Laugh Often, Love Much.

P1020199

2009-05-26T08:22:00.001-07:00

P1020199
Originally uploaded by msparks874

New Blog

2008-06-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm moving! Come see me here from this point on and make sure to change your links in your own blogs.

I want to also add...did you know that you can preserve your blog memories now with www.blurb.com with a book very inexpensively?

It was a Birthday Blow-out Weekend...

2008-06-15T12:56:00.001-07:00

Leah started her birthday celebration on Thursday and continued the festivities through Father's Day. Three parties for turning three!

We are fortunate enough to know this wonderful family whose adorably cute daughter, Lily, also shares the same birth date as Leah. So we joined forces on Saturday and had a wonderful birthday celebration at a gorgeous park. Here's a peak into this fun day...

More photo's can be found here. Thank you so much Leslie & Larry for sharing your daughter's special day with Leah.

Here's a few more pictures from other parties...

and finally...this is what Shawn looked like after we finished all our birthday and Father's day celebrations (Oh, he's going to kill me for this)...

Happy Father's day to all the dad's out there...especially to my awesome dad, Leah's wonderful daddy, Yee, and Uncle Andrew & Brad.

Happy Day!

2008-06-12T19:25:00.001-07:00

Look who's 3! Oh, beautiful baby girl, you are the light of our lives! Mommy and Daddy are so humbled and forever grateful that you were given the chance to be born and found your way into our arms. You have brought so much joy and laughter into our lives and we can't wait to see what this year brings.

Happy birthday my sweet, amazing Leah...we love you so much!

Bring it on...

2008-06-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

It's looking more & more promising that little Miss Kate could be home for Christmas, maybe Thanksgiving...or at least Valentine's day...or certainly before St. Patrick's day. I hesitate because it's a not-really-that-funny running joke among adoptive parents...that you don't really commit to a time frame, because it's a constantly moving target.

We started the adoption process for Kate in October 2006 and sent in our MCC (Medical Checklist) to our agency, CCAI, for a potential referral of a minor SN child in October 2007. The wait at the time was around 10-12 months. However, the waiting child program is experiencing an unexpected boom right now and we have a great shot of receiving a referral this summer. Now, how much fun is that?

Coinciding with this cool news, is that our U.S. approval to adopt is set to expire...figures. So we are in the midst of completely refiling all of the requirements to extend our approval status from the department of immigration to be eligible to adopt. The paperchase includes: medical physicals, birth certificates/marriage license, several financial disclosures & proof of income, reference letters, criminal background checks, FBI fingerprinting and another home study visit/recommendation.

Piece of cake.

Cruisin'

2008-05-31T21:30:00.001-07:00

and loving every minute of it....

Shawn & I have collectively lost over 40 pounds since the beginning of March. That's so much fun to type. We've titled our "get fit" journey as "getting back to us".

Life's stresses and pressures over the last several years had taken a toll on us and we just weren't taking as good of care of ourselves as we should have. I thought we were looking AND feeling just terribly...old. Shawn is former 3rd degree black belt instructor and I'm a former college tennis player and instructor, so we both love being physically active. We are so happy...no, I need a better word...ELATED to get moving again and to feel like our "normal" selves.

So now we are both at the weight we were when we first met 9 years ago and have set a "college weight" goal, which we should hit around July. It's been a blast and I'm seeking out new ways to exercise, thus the fab new cruiser. Isn't it pinkalicious?

If you haven't tried http://www.thedailyplate.com/, I highly encourage you to give this free web site a chance. It's a great way to track your fitness & food intake. We are never hungry and have had so much fun using this site as a guide. My extended family also started using this site and have lost a lot of weight as well. Congrats Mom, Dad, Rich and Rachel...you look fabulous!

Home

2008-05-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

More pictures of our fantastic, fun vacation to Watercolor, Florida....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hug them a little tighter...

2008-05-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

One of orphan's and adoption's biggest advocates, Steven Curtis Chapman suffered an unimaginable loss of his daughter Maria. I'm so late to post on this, but my heart is broken for their family. One of my most favorite songs of his recently has been "Cinderella" (posted on the side bar), it's meaning now is even more poignant. Please pray for this family as they heal and support Maria's Miracle Fund , in memory of Maria.

"Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman
lyrics below...

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I danced with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I danced with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Off to the Beach

2008-05-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Another year of beautiful pictures of the beach and my baby girl coming soon...a recap of last year's wonderful trip is below.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T18:31:00.000-07:00

I celebrated the day with my beautiful mom. I'm just so proud of her and the things she has accomplished in her life. She has such a humble servant's heart, gracious spirit--coupled with a witty, friendly personality and too many talents to list. I am very lucky to call her my mom and friend. She's taught me so much about life and has been there every step of the way taking care of us. We love you!

Happy Mother's day to all the mom's out there as well as the mom's to be!

2nd Year Gotcha Celebration

2008-05-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

On that unforgettable May 8th in 2006, I held our precious daughter in my arms for the first time. Just the thought of that entire China trip makes me get all teary-eyed. It was a realization of a long-time dream coming to life, coupled with the nervousness of being a first-time mommy no where near the comforts of home. More than anything it was seeing the absolute miracle of God's love & his plan...and how this beautiful little baby with so much personality and determination on the other side of the world was without a doubt meant to be in our family. What an amazing experience it was.

Our Journey to Leah

A week and some change later, we were reunited with Shawn for our official family day..again, the thought of THAT gets me all teary-eyed too. So to celebrate...we've had cake, sang made up "Gotcha day" songs, got presents, gone to the playground (lots) and even went to see the Backyardigan's Live!...and the highlight of our "Forever Family" festivities...we will celebrate two years of being together on a beach in beloved Destin next week. Why celebrate such a wonderful occasion in our lives on just one day?

Words aren't big enough to describe how much I love my family.
I am so blessed.

Showing Off A New Do

2008-05-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

Okay..I know I'm totally partial and hopefully among friends that feel the same way...but how cute is she with this new haircut? :)

On Being a Mom

2008-04-29T19:44:00.000-07:00

I found an article on another blog by Anna Quindlen, an author and columnist in Oprah magazine. This essay is yet another reminder to enjoy my small child while she is...well, small!

Life is crazy busy, and I already see the time passing too quickly. Last night, I revisited some photos from the past two years and I can't believe how much she has grown...her little legs are so strong, her vocabulary is exploding, her heart is so big.

Today we were sitting at breakfast just chatting as we usually do and she said, "Mommy, when you didn't have me you were sad...", she continued, "but now that you have me, you are so HAPPY!" Oh, if only she knew how right she is! That little girl is the definition of joy to me. She brought color into our life and a spring in our step!

My goal is to really enjoy this and every stage of her life and not wish away a single moment.

So here's to goldfish crackers, twirl skirts, tiaras, and reading Fancy Nancy (which I ADORE) a hundred times a week.

You can read Anna Quindlen's full essay here.

Wanna Play?

2008-04-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

I saw this on another blog and I can't resist starting this game!

How does it work?

Here are the rules:

I will send a gift (of my choosing) to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this "PIF" exchange, and who make the same pledge on their own blog.

