5043 Briarwood Dr.- Where the Wild Things Are?!

     I could not resist the title... Where the Wild Things Are

     The boys are wearing Where the Wild Things Are pjs we bought before our trip.  They are adorable pjs including all the book characters.  Is it a coincidence they are a matched set?!  By the way, we did not tell them to fold their hands :) 

Our 1st Weekend Home Together

Our first morning together

Both boys woke up happy, excited and ready to play.

They played all morning long.

We are adjusting well.  Jon Campbell is learning to share first hand.  We have our moments, but we bounce back well. 

Making Music Together

     One of our special gifts to the boys were hand made calabash flutes.  We picked them up in Guangzhou.   Our guide had told us never pay full price in Guangzhou.  We should aim to barter down the price by 30%. Bartering with "Jack," the shopkeeper, was a hoot.  I was successful and Jack threw in a nice carrying case for each one.  They are made from a gourd and have hand painting scenes on the gourds.  The mouth piece is made from ox bone.  They work very similiar to a recorder.

King of the Big Wheel

     Saturday, the 14th, was picture perfect weather.  After playing inside until lunch Jon Campell and Jin played outside with neighbors Thomas, Audrey, Luke and another boy.  Jin tried out the scooter, big wheel and tricycle.  Inspite of difficulty with his foot he loved the big wheel.  He drove up and down the driveway at least a hundred times.  The kids also enjoyed a treat together- Chinese Strawberry Candy.  It was good!

Story Time with Papa

Jin is adjusting well to our family schedule.  From the first night Jin has been an excellent sleeper and was used to a strict daily routine.  Bath time and bed time are full of excitement and giggles, for sure.  We are (Clint and I especially) learning to laugh more, too :)

Rolling in the grass with Grandma

     Grandma, Clint's Mom from Indiana, enjoyed the Sunday afternoon with the boys.  It was another beautiful day so after church and a trip to Dunkin Donuts, they played in the leaves and rolled through the grass.  Then we went to Dragon Park to play on the huge playground.  Jin and Jon Campbell loved chasing each other, taking trips down the slide and rolling down the grassy hill again and again.  We ended this outing with a trip to Whole Foods in Green Hills.  We had to get a snack after all the fun.  Jin enjoyed his first taste of gellato.  He licked the bowl clean. 

     On the way home we were reminded of China's little regard for traffic safety, nor do they wear seat belts.  Jin was wearing a seat belt without a problem until he realized he could unclick the belt himself.  His big brother's "informant skills" (aka tattling!) came in handy that time as we drive down Hilsboro Road. 

First Trip to the Nashville Zoo

     Monday, the 16th, we all enjoyed a trip to the zoo.  Look at that smile!  Jin loved all the animals.  His favorite is the monkey.  He became very excited when he saw the zebras, too.  He had a ride on the merry go round with Grandma.  Oh, how he wanted to stay on that all afternoon.  Throughout this journey, many times we have been struck with the thought that Jin has never done this or that or Jin has never tasted things like whipped cream and the list goes on and on.  During our trip to China, Clint and I experienced a great deal of humility as we stood out like a sore thumb.  For awhile Jin will experience, taste, encounter and live out many experiences we have done forever.  My prayer is to remember how much we have and never to take anything for granted.  We have been given much and much will be required.  

Playing with a goat

     Jin could have played wit the goats all morning.  At first he was a little scared of the ones walking around free in the gated area, but when he saw the babies behind the fence he fell in love immediately.  He fed the baby goat straw, brushed its hair and petted it with a huge grin on his face the entire time. (Of course, he might of been thinking they are tasty with soy sauce, too!) Please note- Clint added that final line.

Arriving in Nashville, TN!

     Waiting for us to arrive in the airport was our Jon Campbell with his 2 grandmothers, Grandma and Baba along with sweet Donna and Peggy from church.  Cameras ready, eyes full of tears along with bright red, white and blue balloons bobbing in the air anticipating our descent down the steps when we introduced our Jin to his forever family.  Jon Campbell couldn't wait as he he met us half way up the stairs crying out, "Papa, Mama!"   He excitedly greeted his new brother with a hug and a huge smile and then handed him a stuffed teddy bear.  Jin in exchange gave Jon Campbell a new panda dressed in traditional Chinese clothes.

Adele and her boys

     After we arived home our neighbors, the Fitchels, came over to welcome us home.  WOW!  Jin had so much to explore and take in as did we.  Right off he dug into the toy basket downstairs and found some new treasures.  Buzz Lightyear was a hit. 

 Jin sees his bed for the 1st time

 

      Everyone was excited and a little tired, but that did not stop us form enjoying a snack together.  It had been 12 hours since we had a full meal.

