3 Word Wednesday...

ALL...
TUCKERED...OUT...

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.

Meant to Be...

After my blahblahblah from yesterday, I thought I would sum it up with this...

Happy 10 months Mei Mei!

We've come a long way baby!

From Across the Ocean...

At this moment I am studying the words of a beautiful letter. A letter sent from across the ocean to our family via my Inbox. It begins "Greetings from China" and is filled with joy, sadness and hope. It is a letter from Mei Mei's foster family.

A few weeks ago I sent an email knowing they may never receive it but hopeful they would some day check the account they gave me the day we met. And now I'm reading their words. Some of it is lost in translation but I can feel the emotion in their words. I can tell that even six months later they are still so sad that she is gone. I can only imagine it to be like losing someone you love. One day they are here. The next day they are gone.

You see, they did what I can't imagine doing as a Mother. They loved a beautiful little girl for ten months. They gave of themselves to give her what she needed. Then they placed her in the hands of complete strangers and they let her go. Yes, they knew that was part of the job description but I can't imagine that made it any easier. They loved her and then they let her go. You can hear their broken hearts within their words. They want to know if she is eating? Is she sleeping? What are her living conditions? I'm here rejoicing at how far she (and we) have come in 6 months and they are going to bed every night wondering if we are feeding her or if she is safe? Can you imagine? As a Mother, my heart is so broken for this precious family. We are rejoicing in their sadness. It feels so unfair.

Today I am reminded that Mei Mei's life did not begin the day they placed her in our arms. Her life began 18 months before we touched her sweet face. Another woman an ocean away carried her within her womb. An entire foster home of nannies nursed her back to health. A foster mother rocked her to sleep at night--every night--for ten months. She knew that she loves broccoli. She knew that her little head sweats when she gets upset. She knew the joy of her laughter and the flash of her cheeky smile long before we did. How incredibly thankful we are for these amazing people who gave their hearts to our daughter without asking anything in return.

I know some day we will have to explain all of this to Mei Mei. How do you do that as a parent? How do I tell my daughter I know NOTHING about her birth. How do I explain to her that she had a foster family in China who dearly loved her but could not be her parents? How will I help her process the loss she has already experienced in her life. I can't imagine it right now. Please God give us the words when that day arrives.

And now I have to hit reply. Somehow I have to reassure these precious people that our love for Mei Mei is very real. I'm not sure how to do that but I will do my best to try.

(included in email--photo taken 5-1-2009)

Mei Mei's Ladybug Picnic...

Come on--sing it with me...
1-2-3, 4-5-6, 7-8-9, 10-11-12...
12 ladybugs at the ladybug picnic

Actually, there were 28 ladybugs at the ladybug picnic and it was simply adorable if I do say so myself. I've been planning this party in my head for way too long. Since this was our first birthday celebration together I wanted to be sure it was super special. Obviously she is just two and will not remember it later but hopefully the photos will speak for themselves.
It was a beautiful spring day so at the last minute we decided to have the party outside. Too bad the wind showed up and changed the plan mid party. It's never a good thing when plates are blowing over and tablecloths are flying in the air. Bad idea. Oh well. Back inside for a few gifts.

It didn't take her long to remember what to do with that pretty paper...

Of course, she had a few "helpers" who couldn't resist...
"Ni Hao Kailan. It's me--Mei Mei. I love you." So sweet...Gifts? Check. Now time for cake. This girly LOVES to eat and she has quite the sweet tooth.
I called her "the cupcake stalker" all afternoon. Mmmmm...
Lighting the candles? Her face said it all. Ummmm...hello? Why is there a flaming cupcake inches from my face and no one seems to have a problem with it? The Happy Birthday song? That was the funniest part. When we started to sing "Happy Birthday" she told Gi-Gi, who was singing in her ear, to "shhhhh". I guess she's been watching a little too much American Idol. We tried to coax her into blowing out the candles but she was having no part of it. I think she was still trying to figure out why we thought this was a good idea. Wild Man and Little Miss came to her rescue and when they blew them out she clapped under the table. I'm pretty sure she thought a flaming cupcake was a bad choice on our part. Maybe next year. Once the candles were long gone she got down to business.

I only took 37 photos of her eating a cupcake before I got "the look". Seriously Mom. Seriously. It's just a cupcake. This was taken shortly before bedtime as we were winding down from Mei Mei's big day. You know it is a great party when everyone still looks happy at the end. TIRED but happy. The smile on Mei Mei's face says it all.
Last year on this day we "met" Mei Mei for the first time. One year later we celebrated her second birthday together. I am continually amazed by the blessings we have been given over the past year. Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Mei Mei! You'll always be our little ladybug.

The Ladybug Picnic Preview...

I've had several people email asking for more details about the party. I am happy to share...

