Packing

Kristin has been packing since April. She even has things organized by what goes in which carry-on bag. Sometimes she just needs to do something baby-related, and packing makes it seem like it's going to happen soon. At one point there were enough baby clothes in the suitcase to last a month, and then she realized we'll only have the baby in our custody for about five days of the trip. (Buying baby clothes in various sizes has been a real weakness of Kristin’s all summer...)

The packing list from the adoption agency begins with the words, "Pack light," and then proceeds to list tons of things to take. We have a suitcase full of new clothes, blankets, and baby medicine for the orphanage, and gifts for our host families, orphanage workers, and others who assist us along the way, as well as the regular paraphernalia of overseas travel and baby stuff: clothes, toys, bottles, etc. On Labor Day weekend we finally put together a comprehensive list of things to pack--based on our notes from the adoption agency, an amazingly thorough list (including a short-wave radio!) from a friend of a friend who adopted a baby from China, and our own previous experience with overseas travel. We made an expensive trip to Target to buy everything we didn't have: baby medicines, ziploc bags, passport/money holders, etc.

The suitcases have been sitting in the nursery for most of the summer, much to Bentley's chagrin. (He hates furniture moving, suitcases, and basically any changes in his routine. Boy does he ever have a surprise in store!) Everything is in now (a week before departure) except for our clothes. We'll wait until the morning of the trip to put those in. Twelve hours in the suitcase is quite enough! We have to pack business/dress clothes for the appointment at the National Adoption Center and the court day. The rest of the time comfortable and casual is fine.