 

     Around midnight we all had reached our limit and bedtime was in sight or so I thought :)  Teeth brushed;  pjs on; prayers said and in the bed.  It was a wonderful feeling to be home with both our boys as we tucked them in and passed out hugs and kisses and kisses and some more kisses.  Lights went out as Clint and I left the room.  "We love you both and no talking," were our last words.  We hurried off to bed too because the only thing holding up our eyes were toothpicks.  We were very earger to enjoy our own bed and matress and don't you know it....  We heard "Hee, heee, haaaaaa, giggle, giggle, heeee!"  There was a lull of quiet and then, " Haaaa, giggle, giggle, he, he, haaaaa!"  After 3 trips to their room of tough, sleepy, love and correction they both fell to sleep.  Clint was very confident they would fall asleep eventually.  He was right.  After 30 minutes they were out for the night.  Of course as I tucked myself in I couldn't help but to chuckle myself.  We have been waiting so very long to hear laughter in stero.  Thank you Lord for a double blessing.  

We're Back

We 3 from China

Leila, Jin and Lily

    

     Friday, November 13th, we all woke up excited to board Continental Flight 86.  Home was so close we could taste it.  Boy, we were very ready and anxious to return.  Please don't think that our trip was bad.  It was not at all.  Our trip to China was amazing and such a blessing!  The past 2 weeks felt like 2 months, we were very tired, longed to see Jon Campbell, our family and friends, sleep in our own bed and possibly eat some regular and familiar food.  Can you tell Clint is not fond of FISH :) 

     Our travel group, now 10 in total, flew from Shanghai, China to Newark, NJ.  We began our travel home with lunch from Burger King in the airport :)  Thank goodness our flight was running on time and the weather was good for the most part.  After alot of wiggle time, seat squirming and movie channel switching, Jin actually slept the last 6 hours of the flight.  It was a great to be back in the United States.  We were able to move very quickly thru Immigration as we handed over Jin's brown paper sealed Visa documents.  Minus a few pieces of paperwork, Jin Taylor Holloway is an American Citizen!  We anxiously retrieved our luggage and darted to the closest Continental Desk to confirm our connecting flight to Nashville.  We were home free; we thought.  Apparently our 8 PM flight was cancelled at 8 AM Friday morning for unknown reasons.  UGHHHH! Yes, we were tired, hungry and the hair did not look good at all and now we had no flight.  The next open flight was leaving Saturday, the 14th at 2 PM.  There was a possiblility to catch a standby flight leaving at 7:30 PM that night.  We quickly took an airtrain to terminal A along with a quick restroom stop, proceeded thru security again and husseled to our gate.  Thanks to the help of Gloria, a Continential Employee, we got the last 3 seats on the flight which should've left at 5:30 PM.  God is so good.  We were definitley going home Friday night.

USA Bound!

The Room is Ready

     Before we left for China a lot of scrambling was done to get the room ready for Jin's arrival.  After some thought and a little persuasion we decided that Jon Campbell and Jin would share a room.  All Jin has ever know was a room with other children as well as falling asleep with other children near him so we decided for now the boys would share.  Jon Campbell's first reaction to this idea was "But Jin will talk all night and I won't be able to sleep."  Kids are so funny! 

     Many of you know that Jon Campbell is a die hard Thomas the Tank Engine fan so naturally Thomas would be the theme of the new bedroom.  Baba, Adele's mother, made each of the boys a Thomas bed quilt.  New bedroom curtains are currently in production too.  Jon Campbell made a trip to Joann's with his Baba to help pick out the material.  That was an adventure.  Jin even received a Thomas the Tank Engine stuffed pillow for his bed.  The room received a painting facelift by our friend Mr. Steve along with a new fan and light fixture.  After a new rug for reading, new Thomas pictures for the walls and new sheets for Jin, the room is ready for a new brother to arrive. 

Shower of Blessings

Adele is blessed to work with a great group of volunteers in the Children's Ministry of Aspen Grove Christian Church.  Clint and Adele have been a part of this congregation for over 8 years now.  Our congregation has seen us through a multitiude of joyful and lifechanging events from our wedding, sugergy and the birth of Jon Campbell.  We are extrememly grateful to all of them for their continued love, support and life long friendships. 

Toot, Toot, Toot, the shower train arrived on Saturday, October 17th.  The theme was trains.  The boys' room is decked out in Thomas the Tank Engine decor.

Everyone had a great time and the food was wonderful!

Thank you for all the wonderful clothes, toys and gift cards.  It will all come in very handy as we prepare to meet Jin within weeks.

Jon Campbell was very excited too.  He and Jin got matching Christmas pjs.  Christmas is just around the corner and what an event that will be in the Holloway household!  Thank you friends for showering us with unbelieveable blessings of love and support.  We are very grateful.