And More Birthdays!

The parties just keep going and going! Last weekend we celebrated Patrick's, my mom's and my nieces birthday and tonight we celebrated my mother in laws. It is also my Nephews 15th Birthday today. I can't believe I have a 15 year old nephew!!

Lily's new trick this week is saying "momma", which is music to my ears. Sometimes she says it when she is looking for me, sometimes she says it and then runs into my arms but mostly is is said with a little whiny tone. Even with the whine I love hearing it!! I am anxious for her to use a few more words but she does have the sign for "more" and "all done" and I am sure the other words are not far behind. She is tolerating me going to the gym a few times a week and seems to enjoy the daycare a bit more each time. I am still only keeping her there for about 30 minutes but she is probably ready for longer, I just don't know if I am ready for more exercise! I can't believe how fast the time is going. I saw a baby at the gym this week who was 8 months old and I realized that was the age Lily was when we got her in China. The baby I saw looked so little and still such a baby and I know that Lily was like that but she seems so much older now. The infant stage lasted such a short time and now we have a very busy toddler on our hands!!

Lily and Tommy LOVE the ball game!

Finally, a sippy cup she will drink from!

Lily and her cousin Addison in their new shades.

Lily loves her Papa Jeff!

Happy Birthday Pat! He also just turned 29..again!

Still Here!

I can't believe its been so long since my last post! Thank you Debbie for reminding me to get with the program. If you get a chance go read her blog and say a prayer for her sweet Hannah! We've been busy since Lily's birthday celebrating more birthdays. We had my birthday, cousin Tommy's 1st birthday, today is Papa Tom's birthday and then Friday is Pat's and then a weekend of more family birthdays including my mom and niece!! Lily should really know the birthday song after this weekend. The boys had their Feb. vacation and we took them skiing for a few days and my parents joined us allowing Pat and I to both ski. I spent the last month and a half interviewing for a job but in the end had to turn down the offer because the compensation was just not enough to make it worth me being away from the kids 20 hours a week. I think it was the right decision and now I feel like I am out if limbo and can start a new routine..including get back to the gym. Lily is not loving the gym but we are taking it slow until she gets more comfortable. Lily continues to be an amazing child and is now WALKING everywhere and I think she tried to run today! Being up and about also means a few more falls and bumps and bruises; which allows Lily to really show us how dramatic she can be. I was able to slowly transition her to whole milk after being intolerant in the beginning and she continues to be a very healthy eater. Lily is babbling a lot and especially in her crib before she goes to sleep..it is very cute. On my birthday I received the best present I could ask for and she said "momma". Saying momma is not a daily occurrence but I will take it when I get it. Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks but unfortunately they are not great because my camera is broken and I have to use my video camera. I really need to work on getting my camera fixed so I can capture all the great moments with the kids!

Mommy and Lily on mommy's 29th birthday.

Preview of Easter outfits

Walking to big brother Shea

Tommy and his cousins

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Lily is a one year old girl...no longer an infant but a toddler!! Everyday she is walking more than the day before and her laugh and giggles get a little louder. We celebrated with a spaghetti and meatball dinner..as you tell she really enjoys her Italian. Today was a day that I thought a lot about being Thankful. I am so thankful for:

The beautiful baby that entered our lives on October 20, 2008.

That Lily's birth mother choose Life.

That China has allowed us the privilege to parent one of their daughters.

That Lily was well cared for and loved in the Yugan Orphanage.

That Lily only spent 8.5 months in the orphanage.

That we were able to be together for 3.5 months before her first birthday. This was truly a gift!

That we saw Lily's first tooth, Christmas, step, word, clap, kiss, point and her first birthday!

That Lily loves to be hugged, cuddled, rocked and kissed!

That she has two wonderful big brothers who love and protect her!

Even with all that I have to be thankful for I can't help but feel some sadness today. Sadness that a women and maybe a family are grieving for the daughter they let go a year ago today. Sadness that Lily's birth mom will never know how loved and safe her daughter is. My only wish is that somehow this birth mom will someday feel peace about her decision. I am so thankful that I have Lily Mei Chun as a daughter.

Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Lily's first Birthday with our family. We will have a family dinner on Thursday on the actual day of her birthday but today was a fun day with all of Lily's cousins. Lily did not know what to think of the cake. She is doing so well with everything and has new tricks for us daily. Last night she was really walking, like 6 steps at a time and it was just adorable! Now that she is almost 1 we thought it was time to say goodbye to that very early 4am bottle. The first night went smoothly but the second night she was defiantly looking for it. I always say it takes three nights to change habits so I think we will have one more tough night and then she will forget all about it; at least that is what I am really hoping for! Enjoy the pictures of the most adorable 1 year old baby girl from today and this past week.

Daddy's Little Girl

Happy New Year

Chinese New Year started on Monday January 26th. It is the year of the ox, the year Patrick was born. We started the New Year off with a small party for Wren's (99er) birthday / CNY party. It was so great to finally celebrate CNY with Lily and the rest of the girls from the 99ers. January 26th also marked three years since our paperwork was logged in at the CCAA. It was nice not to have to celebrate 3 years of waiting and instead just celebrate each day I have with our daughter and how she has enriched our lives. It is amazing how perfect Lily is for our family and the love our whole family has for Lily just overflows. Lily now has 3 teeth with the fourth one begging to break through! We are now officially in teething mode and she is been extra fussy and it appears as though teething is worse from 1am-3am. Unfortunately, my camera has not worked properly since the ski trip so I am low on pictures. This weekend we are celebrating Lily's' first birthday and hopefully I'll have some cute pictures after the weekend. Happy New Year!

3 Month Together

It was 3 months ago today that we were in Jiangxi, China and Lily was placed in our arms. We were awake very early that morning because we were so excited and anxious for what was to happen at 10:00AM. I remember sitting in the lobby of the hotel and I was just talking and talking..I think Patrick, Kathy, Erik, Dave & Sandy had to tolerate my nervous chatter! We finally were able to get on the bus for the 10 minute bus drive to the Provincial office were we would meet our daughter for the first time. We walked into the building and took an elevator to the 26th floor and then we waited again. The babies were being brought to us by the orphanage staff and they were running a little late. We used that time to prepare bottles, cameras and to get the toys ready. We had no idea how Lily would react to us. The girls finally arrived and we were the 3rd family called. I remember seeing her and thinking she looks just like her picture but her cheeks were all red. Lily was placed into my arms and she snuggles right in, she was a perfect fit. I never want to forget those first moments..I had waited so long for that moment! I think back to those first few days and it is only now that I realize how shut down Lily was. In the three months we have been together her true personality has really expressed itself. Lily has brought so much joy to our family..and honestly I would wait all over again to have this precious child in our lives.

Hitting The Slopes

We took our first family vacation as a family of five. We went up to Sunday River for a few days of skiing and overall I think it was a success. Lily did great during the 4 hour car drive and sleeping in her Pack and Play, both of which I was nervous about. I was surprised at how well she slept the first night and then we had a tragedy. We lost Taggie! Taggie is her blanket that she has formed a strong attachment to and I did not realize how strong until it was lost. We got very little sleep the 2nd night and Lily was clearly looking for it. Luckily the next morning someone at the ski school found Taggie outside in the snow and we had a great 3rd night! What is interesting is that she has 2 Taggies but prefers the one that I had slept with for a few months before she came home. Next time we go away I will pack both Taggies just in case we have another disaster. The boys did great skiing. They both did 3 days of ski school and by the third day Brcye could go up the chair lift and ski down the mountain..very exciting!!I now have 2 skiers in the family. Unfortunately, Patrick did not get much skiing in because he decided to spend quality time with Lily. We decided not to put Lily in the daycare and thought we would just switch off. I ended up skiing all 3 days and it was wonderful! Thank you Patrick!!

We have been home for 2 days and Lily has taken her first steps!! She took a few steps independently tonight and we are so excited!! I am hoping to capture it on video tomorrow. Stay tuned..

Lily enjoying lunch at the Foggy Goggle with mom and dad; our favorite slopeside restaurant! Lily learned how to blow kisses..so sweet!

Shea coming down the mountain slow and steady. Shea is the taller one.

Bryce coming down the mountain fast and furious.