Adiah's first playdate

Yesterday, Adiah and I went to some friends house from church. Kendra and Chris adopted Jia from China a little over 2 years ago. They also have 2 biological sons so it was good to just sit and share our stories...and get advice! Jia didn't really want to do any pictures with Adiah but who could blame her because once again...she stunk! Dirty diaper!! *she has another one right now but I plan on getting through this post before I change it* But we had a good time and plan on doing that again. Thank you Kendra, Jia, and Luke for letting us come over and eat your pretzels and cookies! (Kendra took these pictures because I forgot my camera! What was I thinking?)

Princess Jia and Adiah. I think Adiah was trying to swipe something from Jia's hand. Actually this is the closest we could get them together!

She makes such lovely faces at me! I love this kid!!

Happy to have the boomerang!

Smell-o-blog

I wish! So that you all could suffer right along with me! It smells as though something foul crawled inside her diaper and died. Seriously....just try. Stick your nose up real close and take a whiff. No? She's so cute though we had to stop and do a little photo session. I'm sitting at the computer for a second and she digs into one of Brian's drawers and finds his life saver tin. So she proceeds to get so excited as if she has had one before...hmmm...(note to self: ask daddy about that later). Anyway, she sounds something like this: (high pitched squeal), Ah?, oi-da, oi-da, oi-da, DADADADADA(high pitched as can be), ya?, ya?, ya?, dadadadada. Got it? Don't know if she's talking Chinese or baby. Finally she gave up and just stuck the thing in her mouth. I just kept snapping away trying to capture the sweet moment. I will say the child already recognizes the camera. Every time I get it out she makes this blinking eye face like the flash is about to blind her or something. She is smart! But I really should go change this nasty thing(the diaper not my child). Oh by the way....I'm also posting on our family blog too. Its over there on the websites I frequent section! Okay, peace out!

Doctor's visit

Well today I took Adiah to an international adoption pediatrician. This is the same Dr. who looked at all of her information back in October when we got her referral. He did a very thorough visit with us as we were there for 2 hours. We talked about EVERYTHING that was concerning me(eating, chewing, swallowing, sleeping, etc.) and he assured me that what I was feeling was normal. He told me he feels really good about where she was at. He liked her weight today(20lbs completely naked) and he feels that her head is in proportion to her body. We definitely want her to continue to gain weight and develop but he seemed very pleased with her. He feels like she is just fine and that there is no reason why she wouldn't catch up to where she is supposed to be. Hallelujah! With that being the second Dr. this week that told us that we are really praising the Lord! I sort of already knew it...just because the Lord has already given me peace about her but confirmation is a good thing! So, she will stay on formula for a few more months to keep the vitamins coming and she will continue to eat and get smothered with love from her family!! Its a good thing I love her so much because I also get to do a couple weeks of poo poo samples! Good times!
And today we got a package in the mail from America World with a welcome home hat and onesie for Adiah. I think its to ease the pain of the packets of paperwork they also sent for us to complete now that we are home....its never ending. We did a short photo shoot with the hat. Enjoy!

I'm so cute in this hat!

Wait a second...I don't think I like it so much.

Ta da! (That's what it sounded like anyway) I'm cuter with out it!

First Week Home

I can't believe that we've been home a week already. It seems like it took forever for the China trip to get here and then suddenly its over! This first week home has been full of progress for Miss Adiah. She is blooming right before our very eyes. She smiles quite a bit, she laughs, she plays with toys(hallelujah!). We're still working on the whole sleep thing but I can even see progress in that department too! And the best thing of all(or one of them anyway) is that she reaches for and whines for Brian!!! Thank you Jesus!!!! Its so good for him that she does that and also good for me! She loves her sisters and brother and she loves it when they take her on stroller rides. They are so helpful to me! And another praise is that the little thing is walking. I guess it really started on Tuesday. She just decided it was time I guess. Shes not super steady but she trys and that's what counts. I took her to the doctor on Tuesday and he seemed hopeful that she will catch up on her delays. I do too! He weighed her and completely naked she weighs 19.7 lbs. Considering that she weighed 20.2 lbs in China with all of her clothes on and a wet diaper I'd say that's pretty good. She eats anything I give her so I feel confident she will put on weight quickly. Don't think I've ever encouraged chubbiness but in this case...bring on the double chin!! Anyway here are some pictures of little Miss Clucks-alot.

Walking to find me. I was in the office talking to Brian and turned around and there she was!

Notice she has a cookie in her hand. Should it be any other way?

Walking to Emily on Tuesday night

Finding me some Italian recipes to cook

I planted red tulip bulbs the day all of our paperwork went to China back in October of 2006. They bloomed the day after we returned last week!!

Pictures from the week

For some reason I'm having a hard time getting my pictures from the airport scanned in. I'll keep trying and post them when I can.

This is as were going through immigration in San Francisco. You're looking at a brand new U.S. citizen!!
Her first time putting her feet on American Soil as a U.S. citizen

Adiah went to church for the first time today. She wore a little Chinese dress I bought in Guangzhou. Isn't she adorable?