The only thing you have to do in return is PAY IT FORWARD - on your own blog.

So, if you want to get a goodie from me, and are willing to do the same via your blog, let me know!

(Note that you'll need to give me your real (snail mail) address... which you can do by private email.) Just leave a comment and I will get with you.

So, who's up for it?

A House Divided

2008-04-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well...it's looking like a very real possibility we will be traveling to China either before the end of 2008 or in early 2009. WOW.

So in my usual fashion of indecisiveness in picking out names (I changed Leah's about 80 different times before finally settling)...I've added a few other favorites to the list.

Shawn and I decided that this time, we would wait until we saw her pretty little face to see which name would serve her best. However of the 6 names in the poll, all three of us have a favorite, and of course, they are all different. I love them all, so I don't think we can go wrong with any of them.

Got another name to throw into the mix or have a favorite?

Growing Up

2008-03-26T18:44:00.001-07:00

Leah is just 2.5 months shy of being three years old. This is a huge topic in our house...we talk about her birthday every single day, several times and the theme of her party changes just as often. The only thing that stays cosistent is that the party must have "lots of balloons and lots of presents".

This afternoon, she desperately wanted to wear this dress and have her picture taken, so being the Mamarazzi that I am, she didn't have to say it twice....

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Snow Day!

2008-03-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

...Oh, Happy Day!

2008-02-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today, we laid eyes on Leah's gorgeous little face for the first time. Hands down one of the best days of our lives.

Those precious words...fed to me by Tracie at CCAI at 12:34 p.m.... "You have a beautiful daughter"...just floored me. All those years of wondering, all that planning, hoping and wishing finally had a name--Yang Fu Fan.

And the photo that soon followed minutes later was beyond thrilling. When the photo pulled up, and this adorable little face filled the screen...we instantly were head over heels in love! We couldn't get enough of her expressive eyes, rosebud lips and those yummy, yummy cheeks. Still can't.

How did we ever get this lucky?

Bathing Suit Season is Upon Us....

2008-02-26T15:26:00.000-08:00

The Daily Plate tracks what you are eating each day, logs your exercise and calculates calories burned and lots more...for FREE!

One of both Shawn and my goals for 2008 was to take better care of ourselves. A good friend of mine shared a awesome website that is so noteworthy, I felt the need to pass it along. I'm in love with how neat this web site is and how conscious I've become from tracking my fitness and food. It provides graphs of the breakdown (fats, carbs and protein) and keeps you in line with your cholesterol & sodium intake. It also tells you how many calories you can have each day based on your activity level and how much you want to lose each week.

We've set a goal of 12 weeks to get ourselves bathing suit ready...just in time for Destin.

Anybody else game?

Matilda Jane

2008-02-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'm lucky to host a Matilda Jane trunk show at my home on Sunday, March 2. I got to preview the spring clothing line today, and I can't express to you enough how adorable the clothes are for babies and little girls, as well as how chic and sassy the clothes are for women. And considering how well made, unique and utterly cool these clothes are, the prices are really economical as well! Some of her spring line are can be found here. Her spring line will be formally introduced on her web site in the next few days.

For my local friends reading this that would like to come, just shoot me over an e-mail or leave a comment if you would like to attend and I'll get you directions to my home and further information.

For my friends all over the U.S....you can be part of the fun too! If you see something on her web site that you can't live without, you can order through this party. Just provide me with your child's age, height, and weight, we'll be able to tell you exactly what size to order.

Here's some samples from the Matilda Jane fall collection:

Happy Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T17:05:00.000-08:00

Xin Nien Kuai Le!

2008-02-06T19:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Tomorrow marks the first day of the largest fifteen day celebration in China.... the year of the Rat.

You are a rat, if you were born in:

1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996

People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.

The Chinese begin preparations for the new year during the last few days of the last lunar month. Debts are paid, hair is cut, and new clothes are purchased. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away any ill fortune and to make way for the incoming good luck. Doors and windows are decorated with paper cut-outs with the themes of happiness, wealth and longevity. Incense is turned in homes and temples to pay respect to ancestors and ask the good for good health in the coming year.

On new Year’s Eve, families come together to feast. Popular in Northern China is jiaozi, a steamed dumpling, while in Souther China nian gao, a sweet rice pudding, is preferred. Family members engage in playing cards and board games or watching television programs dedicated to the occasion. At midnight, celebrants ring in the new year with fireworks, intended to drive away evil spirits. Lights are to be kept on throughout the night.

On the first morning of the new year, children greet their parents and receive lay see, lucky money tucked in red envelopes. Then the family goes door to door with good wishes for relatives and neighbors. Old grudges are easily dismissed during this time of reconciliation and goodwill, and gifts are exchanged during visits over the next several days. The festival is marked by peace. socializing, folk dancing, and fun. (information from: http://www.chcp.org/newyear.html)

Among following some of the traditions, including cleaning the house, eating yummy food and of course...lucky red envelopes, we will continue the celebration this weekend with an opportunity to see a children's dance and martial arts troupe from Guangzhou, P.R. of China...we can't wait!

Adoption

2008-01-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

As a huge adoption advocate, I saw this on another blog and thought I'd share this....

You know you are an adoptive mother if...

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has ever made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child, there would be no orphans in the world is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth (2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken a airplane ride half way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacy's you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word Dossier means and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have them in your life.

The Good Ol' Days

2008-01-31T20:29:00.000-08:00

As a Journalism-Advertising major in college, I loved that some of my homework assignments were to watch commercials...now, how awesome was that?!?! My poor little room mate would be studying like a mad woman for dosage calculations tests or pharmacology exams and my tough assignments were to come up with one-liners or examine the brand placement on ads. Tough life, I know. We actually watched an entire class of Super Bowl commercials once...yep, those student loans were worth every penny.

So I came across this Justin Timberlake Super Bowl commercial and thought I'd share my love for funny yet "memorable" advertising...

"Big Girl" Construction has Begun!

2008-01-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

Sneak Peak at her new "Big Girl" room currently under construction

New Bathroom Digs...Green Polka Dot!

Lovin' bathtime in her new bathroom

And yes, we are fully aware we are creating a monster. We can't stop ourselves, litle girls are too much fun!

I just don't think...

2008-01-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

this child can get any funnier.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

She's the next Gracie Allen. I totally get what I deserve.

The next video is for Grammy Re and Pop-Pop. Being from the Sichuan area of China, this chic can handle some heat. Over Christmas Leah was at their house and eating some spicy cheese spread and every time she ate a cracker, she would say "first you spread it, then you eat it, and then it's spicy!" Every time they tried to get her little commercial on film, she clammed up. Today, she was in the mood eating some classic string cheese.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I Will Wait for You

2008-01-17T18:08:00.000-08:00

Today marks the 9th month of our dossier being logged in China's Center for Adoption Affairs, and over a year since we started the paperwork for baby Kate.

It's especially funny now, because I remember back when we adopted Leah and we waited for nine months from LID to seeing her referral picture, which was three months longer than predicted, it was unbelievably stressful and felt like an eternity. It's all relative.

