Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Be warned this is long-
Ok, I meant to post 1 month from Gotcha day and Easter so I will tell you all about it now. Last week we went to the International adoption clinic in Birmingham. Anna saw a team of physicians. she got a great report- developmentally she is right on target for her age.
She is a little under weight but had gained a pound since we got her. We learned more about her bonding and attachment.
She is very friendly to strangers, our friends and our neighbors, which we didn't realize was a bad thing. We are trying to
teach her she needs to depend on Mom and Dad, to trust us and not seek out others. (you wouldn't want your little one to
be overly friendly to a stranger and neither do we). She does need ear tubes and we plan to have that done here at home.
Overall we were pleased with her evaluation. She is very attached to mama and is learning more about dada. She loves to play with
Mike and the boys. She is really picking up our language- she can say mama, dada, more, water- comes out wa, up, down, Matt
Efan (Ethan) Mimi, Grammy, papa, no no, yes, milk, anna, nitenite, bye bye, ut oh, scram cat. She even repeated have a good day yesterday.
Wow!
The boys are having fun playing and teaching her new things and even teasing her!! Oh how that drives me crazy. Brotherly love.
We had a wonderful Easter weekend. My sister in law and nephew came to see us a few days before Easter. We enjoyed our visit!
Easter day we had family here for an egg hunt and a nice meal. Great day! Praise the Lord. He is Risen. Thank you Jesus. I am reminded every day - it was hard for Jesus to be obedient to His calling- to die for our sins even though he was blameless. When I start thinking something is too hard for me to do, get through. I just think of the cross. Thankful Jesus didn't think it was too hard.
I want to again thank all our friends and family for continuing to pray for our family as we are grafted and bonded together. God is kniting our family together day by day. Some days are easier than others, lots of laughs, smiles and new adventures for us, but we also have some tears, anger and frustration from learning about each other. I am learning to talk more to my kids and explain why things happen. Like why Anna cries when she thinks we are going to take something from her. It's funny she will whimper right before she cries and the boys say here she goes!! They know when she is about to cry over something. Sometimes it's just lack of understanding and our language.
Oh how I love all the kiddos! I will post a picture from Easter. I'll say its not the best but best I could get.
She is a little under weight but had gained a pound since we got her. We learned more about her bonding and attachment.
She is very friendly to strangers, our friends and our neighbors, which we didn't realize was a bad thing. We are trying to
teach her she needs to depend on Mom and Dad, to trust us and not seek out others. (you wouldn't want your little one to
be overly friendly to a stranger and neither do we). She does need ear tubes and we plan to have that done here at home.
Overall we were pleased with her evaluation. She is very attached to mama and is learning more about dada. She loves to play with
Mike and the boys. She is really picking up our language- she can say mama, dada, more, water- comes out wa, up, down, Matt
Efan (Ethan) Mimi, Grammy, papa, no no, yes, milk, anna, nitenite, bye bye, ut oh, scram cat. She even repeated have a good day yesterday.
Wow!
The boys are having fun playing and teaching her new things and even teasing her!! Oh how that drives me crazy. Brotherly love.
We had a wonderful Easter weekend. My sister in law and nephew came to see us a few days before Easter. We enjoyed our visit!
Easter day we had family here for an egg hunt and a nice meal. Great day! Praise the Lord. He is Risen. Thank you Jesus. I am reminded every day - it was hard for Jesus to be obedient to His calling- to die for our sins even though he was blameless. When I start thinking something is too hard for me to do, get through. I just think of the cross. Thankful Jesus didn't think it was too hard.
I want to again thank all our friends and family for continuing to pray for our family as we are grafted and bonded together. God is kniting our family together day by day. Some days are easier than others, lots of laughs, smiles and new adventures for us, but we also have some tears, anger and frustration from learning about each other. I am learning to talk more to my kids and explain why things happen. Like why Anna cries when she thinks we are going to take something from her. It's funny she will whimper right before she cries and the boys say here she goes!! They know when she is about to cry over something. Sometimes it's just lack of understanding and our language.
Oh how I love all the kiddos! I will post a picture from Easter. I'll say its not the best but best I could get.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Busy Week
Anna had a busy week of meeting lots of friends and family. On Wednesday, we made our first trip to Target for a few necessities then drove through chickfila for nuggets and fries. Girl loves the nuggets. We then had lunch with Matthews class and spent a few minutes talking with the class about our trip. She was curious about all the little kids at school. She even met the principle and librarian. They all just loved her.
On Thursday we made our first trip to Walley World. She did great! She just rides and talks to me.
Over the weekend, Anna met and played with all the neighbors kids. We have lots of kids ranging from age 2-10 in the homes next to us. There's 12 kids to 5 houses. The adults are out numbered! We all meet up in the front yards and watch the kids ride bikes and play. Anna fit right in with all the kiddos. Sophia, who is 3 even gave Anna her old radio flyer tricycle. How sweet!
