A Moment to Remember

It's hard to believe that it has been an entire year since we were handed a sweaty little bundle of China-Baby. In some ways it seems like it was just a few weeks ago, but in other ways it's hard to remember a life before she was a part of it, or as Lyle Lovett says: "Seems like she's always just been hanging here on my right arm."

I remember the day that we received her "mug-shot" pictures from the orphanage and got our first look at the baby that would become our daughter, and tried to imagine who she was and what she was like based solely on two tiny photographs. Looking back it is almost comical to think about what we expected, in the photos she is a chubby little stoic-looking kid. I remember asking her orphanage director if she ever laughed or smiled because she always seemed so somber in the few pictures we had seen. He laughed and said that she was a happy baby, and sure enough she has smiled pretty much non-stop since we got her. It is almost like she has an air that radiates around her that people are attracted to, we have never been anywhere that someone hasn't approached us and told us what a sweet child we have. Of course, since most of you have been around her, you know that already.

That long trip to China, taking her from the only life that she had ever known, those first few excruciating days when she could hardly stand to look at me...knowing now what I didn't know then would make me do every bit of it over again. Audrey has blossomed in ways that I never would have imagined, best being that she has finally figured out how much fun Da-Da is. I still rank a distant second behind Mom...OK, probably also fall behind "Granny" and "Poppa" in terms of popularity, but compared to those early days I will take it in a heartbeat. I don't know if it is nature or nurture, but Audrey likes the same things we like, loves the same foods as us, and has the same sort of temperment that we do. Her favorite things in the world are reading books, and being outside, and she is fascinated by any and all types of animals. She can already count to ten on her own, recognizes and with help can spell her name, and knows her a.b.c's. We are truly lucky to have been given the honor of caring for this amazing little girl.

Because Audrey's birthday falls smack in the midst of holiday season we have chosen to celebrate "Gotcha Day" the way most people would celebrate their actual birthday. But instead of giving gifts we would ask that you follow this link and make a small donation in honor of Audrey and all of her "sisters" who were cared for in Chinese orphanages so that those who need that same care in the future will have as much comfort as possible during their stay. Even if you only donate $5.00, it could mean an extra blanket or toy for a child who is waiting to find a family. http://www.halfthesky.org/

Thank you all for being a part of this first year, and we look forward to many, many more.

oops forgot the photos

One year since that first photo!

It has been one year since we got that first precious little photo of Audrey. Wow has she changed. Everyday she makes us laugh with her great personality and the many new words that she has added to her vocabulary. Some of our favorites: bu bu (butter--a favorite treat), Wil wie (our cat Willie), Hi Pa Pa (greeting to my dad), schooo schoo (what she says the moment we spot her little school down the street) and canny (candy, another favorite treat just like her mom). Here are a few more recent photos so you can see how much she has changed too.

A new Rockin' Horse from Granny and Pops. A new OSU Orange Swimsuit from Cousin Taylor.

My very own Rody to ride from my friend Brenda.

So this is why we hung up those stockings--candy!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

Hello All

What fun Christmas is with a two-year old! We had a wonderful day with each other and our family and Audrey enjoyed every part of Christmas. We spent every evening hearing the echo of lights, lights, lights from the backseat--our neighborhood really goes all out to decorate their homes and Audrey appreciated even the most over-top ones. At home it was tree, tree--and to my surprise not one broken glass ornament. I took a chance that she would enjoy all of our detailed ornaments, prepared to sacrifice at least one from a low hanging branch--but I am proud to say that they all lived to enjoy another holiday!

Christmas day was a joy. We did not have to arise too early, but when we finally made it downstairs she was quite excited about all the toys that Santa had brought. (now I might add she is not too impressed with Santa himself, but she did like the gifts)

I will let you enjoy these photos and I will post a few more the next couple of days. Hope your holidays were happy as well.

Well it is almost Christmas and I am quite bogged down with work and getting ready for the holidays--retail can be brutal or at least all consuming of your free time! So no Christmas cards yet and a whole lot of other things that won't get done, but I thought I would post a few more recent fall photos of Audrey. Perhaps I will have some time in the next few days to post 1st Christmas photos too.

Our China Baby Turns Two!

When you wake up at 6 a.m. it is no fun--even if it is your birthday!

Well it is hard to believe that Audrey is two.

The time goes so quick, yet all of her language development, growth spurt and fondness for the word "no" tells us--yes, she is two. We celebrated in a low-key way as we are hoping to make her annual "birthday event" in March to coincide with her Gotcha Day on the 24th. It is hard to have a December birthday and probably would be more fun to have a celebration in the spring anyway. But we wanted to commemorate her 2nd birthday and the first one with us in some way, so friends from our neighborhood stopped by for cupcakes in the afternoon and then we visited Granny and Pops and the cousins in the evening. You can never have too much cake--so we enjoyed it several times that day and again the next day when Audrey took treats for her school friends.

She knew the day was special and can quickly answer the question--"how old are you?" with "I two" and two little fingers in the air. In the beginning she would hold out her had so one of us could fold down her thumb and fingers to leave two fingers up, but now she has mastered that as well.

Every day she still amazes us with her happy personality, good-natured attitude and sense of humor--we are truly lucky to have her with us. These milestones remind us how quickly the time goes.

Enjoy the photos!