This wait for Kate has been just the opposite, completely laid back. It has absolutely nothing to do with wanting her less but everything to do with chasing a two year old around and satisfying that initial need to parent a child. And through the long struggle to become parents, I also learned the hard lesson of really letting go. God's timing is wondrous & impeccable. I would not have this absolutely precious child so truly PERFECT for our family had the first wait been "on time".

So with that, we truly celebrate this day...because no matter how long the road to Kate will be and how bumpy and curvy it will probably get, we will wait, knowing God is at work creating another perfect match.

And it will be so worth it.

Just Beautiful

2008-01-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Child of My Heart

2008-01-02T18:30:00.000-08:00

Child of the world,
Into my heart you came —
Bringing sun into my life,

making family our name.

Thought I'd share one of my most favorite gifts this year from Leah (with help from Daddy) to my fellow adoptive moms...a new Willow Tree sculpture representing adoption. I just love how these figures symbolize the phases of your life--I had one previously given to me when I married Shawn that I still cherish.

These simple wood sculptures make wonderful, personal gifts and are so touching. It's a must have, in my humble opinion, for any adoptive mommy. Most corporate Hallmark's sell these figurines as well other sources online, including ebay, for around $20.

You'll love this as much as I do.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

Bring on 2008! I've never been a big resolution person, but I have committed to do a few things this year to improve our quality of life...and unfortunately, it's the usual suspects...better diet, better exercise, better organization.

All I could think of during Christmas was that I was going to need some serious storage for all of Leah's new toys. Santa might have over done it a bit, and forgot to take into account that Miss Thing has very generous, doting grandparents that love to spoil her. The word of the week has been "storage bins" around our house, as I've accommodated the new toys, books and dress up clothes into Leah's new and improved playroom.

I am so looking forward to all the wonderful memories that will be made, all the new adventures that we will take, and all the hope that a new year brings. Happy 2008!!

Here's a look back on how much Leah has changed over the past year:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

2007-12-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

This picture below sums it up...

Just a fantastic Christmas celebrating with friends & family. We are so thankful to see a face like this on Christmas morning!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-21T07:42:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a very merry Christmas,

may your hearts be filled with joy, happiness & peace this coming year!

Luke 2:7-14 as told by Shaoey

2007-12-18T18:48:00.001-08:00

The birth of Jesus, told by Shaoey, Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter.

Thought I'd Share....

2007-12-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

Mom got me Steven Curtis Chapman's new Christmas CD, "All I Really Want For Christmas". It's so sweet to see his precious three daughters, adopted from China, inside the jacket cover. They are all so adorable! And then on the CD, is the cutest little reading of the scripture of birth of Jesus from Shaoey, see the post above to hear.

Leah LOVES when I read to her Shaoey and Dot. It's a wonderfully illustrated book and is very sweet, there is a series of several other Shaoey and Dot adventures as well that I haven't purchased yet, but will soon.

I feel extremely fortunate that there are so many wonderful books out there related to adoption, there is just a wealth of resources for both the parents and the child.

As Leah grows older, I am buying the books that appeal to her age range, and she really enjoys these books.

I personally love them as well, they all have a sweet, simple story lines and great illustrations to explain how we came to be a family. Here's a few of her favorites:

I Love You Like Crazy Cakes

The Red Blanket

Every Year on Your Birthday

Another book that Leah is getting this Christmas will be "Motherbridge of Love" from Barefoot Books, it's a beautiful-written poem circulated within the adoption community with gorgeous illustrations depicting a little Chinese girl, and her Chinese birth mother and Caucasian adoptive mother.

As Leah begins to question things, this book will be a great jumping off point for discussion. It honors both the birth mother and adoptive mother, and ends on a positive note reassuring her that she is a part of both cultures. Be forewarned, it's a tear-jerker.

"Once there were two women who never knew each other.
The first you do not know. The other you call "mother."

Click here to view the book and reading by Amy Tan, best-selling author.

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...

2007-12-17T18:39:00.002-08:00

But first, we get to celebrate a couple of our family birthday's this week. Have a wonderful & happy birthday, Uncle Day-Day, we love you! Leah wanted to pass on a "Boooo-yaaah!" to you.

Grammy Re...your next. :)

What would Christmas be without the picture in front of the tree?

Thanks for the gorgeous coat, Grammy Re!

These are just some random shots I took yesterday that were just too cute not to post.

Sweet Baby Girl

2007-12-14T07:13:00.000-08:00

Loves to sing, loves to dance...

2007-12-13T06:46:00.000-08:00

Leah turned 2 1/2 years old yesterday! Since this blog serves as a scrapbook of her life with us, I thought I'd write a little about what she's been up to lately...

On Communication
She's downright hilarious with the things she says. Lately, Leah's saying "honey" before she requests something from us, i.e. "Honey, take your vitamins, it will make you stronger!" or another favorite, "Honey, come sit down and read to me".

She's a little parrot, pretty much non-stop chatter. It's gotten so now we'll hear from the backseat repeatively, "Where we going?", "Why are we going?", "Where's China?" and because we do it so much..."Are we going to go shopping?"

On Style
She is a DIVA. She's very picky about what she wears, so much so I do not buy anything unless I get her seal of approval...and she's two! What am I going to do in a few years? One thing about her is that you always know what she wants, I give her that.

When she's not out and about, you can pretty much guarantee she's in her beloved "Belle" dress or her runner-up dresses--Minnie mouse, and sleeping beauty. It's the first thing she asks for in the morning. For Christmas, she's getting the remainder of the Disney princess dresses from Grammy Re and Santa. I can't even begin to tell you how excited she will be.

She loves to be told how pretty she is, but is quick to give out many compliments to you as well in return. I am frequently told I look "just like a princess"...ya gotta love the eyes of a 2 year old. :)

She's made the determination today that I look like Cinderella and she looks like Princess Mulan and Princess Jasmine.

On Development
Leah is super smart, I tell her something once, and she just flat gets it. Colors, shapes..she's had down pat for almost a year and she can count up to 15 so far. Her preschool teacher told me the other day that they want to employ her as an assistant for the class.

She has her toddler moments, but they are rare, and more often than not, we just have a little girl who loves to laugh, play & sing, and the added bonus is she gives big, big hugs and is truly happiest when she gets to sit on your lap and snuggle. Oh, how I love her.

On Sleep..or lack thereof
I am not one of the lucky moms that has a child that loves to sleep. My girl is a party animal. She prefers to stay up and sleep in...that's her style. Shawn likes to say that Leah does the sleep version of drinking someone under the table.

From the very beginning we had serious sleep issues where she was absolutely terrified to go to sleep in her room. Some nights, it would take over 4 hours to calm her into sleeping..and she only spent one night in her beautiful crib, she hated that thing. It was exhausting time in our life! I firmly believe she suffered from post traumatic stress from her days at the orphanage and still does to smaller degree.

After a while, we gave up and just let her sleep with us, she fell asleep much faster and it was a calmer, more peaceful rest...for everyone. Over time, we've been able to get her into her room again but it still takes a substantial amount of negotiating to get her to fall asleep on her own...we hear, "Maybe you can rub my belly?" with her hopeful grin, to the more desperate "Please don't leave me!"

