Reunion Weekend

We just had a great weekend in New Braunfels, Texas with nine other families that we traveled to China with last year. It was great fun to see everyone and to see how everyone's children have grown. The girls are all around 2-3 now and a barrel of fun.

We spent the weekend floating the river, visiting the water park, eating, see the animals at the Natural Bridge Animal Park and trying to stay cool. And we also tried to catch up on the happenings of the past year. Audrey loved the water and loved the animals! The weekend went so quickly and just when the kids were all warming up to each other it was time to travel home. We have plans to make this an annual event--visiting the home states of all the girls eventually.

Thanks again to my great friend Stephanie for all the hard work in hosting this year's reunion. And to everyone else for making the event a success!

Here are a few photos of her and some of the girls.

Growing Up

Hello Everyone

As we approach summer I am reminded how I always looked forward to those few months off --vacations, swimming pools and hot, hot days of trying to be very still so you could cool down just a bit. I still feel the same sense of excitement--without the few months off. Can't wait until Audrey has those school breaks and the few months of freedom that make those summer days so great!

Audrey is growing rapidly and talking non-stop! Next month we are traveling to New Braunfels, Texas to reunite with most of the 11 families we traveled to China with last year. Should be a great time--can't wait to see how all the kids have changed. Look for some great photos from that weekend. Until then, I'll leave you with a few shots of Audrey--enjoy!

Hello Everyone

We recently had a great weekend of fun with our friends the Stephanie and Truitt and their daughter Harper. All of them traveled to China at the same time we did to bring their daughter home. During the weekend we also celebrated our one year "Gotcha Day" with a few friends. This will probably be the main day we celebrate for Audrey's birthday each year. Kind of the half year birthday--but also Gotcha Day and it will help spread the celebrations around the year instead of everything in December.

We had a great visit and the girls really enjoyed meeting each other again--now they really can play and interact with each other. So here are a few photos to enjoy. We should have a lot more after Easter this weekend as well.

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!