Flat Little Miss Goes Out to Play...

This week Little Miss had a preschool project based on the book Flat Stanley. If you will remember from last year, she already had a Flat Little Miss that traveled to China with us... So now she has two Flat Little Miss people--2009 and 2010. Unfortunately we didn't have time for Flat Little Miss worldwide tour 2010 so she had to settle for the local tour of playdates... and a late night with her "twin"...
Obviously she made Flat Little Miss 2010 all by herself and did a pretty impressive job of making her look like herself. She is wearing a "monogran" dress, a hairbow and a smile on her face. Yep. That's our girl.

Celebrating Forever Family Day!

Tonight we celebrated our first Forever Family Day the way most Chinamerican families do. Chinese food, of course. I know a few people who thought this idea was absolutely brilliant...
And to top the cake we indulged in a few treats from J's Bakery. No celebration would be complete without yummy treats, right? Yummmmmm...
Happy Forever Family Day to all of us but especially to our little noodle head! What a difference a year can make!

Happy Forever Family Day Mei Mei!

Dear Mei Mei,

Exactly one year ago, at 3 pm China time, we officially became a forever family of 5. It seems like yesterday we were sitting in the Civil Affairs Building waiting for your name to be called. I remember it as if it were yesterday. There you were behind the curtain sitting quietly on a little stool. We were overjoyed to see you, a living breathing little person, instead of the still photographs we had memorized during our wait. Our hearts were about to explode in anticipation. A bittersweet day for all of us...

I have replayed those moments many times over the past year. It was like being in the delivery room with 46 families as we all became parents simultaneously. Loud. Chaotic. Sweltering HEAT. Crying babies. Emotional Mommy's and Daddy's. Lots of Cantonese. A guide trying to keep it all together. In a nutshell, sheer pandemonium.

I remember the look on your face when you were handed to your Daddy. I remember your cry and the fear in your eyes. I remember how tiny you felt in my arms. I remember how Mrs. Jenny whispered in my ear, "She will be ok...just give her time." I remember the prayers I prayed over you... "Lord, please comfort her in a way I can't. Lord, please tell her YOU will love her forever...and so will we. Lord, please help us know how to help her." I remember feeling so ill equipped to be your Mommy but knowing with certainty that you were the daughter of our hearts.

We've had quite a year. Many firsts. Many prayers. Many moments. Many struggles. Many snuggles. Many confirmations. Many aha moments. You have come SO far but then again so have the rest of us. Slowly but surely we have woven together as a family of 5. We have been blessed to watch you blossom into a smart, funny, joyful, dramatic, loving and full of life little girl. You've made us love deeper and taught us more than we ever could have taught you over the past year. The day we became your family is one of the most joyful and miraculous days of our lives. Someday you may choose not to celebrate this day and if that is your wish we will certainly honor it. Whatever your decision may be, we will always quietly give thanks for September 14th and the privilege of being chosen to be your family... forever.

Happy Forever Family Day Mei Mei!
We love you all the way to China and back again...

Meeting Dr. C...

Today was Mei Mei's first visit with our pediatric dentist, Dr. C. Rightfully so in my opinion, Mei Mei is not fond of strangers looking inside her mouth in any shape, form or fashion. That alone made it a "prepare for the worst--hope for the best" kind of morning. When it was all said and done, she showed Dr. C her "chompers" with pride and bravery. She had a full set of xray's and an exam with only a few tears. We were SO proud of her! The verdict is still out as to the extent of dental and orthodontic work she will need in the future. We really will not know more until her mouth has time to grow and her permanent teeth begin to emerge. For now Dr. C said everything looks great and we are so thankful! To end our eventful morning, Little Miss taught her everything she needed to know about Dr. C's prize cart. What did she choose from 200 little trinket toy possibilities? A purple monkey and a faux 50 carat sparkly ring. Her sister has taught her well.

September 12: an extraordinary day

On 9-12-09 the Chief and I planted our feet upon the GREAT Wall of China...
I still get butterflies when I think of that day...
What an AMAZING site to behold...
Positively breathtaking...
A dream became a reality...
it was FINALLY our turn...
Really, truly, magnificently, extraordinarily one of the most memorable days of my life...


One year later on 9-12-10 we stood beside this little guy...
our firstborn...our Wild Man...the one who made us Mommy and Daddy...
Once again...butterflies...but for an entirely different reason...
Once again...an AMAZING site to behold...Once again...POSITIVELY BREATHTAKING...
Once again...a dream became reality...
Really, truly, magnificently, extraordinarily one of the most memorable days of my life...
(and for the record, the Great Wall of China is nothing in comparison to 9-12-2010!)

I have prayed for this day since I knew of his existence. The day our son would freely choose to love and serve the God who created him. That day came on July 27, 2010. Today was his day to tell the world. For most of his life, Jeremiah 29:11 has been etched upon my Mommy heart specifically for this child. It says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Today that verse became alive and active before our eyes. Thank you Lord for the blessing of September 12th...our extraordinary day.

Dear Wild Man,

We are rejoicing with you tonight on one of the most significant days of your life. Without a doubt, no life decision will be ever be more important than the one you shared with the world today. We are so proud of the young man you are becoming. We can not wait to see the plans God has in store for your life.

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy

Flashback: 9-9-09

One year ago at this moment the Chief and I were seated here...upon this very large metal tube...
flying about 33,000 feet somewhere above the North Pole...
While we watched Everybody Loves Raymond for the 25th time and envied every sleeping passenger around us, BusinessFirst treated us like royalty...I'm pretty sure if you take photos of your food in BusinessFirst...
and how much leg room you REALLY have...they automatically know you don't belong there. We survived our 14.5 hour flight without sleep, medication, quarantine or a need for the mini bar...
Mission Accomplished!

Our Ballerina Girl...

I have...

ahem...

Little Miss has been dreaming of this special day for most of her life. The day she would officially step into a pair of ballet slippers and become a "real ballerina".
I had...

ahem...

Little Miss had a great plan for her first day of "ballerina lessons".

New tights. CHECK. {I bought the wrong ones but she didn't know}

New pink leotard. CHECK!

First pair of ballet slippers. CHECK!!

Hair in the cutest little bun you've ever seen. CHECK!!!

Pink toes. CHECK x 10!!!!
Our little ballerina girl RAN down the sidewalk to "dancing class" as fast as she could. She paused only for a moment to oblige her Mommy (who was innocently bribering offering her a piece of candy if she would let Mommy take just ONE picture)...
Mission Accomplished.

Our Little Miss...

now officially our "ballerina girl". How did she grow up so fast? She is not happy that Mei Mei isn't going to be a "real ballerina" this year BUT she has big plans for next year. Coming in Fall 2011...according to Little Miss...the Womble "Ballerina Twins". I LOVE LOVE LOVE that my girl thinks that is possible. ;-)
PS: If anyone knows how to convince a four year old that it's OK to wear tights and a leotard without pan-ties, please let me know. Someday I'll be glad she finds that appalling, right?