the hotel and on the way Kalyn learned the difference between "car" "mo too too" (aka motorcycle) and "bus" saying them in English. He is really a sponge and a "dictabird" like any other toddler. He also has crazy energy too. Mommy especially has forgotten what it's like to have a toddler. "Exhausted" is mommy's middle name at the moment!

In the room we planned to rest after a quick trip to papa johns for lunch. Nope, Kalyn doesn't like pizza either. Uhoh these convenient foods will not be possible when we get home. Joys of learning to cook chinese. Ahh...planning room service for supper! Enough outings for the day.

Nap was hard today. Kalyn did not want to lay (perpendicular) to rest with big brother on the bed. In fact even getting him onto the bed has been difficult. He most likely has a fear of going to sleep. No worries mommy to the rescue!!! Mommy scooped up a very sleepy Kalyn, touching face to face and quietly whispering sweetness' in his ear. She was able to finally get him horizontal on the bed. Snuggled with mommy his entire nap, he woke to see mommy was still there and so was daddy and gu gu jeremiah. No need to live in fear Kalyn, your family will always be here for you!

We spent lots of time in the stroller racing around our hotel level tonight. Sshhh don't tell the hotel staff. So many giggles and two wheeler stroller turns over and over. Fun!

We have a few prayer requests as we wrap up an emotional week:

1. Please pray for Kalyn's heart to heal and be comforted.
2. Please pray for a quick and safe journey to our next stop in China (the consulate city where Kalyn will have a medical exam and recieve his visa granting his entrance to the U.S.)
3. Please pray that Kalyn's first airplane ride will go smoothly and enjoyable. (We leave CQ at 4:30 am CST and land at 6:00am CST on Friday)
4. Please pray for Kalyn's tummy, that it get to feeling better before his medical appt this weekend.

We are blessed by all of you who read about our journey. We pray that our journey will show each of you Jesus' love for ALL his children!

Jeremiah's High: That we went to the zoo
Jeremiah's Low: That I didn't get to see the rhinos

Daddy's High: The zoo was cool & watching people do Tai Chi in the zoo
Daddy's Low: Bored in the hotel room

Mommy's High: Seeing the panda in the tree. I've never seen that before.
Mommy's Low: Kalyn has the runs. Hoping his tummy gets to feeling better quick. He doesn't have weight to lose. He's a only 20 lbs currently. Also feeling the pain of Kalyn's fear to sleep is so hard.

P.S. Extra Highlight for the day!!! Mommy connected with a 3rd china mom waiting to travel for her son. It just so happens that Kalyn was in the same room. They lived together, played together, and on the day we visited the orphanage they kicked the ball around together. Mommy shared more pictures with their family too! They were so excited to recieve them. It feels like an adrenaline rush when you know that you have touched and loved on children whose families yearn to meet them. We had the same feelings while we waited to meet Kalyn. It use to be a dream and now is reality for us and will be for all the families that will follow behind us. #loveadoption #onelessorphan

Enough journaling for the day!