Merry Christmas Eve!

All bundled up for Alex's first Electric Safari.

Hmmm, what's in that sippy cup?  And this is the only pic he would hold still for!

Woo Hoo!  Chimichangas!!  No, it's really the entire Magic Tree House series.

Last night we went to CCAI to meet with a delegation of orphanage directors from Henan Province, including 2 from LuoHe, Lily Orphan Care Center.  Now that may not sound very exciting to some, but for those who have kids who started their life in an orphanage in China, it's amazing!  You assume that you will NEVER see the people who had a huge hand in bringing your family together.  You may see the director when you first hold your child, you may not.  I honestly don't remember if we met directors from MaoMing or LuoHe, we had other things on our minds :-)

We took a bunch of pictures for the directors of Alex: when we first held him, casting, braces, walking and just being cute with his big sister.  As soon as they saw Alex and heard his Chinese name, they remembered this special little boy.  Of course the first thing one of them did was to play with those cheeks, who could resist?  They were fascinated with the club foot correction and asked a lot of questions (through and interpreter) about him.  The photographer with them took pictures of all of us and followed Alex around for a while so they could video tape him walking and climbing on chairs. 

The directors didn't smile for the pictures but when we were talking to them, they didn't stop smiling.  They didn't speak a word of English but we could tell that they were so happy to see these kids that have found their forever homes. 

The gentleman in the tie said to me "Thank you, thank you for caring for our children and helping him get his feet corrected."

Really?  I told him "Thank you for bringing our family together".

He's Walking!

9 months ago this little guy was standing on the outside of his ankles.  8 months ago he started a 4 month stint of full length casts on both legs.  3 months ago he started wearing his brace.  Today, he started standing and walking on his own.  That is what we consider priceless!

One Year Ago

It's hard to believe that one year ago today I got "The Call" from CCAI that there is a file of an "adorable little boy with club feet that they would like us to review" and of course I said "Absolutely!!"  So I call James and tell him to meet me at home, he's busy and doesn't want to leave work.  I told him to meet me so he can see a picture of his son.  Dead silence....What? 

So as soon as we are both home we open the e mail from CCAI and see these cheeks!

 and those feet!

And I'm thinking "That boy is mine!" and James is thinking "Hmmm, not too sure about those feet, but he sure is cute."  I had no doubts whatsoever but James was concerned about those adorable feet.  How are they fixed, will insurance cover it, will he be able to do "normal" things.  Ponseti Method, Yes, Absolutely!  Me being me had already researched EVERYTHING before we even turned in our Waiting Child paperwork so I explained everything to James and he said to call CCAI! 

That afternoon when Syd and James were home, we opened these pictures and told Syd "This is your little brother"  She was thrilled, "not too sure about those feet mom, but he sure is cute".

Happy Thanksgiving!

Waiting in line for the go-carts.

Clear the roads!

The big boys racing each other.

Thanksgiving crafts to decorate the table.

Mmmmmm, potatoes!

The group before eating all of our wonderful food.

Ahhh, Vacation

Tired before we even start the trip!



Fun in the hotel pool.



Nicholas, Emma and Syd in front of a beautiful Golden Eagle at the Phoenix Zoo.



3 headed turtle.



Swallowed by a clam.



7 years ago...

today, I got the phone call that I'd been waiting 9 months for.  Back then 9 months was a really long time!  James called me at work and said "We have a daughter!"  Of course I wanted to know everything possible about this little girl but James being a man didn't think to ask questions like "where is she?, orphanage or foster care?, how old is she?"  So we both got off work and drove up to Denver to CCAI so we could see our little girl together for the first time.

   

 We could barely see her because we were both crying so much.  She was the most beautiful little girl we had ever seen.  Those sad, serious eyes and those cheeks!  I'm sure that we were given all kinds of info, but I don't remember a thing except that I was finally a mommy.

Syd still has those serious and sometimes sad eyes and she is still the most beautiful little girl that I've ever seen
.
We've been told that she's lucky that we adopted her. 

We are the ones that are lucky to be the parents to this beautiful, spunky, funny, smart and sometimes wacky girl!