We Made It Home!!

OK...first of all let me apologize to all our faithful Adiah followers. I'm one of those people! I left you hanging!! So this will probably be a 2 post catch up so you all know whats been going on around here. I will have to say that jet lag has kicked our tails! So there is my excuse. Anyway, I'm going to begin with our final day in Guangzhou. Before we left for the Consulate appointment we got everyone together for a final group picture. It was bitter sweet though because I will miss these guys! We then went to our swearing ceremony(had to get one more of those in!!) and it was awesome! Very moving and special for all of us. After that we immediately left for the airport to fly out for Beijing. We stayed at an "interesting" airport hotel that sold....ahem....."supplies" right there in the room. Not good. Seeing as how we didn't get to the hotel until midnight we just turned off the lights and pretended we were back in our nice hotel in Guangzhou! Our flight for San Francisco left at 12:40 on Wednesday. Let me say it was a very long flight! Adiah was pretty good the entire time. Didn't really sleep much but tolerated the flight okay. The bad part was our terribly rude flight attendants. But we made it and got through customs and security about 20 minutes before our flight to Dallas took off. The three of us tried to catch some sleep on the last leg of our flight but you know how that goes! Anyway, we arrived at DFW to a crowd of family and friends. I was in awe! I missed my kids so much and tears of joy streamed down my face as we embraced them for the first time in 2 weeks. I loved seeing all of the signs and big hair bows in honor of Adiah! I will never forget that moment!! Thank you to all who came out. Life at home has been crazy! Adiah is having such a hard time adjusting to the time change. I had heard people talk about jet lag but never really knew. Now I know. Its been tough but we're making it. The older kids stayed home from school on Thursday and Friday to hang out with their new sister. They have been so helpful to me! Adiah is warming up to them and to Brian. Which is good!! The night time is the hardest. So if you could pray for some sleep for all of us we would truly appreciate it! I believe that once she trusts us more she will rest. The Lord is faithful and will lead us through this. So here are some pictures and I'll do another post in a second with some other pictures from this week. Once again...sorry for the delay



The night before we left we went to a Thai restaurant in Guangzhou called the Banana Leaf. It was SO good! The guys all got up an joined in with the entertainment.


We went to Lily Harrell's birthday party. Ms. Elissa let Adiah celebrate too!


Our entire group in the lobby of Asia International Hotel.


This is our group that went to Hefei to pick up our daughters. From left to right: us, Amorisa, Bill, XuXu, and Zion Denzel, Eric, Jennifer, and Noelle Johnson



These are our friends Kyle, Elissa, and Lily Harrell. We love you guys!!

We're leaving a day early!

Well folks, I can't believe we are typing this but ...its FINALLY time to go home! We were told today that us and another family are actually checking out of the hotel tomorrow night. We have a mid day flight from Beijing on Wednesday so have to fly out from Guangzhou tomorrow and we'll spend a very short night at a Beijing airport tomorrow night. We are going to do a group picture with the babies at 2:00, go to our swearing in ceremony at 3:00 and then we leave from there to go to the airport. Crazy!! But I'm so ready...ready to see my children at home, ready for this one and the others to finally meet each other face to face. Ready to sleep in my own bed!! Our flight is at 8:30pm so it will be pretty late but it gets us one step closer to home. Today was good. Everything went well at the consulate appointment so that means its all done! We pick up Adiah's visa tomorrow at our swearing ceremony(ha! It still makes me laugh to say that!). Tonight we went to a restaurant called the Banana Leaf. I can honestly say it was the best meal we've had the entire time! And Brian and the other dad's got up and danced with the show which made it even better. I think we all have a very relieved attitude now that its winding down. Its bitter sweet though. As much as I am excited to get home to life I will miss these friends I have made here. We have bonded over this process of getting our daughters and I will never forget them. We have been here for each other through some sad and good times these past few weeks. We have prayed together, laughed together, cried together and worshiped together. I look forward to keeping up with these new friends and watching their daughters grow up. Some I know we will see each other again...some maybe just through pictures...but I love them. I also have mixed feeling about leaving China..the country of my daughter's birth. This is something I have prayed for and looked forward to for 2 years now. And now its done. But now life begins. New life. And I'm so happy. I can't help but cry thinking of all that is waiting at home for us and Adiah. What she is going to discover. I've said it before but I'll say it again....I am SO blessed. So I guess I'll see all you local folks soon. And I'll make sure I post from home as soon as I can. Thank you so much for all who have been praying for us. It is through those prayers that we have made it. And thank you for all the comments from you guys. It has helped us feel more connected to home. And even though they won't read this...Thank you to Rosa, Maggie, and Jane our awesome guides. I will NEVER forget this trip or you! So if you could continue to pray us home we would appreciate it. Pray for the plane trip for Adiah. That's a long time in a big metal tube for a 20 month old. And pray for the jet lag. Lets just pray we don't even have it! Emily, Natalie, and Ridge....We can't wait to put our arms around you! We love you so much!! So...signing off from China!! See you in Texas!!



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