Saturday, March 9, 2013
July 26th: THE Red Couch and Other Crazy Ideas...
It is a great idea. I love the couch. I love the couch pictures. They are infamous amidst the Chinese Adoption community. A few of these infamous pictures are perfectly crafted with 5-10 beautiful sweet babies sitting happily on a deep red couch posing for the camera and smiling from cheek to cheek. The rest of the pictures look something like....this....
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a BIG supporter of the red couch picture. It is tradition. It is perfectly lovely no matter how many sweeties are on that couch and no matter if it is all smiles or if it outright rebellion with tears ensuing. I am a supporter because it is a beautiful little reminder of the precious little ones who have entered our lives and it is a bit of a final celebration...a close to a very special time...a coming together...oh yes, and it is funny. It is funny to watch and participate in attempting to get a group of babies to happily pose for a picture. How fun is it to watch daddies dance about to induce laughter from their little ones while moms try to keep them looking in the right direction. It's just good crazy chaos that I wouldn't trade for anything.
And while the crazy chaos is fun, I think we came away with a few winners....it probably has more to do with the beautiful group of girls in these pictures...of course, I am partial. Very proudly partial.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a BIG supporter of the red couch picture. It is tradition. It is perfectly lovely no matter how many sweeties are on that couch and no matter if it is all smiles or if it outright rebellion with tears ensuing. I am a supporter because it is a beautiful little reminder of the precious little ones who have entered our lives and it is a bit of a final celebration...a close to a very special time...a coming together...oh yes, and it is funny. It is funny to watch and participate in attempting to get a group of babies to happily pose for a picture. How fun is it to watch daddies dance about to induce laughter from their little ones while moms try to keep them looking in the right direction. It's just good crazy chaos that I wouldn't trade for anything.
And while the crazy chaos is fun, I think we came away with a few winners....it probably has more to do with the beautiful group of girls in these pictures...of course, I am partial. Very proudly partial.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Sisters
Eight days ago, these little girls' world changed. For 7 and 8 years, they were the center of their mom's and dad's universe.
They climbed into mommy's lap for a night time story and cuddle.
They played in the backyard with dad and he carried them on his shoulders until both he and she were worn out.
Before last Monday, it was just little girl and her momma and dad. And then, last Monday, 3 little babies entered their world, took up residence in their mama's arms, kept their daddy running from here to there and back again.
And now, they are sharing Daddy's shoulders and making room on Mommy's lap for another little one. And sharing the love. Funny thing is, there is more than enough love to go around. And in the meantime, they have discovered that they are pretty in love with those little ones who made them scoot over. Their lives are changed forever. Like Gracie says, "Being a big sister is a lot of work, but my life is so much better with her." So much better. So much richer. So much.
So, in case, you didn't know Big Sisters, your little sisters are going to love you....just like Mom and Dad do...and there will always be room on Daddy's shoulders and Mama's lap for two.
They climbed into mommy's lap for a night time story and cuddle.
They played in the backyard with dad and he carried them on his shoulders until both he and she were worn out.
Before last Monday, it was just little girl and her momma and dad. And then, last Monday, 3 little babies entered their world, took up residence in their mama's arms, kept their daddy running from here to there and back again.
And now, they are sharing Daddy's shoulders and making room on Mommy's lap for another little one. And sharing the love. Funny thing is, there is more than enough love to go around. And in the meantime, they have discovered that they are pretty in love with those little ones who made them scoot over. Their lives are changed forever. Like Gracie says, "Being a big sister is a lot of work, but my life is so much better with her." So much better. So much richer. So much.
So, in case, you didn't know Big Sisters, your little sisters are going to love you....just like Mom and Dad do...and there will always be room on Daddy's shoulders and Mama's lap for two.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
July 26th, 2011: Picture Day
Today, we meandered through the shops, had one last get together with our travel group at Lucy's, surrounded by all that is stereotypical America - James Dean and Marylin Monroe, Elvis, and...Alf? Posters and framed pictures dress the walls attempting to create an at home feeling for the westerners who stop through for a few days. A menu that covers a myriad of choices from french fries and burgers to pasta to a more Asian fare meets everyone's fancy. It is good to be together as a group again. We have shared a great deal of incredible moments over the last week and now it feels like we have known one another so much longer than that. Each of the little girls is changing so much. Morgan sits at the table with a huge grin while playfully wearing Chris's hat. Stella is eating...everything in sight and giving orders around the table. And little Jenna is a mama's girl through and through....it is so sweet to see how in love she is with her mama. Emma is sleeping....She is still sleeping most of the time with little spurts of time awake.
We end our days' outing bargaining for 7 dresses that match for our little babies and their big sisters. Today is the red couch day and how cute will these Jie Jies and Mei Mei's be? Pretty cute.
We enjoy our afternoon of wandering about from shop to shop and visiting some of the charity organizations' places along the park. But I am distracted. A good kind of distraction. Emma wraps me into her little world and I am happy to just be with her, doing nothing in particular.
