When trying to determine who would be my travel companion on my trip to China for Poppy, I had a large pool of willing candidates.
Namely, each and every one of my children.
But having been to China, traveling as the solo parent and having full knowledge of the realities of an adoption trip versus a vacation, I knew I didn’t want to take along anyone who would be more of a hindrance than a help.
Ifyouknowwhatimsayin’.
Which narrowed the pool significantly.
Not that I don’t think my kids would have done their very best to help and to love on Poppy. But really.
If going to China – with the time change, jet lag, odd foods and hard beds – can make me cry like a baby… I know what it’d do to my littles.
And I don’t want to be any where near something like that.
So Zach was the chosen one.
Old enough. Motivated enough. Sane enough.
Brave enough.
And it turned out that he was the perfect pick.
Which is saying a lot.
He helped me keep my head when Poppy was being, well… Poppy for the first few days weeks.
Sweet baby.
He never once pushed her to let him hold her or heck, even touch her.
He was the perfect marathon Lost-watching companion… huddled in the hotel room, surrounded by wasabi peas and cup o’ noodles.
He never made me watch alone.
And, even during the toughest times, he made me laugh.
Oh, how he made me laugh.
Good times.
Good times.
You can come to China with me anytime, Zach.
I love you, man.
*sniff*
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Happy Sunday, y’all.
what a beautiful tribute to your amazing son!
what a punk.
😉
What a sweet post for your handsome boy. I could totally tell while you were in China that he was taking it all in stride…… I would say that you most certainly made the perfect choice.
xoxo,
Lisa
What a great help and such a handsome young man, and those blue eyes are beautiful!
He is so handsome! It is wonderful to have your son reach the age where he can be someone for you to lean on in tough times. I have loved those times with my sons.
I also loved how he looks so old and mature in some of these pictures, and in some others (particularly one) he looks like a little boy. I love seeing the “little boy that used to be” in my sons’ faces. I know you’re going to miss him when he leaves.
WOW! What a great kid! You know, they say there are not anymore real good kids left. I know so many and now I know Zach. I’m so excited about our future!
GREAT JOB ZACH! You ROCK!
So glad you had such an amazing traveling companion! (And I LOVE his sister’s comment above! That’s brotherly/sisterly love at its finest! 🙂 )
As Deniece Williams put it, “Let’s hear it for the boy!”
Way to go, Zach! Steppin’ up is always a great thing to do…
kudos to you for a job well done. (By the way, you have the prettiest blue eyes… you’ll be a heart breaker, if you haven’t been already!)
You will always have those memories and what excellent ones they are too.
May God continue to shower your family with His love, kindness, mercy, and generosity.
Yeah, what’s he doing in December? I could use some comic relief when we head ourselves 🙂
Such a handsome boy. I am NOT ready for my little boys to turn into ANYTHING that anyone would look at and say “handsome” – especially MOTHERS. Tee-hee.
what a sweet kid…and wonderful young man he has grown to be.
One more thing, he’s a pretty good photographer too. The pics he got of you and Poppy were really nice!
What an amazing clan of kiddo’s you have! Zach sounds like the perfect travel companion.
what a great time to spend some extra time with your teenage son. i have one of my own and his expression when photographed does not come as close to a smile as Zach’s 🙂 although he also has the respect to just have one earphone in in social situations! in the ability to bring humor to a situation and to sit in one place and watch many episodes of one tv show . . . well a teenage boy is the perfect companion!! (oh and their larger-than-us size brings a sense of safety too doesn’t it?) . . . gotta love teenage boys.
i love these photos!
xo ellie
What an awesome post! Love all the pictures of your handsome boy. 🙂
Ahhh Stef…what a sweet post. He’s sure grown since the “old days” when our CCAI Jan/Feb group was started. Love it 🙂
Wow. Could his eyes BE any blue-er? And Victoria’s comment made me laugh right out loud. Hilarious.
Beautiful tribute. So great to have a trustworthy “Robin” to your BatGirl adventures…
Who’s next? 🙂
These are absolutely beautiful photos…and what an exciting adventure!
Help! I can’t get the darned linky dude to work…. Keeps saying there’s no backlink to the photo I pick. Grrrrr.
Here’s mine, till I figure it out. Which, I will do cuz I’m just in that kind of a mood. To pick a fight with a computer. Ugh.
http://whitneygang.blogspot.com/2011/08/sunday-snapshot_21.html
Was gonna try to help you get linked up, but you’ve already figured it out 🙂
That is so sweet! It is just so sweet, and I’m glad he was such a big help.
Thank you! I’m new to your blog and I could not make sense of how young your “husband” looked in the photos from China. 🙂
Oh goodness, YIKES!
So glad I could clarify 🙂
Aw, Stef, it sounds like you all had a great experience as mother and son! How blessed you are!!
Aw, What a great kid! Says alot that you would take him again.
= ) Jody
Zach – way to man up on this one – not many guys your age would or could take on an adoption travel trip! Well done.
And Stef – don’t hold back – tell us how you really feel!!
And finally, Zach – you’re the kind of guy that I’d be proud to call my son – thanks for being the man that you are!
aus and co.
So enjoyed your post with Zach, handsome boy!!!!! Oh my goodness, mama you’re in for some mighty competition for his heart in the very near future!! Zach really played it cool in China and am sure you are forever grateful for his humor, ability to stay cooooool under adversity, and his brute strength assisting you through the maze of international adoption travel! Wishing Zach every success and happiness as he moves through the next few “teenage” years/milestones. Stephanie, you are one blessed and proud Mama, all deserved!
I loved following your journey to Poppy with Zach by your side. He reminds me so much of my son who I would take with me on any adventure and know he’d watch my back and take good care of me just like your son did for you! What a blessing he is to you and to Poppy too!
I have to agree with a couple of the other Mamas, he IS a handsome fella 🙂 As a Mama of a teenage son, I really loved this post. He sounds like a great young man.
And, I’m jealous that China has Starbucks! Although “Coffee House” in Kiev wasn’t so bad. But in region we didn’t have either, I was lost without my “good” coffee for a while… lol
Uh oh! I don’t see my post. Did I not do it right? help…..
Every family needs a Zach! 🙂 What a guy!
I pray that my sweet 11 year old boy will grow into such a great boy as yours!
Your boy is handsome!