She does go to bed much better with me than she does Shawn, because she knows she can play him like a fine fiddle. No matter what, she always ends up in our bed by 4:00 in the morning, it's like clockwork. We are so tired, we could care less.

On becoming a big sister
A few people have asked me how well Leah would adjust with a newbie in the family, since our world just revolves around her. I actually think she will do great. She talks about baby Kate quite a bit and promises me she'll be a good big sister and that baby Kate will love her. It's really cute. It could be her age, but Leah is a bossy little thing, so I think she already fits the bill of a big sister nicely.

Leah's personality just shines. She frequently gives high fives to patrons in restaurants, she loves her family and friends, and she has a fun, generous, appreciative spirit about her. We are just so blessed to have her in our lives.

Happy half birthday little one! We love you so very much!

Charming Movie....

2007-12-09T19:36:00.000-08:00

Just an adorable movie...rent it. It's especially sad knowing the writer, director and supporting actor in the film, Adrienne Shelly, was tragically murdered before the public got to see her creation.

It's Getting Festive...

2007-12-08T22:12:00.000-08:00

The holiday party season is in full swing, I've been to two this week! Got too many planned? Check out the holiday party excuse generator if you trying to come up with an excuse to avoid a party. Ehhh...not that I've ever used it or anything. I'm just merely passing it along in case you find yourself overbooked.

Here's some pictures from my "Bunco Babes" holiday party...this is a group of wonderful women that know how to have a good time. I love each one of them to death, they are all so unique and bring so much to the table with their personalities and life experiences.

The Bunco Babes holding our ornaments from the "Dirty Santa" exchange

This group includes my best friend, Shannon, she's one of the most special people in the world to me...not only are we just like to peas in a pod, she played the ever important role as matchmaker between Shawn and me years ago. She was great friends with Shawn long before she even met me..funny how life works out. She is, and always will be, an integral part of both our lives.

I bought her a card not long ago that summarized her best..."You're the person that people who haven't even met you love just from the stories they've heard". She's the sister I never had and I am so fortunate to have this funny, sweet and sassy girl in my life.

My buddy, mi amigo, my pal

A Little Christmas Jingle....

2007-12-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

Click here for some Santa cheer.

It's Cold! Time to Break Out the Comfort Food Recipes...

2007-12-06T13:30:00.001-08:00

cheddar corn chowder
Originally uploaded by monavano

Barefoot Contessa's Cheddar Corn Chowder

8 oz. bacon, chopped
¼ c. good olive oil
6 c. chopped yellow onions (4 large onions)
4 T. butter
½ c. all-purpose flour
2 t. salt
1 t. freshly ground black pepper
½ t. ground turmeric
12 c. chicken stock
6 c. medium-diced white boiling potatoes, unpeeled (2 lbs.)
10 c. frozen corn kernels (3 lbs.)
2 c. half-and half
½ lb. Sharp white Cheddar cheese, grated

In a large stockpot on medium-high heat, cook the bacon and olive oil until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onions and butter to the fat, and cook for 10 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and turmeric and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and potatoes, bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Add the corn to the soup, then add the half-and-half and Cheddar. Cook for 5 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a garnish of bacon. Serves 10 to 12.

Asian Influence

2007-12-01T22:21:00.000-08:00

One of my major projects I've been working on recently is to incorporate Asian influence into my traditional-style home. I've found some great wallpaper for our bathroom, accents for throughout the house and bedding from pottery barn kids that is soooooooooo cute for Leah's big girl room which will be soon underway.

I've been searching for some cool Ansel Adams style photographs of Chongqing, where Leah was born, to have on the walls. I came across an Asian amateur photographer on flickr that graciously sent me his photos at no charge in hopes of giving Leah a glimpse into her heritage along with the wish that she would learn chinese as well. I could not be more grateful for his generosity. I can't wait to matte & frame these!

Scenes of Chongqing

Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

My little monkey...

2007-11-29T20:50:00.000-08:00

Leah's started a winter session of gymnastics tonight and it is safe to say she loves it!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-20T19:05:00.001-08:00

I Don't Care What Shawn Says...

2007-11-20T11:24:00.000-08:00

He's taking me to see this....

I Would Die for That.

2007-11-18T20:13:00.000-08:00

This is an absolutely beautiful song and moving video by Kelley Coffey. It feels like that road was a million miles ago, but it will always be close to my heart.

"I wuv you, Mommy." I am so appreciative to get to hear those words from my baby girl. She's my dream come true.

Cinema Saturday

2007-11-17T13:32:00.000-08:00

Something about fall & Thanksgiving makes me think of 80's movies. Here's a few classic movies clips that will leave you smiling.

The Money Pit

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Accidental Tourist

Uncle Buck

I threw this scene in just for my Dad, it's a long running joke in our house. I sure do miss John Candy.

Fall Getaway

2007-11-14T12:37:00.001-08:00

First off, can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving? I just can't believe it's time to stuff ourselves silly again. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, it encompasses all the things I love...family, counting your blessings and "yum, yum in the tum" southern comfort food. Does it get any better?

After a couple of rough months of planning a large community event last week, I was pooped and wanted a little getaway. We spent a few days down in Tennessee this past week visiting my beloved little brother, Rich and his wife Rachel. We got to see the fun night life of Knoxville, their new house that they have been working so hard to fix up on (it's very cute!), and just spent a few days in scenic Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge for some Christmas shopping and of course, eating pancakes (that's a must down there).

Shawn calls these type of pics "sorority chic poses", Leah and I call them "cushy faces"

She just couldn't put the carmel corn down..it's a bit addicting

Bring on the turkey!

200 Days!

2007-11-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

This weekend marks 200 days since we were logged in at the China Center for Adoption Affairs for Kate...we are starting to make a dent! How's that for a positive attitude? We went to Huber's Orchard today to see empty pumpkin patches (way to procrastinate...on our way to winning "Parents of the Year"). Next year we'll try to make it before Halloween. :)

Here's some cute pic winners and fun video of the day.

"Look at the Ducks, Mommy!"

Stylin' and Profilin'

"Why are you making me stick my head through this hole?"

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

"The best laid plans of mice and men, often go awry"

2007-11-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

If Leah had her druthers, she would have been "peanut butter" for Halloween, every time I asked her what she wanted to be, that's what she said. Since I couldn't think of a way to make her peanut butter and it didn't really fit my ideal costume choice(since I still have a say in the matter), I decided that a black kitty would be perfect choice this year.

I had an awesome kitty costume all ready for Leah. She had a black boa tail that I wired to curl up in the back and flounced when she walked. I made a black tutu with a sparkly overlay and little furry ears, a leotard, whiskers, a cute collar...it was going to be the bomb.

Well, Mommy's a dork and left half of Leah's costume in a bag that I gave to Grammy Re to take to her house the DAY before. Soooo....plan B, she was a princess. Life goes on.

Something interesting to check out, I found another really cool web site, about a couple that just got married and for their honeymoon they are traveling around the world for a year and doing several mission trips along the way. They are in China right now and just visited a orphanage...check it out at One Year on Earth.

