I can't help it. Here are a few more pics. H
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A year later!
Okay fans! Wow...on the 16th it was a year since Nina joined our family. We had a lovely "family day." We enjoyed a nice Chinese meal and Bart made a cake. We watched videos of our trip and went to bed much to late for a school night.
This last year has been so amazing -----and so BIG! Does that make sense? Nina is now 22 months old. She is as much a member of the family as Bart of myself. She loves having big sisters to love and adore her as well as meet her every need. She has a very strong personality, but is just as loving as can be. She has taught me so many things in the last year. As a mother of three other girls, I thought I was pretty prepared. I have the loving and nurturing part down no problem....it is the patience peace that at times I am challenged. She still has that strong voice. Doesn't strong sound so much better then loud? She has learned to not use it as often and that is nice. She has frequent ear infections and that seems to increase her volume. She loves to read, play with babies, sleep with her parents, have breakfast with Chloe, be sung "rock a bye baby" by Emelia and play "orphanage" with Ella.
I wonder if anyone will see this post. Let me know if you do. I will upload more pics. Love hannah
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Back by Popular Demand
Our fans have spoken and we have listened, so we are back with an update.
We made it home in one piece. It was a grueling 30 hour trip, but we made it through unscathed. Nina did very well on the planes, with minimal screaming and annoying only one Japanese businessman. The 12 hour flight from Tokyo to Detroit was the biggest challenge, but we were lucky to have three seats to ourselves and could move around as much as we needed - which was a lot! We showed up at home (our new 900 square foot apt in Brunswick) at midnight to be greeted by 3 very sleepy yet very excited little girls. It was so wonderful to hold them and kiss them and squeeze them tight again. 3 weeks without them was so hard for Hannah and I - maybe harder than it was for the 3 of them. Aunt Lori and Grammy Sue were so loving and attentive and kept them so active while were gone. We thank you both so much for all that you did and for everyone else who helped out as well - epecially Lesbo & Donny, the rest of SLAMM, Lizzy & Joel, Sue L, the girls' teachers at Williams-Cone and Little Acorns, and everyone at Providence for covering for me in my absence. The trip would have been an impossibility without you and your support.
We have been home for 3 weeks now - the time has flown! These weeks have been a time of transition and adjustment for us all, but we are all doing very well and are adjusting well. The first week or so, Hannah, Nina and I struggled with sleep - thinking day was night and night was day - especially Nina. Nina has been sleeping in our bed with Hannah and I alternating nights with her and nights with the older three in their beds. This way, every other night one of us gets some solid sleep. Nina is sleeping fairly well most nights. She likes to to use the bottle as a pacifier and wakes up fairly often in the night looking for it - so do we. She either gags on or refuses the 5 different types of pacifiers we have tried, so we keep on with the bottle. She is eating well and has been healthy thus far. We have determined that the formula she was on in China must have been soy-based as the transition to milk-based formula resulted in blow-out diarreah. Needless to say, she's back to soy-based! She gets giddy when we feed her rice or fish (evidence of her early days on the South China Sea!) and has been a good sport about trying lots of other things. Emotionally, she is doing very well. She is forming a healthy attachment with Hannah and I and her sisters. She's developing some stranger anxiety and has decided she no longer needs to smile at everyone, because she knows she'll get whatever attention she needs from us. This is all very good stuff for attachment. She can still be quite demanding and is sure to get our attention when she wants it.
Her sisters are adjusting wonderfully as well. They are the most amazing little people! Each has had their much deserved break-downs and are excited about being big sisters (again for Emelia and Chloe and for the first time in Ella's case). All 3 of them have wanted Nina to star in show-and-tells at school, but we've compromised with brief guest appearances. They have been big helpers with Nina which as allowed Hannah and I to keep up regular hygene and trips to the bathroom and the occasional moment of having our hands child-free. Hannah and I look at each other every now and again and comment on how much we have forgotten the amount of work having a baby is. We are quickly remembering and relearning and can now get out of the house in about 15 minutes with only 2 trips back inside to grab diapers or a bottle or sometimes a forgotten child! But despite all the work, lack of sleep, no time for ourselves, and sharing a bed with our children instead of each other, we are all incredibly happy and feeling complete.
