I have an extremely organized engineer friend who is father to two girls adopted from China. Eight years ago, Brian developed a packing list for the big trip home that I have e-mailed to many, many people. I'm sharing it with you today. Please note that, although Brian's list was written with brand names, you can find generic equivalents for many of these items.

The key to success with this list is to pack Cheerios into as many things as you can. Though they are available in many Russian grocery stores now, you can never have enough Cheerios for pacifying, entertaining and soothing hunger.

What to pack for mom and dad? I'll direct you to a post that Jennefer put up on "Three Sons and a Princess" last summer.

Medical Items

* Infant's Tylenol.
* Infant's Tylenol Cold.
* PediaCare
* PediaCare with cough suppressant
* Infant's Benadryl
* Nix (for lice)
* Little Tummy (for gas)
* Q-tips
* Creamy Baby Oil, Baby Shampoo, Baby Powder, Baby Bath
* Disposable bibs
* Children's (or Infant's) Motrin
* Band-Aids
* Neosporin and antibacterial spray
* Balmex
* Anbesol (for teething)
* Antibacterial wipes
* Calibrated dropper, syringe, medicine spoon or all of the aforementioned.
* Baby comb and brush set
* Pedialyte (for dehydration)
* Saline drops
* Aquaphor baby ointment

Feeding

* Cheerios (in Ziplock bags)
* Sippy cups
* 2 Tupperware bowls w/lids (fill w/Cheerios)
* Thermos (fill w/Cheerios)
* Disposable bottles & liners (2 boxes for 8 oz 1 box for 4 oz) & nipples
* 2 U-mix bottles
* Soy formula (enough for 10 days)
* Rice cereal
* Feeding spoons
* Prunes
* Sugar packets
* Sunscreen/bug repellent

Clothes

* floppy hat
* 5 stretchies
* 3 bodysuits (undershirts)
* 2 long pants
* 3 cloth diapers
* 1 sweater/ coat
* 5 onepiece outfits & tops
* 5 socks
* 2 pairs booties

Diaper kit

* 100 thin diapers
* garbage bags for diaper disposal
* 160-200 wipes refill pack
* 2 Wet Ones boxes

General items

* Baby bath soap
* Baby lotion
* Nail clippers
* 2 Washcloths
* 1 heavy blanket
* 1 changing pad
* disposable changing pads
* 4-6 toys (beach ball, cups, snapping balls, etc.)
* 2 chubby baby books
* 3 receiving blankets
* 2 hooded towels
* pacifier
* nose syringe
* brush or comb
* teething ring + rattle