Here are some stories from the Taiwan trip:

On the long 13 hour flight, Alex did really well. The flight wasn't very full at all and so Dad, Alex, and I were in a 5 person row all by ourselves. Conrad shared a 5 person row with a mom and her 2yr 9 mo son.? Alex really liked playing with Conrad in his row.? He also played with little boy a few times (traded toys).? He really was a much better behaved boy than the other kid.? On that flight, I was able to get him a nap around his normal nap time and he slept for about 2 1/2-3 hours. By the time we were approaching Japan, it was past his bedtime but I couldn't get him to sleep then. When we landed in Japan it was midday there and very bright in the airport. I tried to get him to lie down and nap (that was the picture I sent of him and Conrad) but he just didn't sleep.? He fell asleep on the airplane before we even took off while I was holding him.? At that point it was like 2 or 3 in the morning Dallas time and so he was pretty tired.? He woke up 1 1/2 hours later and was fussy (as to be expected).? But he was only upset for a few minutes. After 30-45 min, he fell back asleep for the rest of the flight.? We got through the airport and security without much incident.

We got to the hotel around 8:30 pm local time.? We all went over to the Sida area (where we would go for breakfast) where we had some really good chinese food (the flat bread things that are like green onion cakes). We walked around for quite a while. Then we came back and took a shower and we got to bed around 12:30 local time.? He slept till 6ish (we all did) then we got up and went over to breakfast around 7:30 am.? He doesn't like taxis for some reason. He gets upset everytime we get into a taxi and then calms down a few minutes later.? We had the usual yummy breakfast and got back to the hotel.? We then took a cab over to Grandpa/grandmas. Alex is shy around grandma and the aunts.? He is still not sure what to make of them. Conrad and I took turns watching Alex at the grandparents house while the other would go to visit grandpa in the hospital.? Alex is really doing great for me.? He's playing and eating well.

A couple of funny things he said/did during the trip:
At one point on the airplane he says "Dad, May I jump out?" I ask him" Jump out of the airplane ?" He says " YES, jump out and SKYDIVE!" I tell him no and that he has to be 18 before he can jump out.

I think he still has some residual memories of the last time he was here.? He asked where Santa Clause is (remember the giant inflatable
Santa last time) and he keeps looking for christmas lights.

He loves the shower with the handheld spout.? It's like a water game for him and it was easy to give him a shower.

Alex continues to do really well over here.? He's a little tired and it throws him off at times, but overall he is doing well.?

He takes after you in that he hogs the entire bed.? I woke up several times to find this tiny not-yet-three year old has parked himself right in the middle of the bed and is spread eagle so I have very little room on the bed.? Then I'm scared to move him so I perch on the edge and hope I don't roll off.? He woke me up this morning by putting his nose right on my nose and his eyes as wide open as he could, then when I opened my eyes, he giggled maniacally.? He then did this over and over again. (btw right now it's 1:24 and he's sitting in bed watching tv. He actually said to me "Dad, I'm a little tired" and "Dad, may I take a nap please?")

For some reason he really doesn't like taxis and he's asking to be carried a lot more than usual.? The new places and experiences are a little overwhelming I think.? He's pretty shy around the aunts but he gave grandma a hug today when he saw her.

Alex is quite the hit with the young ladies around here.? He alwaysdraws attention and is instantly being waved at.? He hasn't had a melt down yet.? He's just had a couple of times where he was little upset mostly because he was just tired.?

He had 5 whole shiao long baos this morning (the type of breakfast meat pockets that I like). He's eating pretty well, the buns often have vegetable and meat fillings and he's eaten the whole thing.?

He watched Conrad do some pushups this morning and asked him what he was doing. Conrad told him "I'm doing pushups you want to do some?"... Alex said "No, I want to do this" and then proceeded to do his little Alex dance.? It was pretty funny.