From here, it's back to work for me, the end of April vacation for the girls, and back to home alone mom duty for Hannah. And then there is the small matter of building a new house . . .
Ella, meet Nina. Nina, Meet Ella.
You'll notice that Ella likes to be where Nina is.
What is this big hairy thing and why does its breath smell like cat litter?
If I wasn't so excited about having a new little sister, I'd be a bit peeved that I'm riding my scooter in the snow in April!
Me too!
Snow?! Nobody said anything to me about snow!
Our new house plan!
We made it home in one piece. It was a grueling 30 hour trip, but we made it through unscathed. Nina did very well on the planes, with minimal screaming and annoying only one Japanese businessman. The 12 hour flight from Tokyo to Detroit was the biggest challenge, but we were lucky to have three seats to ourselves and could move around as much as we needed - which was a lot! We showed up at home (our new 900 square foot apt in Brunswick) at midnight to be greeted by 3 very sleepy yet very excited little girls. It was so wonderful to hold them and kiss them and squeeze them tight again. 3 weeks without them was so hard for Hannah and I - maybe harder than it was for the 3 of them. Aunt Lori and Grammy Sue were so loving and attentive and kept them so active while were gone. We thank you both so much for all that you did and for everyone else who helped out as well - epecially Lesbo & Donny, the rest of SLAMM, Lizzy & Joel, Sue L, the girls' teachers at Williams-Cone and Little Acorns, and everyone at Providence for covering for me in my absence. The trip would have been an impossibility without you and your support.
We have been home for 3 weeks now - the time has flown! These weeks have been a time of transition and adjustment for us all, but we are all doing very well and are adjusting well. The first week or so, Hannah, Nina and I struggled with sleep - thinking day was night and night was day - especially Nina. Nina has been sleeping in our bed with Hannah and I alternating nights with her and nights with the older three in their beds. This way, every other night one of us gets some solid sleep. Nina is sleeping fairly well most nights. She likes to to use the bottle as a pacifier and wakes up fairly often in the night looking for it - so do we. She either gags on or refuses the 5 different types of pacifiers we have tried, so we keep on with the bottle. She is eating well and has been healthy thus far. We have determined that the formula she was on in China must have been soy-based as the transition to milk-based formula resulted in blow-out diarreah. Needless to say, she's back to soy-based! She gets giddy when we feed her rice or fish (evidence of her early days on the South China Sea!) and has been a good sport about trying lots of other things. Emotionally, she is doing very well. She is forming a healthy attachment with Hannah and I and her sisters. She's developing some stranger anxiety and has decided she no longer needs to smile at everyone, because she knows she'll get whatever attention she needs from us. This is all very good stuff for attachment. She can still be quite demanding and is sure to get our attention when she wants it.
Her sisters are adjusting wonderfully as well. They are the most amazing little people! Each has had their much deserved break-downs and are excited about being big sisters (again for Emelia and Chloe and for the first time in Ella's case). All 3 of them have wanted Nina to star in show-and-tells at school, but we've compromised with brief guest appearances. They have been big helpers with Nina which as allowed Hannah and I to keep up regular hygene and trips to the bathroom and the occasional moment of having our hands child-free. Hannah and I look at each other every now and again and comment on how much we have forgotten the amount of work having a baby is. We are quickly remembering and relearning and can now get out of the house in about 15 minutes with only 2 trips back inside to grab diapers or a bottle or sometimes a forgotten child! But despite all the work, lack of sleep, no time for ourselves, and sharing a bed with our children instead of each other, we are all incredibly happy and feeling complete.
From here, it's back to work for me, the end of April vacation for the girls, and back to home alone mom duty for Hannah. And then there is the small matter of building a new house . . .
Ella, meet Nina. Nina, Meet Ella.
You'll notice that Ella likes to be where Nina is.
What is this big hairy thing and why does its breath smell like cat litter?
If I wasn't so excited about having a new little sister, I'd be a bit peeved that I'm riding my scooter in the snow in April!
Me too!
Snow?! Nobody said anything to me about snow!
Our new house plan!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Last Day!