Lastly, here's some pictures from a little mini photo shoot from this weekend. Leah was not in the mood for pictures so this is the picks of the litter...and one is even blurry! But I love it anyway.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

Fab Finds & Favorite Things...

2007-10-30T19:16:00.001-07:00

Outside of huggin' and lovin' on Leah, I do have a life. A dinky one albeit, but it's still something. And it's not very deep either. I love Target, catalog season (it's here!!), decorating, cooking, bubble baths, shopping, salon visits and chatting it up with best buddies (Shawn & Mom too!).

I rarely watch TV, but I do have a can't miss show and lucky for me, it's coming back for a third season (Bravo, Nov. 6 10 p.m.)..."The Real Housewives of Orange County" Anyone ever watch? Shawn can't stand it, I LOVE it--it's decadent, on the other side of materialistic and plain fun to watch.

Also, just had to share just a few of some fun blogs from my "favorite things to do" list:

Unbelievably good cooking/party ideas: Mud Pie Gourmet, Your Heart Out

Hosting Parties/Home Decor: Hostess With the Mostess, Stephmodo, absolutely beautiful things, The Inspired Room, Bella Pink Cafe

Shopaholic Stuff: Holly's Plate, Design Mom, Slave To Target

That should get you started if you have any interest at all in this stuff.
So much to peruse through, so little time.

I've been inspired...

2007-10-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

For about 2 months now, I've been planning our meals for the week prior to going to the grocery store. It's been lots of fun, I don't have to think anymore and we buy only what we need at the grocery store, saving big time bucks on going out to eat and wasting food. I think we eat better too.

It all started from finding the organizing junkie blog site, it's a great source for ideas on how to keep organized and you can find some yummy recipes.

So get inspired with me and join the bandwagon! I would love to find new recipes and share my favorites with my blogging buddies...wanna join me?

Monday: Spaghetti, Garlic Bread and Salad

Tuesday: Beef Stew, Cornbread (Jiffy, of course!)

Wednesday: Deluxe Potato Ham Bake, broccoli, applesauce and croissants

Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits

Friday: Homemade pizza

Saturday: My Day Off

Sunday: Pork chops, Au gratin potatoes, peas

Cinema Saturday

2007-10-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

I love to go to the movies. It's one of my favorite things to do. I love eating popcorn, getting a large coke, nestle in and taken away for two hours. I don't even care what I see either. I'd like it to be three stars because I believe heavily in the Roger Ebert star system, but I've been known to see some really pitiful "not even close to a star" movies because I'm married to Shawn.

Good news for me, Grammy Re and Pop Pop have recently moved within walking distance to a movie theater, I might have a chance of getting back to the movies on a more regular basis...who hoo!

I've decided I'm going to start sharing my love of the movies and post some favorite clips of movies. This clip is from one of my favorite love stories, critically acclaimed, "House of Flying Daggers". It's a gorgeous, haunting romance with beautiful costumes, dance and action scenes. The movie is in mandarin with English subtitles.

Mei (Zhang Ziyi),the lead character is blind, and in this scene she is performing a stunning dance. Rent this movie if you have not seen it. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Here's a another clip, if you are interested in seeing more (***warning, spoilers if you haven't seen it yet)....

Bring Me Hope

2007-10-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

A little thing I do on the side is share our adoption story and educate families on adopting from China and my agency, CCAI, at information seminars across the state.

It has been a rewarding experience to share the joy adopting Leah has given us, and we've met some awesome people too. Since the wait has slowed to a crawl, I haven't done too much promoting lately but did present at a seminar this morning. I used this beautiful video during my presentation, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. If you haven't seen this...grab a kleenex. I've watched this video a bazillion times and I still blubber. It's mostly because this video is about bringing hope to a child in need, and now, as a parent to one of these children, I know it's THEM that bring hope to us. We rescue each other.

Potty Time!

2007-10-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

As a first-time mom, this whole potty business was kind of daunting to think about. I just figured she would let me know when the time was right. We put out the Dora potty about 6 months ago to help her start understanding the concept, but I didn't feel she was ready for prime time yet.

But this past week, something's changed...a light bulb has gone off. With the help of Ariel underwear and the kitchen timer, I think Leah has got this one whipped.

Late last week, I put the timer on every thirty minutes and when the buzzer went off, I'd run her to the potty. She thought it was hilarious and went every time. A few days ago she's started just telling me when she has to go, so the timer went bye-bye. There's been dancing, singing and lots of high-five's and "Mama is so PROUD of you's" all week long. We just may have a potty-trained little chic on our hands. Shew, that was easy!

Tonight, I was baking cookies, and the timer went off. Leah ran from the living room and said "hurry, hurry, time to go potty!" Talk about Pavlov's Dog.

Second exciting (at least for me anyway) news is that in February, I get to host a Matilda Jane trunk show. I've never been a Tupperware or Pampered Chef party kind of girl. But this...now this gets me going. I LOVE cute clothes for Leah, it's easily identified as my addiction.

Matilda Jane has just very cool, eclectic clothing for little girls and women. The owner travels around to art shows in the mid-west and only sells her unique,funky clothing at fairs or through trunk shows. The trunk show I will be hosting will offer her spring line. So, if you are interested in coming to my little shin-dig or ordering, stay tuned for the date.

2007-10-21T19:39:00.001-07:00

"C" is for Cute

2007-10-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

The cheese wasn't the only thing that was grilled at lunch. Enjoy!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Daddy Day

2007-10-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

Every other Monday, Shawn is able to stay home with Leah through flex-time at his job...pretty cool, huh? It's definitely comes in handy and really wonderful that they have that special time together where Shawn reverts back to bachelor days and it seems that no rules exist. It's kind of sickening and cute at the same time.

Want pizza for breakfast??....Why not?

Don't want to take a nap??.....You got it babe!

Watch 15 back-to-back episodes of Dora??...Anything for my girl!

Daddy day means ALL FUN, ALL THE TIME.

It's no secret that Leah has Daddy WRAPPED..and with no shame...he freely admits it. But do you blame him? She's pretty darn cute and awfully lovey-dovey.

Shawn and Leah have this little thing they do now...where in unison they both yell..."We're buddies, we're amigos...we're PALS!" And that they are.

On this rare occasion, I was invited to partake in a Daddy day and met them at the park on my lunch hour. And yes, Mamarazzi keeps a camera in my car for just such an occasion.

Near and Dear to My Heart

2007-10-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

"Holding up half the sky one day an elephant saw a hummingbird lying on its back with its tiny feet up in the air. "What are you doing?" asked the elephant.The hummingbird replied, "I heard that the sky might fall today, and so I am ready to help hold it up, should it fall." The elephant laughed cruelly. "Do you really think," he said, "that those tiny feet could help hold up the sky?"The hummingbird kept his feet up in the air, intent on his purpose, as he replied, "Not alone. But each must do what he can. And this is what I can do."— A Chinese Folktale

Half the Sky

Tonight, Jenny Bowen, founder of Half the Sky, along with Chinese orphans, was voted the choice to carry the torch in the summer Olympics in Beijing. How wonderful is that? This organization has become near and dear to our heart. I encourage you to support Half the Sky's mission to provide nurturing care for orphans remaining in China. Another excellent organization doing awesome things in China is Love Without Boundaries.

