Day 9 - Travel to Guangzhou

Today was a fairly uneventful travel day.  Deanna went solo with our guide back to the notary office at 9:30AM to get the Adoption Decree and a few other essential documents before we left Chengdu.  Meanwhile, Matt helped referee the 5 kids and tried to get some more packing done.  Packing and repacking for 5 kids with a 20 kg weight limit can take a while.  Our troop left the hotel and was off to the airport by 12:30PM.

The travel experience to Guangzhou was good.  Boarding the airplane was a breeze.  Matt asked if our family could board early, and the gate attendant agreed.  We weren't sure if really understood what we were asking, but it worked out.  There are no boarding groups on China Air, just a cattle call once they decide to start letting people on.

All the kids did great on the plane!  Claire and Nathan sat next to a stranger across the aisle from Matt, Hannah, and Micah.  Deanna and Maelee sat one row back next to another stranger.  Maelee never cried, but a look of concern did cross her face once the engines started roaring and the plane hurtled down the runway.  Deanna even started to look a little frazzled during takeoff due to the turbulence.

Hannah and Micah passed time by playing "I Spy" and Nathan and Claire listened to the in-flight music.  Claire also made friends with the lady sitting next to her.  The gal didn't speak a lick of English, but that didn't stop Claire from trying to communicate.  By the end of the plane right, they were buddies and we even exchanged WeChat ID's.

We finally got to our hotel around 9:30 PM, checked into our guest rooms, and hit the hay.  Tomorrow is Maelee's medical appointment.  Claire is going to go with Deanna and Maelee and Matt is going to take the rest of the kids on a hike in the park across the street.

Blessings for today:
- Getting the Adoption Decree and remaining paperwork without any issue!
- Maelee continuing to open up to us.  Today was filled with a lot of giggling and smiles.
- Maelee really opening up to Deanna.  She even sat by her on the airplane!
- Getting to board the airplane ahead of the long line.
- Play place in Chengdu airport which came in handy when our flight was delayed 50 minutes.
- Safety travelling to our hotel with luggage packed to the ceiling, no seatbelts or luggage restraints, and a driver who had a heavy brake foot.

# Matt's Post

Our family took an entire row of seats in the airport

Playing at the airport

Flight #4, Maelee's first flight ever!

Claire's new friend

Maelee getting comfortable with Deanna.  She wouldn't let Deanna hold her a few days ago.