Well, it's hard to believe, but our journey here is almost at its end. Today is our last day here in China. We spent our last day cruzing through an antique market and, to prepare ourselves for America, had lunch at McDonalds. Now we are packing our suitcases and preparing to leave. We start our 30 hour trip home at 5:45am China time and get home around 11pm Maine time. I'm still trying to figure out how it takes 30 hours for only 17 hours to tick by on the clock!
We have had a great trip but are very ready to be home. We miss our girls terribly and are looking forward to a small degree of normalcy. I admit that I will likely have some pretty severe french toast withdrawls for a while, but I won't have to worry about any fish soup inflictions! Here are some of our latest pictures. We'll keep updating once we get home, but I would expect there to be bit of a delay.
Nina's first McDonalds experience - and hopefully her last!
Nina and one of her friends from her orphanage.
Nina's not a big fan of baths yet, but she sure looks cute in a towel!
If you look closely, you'll see that there is a famly of 4 on this motorcycle. We are thinking of trading our van in for a couple of these bikes. (This photo was taken by our friend of ours on our trip to the orphanage.)
A man hanging 12 storeys up by a single rope cleaning our hotel window.
And, the grand finale - my morning french toast!
We have had a great trip but are very ready to be home. We miss our girls terribly and are looking forward to a small degree of normalcy. I admit that I will likely have some pretty severe french toast withdrawls for a while, but I won't have to worry about any fish soup inflictions! Here are some of our latest pictures. We'll keep updating once we get home, but I would expect there to be bit of a delay.
Nina's first McDonalds experience - and hopefully her last!
Nina and one of her friends from her orphanage.
Nina's not a big fan of baths yet, but she sure looks cute in a towel!
If you look closely, you'll see that there is a famly of 4 on this motorcycle. We are thinking of trading our van in for a couple of these bikes. (This photo was taken by our friend of ours on our trip to the orphanage.)
A man hanging 12 storeys up by a single rope cleaning our hotel window.
And, the grand finale - my morning french toast!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
One more day
We have been busy packing and preparing for our journey home. Can't seem to get good seats on the plane, but hope that more will be availabe tomorrow. Here are some pictures that a friend of ours took of Nina. We plan to update again before we return, but our girls were hoping for some quick pics. Hannah
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Just Some Quick Pics
Just a few quick pictures before I go to bed. You are spared my commentary this time . . .
A quick peak at our 3 little lovies back home with their cousin Maddy. Looks like Aunt Lori is keeping everyone busy!
And a random shot of dangling chicken.
A quick peak at our 3 little lovies back home with their cousin Maddy. Looks like Aunt Lori is keeping everyone busy!
And a random shot of dangling chicken.
Sleeping Baby
Bart is walking the halls trying to help Nina fall asleep. He has a nice little path he follows each night. I wonder what we will do when we return home and it is to cold to journey outside. Nina had an off night sleeping last night. I thought I had the better end of the deal with Bart putting her to sleep and then I wake in the night with her. Last night she decided to play for an hour before returning to sleep. Once you all meet her you will understand why this was hard for the two of us trying to sleep. She tends to be loud and strong with her expressions. She is also in the bed with us, which she thinks is grand. I agree on most nights.
We had our "red couch" photo taken today. It is a tradition in the adoption community that before you leave China with your daughter you take the babies pictures on the red couch in the lobby of the White Swan. This didn't go very well for our group. Of ten babies....I think they were all crying. We have decided to try again tomorrow with our personal cameras. Again...I think Nina was crying to loudest. She quickly recovered and shared her bright smile with us.
Bart will update later about his adventures today. Nina and I spent the afternoon relaxing and playing at the hotel and Bart did some exploring the area. It amazes me the places he finds.
We wanted to do a quick update for everyone today...and promise to share more tomorrow. We plan to go off just the three of us to an area that is known for the art work. Again...sounds wonderful to me. In the afternoon we go to the American consulate and complete the last step in our adoption process.
In case any of you are ever considering taking a trip without your children. My advice is NOT TO! I truly feel like a part of me is missing. Love them, kiss them tell them I love them. They are so precious to us. Love, Hannah
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