Also, I've been meaning to post about this for awhile...several months ago, just days before I was sending a care package of blankets and toys to Leah's orphanage which I thought would be our ongoing way of giving back to her little sisters in her orphanage, I found a very disturbing article on Brian Stuy's China adoption research site about Leah's orphanage that was shut down just days after receiving Leah on May 8th of 2006.

An excerpt...

"Where was this child found?"

....."Officially, adopting families were given to understand that the Youyang orphanage was not providing adequate care to the children and that they were moved for their own protection. Others were told that the numbers of children being found in Youyang was not sufficient to justify a district facility, and that Youyang was closed for financial reasons. None of these reasons, however, stands up to analysis.The Youyang orphanage was located in a mental hospital in downtown Youyang County. It had two baby rooms, one large main room, and a smaller side-room. Ten caregivers were in charge of caring for the children. From February 2004 until May 2006, the Youyang orphanage adopted 110 children internationally, more than many other orphanages in the international adoption program. With little overhead, it would seem that the adoption fees ($330,000) would have been more than sufficient to keep Youyang’s program viable.

Just after Chinese New Year in 2006, representatives from the CCAA Office in Chongqing paid a visit to the Youyang facility. This was the first time any officials had made the 6-hour trip from Chongqing to Youyang, located at the eastern-most border of Chongqing Municipality. Following a tour of the facility, the representatives expressed appreciation of the care the children were being given and praised the general appearance of the facility.

The Youyang staff was proud of these glowing reviews. Three months later, in early May 2006, the CCAA field-office paid another visit, but this time they were critical of the staff and the care. The orphanage staff was stunned, given that nothing had materially changed in their facility in the intervening three months. Four days later, in the early morning, ten vans pulled into the square in front of the Youyang County orphanage.

The vans and personel were from the Fuling orphanage. While many of the Youyang staff slept, they began to load the 56 children into the vans. A serious altercation ensued, and the caregivers stood weeping as the children were taken away. All of the staff watched stunned as the vans drove down the road and headed to Fuling."

Whoa. I know the Orphanage Director and all her nannies adored Leah and her crib mates and they were well-cared for and loved. It was shocking to read that Leah's orphanage was shut down for political reasons and children were transferred to another orphanage in Chongqing and given false abandonment stories. What do you think about that?

Posing with Leah's Orphanage Director on Gotcha Day.

Fall Has Arrived!

2007-10-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

For larger pictures, click here.

Personality

2007-10-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Leah's got plenty of it. First and foremost, she's a survivor. I have no doubt that Leah made it out of that orphanage in China through her strong, determined spirit. She's a fighter in every sense of the word. And while Leah is a beautiful little girl with gorgeous big eyes, flawless skin and shiny hair...it's her charming personality that wins over her fans the most.

She is just the cuddliest little thing, gentle, loving, kind and a hilarious little fashion plate (she LOVES shoes, dresses and anything sparkly). When it comes to learning, she's literally a sponge, keenly observant and curious about everything. There are so many things I love about precious Leah. She's an amazing person. We just don't know how we got this lucky to have this child in our lives.

The total package!

Other News...

We did it (insert applause here..cause it took a lot of guts). Shawn and I went on our first overnight trip to New Orleans without Leah. As expected, it was tougher on us than it was on her. She was a having the time of her life with her beloved Grammy Re and Pop-Pop, there to serve all her whims and wishes. Thank you Grammy Re and Pop-Pop!

We had a awesome time, but both of us were scrambling to get back to our happy, funny, lovey girl. Pathetic, I know...but come on...look at that little cutie pie!

Look!...Up in the Sky!...Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane?

2007-09-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

...No!...it's a....Cow?

We live in a family-friendly, eclectic town. The city deserves props for staying affordable with lots of great food & shopping, fun events and cool festivals to go to every weekend. I should also mention that I work for the Convention & Visitors Bureau so I might be a little biased, but it truly is great to live in a place that you love to call home.

This weekend was the annual Balloon Festival. Leah loved every second of it...she's still talking about the cow in the sky. We met up with Grammy Re and Pop-Pop and had the best time eating funnel cakes, watching the balloon glow and seeing the fireworks.

..

Bye Bye Dora, Ni Hao Kai-Lan!

2007-09-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

I'm so pumped about a new series, "Ni Hao Kai-lan" which will begin airing on Nick Jr. on October 22. It's an animated daily show for preschoolers that Forbes Magazine says is groundbreaking. " Ni Hao, Kai-lan is Nick Jr.'s first series to feature a Chinese-American intergenerational family.

Through the eyes of a 5- year-old Chinese-American girl named Kai-lan, the series explores the colorful aspects of her upbringing and background, her relationships with her family and friends and the world around her.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan will take preschoolers on a joyful exploration of Mandarin language and Chinese culture, while helping them to identify their emotions and learn coping mechanisms to deal with their feelings." This is a great way to introduce our children to the Asian culture and also a great way to help them appreciate and retain their culture.

Kai-lan is 'a born leader who makes affirmative connections with people and nature, paying attention to the feelings of others,' said a consultant for the series, Dr. Janxin Leu, a cultural psychologist at the University of Washington in Seattle who studies the dynamics of Chinese-American families. She is part of an advisory team of educational researchers and social scientists that helped develop curriculum goals for a show that builds on the interactivity of Blue's Clues and the bilingualism of Dora the Explorer.

"They'll also feature regular Mandarin vocabulary words. Ms. Harrington, the show's executive producer, said she "hoped the series would have a special resonance for the estimated 60,000 girls in the United States who have been adopted from Chinese orphanages." And the 10-year-old girl Jade-Lianna Peters who is the voice of Kai-lan on the series was herself adopted from China. I know we'll be tuning in!

Click on the link below to see a short clip and meet the creator of the series:

http://www.nickjr.com/shows/down/down_meet_creator.jhtml?minibar=true

Autumn Moon Festival & Friends from China

2007-09-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

Leah had all of her friends from China over today for some playtime and to celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival, a Chinese holiday that celebrates the moon, harvests, family and thanksgiving. Children dance with paper lanterns and eat moon cakes with their families.

Ten adorable little girls enjoyed a fun morning of bubbles, sidewalk chalk, singing & games and our preschool version of the moon cake...

Aren't we lucky to have such a talented daddy who can draw anything? Dora the Explorer made an appearance on our deck wearing a traditional mandarin outfit.

Leah and her friend Miranda

Nothing better than Goldfish with friends

I'm thinking I should send this pic into Minute Maid

Reading a wonderful book about the moon and shapes, and a favorite of Leah's....

"Round is the Mooncake"

Ring a Round the Rosie...A pocket full of posies...

Ashes...ashes...

We all fall down!

Sweet Dreams, Little One

2007-09-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

Our constant battle in this house is to get that baby girl down for the count every night since the day we brought her home from China. She trys every stall tactic in the book...i.e. attempts to make us laugh, has to go potty, cries, argues and begs, pleads and borrows to stay up. There have been more than a few nights were Shawn and I both fell asleep trying to get her to go to sleep. It's comical and exhausting at the same time of the ways we will bend of backwards trying to convince Leah that going to sleep is a stellar idea.