Ladybug and Daisy dress: Little Sweetie Boutique
Invitations: poem written and invitation designed by me
Happy Birthday banner: created by using scrapbook paper and ribbon
Party Circles: The TomKat Studio (printed, punched with 2" scallop punch and taped to lollipop sticks by me)
Themed Partyware: Modern Ladybug theme from Swanky Chics (mixed with other solid colored items)
Party Favors: Chinese take out boxes filled with sidewalk chalk and bubbles
Ribbon and scrapbook paper: Hobby Lobby (wait for 50% off sale)
Ladybug accessories: currently in garden section of Hobby Lobby (wait for 50% off sale)
Beverage dispenser: Crate and Barrel a few years ago
Menu (red/black/white/yellow/green):
--Ladybug bites with BBQ and polynesian sauce (chicken bites from Chik-fil-A)
--Polka dot pasta salad (red & yellow peppers, black olives, broccoli, sharp cheddar, Italian dressing)
--Deli Spirals
--Blue corn tortilla chips and salsa
--Ladybugs on a stick (halved strawberries, mini chocolate chips & blueberries on a toothpick)
--Red Twizzlers
--Chocolate cupcakes with white buttercream
--Ladybug sundaes (premade/refrozen: strawberry ice cream sprinkled with mini chocolate chips & Twizzler "antennaes")

I love to plan parties and this one was one of my favorites. If you have more questions feel free to email me. Happy Party Planning!

Happy Referral-aversary Mei Mei...

This time last year we didn't even know her face. We were praying for a miracle and chasing ladybugs in between.I had no idea March 27th would be the day. THE day we would hear the name of our daughter uttered for the very first time.Zhan Yang Su was her Chinese name. SHE was the one with the deep soulful eyes that stared back at us from the computer screen.
SHE was the one dressed in PINK with a little bald head and the smirky grin.
SHE was our daughter. SHE was their sister. SHE was the answer to many fervent prayers.
That morning we boarded one of the craziest roller coaster rides of our lives. One year ago at 11:23 am we became the proud parents of little "calm ocean" from Guangdong province. I cried tears of joy I didn't know I had within me in the days following her referral. The kind of tears you shed when you realize you've just witnessed and, in this case, been a tiny part of an enormous miracle. We have grown so much as a family over the past six months. We've taken many steps forward (and a few steps back) but more importantly we've done it all together as a family.

To our sweet and beautiful Mei Mei--
This day marks one of the best days of our lives. Thank you for being such a brave little girl, accepting us as your family and allowing us to see more and more of the real Mei Mei. Happy Referral-a-versary sweet girl. We love you all the way to China and back again a million times.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Wild Man and Little Miss

Happy 2nd Birthday Mei Mei...

Today is Mei Mei's second birthday and her first birthday in the arms of her forever family. I still can not believe this time last year we didn't know her face. We didn't know where she lived or who she was but I felt certain that she was already born.

One day after her first birthday we received her referral...
and fell in love with the girl in the puffy suit with the beautiful eyes. Shortly after I discovered Mei Mei was being cared for by True Children's Home and within 72 hours of meeting her face, we awoke to these photographs in my Inbox...


What a miracle we had been given. You see, our little one didn't spend her first birthday alone in an orphanage as I had imagined. She spent it with cake, presents and people who loved her. In the world of China adoption, THAT was a miracle! Her miracle. Our miracle.

A few days later we celebrated her first birthday here on our side of the planet... along with Daddy's 31st...
and we imagined what it would be like to celebrate her 2nd birthday together in 2010. Fast forward one year and here we are. First thing this morning we sang Happy Birthday to her as we always do in this family. She smiled the smile that steals our hearts. The one with the crinkly nose, scrunched up eyes and her head thrown back in laughter. We all smiled the same smile back at her and she laughed even more. My how far she has come in six months. I'm sure I'll say the same thing next year on this day. I'm sure it will be just as true then as it is now.

And today of all days I am thinking of her birth mother. The woman who carried her within her womb. The woman who made a decision I can not fathom. I wonder if she is thinking of her today. I wish I had the opportunity to tell her how much we love Mei Mei. How our love for her grows with each passing day. I wish there was some way for her to know that Mei Mei is living within the circle of a real family. I wish I could tell her that we will make sure she is loved every day for the rest of her life. I wish, more than anything, I could say thank you. I pray that God will grant her peace if she is seeking it today and in the years to come.

Happy 2nd Birthday Mei Mei! Two years of life, six months together as a family and a lifetime to go. You have rocked our world, changed our tune and made our hearts grow in ways we could not have imagined. We love you all the way to China and back again a million times. We are so excited to celebrate the blessing and miracle you are to us and those who know you. Let the party weekend BEGIN!