6 Months Home

Ellie is AMAZING!  She has so much spunk and determination, and is full of hugs, kisses and loving words.  The other day while I was holding her at bedtime, she stroked my face and said, "mommy beautiful."  Melted my heart!  I adore her!  I am so grateful for the gift God has given me by bringing her to our family.  She completes us!

Adoption Packing List

Chinese Baby Doll

Some have asked where I purchased the little Chinese Baby Doll for my two girls.  Amazon!  They are small, easy to take with you, and both of the girls LOVED them.  They played with them in China and constantly at home.  They are so darling and very reasonable.  The one we bought for Ellie has this outfit on it.  The other one we purchased 2 1/2 yrs ago has a different one.

5 Reasons Smog is Good for China

Seriously, this was a recent article in China.  After being there 3 times and trying to breath in that smog, I had to laugh.  Nothing like seeing the glass half full!  But, here you go:

There are five benefits of China’s widespread air pollution, Lei writes:

1. Smog unites people against a common enemy.

2. It promotes equality, because it harms the lungs of both the rich and the poor.

3. Smog has opened people’s eyes to the price China has to pay for becoming the “world’s factory.”

4. It’s made people funnier because they have to use sarcasm and jokes to cope with it.

5. Learning about smog has increased people’s knowledge of meteorology, history, geography, and physics and even strengthened everyone’s use of the English language.

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/12/11/5-reasons-why-smog-good-you-according-one-chinese-journalist

Happy Thanksgiving-1 Month Update!

What a great day to celebrate having our little China Doll for one month now!  She is precious.  A handful, but precious.  I am so thankful for her...her healthy, her energy, her sweetness, her bonding, her determination, and the beauty she has brought to our life.  She is perfect in every way God intended her to be.  It is amazing what a month can do!

 She is bonding so well, she will even let me rock her to sleep sometimes.  She loves to copy big sister Lizzie and they are learning to get along better (though the competition between the two can be exhausting).  They are both adjusting to each other.  She has an infectious laugh that comes easily.  She doesn't cry much and is curious about everything.  She cries when she can't find me, but I don't mind that.  She loves food and tries it all.  She doesn't love chocolate milk, which is a first for our family.  She does love hot milk in a bottle still, but we haven't had to buy formula since we have been home.  She's adjusted to the food very well.  And she is potty training on her own, meaning that we've finally figured out what she is saying and she doesn't want a dirty diaper.  Still not out of diapers, but it's not bad.  She loves having the other children around and I love having them fill the air with their laughter and play.  I am so grateful to be a mother of 5 wonderful and perfect children.  They are such a blessing and light in my life and bring me so much purpose.  I don't know if I like that two of them are now taller than me, but there isn't much I can do about that :-)

Welcome Home-A USA Miracle

We're home!  And we're together as a family!  It was a great flight with a huge miracle.  Ellie didn't want anything to do with anyone until we arrived in Seattle from Shanghai.  She had fallen asleep by grandma, so I went over and picked her up and held her.  It was so nice to snuggle her.  She was still asleep when we landed, so I carried her off the plane.  She woke up after a while and looked up at me and just smiled.  She never let me put her down or be away from her after that.  She was on my lap on our last flight, had me carry her off, and wanted me to hold her while she fell asleep at home.  She took to Big Brother, the athlete, quickly, and loved meeting Grandpa.  It was truly a miracle.  Thank you for your prayers!  It was such a blessing for me!

Grandpa and the two other kids were waiting at the bottom of the escalator.  Lan Lan came running towards us with a gift for Ni Ni.  Athlete had brought balloons, Grandpa had brought flowers. It is so good to be home with my family! 

Do you see those cuddles.  What a tough 2 weeks, but so worth this joy as a mother.  I'm so grateful for this experience.  I love China and the gifts that it has given me!  Can't wait to drink water out of the tap, though, and read a menu I understand.  I also cannot wait to take my girls back to visit their homeland!

Last Day Part III-Bags Packed

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go.  

Can't wait to see the rest our family and begin the next part of our journey.  

Ellie finally crashed.  

Shuttle leaves at 5:30 am.  

Leaving with less than what we came with!

(except for that cute sleeping girl)