Gotcha Little Bird

Larry & Cassidy - Brad & Ava

August 22nd, 2006

One year later...


So...its a little late to be posting this...but it was one year that we got Ava last Tuesday on August 21st. One year already! One year ago, we were handed the most beautiful, serious, strong-lunged baby girl in the VERY hot, VERY humid, VERY polluted city of Chongqing. And we watched her change over that trip. First showing us the smile that said "There's more where this came from" then sitting up, then showing us her first sweet little laugh. Then we brought her home and watched her transform before our eyes. What a privilege to witness. Rolling, then crawling, then, finally, walking. All the while, charming us with her coos and her singing and her LAUGH...what was a serious and quiet baby, turned into a very silly little girl.

So, in celebration of this sweet silly little bird, we dined on chinese food (american style of course) with our friends Larry, Kyndra and Cassidy Georgeson. Cassidy is Ava's "orphanage sister"...meaning they were both brought to the orphanage around the same time and spent the first 9 months of their lives together. We met Larry & Kyndra in the San Francisco airport moments before we boarded a flight to Beijing. I knew they would be great friends when I cried about, oh, 3 minutes into our conversation about leaving my boys and they weren't scared off. :) Good people. In addition to the picture above, here are some pictures of that night.

So BIG!! (and cute, yes)

We just had to bring this hat and make Larry & Kyndra wear it. We bought it for a dollar in front of the Foribidden City. Imagine about 20 tall, white americans wearing this hat.

Proud Mommies...

Ava, we love you so much, little bird. God has put you into our nest, trusting us with your gentle & silly spirit. We pray that we only help you grow and become the girl you were meant to be! And that will be something great! You are going to be the change that we need in this world. Spread your wings baby girl....

First week of school...

Wow!! How time does fly! I mean, if there is one piece of wisdom I've heard from countless mothers it is to "enjoy them while they are young because it goes by so fast!" Now I see this bit of wisdom play out in one of a mother's hardest days known as "First Day of Kindergarten."

Jack is so big - and smart - and big - and yet so little at the same time. I see him walk up the sidewalk with all the big kids and can't help but see him in those kid's shoes in too short of time. I just want to soak it up...every minute of it.

Thank you God for such an amazing 5 years with Jack! It is hard to believe that the day You gave him to us, and he was wrapped like a little cute burrito in our arms, that someday we would walk him up that walkway to Kindergarten. We can't wait for the next 12 years and beyond!

And, Jack, thanks for being our little hero, miracle, smile, and joy. We love you so much it hurts...be good Bubba.

Summer Fun

Okay, people...we're back! In case you may be wondering what our summer has looked like, above is a picture of me in Texas (one of two times this summer) doing a concert...So needless to say, we traveled A LOT. We were going to try to take more pictures of what it meant to be us this summer, but those pictures are not of the kids and therefore, boring. But if we did, the pictures would look like this:

1) all of our luggage which we used a lot and never seemed to leave our hallways and foots of our beds
2) checks being written out to overnight babysitters (which we also used a lot)
3) Brad staying up late typing on his laptop for his new school endeavor while I try to watch what I tivo-ed
4) My severely UNCLEAN house
5) my 'bad friend' award that should be hanging on the wall :)
6) my very empty refrigerator
7) me in a Starbucks apron

Yes, you read that right...I gave it a four month try in an attempt to latch onto this EXCEPTIONAL insurance that they have...yes, its good, if you can get 20 hours a week. But our schedule and the management didn't see eye to eye, so instead of being aptly insured, I just ended up being completely and utterly exhausted most of the time from my shifts ranging in starting times from 4:15am to 6am. All in all, a good experience (I know how to make the drink I like for much CHEAPER) but my kids are more important to me.

We did take up family biking this summer - which we have loved but don't have NEARLY enough time to do it - so here are the babies in all their biking finery (minus their eye-blinding spandex outfits :))

One thing we did get to do this summer was see Ava's "orphanage sisters" at the Chinese Children Adoption International's Annual Reunion. What a great time! The below picture was one of about 10 that I took...this one turned out somewhat the best...Its hard to get five sweaty, energetic kids to sit still and look to one place. From left to right - Katelyn, Ava, Cassidy, Marisa, and Joscelin...

Well...we figured this attempt at getting back on track would be a good effort, albeit short, and we look forward to keeping you all more posted as we go along!