New Blog

Our new family adventures are at our2gemz.blogspot.com

The Zoo

The day before Easter, Liliah and I headed to the zoo. We have never went to their Easter Egg hunt. It was a last minute idea I had on my Friday lunch hour.  The weather we were having in our area was unbelievable and rarely happens this time of year.  We discovered that everyone else had the same idea!  It was still lots of fun and everyone was in a good mood with the warm weather :)  

The zoo tossed out empty eggs and the kids got to fill up the basket with as much as they want, then go dump the empty eggs in a bin for reuse for the next group and were given a goody when we left the park.  It was so funny, Liliah filled up her backpack and then said, okay, I have enough!  We spent some time watching the new lion cubs and the elephants.  

We had a picnic lunch (love how she instinctively sits!), she loved doing cartwheels on the trampoline, running up and down the hills and riding the carousel.  

On the way home, she thanked me for taking her to the zoo and that she had a good time - melt my heart!  I am soaking up all my one-on-one time with her before Miah joins us.  I am mindful that things will change with two kiddos.  It will be good, but different.  Liliah has certainly made motherhood such a pleasure and rather easy-breasy.

Easter Weekend

We had such a wonderful Easter.  Very relaxing, low key and fabulous weather!  We usually are either wearing coats with our Easter dresses or holding the egg hunt inside this time of the year.  We have been so busy with all of our adoption paperwork and preparations to go to China that I wanted to focus on the real purpose of the day- Jesus!  We were so laid back that I didn't cook this weekend and we ate Taco Bell for our Easter meal. 

Easter Egg Decorating Fun

 Where, or where is my Easter Basket . . . .

 

 

 

A Bunny Pop

The Bunny Hop

 

 

 Time for the hunt . . .

 

Where would I hide if I were an egg . . .

It must be around here somewhere . . .

There you are, you little bugger . . .

I looked high . . .

 

I looked low . . .

I left no pebble unturned . . .

 

20 Mos. Old Today

Miah, today you turned 20 months old.  We wonder how big you are getting? We pray and talk about you daily.  You are never far from our thoughts.  Our hearts are growing with love for you!!!  This is a picture of us celebrating over dinner with news on your referral day, February 21! Our agency called to inform us that China has scheduled your palette surgery.  They are giving us the option to choose if we want it done in China or in the U.S.  Your daddy and my first reaction is we don't want you going through this without us.  But, we submitted our questions to see if they can get some answers. We of course, are praying over this decision.  What cheers your daddy and mama's heart is that they are wanting to take care of your needs. 

Announcing . . .

Our Agency called this morning to say they had received our:

Letter of Acceptance from China to adopt . . . .

 With sheer joy and thankfulness . . . .

Introducing our daughter, Miah (Yuan Yun).  She is from the province of Gansu, China.  She is currently 19 months old.  In her referral paperwork, we actually received quite a bit of information on her monthly progress compared to Liliah.  We are hoping that she has had some kind of sponsorship which may mean more pictures and information on her little life.  They say she is an extrovert, active, restless, impatient sometimes, loves to cuddle, red colored items, plants, playing in the sunshine and watching TV! We have another August baby and Liliah is very excited to share this birthday month with her sister.Miah was born with congenital cleft lip and palette.  Her lip has been repaired (not shown in this picture) and we will have her palette repaired when she returns home. She has been living with a foster family since she was 2 months old.  We are so thrilled and can't wait to go get her. 

March Favorites!!!

#1 Favorite Things:
 March 11, 2013, we received our Pre Approval from China to adopt little Miss from Gansu.

#2: Finished TONS of paperwork that is associated with receiving the referral of your child.
I've got my stacks lined up and ready to be submitted WHEN we receive our Referral Acceptance from China.  This is THE BIG ONE and the official approval that China is allowing us to adopt her.  Until this time, we are not allowed to share her picture publicly.

#3 Enjoying our days together . . .

(left column) dinner prep in stockings, jazz class swagger, double the cuteness in China, you said, Mommy, look at me while I was driving down from preschool
(2nd column) we started sponsoring a baby girl at New Day Foster Home in Beijing just prior to receiving Miah's referral.  She will turn 1 in March and we made this blanket to send along with some other birthday gifts. Liliah and I had fun shopping and planning for her.
  (3rd column) a new little princess tent, my favorite artists' work, love this dress - I'll be seeing double this summer!
(4th column) daddy and I had so much fun picking out matching outfits for our 2 girls, we love us some daffofils

We LOVE February

We've had ourselves some fun this month.  You made a little heart with shaving cream in preschool.  We picked out a little stroller for your bear.  You love running up and down the hallways with it.  We made a paper chain, tissue paper and water color hearts and hung them from the fireplace.  You received your first bouquet of flowers from your daddy.  You were very pleased.  We set a pretty table for our dinner.  We made ice balls with balloons stuffed with tiny treasures.  You loved playing with it in a bowl.  We added food coloring and a spoon and you had a ball.  We discovered the Chinese hand drum.  You received a special gift from your Auntie Lori, Uncle Randy and Lacey.

a little photo op with you on Valentine's evening while we waiting for daddy to get home from work

It's A Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My phone rang at 2:13PM today while I was at work.  It is the call that we have been waiting for 18 months to receive! Miah, we saw your sweet face for the first time today at 2:20 PM (PST).  We are on cloud nine! More news soon . . .we are very pooped, but happy.

CNY Round 2

Dawn, thank you for capturing our family at Chinese New Year.  This one is going in a frame!



Gung Hay Fat Choy

We had the privilege of celebrating Chinese New Year with some new friends.  Lucy's Mom and I have visited each others blogs and have had intentions of meeting over the past several years.  Dawn & Dawn started this party one year ago for the family and friends as a way to celebrate their daughters heritage. 

Posing before the party while all the prep was going on. Thank you, Lucy for lending Liliah one of your beautiful silks to wear at the party. 

Lucy is 8 and from the province of Hunan, Liliah is 5 and from the province of Guangxi, Faith is 5 and from Hunan

 

The Year of the Snake - cake!  It was so good that we missed our chance at a taste of it, but we did love the red velvet cupcakes

The spread was beautifully displayed. I wished I would have got a picture of the 3 mommies together.

 

I had two fortune cookies that read: 1) You should have a talk with a friend today! and 2) Good news of long-awaited event will arrive soon!  The first one came true at this party, I'm HOPING the second one comes true, that China calls and that we are matched with Miah this year!!!

  

Happy and hungry girls

Liliah has been gaining skills with these. She has been using them at home for some dinner meals, used them to eat her pancakes this week and do some counting with paper hearts.

 

We had local dragon dancers entertain us.

 

I asked about the story of the lion dance and it goes like this: One of the Emperors asked his advisors, what animal is the most powerful.  They answered the Lion.  The Emperor told them that since he was the most powerful of all, he wanted the lion to come and obey him at his command.  The advisors were afraid both for the Emperor and their lives if they truly introduced him to the lion.  It is said that the advisors solved this dilemma and brought the"lion" to the Emperor.  They told the Emperor that the lion must be at a distance because he was shy and afraid.  When the Emperor commanded the lion to bow, the lion bowed.  He commanded him to dance and he did and to eat, and he (the dancers in a lion costume) gladly did!

  

Liliah adored this dragon whose eyes lit up as it fluttered his lashes.  Lucy was so sweet and such a good hostess at the party.

 

Liliah LOVED Chinese New Year and was so excited to receive this gift bag from Dawn's mother.  She received her first red envelope gift as well.

Getting a lesson of how that lion works.  She told me later, what I want to know is how that lion wags his tail - that's my favorite part.

 The end!