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46 things I have said since moving to China

I read a blog recently that had a list of things that expats have thought while in China.
I made my own list of things I have said while in this magical place. Enjoy! 



1. Awesome! There's toilet paper in this stall! 
2. I swear, if I get pushed one more time... 
3. I really miss breakfast cereal. And Taco bell. And paying less than $10 for ice cream. 
4. The internet could not get any more slow. (one hour later) The internet has gotten more slow. 
5. I would die without my VPN. 
6. I am really going to miss bartering for everything when we move back to the states. 
7. We really scored on this taxi driver. There are seat belts, AND he kind of knows where he is going. 
8. Los Angeles is complaining of smog, again. Maybe I should send them a picture of our sky today. 


9. Burger King delivers?! Done!!!
10. I ordered Burger King 2 hours ago, where is it?
11. How do all the handicap people get around China with no ramps?!
12. Oh no...I only said Ni Hao...now he thinks I speak Chinese.
13. If they opened a Target here i'd stay forever.  No, just kidding!
14. The weather is so beautiful today! The AQI is below 100!
15. We have a long weekend coming up. Where should we go?
16. Why is everyone leaving me this summer?
17. Can you bring me back something from the states? ....Beef Jerky.


18. Theres a kid peeing in the street.
19. Theres a taxi driver peeing in the bushes.
20. Why doesn't anyone use a toilet?
21. I'm thinking about smuggling my ayi back with me when we move home.
22. Do you think I can _______? Or will I get deported?
23. I can't believe the van man doesn't have the Lego Movie yet.
24. Where do you go for your foot massages?
25. I love wet markets.
26. I hate wet markets.
27. I just paid $20 for ground beef.
28. I have finally mastered the squatty potty.

29. Do you think this is a good fake?
30. Carl's Jr is the most amazing thing I have ever eaten.


31. Don't use the ranch dressing, that is for special occasions!
32. Whoa, theres an ambulance! I haven't seen one on the road for at least 2 months.
33. I feel like we should go to Puxi more often.
34. The people at the Kejiguan know my name now.

35. Don't touch my baby.
36. Milk here is expensive. I might just buy a cow.
37. We can't even watch netflix without it buffering at least once.
38. Crap, its 10:00. We missed the metro!
39. Where do I go for good Mexican food?
40. I took the subway today and was nice enough to let them scan my bag.
41. I scored a seat on the metro. This is the best day ever!

42. I couldn't live in Shanghai without Taobao.
43. There are four sheep heads on the street.


44. I need some comfort food that reminds me of home. Lets go to Fortune Cookie.
45. My taxi driver is spitting/clipping his nails/drinking tea/peeing on the road/screaming/picking his ear/taking me the wrong way/driving me crazy.
46. I am really gonna miss this place.









World traveler baby

We had to do the paperwork to get Samantha's passport and "birth abroad" certificate. It is a long process to get all this figured out when you are not a Chinese citizen. We had to take some papers down to the US consulate office when she was just a teeny 5 days old. We also had to go through an interview process to prove that we are from the United States. In order for us to get her a passport we had to include a passport photo that they could use. The requirements were that she had to have her eyes open and she had to be in front of a white background. Peyton would hold her in front of a white board to take her picture. This is harder than you would expect. She was so little, having her hold still with her eyes open was definitely a challenge! She was not a fan of this activity. (See below for proof). 






This is the one that we chose. She is such a cutie. It is crazy to believe that this will be the picture in her passport for the next 9 years. 



We plan on going to Thailand for the lantern festival this year, and also back home to California for Christmas so we needed her to have a passport. We also plan on maybe taking some smaller trips around China in the near future. We are so excited to travel with this little girl. It is crazy to think that we are going to go places that she will probably not remember when she is older. But that is why we take pictures, right?! :) 

The life of a new Parent

Samantha has been in our lives for 3 weeks now. It is hard to remember what life consisted of before the nightly feedings and constant diaper duties. Its like I have been brainwashed to forget all those days of luxury naps and carrying a purse instead of a diaper bag. I love being a Mother though (even more when she's napping in my arms!) and I wouldn't change it for the world. Heres what our days consist of since becoming Dad and Mom.


Sleeping- and not enough. I really took the advice "sleep when they are sleeping" seriously. It has been my favorite activity. I just don't want her to nap alone! ;) 


Nursing and burping- No one tells you that your new occupation is going to feel like you're the local watering hole. The time in between feedings goes by so fast! I sometimes feel like she is glued to my boob for a good portion of the day. Peyton is a great burping buddy and takes over that duty with total dedication. 


Outings- We went to church for the first time and everyone was very excited to see the newest member of the congregation. We were told that we came back to church too early, but Peyton and I needed to get some social interaction with people who we didn't talk baby to all day. (yes, thats a language.) 




Pictures- and so many! As a new parent I am convinced you believe everything your little one does is the cutest thing that has ever been done. For instance, I took a picture of her really big poop blowout the other day. I really felt like a Mom at that moment. I try and send Peyton a picture of Samantha everyday so he feels more included in our happenings while at work. This was the first day he went back to work. Samantha told me what to write. She is extremely bright. 


Crying- Ohh...the crying. I would like to mention here that before having a child I had no idea how loud something so small could get. Luckily, homegirl likes her pacifier. Unluckily, she hasn't quite figured out how to keep it in the whole time and cries (okay, screams) when this happens. 


Errands - Since we don't have a car in China, I am hitting the pavement with my gal strapped to my chest. This is fine except, the Chinese are extremely curious and look down into the carrier to get a glimpse of what I am toting around. You'd think they would be disappointed with just seeing a small head, but no, this makes their day. I am happy to provide that. At least they aren't rubbing my pregnant belly anymore. 


Baths- After that gross, dried up, stinky bellybutton stump fell off we could give her a full bath. She loves it! Its funny to see her experience all these simple things. Her facial expressions are amazing. She must get that from her Dad. They also really calm her down and help her sleep so...we bathe her every night. Side note: It looks like she is trying to escape, but this was just a bad timed picture. Her leg was carefully put back into the tub immediately. (That note was mainly for Grandma). 



 Walks- Samantha really enjoys being moved around. She takes her best naps while on the move. I don't get it. Almost the minute she is in complete stillness she wakes up. Its comical because the sidewalks in Shanghai are the bumpiest pavement I have ever walked on. She does not seem to be fazed by this one bit.


Swaddling- I want to hug whoever came up with wrapping your kid up like a burrito. Samantha loves being confined and wrapped up. Peyton is the swaddle king. I still haven't mastered it. Probably because I always have Peyton do it. Why mess with perfection? 


So there you have it. The first 3 weeks of having a newborn. Isn't it fascinating? Eating, crying and pooping. Its a party up in here these days! But in all seriousness, we love being parents and we are smiling a lot more these days because of this little lady. We just can't get enough of her sweetness. 

6 pounds of perfect

Our friend Tara came over a week after Samantha was born to take some newborn pictures. They turned out amazing, and we are so happy we had someone in China that could capture how small and dainty our new little one is. Samantha was a good sport through the photo shoot and put on her best smiles. With frequent nursing breaks and a sound machine on womb setting, we got  her to fall asleep. We love those little dimples so much! I've been waiting to finally put huge bows on that tiny head, and this was the perfect opportunity. Here are some of our favorites!


















Thanks Mama T for coming and playing with us and taking some amazing pictures! We love you.