We travel fast and light. Traveling to China to get our daughter Lola, we each took one suitcase and Lola’s stuff was with mine. The couple we went with took 7, count ‘em 7 suitcases and 2 diaper bags! Folks, it's China!!, anything you’ve got packed was made there anyway...

2 adults with a small child should not require more baggage than that carried abroad by “Americas Next Top Model."

This couple had so much luggage that when flying within China they couldn’t get on the plane with all their junk, and asked us to claim that some of their luggage was ours. Don’t impose on me like that, when I’ve purposely packed very light so I don’t get my rump in a sling and can relax and enjoy travel with my new child. It tends to make me very cranky and then my poor husband has to hear about it for the next 3 days, so cut him some slack ok?

The packing lists the agencies give you are unrealistic unless you plan to hole up in the hotel and never spend any time out on the economy. China has everything we have here and the beauty is, its 1/10th the price! Do yourself and your fellow travelers a favor, BUY IT THERE.

The stores are fully stocked with formulas, diapers, powders and wipes. You’ll even have the opportunity to buy names you recognize like; Pampers, Johnson & Johnson and Crown Royal...ooops scratch the last one unless you’re planning on doing some “browsing” out on the local economy. If you are, I recommend a couple of shots, to steel yourself from that which you are about to face, then shop like a member of the “CSI” team walking in to process a crime scene.

Once in the door, look straight ahead, don’t make eye contact, and go directly to what you need, pick it up and head straight for the person who is waiting to take your money. Any uncertainty in your selection can be sniffed out by the least experienced of sales clerks and they will descend on you like, how shall I say it? White on rice?? You will not be able to smile and shake your head from side to side fast enough. Even the word “no” will not be taken for an answer.

I recall hitting the pavement in hopes of finding Lola some shoes that fit her feet.





She was about a size 1, and while the Chinese love, love, love small feet, they apparently do not make readily available, shoes for those they love. I was in the mood to spend Yuan like Monopoly money (I find foreign currency has a way of not feeling like you're actually spending money) when we entered a store, Lola dangling from the Baby Bjorn front pack, facing out and in her stocking feet. We were immediately mobbed by chittering saleswomen who began snapping shoes off the display and alternately pulling them on and off Lola’s feet with the speed and precision of a pit crew at the Daytona 500. They were all too big, not my style and I was firmly resolved to never own a pair of those shoes with squeekers in them that were all the rage with adoptive parents.

My husband asked me just tonight, “So, if we were to go back to China, what would you buy more of this time?” My answer, without hesitation: Shoes!