Already, she has changed. She watches and her eyes focus on faces more now. Her aspirating is improving slowly and she smiles so much, especially when she looks into her sister's face. She is so, so joyful. She may struggle with following movement with her eyes or focus on objects, but when she looks into my face...she looks so deeply as if there is nothing or no one else in all the world. I love that. I am drawn right into those beautiful dark eyes and everything is right with the world.
We end our days' outing bargaining for 7 dresses that match for our little babies and their big sisters. Today is the red couch day and how cute will these Jie Jies and Mei Mei's be? Pretty cute.
We enjoy our afternoon of wandering about from shop to shop and visiting some of the charity organizations' places along the park. But I am distracted. A good kind of distraction. Emma wraps me into her little world and I am happy to just be with her, doing nothing in particular.
Already, she has changed. She watches and her eyes focus on faces more now. Her aspirating is improving slowly and she smiles so much, especially when she looks into her sister's face. She is so, so joyful. She may struggle with following movement with her eyes or focus on objects, but when she looks into my face...she looks so deeply as if there is nothing or no one else in all the world. I love that. I am drawn right into those beautiful dark eyes and everything is right with the world.
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Consulate ~ Congratulations, Emma!
The big day all our months and years of I171H renewals have finally brought us to. The visa and subsequent citizenship of our little Emma. With our paperwork in hand and Emma and backpack readied, we head out to the US consulate for our appointment to approve our adoption, visa for Emma and approval for her citizenship to be granted upon landing in the US.
Nina, Ellie and Gracie stay with Rose and Audrey while we take our little ones for their visit to the consulate.
We gather in the room where an American flag hangs in front and a row of windows with officers of the consulate sitting on the other side peruse families' paperwork. We wait and finally are called to stand and take the oath that we will care for, love and never abandon our new little ones. And then, we are congratulated and there are claps and cheers. This is our final step. After each family is interviewed, we slowly leave the room. We are nearly the last to leave and we leave with a sigh of relief. We are finished. It is official. Now, we await our visas that will be processed and delivered to us in a day or so.
All that is left is to enjoy Guangzhou, relax and soak in more of life with Emma. We head back to the White Swan to find the girls have had a lovely morning out at the pool with Auntie Rose and Audrey. How grateful we are for them. They have been an enormous help and support to us and the other families with us.
And now, we relax and just soak in the rest of our time here.
Pictures from our day:
Nina, Ellie and Gracie stay with Rose and Audrey while we take our little ones for their visit to the consulate.
We gather in the room where an American flag hangs in front and a row of windows with officers of the consulate sitting on the other side peruse families' paperwork. We wait and finally are called to stand and take the oath that we will care for, love and never abandon our new little ones. And then, we are congratulated and there are claps and cheers. This is our final step. After each family is interviewed, we slowly leave the room. We are nearly the last to leave and we leave with a sigh of relief. We are finished. It is official. Now, we await our visas that will be processed and delivered to us in a day or so.
All that is left is to enjoy Guangzhou, relax and soak in more of life with Emma. We head back to the White Swan to find the girls have had a lovely morning out at the pool with Auntie Rose and Audrey. How grateful we are for them. They have been an enormous help and support to us and the other families with us.
And now, we relax and just soak in the rest of our time here.
Pictures from our day:
Touring Gunagzhou
Guangzhou has grown. It is quite a city...much bigger than NYC in both size and population. Today, we head out with Jason and Maggie for a bit of exploring of the city. A tour of an art and craft museum and a visit to a local temple are on our agenda.
Our first stop takes us to the temple where prayers are being given up throughout.
A monk offers up a prayer on behalf of the children. Emma, like every day, sleeps most of the time with little bits awake for a bottle or a bit of reassurance.
The heat is sweltering and Emma doesn't respond well to it. The baby ergo is set aside and the stroller we purchased earlier in one of the many baby friendly shops on Shamian Island is a welcomed help.
We move from exhibit to exhibit taking in the intricate craftsmanship from carvings to paintings to silk embroidery and then we stop and rest by the giant fans and again under trees that bring a welcomed shade.
The heat exhausts us all and I am ready to get Emma back to the hotel for a quiet rest this afternoon while the girls swim with Audrey and Rose. As I have been everyday, I am grateful for my sweet sister and cousin.
Our first stop takes us to the temple where prayers are being given up throughout.
A monk offers up a prayer on behalf of the children. Emma, like every day, sleeps most of the time with little bits awake for a bottle or a bit of reassurance.
The heat is sweltering and Emma doesn't respond well to it. The baby ergo is set aside and the stroller we purchased earlier in one of the many baby friendly shops on Shamian Island is a welcomed help.
We move from exhibit to exhibit taking in the intricate craftsmanship from carvings to paintings to silk embroidery and then we stop and rest by the giant fans and again under trees that bring a welcomed shade.
The heat exhausts us all and I am ready to get Emma back to the hotel for a quiet rest this afternoon while the girls swim with Audrey and Rose. As I have been everyday, I am grateful for my sweet sister and cousin.
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