So I really appreciate days like today, when she goes down before her head hits the pillow.

Thank you preschool.

You have successfully worn out my daughter.

New Season, New Look.

2007-09-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

I gave our blog a makeover for the fall and changed the name, yet again. I think I'm finally happy with this title. The quote sums up exactly what our lives are like with our Leah, and also serves as reminder to live life to the fullest. We are just so blessed to have her, she is just the cutest little thing and so perfect for our family.

I've also developed a new hobby...digital scrapbooking...finally something creative and "mom-like" I can do! Being left-handed, I have always had challenges using scissors...can't cut a straight line to save my life.

Thank goodness for technology...with digital scrapbooking, you don't need scissors, just a good photo editing software (I use Adobe Photo Elements) and a couple of really cool digital scrapbooking sites. You can then publish your book professionally very inexpensively on sites such as http://www.shutterfly.com/, http://www.picaboo.com/, http://www.printmyphotobook.com/ and http://www.snapfish.com/.

A couple of my favorite digital scrapbooking sites:
http://www.scrapgirls.com/, http://www.shabbyprincess.com/, http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/, http://www.twopeasinbucket.kaboose.com/, http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/, http://www.polkadotpotato.com/

Another big project I've been working on is creating "Leah's Story", an adoption lifebook for her that records everything I have about her background before she came to us...kind of like a very in-depth baby book, but I'm writing on a child's level for Leah as she starts getting older and having questions about her past.

There is a great site that I've been using as my guide for ideas, http://www.chinadigitalscrapbooks.com/. Research of many adoption resources encourage adoptive parents to prepare a lifebooks to attempt to assist a child in creating a sense of identity and confidence. I plan on including every little teeny tiny fact I can, down to even what the weather was like on the day she was born, this will be incredibly important to her one day and I want to do this right for her.

Leah already says "I born in China". I always want her to be proud of who she is and what she is made of. I love the diversity that adoption has brought to our family, we now get to celebrate holiday's from two cultures...parties all the time! The Autumn Moon Festival is coming up next week and Leah's favorite book right now is "Round is the Mooncake" and we love to talk about moon cakes and paper lanterns. We are having a play group over this weekend and are planning on celebrating the festival with her China friends. It's just too much fun.

Adoption is an awesome thing. Just plain awesome. I highly recommend it.

2007-09-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Soul.

2007-09-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the Last Days of Summer...

2007-09-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

Jellyfish. Popcorn. Face Painting. Oh My!

2007-09-09T19:16:00.001-07:00

What a busy, fun day we had! Leah had so much fun swimming this summer, we are continuing her lessons on advice from an instuctor that saw her swim in our neighborhood pool.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We also went to her preschool's Kid Fest tonight with games, face painting and treats for the kids. Leah is going to preschool twice a week for just few hours, but it has become the hightlights of her week...she loves it! We are so fortunate to have found such a neat little school with sweet teachers that love on Leah lots.

Miss Sarah, Leah's preschool teacher...Leah adores her and was thrilled to find out she would get her face painted by her.

Having some fun in the inflatable bouncy thingy

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary

2007-09-06T18:23:00.001-07:00

And what a 6 years it's been! Shawn and I were married on September 8, 2001, days before the Sept. 11 attacks. What a surreal honeymoon that was. And it just got weirder and weirder after that.

Little did we know, that our uneventful, by-the-book dating life--was about to get interesting with a roller coaster of odd medical issues, heartbreaking losses and unbelievable joy. Who knew marriage was going to be this exciting?

For the people that have the pleasure of knowing Shawn personally, you know that he is a rock, as sturdy as they come. He's one of the most kindest, open-minded, dependable, sentimental and considerate people you will ever meet in your life.

He has a wickedly-wry sense of humor, but at the same time, derives great pleasure from telling really lame, canned jokes. Shawn is the father I always knew he would be...totally wrapped...but it's incredible how much he loves his baby girl. He has unwavering love and deep loyalty to his family and friends.

I am lucky to have such a great team player to share my life with. I love you Shawn..happy anniversary!

Preschool!

2007-08-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big day for Leah (and Mommy)...her first day of preschool. And we both did better than expected! She was a little scared to be a way from mommy at first, but made it through the afternoon like a champ. When I picked her up in the afternoon, she was thrilled to see me and said "I go to pee-school tonight!". She had a great time and brought home her first artwork to hang on the refrigerator door. I could not be more proud of her.

I love watching Leah grow up and see her go through all the phases of her little life. I can't wait to experience the wonderful memories that lie ahead, but I just cherish every little bit of "baby" still left in her too.

Last night, we cheered on our hometown college football team (they won BIG time)..she loved all the commotion and was especially fond of her outfit.

The cutest cheerleader in the stadium

Sorry Grammy Re...this one is just too cute.

Leah just LOVES her Grammy Re...can you tell?

Cousins

2007-08-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

Leah got to spend the weekend with her cousins on both sides of the family. She went to a princess party on Saturday for her cousin Mallory's 4th birthday which was totally up her alley. She also got to meet her newest cousin, sweet baby Turner. On Sunday, we all met Sammy (adopted from Russia by my brother and his wife) for the first time, just an adorable little guy as well. It will be so much fun for Leah to grow up with so many cousins close in age.

Princess Belle #3 drinking her "tea" and eating her yummy snacks at the birthday party

The three Belle's

Holding our new adorable nephew, Turner

Playing phone tag with Sammy

Awesome Uncle Rich ATTEMPTING to read a book....

And Aunt Rachel SUCCESSFULLY reading a book (she's got the touch)

She's All Better!

2007-08-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

We got our happy little girl back today, Leah's feeling much better and was her cheery self again. Thank goodness! In fact, she was feeling so good during bathtime, she felt like doing a work out....this video was too hilarious not to post.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This is the poor little face I've looked at all week...

2007-08-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Pretty pitiful little pout, isn't it? Baby girl has been feeling under the weather this week with a high fever and a bad sore throat. She's on the mend now, and thank goodness for that...it turns out as she's hit two and can verbilize her feelings more, she's not too keen of feeling yucky and let us know it loud and clear. Her words of choice over and over this week...."Uugghh...I hurt, Mama, I hurt".

OOhhh!

China Friends Playgroup

2007-08-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Leah and I went to our first playgroup of chinese adopted girls that will be in the same school year...we had a ball! It was so much fun to see all the girls and how much they have grown over the past year. So cute!

P.S. We missed you Lilee and Amanda! I hope you are feeling better...the next playgroup will be at our house in September, hope to see you all then!

2007-08-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

Dreams Do Come True...

2007-08-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

We had an absolutely wonderful, fun trip to Disney World and the Bahamas...Leah (and mommy and daddy)LOVED every single second of the trip.

Leah is so happy and easy going--just went with the flow of getting on planes, shuttles, monorails and boats--she was just game for anything that we threw at her. Her favorite rides in Disney World were the Pirates of the Carribean, Jungle Cruise and Small World and we must have ridden the carousel about 1,000 times. She loved meeting all the characters and the princesses so much, especially Belle. It was wonderful to experience Disney with her and we can't wait to take her back. I took about a BAZILLION pictures, but here's a few of my favorite memories...

