Gotcha Two Years!

Tomorrow is our 2 year anniversary of "gotcha day" for Ally. Can't believe it's been two years already. As you can see, Al is happy and loving life. We are humbled to be her family. Short post, but just wanted you to have an update. Big Sister, Lindsay, is most proud of all! Cheryl

Gotcha One Year!

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of "Gotcha Day". Ally has been with us 1 year, but it seems like she's always been part of our family. As you can see from her 2 yr old portrait (thanks, Dad!), she is happy and healthy. I could write buckets about her --- but suffice to say, we are grateful and thank God for both our girls. Lindsay was born to be a big sister. We're very blessed.

All Smiles

As you can see, Ally is all smiles! It would take me too long to tell you about how well she's doing. She's more than we could ever have asked for! She's funny, smart and has a LOT of personality. She LOVES music -- ANY kind of music.......even singing to her as best you can is ok -- she just tries to sing with you. She has learned many words and knows what we're saying and asking her to do. The funniest is when you ask her what a sheep says......"Baaaa".

As you can see, we're thankful and blessed. Lindsay is doing great as a 1st grader. More pictures of her later -- she is minus a couple more teeth!

Update

I finally have found the time (and remembered) to post new pictures of our family.  Some of you have seen these, but many of you haven't.  Ally continues to just flourish.  It's been over a month since I've posted, so much has happened.  I think, though, to sum it up -- Ally really just fits our family and we are just enjoying her.  When we first brought her home, she was very quiet, introverted and shy.  She was happy to just sit on our lap and take everything in -- but didn't want to go very far or get very far from us.  She was "easy".  NOW......she has learned what her "forever family" means.......that she can cry (or yell!) and we will come running. That there are toys -- and when she gets bored, there are more toys --- again, if she just "summons" us.  

I have to admit, we probably run to her too quickly, but we'll figure all that out.  We are enjoying spoiling her and making up for lost time.  Lindsay is the best big sister and is enjoying the summer with Ally.  We have a great babysitter that helps Michael, so he has time to oversee his business and have a little "Michael time" when he really needs it.

Am posting a few updated pictures.  Lindsay graduated from her Montessori primary class about 4 days after we returned from China -- some of the pictures are of that event.

Again, thanks to all of you -- especially my email friends on the China adoption web sites --- who continue to write and share stories.  I pray you'll all find the child that was meant for you.....it's the best life!  Cheryl

Still Digging Out!

I haven't posted in a few days.......just too many things to get accomplished!  Many of you who have been here know the drill......trying to settle in, unpack, do mountains of laundry -- all while incredibly jet lagged!    We are, thankfully, getting back to some sort of routine and we all slept relatively normal hours last night.  Ally is the Champ -- goes to bed at the right time and sleeps 10 hours!  What a blessing!  

Not a long post today......just wanted to put up this picture of the Chinese officials who came on the airplane when we flew from the US to China.  I think I already blogged this, but they took everyone's temperature with a forehead scanner -- so it took about 90 minutes or so before we could get off the plane.  Don't know if they're still doing this or not, but if you're traveling anytime soon, this is what you may experience!  At the end of the day, it was all worth it!

New US Citizen!

We arrived at Newark last night around 5:30pm.....after about 24 hours of travel.  Those of you who have done this before know the drill.  Actually, we were more fortunate than other adoptive families that we met along the way because many of them still had another flight within the US to get home.  We had a 2 hour car ride to CT, which wasn't too bad -- especially because we could all sleep!   Our day started the morning before around 6:30am when our guide picked us up to go to the Guangzhao airport.  Continental airlines did not have Ally's lap seat (even though I'd called days before to book it) -- so that was a real hassle both at the Guangzhao and Beijing airports.  But - we got through all that and took two flights to get home (first was on China Southern).  The girls both are such good travelers - such a blessing. We had extra room for Ally to lay down and sleep on the long flight, which also was a good thing. She's a great sleeper!  

The picture is of me taking her to her new room for the first time last night.  We were jet lagged and tired - so pictures aren't extensive -- but at least you can see that we're home.  The journey was amazing and it all really hasn't set in yet that Ally is really ours and we are really home.    It became a bit more real this morning when we took Lindsay to school......she was excited to see her friends and excited for everyone to meet her baby sister.  Everyone at Lindsay's school just loves her so much (which is why we love the school!) and they all couldn't wait to meet Ally.  It was her first warm welcome to CT!

We will keep posting during the days ahead......I think Michael may put some of his photography on that we just didn't take the time to post while we were gone. He's an amazing photographer and really captured some great moments.  I would also again like to thank my friend, Gayle, in St. Louis.  If not for her - we would not have had the blog and couldn't have shared our story with you.  One last word for today ......I know many of you following along are waiting for your little ones from China.  My encouragement to you today is -- don't give up!  It will happen at the right time -- and the wait is all worth it!  Cheryl

A Real Family Day

This will be our last post from China. We had a wonderful day of just being a family, as you can see from the pictures. After breakfast, Lindsay went swimming in the rooftop pool at the hotel . It was warm and Ally and I cheered her on from the deck. It was good "kid time" for her. She has had to hang with so many "grown up " things this trip......We are praying Ally is at least half the traveler Lindsay is!

We were picked up by our guide and driver in the afternoon and taken to the American Consulate, where Ally's paperwork for her visa was completed. We took the oath - and just like that - the adoption was final! She will be a US citizen when we go thru customs in the US at Newark. Not a very glamorous place -- but it will look like heaven to us by then, I'm sure!

Thanks to all of you for following. Your prayers, kind words, etc., mean the world to us -- especially a world away. We couldn't ask for a smoother trip - one we've been determined to enjoy every day. We are embedding these memories in our brains - and writing down the Lord's faithfulness to us at every turn.......so we can pass these memories on to Ally (and remind Lindsay of them). It's hard to believe we've only had her in our family for a little more than a week.....she just fits like a glove. More when we get back to the US..Cheryl