Saturday was just as busy. Anna and I went to my friend Gingers house for a mentoring meeting. Anna had lots of fun playing with all the ladies and eating brunch. After a nap I took her to buy her first pair of sandals. Oh, she picked out a bright pink pair! She's definitely a girly girl
Sunday we all went to church. It was a bittersweet day at church. It was our last day to meet at RHS, we are moving to our new location next Sunday. I was so happy to go and worship there one last time. Lots of memories in that building. Ethan had his baby dedication there and Matthew was baptized there and now it was Anna's first worship service with us. AHhhh.
After church we met our precious friends, ( mike and I feel like they are our mentors) Bill and Becky for lunch to share about our travels and for them to meet Anna. We are so blessed!!!
Like I said we had a busy week and I know I left out lots of details and others she met on the way.
I think we are all finally over jet lag and are starting to get into a new routine that works for all of us.
On Thursday we made our first trip to Walley World. She did great! She just rides and talks to me.
Over the weekend, Anna met and played with all the neighbors kids. We have lots of kids ranging from age 2-10 in the homes next to us. There's 12 kids to 5 houses. The adults are out numbered! We all meet up in the front yards and watch the kids ride bikes and play. Anna fit right in with all the kiddos. Sophia, who is 3 even gave Anna her old radio flyer tricycle. How sweet!
Saturday was just as busy. Anna and I went to my friend Gingers house for a mentoring meeting. Anna had lots of fun playing with all the ladies and eating brunch. After a nap I took her to buy her first pair of sandals. Oh, she picked out a bright pink pair! She's definitely a girly girl
Sunday we all went to church. It was a bittersweet day at church. It was our last day to meet at RHS, we are moving to our new location next Sunday. I was so happy to go and worship there one last time. Lots of memories in that building. Ethan had his baby dedication there and Matthew was baptized there and now it was Anna's first worship service with us. AHhhh.
After church we met our precious friends, ( mike and I feel like they are our mentors) Bill and Becky for lunch to share about our travels and for them to meet Anna. We are so blessed!!!
Like I said we had a busy week and I know I left out lots of details and others she met on the way.
I think we are all finally over jet lag and are starting to get into a new routine that works for all of us.
Sweet Sisters in Christ
Last Tuesday morning, I took Ethan to school and introduced Anna to his class. He was so excited for everyone to meet her. Once we were done I decided to go upstairs to MOMs in Christ and visit all the sweet ladies that have walked this journey with me. Oh how sweet my precious friends in Christ have been to me. Before we left for China, Pam (my small group leader) called and told me they were making a prayer blanket for Anna and our family and would be praying over it while we were on our trip. Y'all this is the most special gift I've every gotten. Well, I surprised the ladies with Anna and of course they all just loved on her. She ate her first chickin biscuit from Chick-fila while we were there visiting. These sweet friends presented us with her blanket and a generous love offering to buy some things for Anna. My heart is so overwhelmed at how God has blessed me with such sweet friends that have prayed for me, cried with me and now rejoiced with me. I can not tell each one of them enough how thankful I am for each one of them. I can't wait until I am able to join you guys on a regular basis again. Oh how I've missed you all.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
2 weeks with us
I can't believe we have only had Anna 2 weeks. She fit right into our family. Since we have been home she's met the cat- Max. We were worried about this because while we were in china she saw a small cat and screamed like crazy. She has actually been petting the cat cautiously. She's played with our neighbors kids, rode on a scooter and took a ride in her car seat.
She's exploring a little bit in the house trying to figure out what she can and can't play with and where the snacks are kept. Ha! I think she's a goat! Haha. Eats just like the boys do.
I am trying to transition her to her crib, tonight was the first time she slept in it more than 3 hours. Ethan showed her yesterday that her crib was okay by getting in it and laying down and holding my hand through the slats. That's what she did last night to go to sleep held my hand. So sweet.
I guess the honeymoon phase for the boys is pretty much over they have begun to treat her like they treat each other with a bit of brotherly harassment. She gives it right back to them. It's funny. They love her so much.
We are so happy to be a family of 5. There have been some tough times with the adjustment but we are just praising the Lord for all his provisions and pressing forward.
Keep praying for all of us to get well from our colds/ respiratory gunk. It makes a grouchy birdsong house.
She's exploring a little bit in the house trying to figure out what she can and can't play with and where the snacks are kept. Ha! I think she's a goat! Haha. Eats just like the boys do.
I am trying to transition her to her crib, tonight was the first time she slept in it more than 3 hours. Ethan showed her yesterday that her crib was okay by getting in it and laying down and holding my hand through the slats. That's what she did last night to go to sleep held my hand. So sweet.
I guess the honeymoon phase for the boys is pretty much over they have begun to treat her like they treat each other with a bit of brotherly harassment. She gives it right back to them. It's funny. They love her so much.
We are so happy to be a family of 5. There have been some tough times with the adjustment but we are just praising the Lord for all his provisions and pressing forward.
Keep praying for all of us to get well from our colds/ respiratory gunk. It makes a grouchy birdsong house.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
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