P.S. Thank you to Grammy Re for the adorable handmade Disney outfit and all the fabulous bows...you are so incredibly talented. She looked like a doll!

I told her to say cheeseburger...and she went all out. She was the Belle of the Ball hands down in this adorable dress.

The only way to travel with a 2 year old in my personal opinion...a portable DVD player.

Disney Bound!

2007-08-07T19:31:00.001-07:00

We are boarding a plane tomorrow for a fun getaway to Disney and the Bahamas! We can't wait to experience Disney through Leah's eyes.

"Hay-Row?"

Swim Lesson--Week Four

2007-08-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

*******WARNING: Grandparents are not allowed to watch this video without protective eye wear (cover your eyes!)

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Lazy Sunday

2007-07-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

There is just nothing better to recoup from a crazy week, than a day like today when there was nothing on the agenda to do..rare days, but boy do we cherish them. We decided to take a drive to "Our Best" restaurant in Springfield, KY...a great little place to eat in a small town near Louisville, written up several times in travel magazines for it's good old-fashioned home cooking and desserts and for the thousands of business cards on the walls. Shawn was in heaven with his favorite meal of roast beef with mashed potatoes smothered in gravy and Leah was such a fan of the green beans, she licked the bowl clean (see exhibit A).

After that, there is no better way to cap off a day like this, than heading to the playground with little bitty....there is just nothing better to us than her smile.

And about 1,000 more to go (give or take a few days)...

2007-07-26T12:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2007-07-24T18:57:00.000-07:00

You're the BEST daddy (& husband) a girl could ever ask for!

I sure do look up to you...

and I think you're pretty funny too!

Make a wish!

We love you so much...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

XOXO,

The girls

Swim Lessons

2007-07-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here's some footage of Leah during her swim lessons...she is doing so well! Leah is very focused and determined, and listens to instruction...proud mama, can you tell? After she completes this course, she will have a strong foundation in swimming, know skills that will protect her from harm, and she will not need a floatation device to swim as she grows older. It's really amazing.

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Week 1 was centered around getting comfortable with "Mr. Jim" and learning how to go under water and keeping her eyes open (to look for exits in case of trouble) and mouth shut. Week 2 is teaching Leah how to float.

Go Leah Go!

Whee!

2007-07-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Many Faces of Leah

2007-07-12T17:50:00.000-07:00

No worries, she hasn't lost her mind, she's just practicing her thespian skills and showing Mama her emotion faces (happy, sad, silly, pensive, etc.), I have a favorite, which is your's?

(click on picture to enlarge)

Day 3 of swimming lessons with Mr. Jim, it is remarkable already what she is capable of doing and her determination and focus is awesome, I'll post some video soon.

2007-07-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

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2007-07-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day!

We had a great time with Grammy Re, Pop-Pop and a special visit from Uncle Rich and Aunt Rachel...Leah thinks they are the BOMB! We love you all and had so much fun with you today.

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2007-07-06T21:06:00.001-07:00

More "Happy Birthday" Attempt Footage...

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Continuing the Party...

2007-07-05T14:52:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop!

We love you very much!

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Happy Birthday America!

2007-07-04T17:51:00.001-07:00

For All the Richard Simmons Fans Out There....

2007-07-02T07:30:00.001-07:00

I know...don't you just love it? We had the opportunity to meet him this weekend when he came into town for the "World's Largest Senior Work-out", a production that is part of the 2007 Senior Games going on right now in Louisville. Shawn and I volunteered and handed out sweat bands...the most popular giveaway of the day.

And yes, that is Shawn asking Richard for his autograph (he was a closet fan...who knew?)

She's Got Something Special...

2007-07-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

When you adopt internationally and become a multi-racial family, you are no longer anonymous. The reality of our situation hits me every time I go out in the world completely forgetting my daughter is Asian (and that does happen quite a bit)and that I am Caucasian and the stares and friendly smiles remind you.

Several times a week, we'll run into someone that is completely captivated by Leah and can't resist coming up and asking questions and going beyond just the friendly smile. Those are usually people that are touched by adoption in some way, or are considering adoption and just have to know more.

We ran into a nice couple today at Cherokee park that just fell in love with Leah the moment they saw her and had to come over to ask questions and play with her. As we walked away, I couldn't help but feel that this couple was considering adoption and seeing Leah might have helped them with their decision.

Prior to making our decision to adopt a couple of years ago, we were also in Cherokee Park and discussing whether or not to adopt when a beautiful little Chinese girl in a stroller with her Caucasian father passed us and smiled the biggest, heartwarming smile at us for the longest time. We knew right then and there that we most certainly would adopt, and we knew exactly what country our child was located in.

Leah touches so many lives, and it multiplies daily, it's really incredible when you think about it. When we were saying our goodbye's to the couple today, they said the kindest things about Leah's inner and outer beauty, but my favorite thing they said was..."Gosh, you can just see the absolute joy in her eyes...what a special little girl."

We think so too.

We tried to stop her, but she just couldn't resist giving Daddy some fish lips...

VIM!

2007-06-27T19:13:00.000-07:00

...That's Leah's way of saying her favorite summer activity. She is rocking when it comes to swimming already in the pool and has no fear. She LOVES to jump off the edge and go under the water, she even kicks well on her own.

I have been wanting to get her in swim lessons, so when I saw a little girl just a little bit older than Leah swimming under the water as if she was experienced swimmer equal to a 12 year old, I just had to ask her mother, how could a child so small swim so well? She referred me to a survival training course offered in Louisville that teaches a child how to master the swim-float-swim sequence so they are able to gain confidence in the water not only for pleasure swimming but for survival. The instructor I spoke to today said tht once trained, a child will be able to swim on their own in the water, without swimmies. Wow.

It's not easy though...it's a big commitment. Each lesson is 10 minutes long, Monday through Friday. It usually takes about 4-6 weeks for the child to master the Swim-Float-Swim sequence. It is amazing to see the video on the main web site of a little baby swimming, http://www.infantswim.com/home.html.

Leah starts in 2 weeks, so stay posted for video of some of her lessons. In the meantime, here's a cute short little video of her at the beach with Daddy singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".

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She Makes Our Day...

2007-06-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

My First Hair Cut!

2007-06-19T13:54:00.001-07:00

I Love You Daddy

2007-06-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Forget the cologne, the tie and the cards, Leah strung four priceless words together this weekend for the first time...I Love You Daddy...he's mush.

Leah and I are so lucky to have such a great father and husband, thank you for all you are and do. We love you!

Have a wonderful Father's Day Pop-Pop, Yee, Uncle Brad and Uncle Andrew!

Why Daughters Need a Daddy

Because without him she will have less in life than she deserves

To help her find her way in life

To teach her to stand up for herself

To carry her just because she wants to be carried

To learn what to expect from her husband

To hold her when she cries

To show her how to fix things herself

To teach her unconditional love

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

2007-06-12T12:30:00.000-07:00