My First Girl

I lost one of my best friends yesterday—my dear Abegail. My friend Jessica Henderson and I adopted her on November 8, 1996, and I remember that day clearly. We were college sophomores, and the apartment we shared with two other friends was in desperate need of a feline roommate. We brought home that scared three-month-old orange tabby from the Lexington Humane Society, and I gained a beloved companion who would stay with me for fifteen years.

She was a feisty girl with a strong personality, and that’s what I loved about her the most. She was also very vocal; I’ll miss hearing all her different meows, guttural chirps, and growls. She even used to make a noise that sounded like a dog barking.

She was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago but continued to live a fairly active life. She eventually adjusted to my coming at her with a syringe twice a day. It will take me a while to adjust to her absence, as her care required twice-daily injections and I fed her five meals a day. Even while she was hospitalized, when it was shot time I had to remind myself that I didn’t need to worry about that.

Natalie doesn’t yet know that Abegail isn’t coming home; for now she knows that she’s been sick and at the doctor’s, but we will have to explain things to her in terms that she can understand—and very soon. We’re not looking forward to that at all, but Natalie is inquisitive and asks questions. She’s already been telling me that she misses Abegail. Sweetie, you don’t know the half of it.

I’ll keep my fond memories of Abegail Anne close, and although I miss her so terribly, I know she led a long, happy life. Goodbye, my sweet girl. You’ll always be in my heart. 

I know it is cliche...

but that ladybug is so cute on her little face.  A smile would have been nice, but she likes to vamp for the camera.  So, we promised that it wouldn't be long between posts and I followed through.  The best part, I won't even talk much.  This is mostly a picture post.

We took a trip over the weekend to Missouri to visit our long time friends Jamie, Christine, and their lovely and awesome daughter Olivia.  We had a great time and did a lot of fun activities.  With two ladies who love to use the camera around, there was a plethora of photo taking.  We did some trick or treating there and, of course, here at home.  Hence, you get to see Natalie in two different costumes.  I hope you like all the photos.  Let me know what your favorite one is.

Is it impossible to get two kids to smile at the same time?

Awesome photo isn't it?

Covering Baba with straw.

Beauty.

Her model pose.

Pose #2

She must have said something funny.

Being silly together.

Chilling on her zebra.

Something about their looks cracks me up.

Can you get two kids to smile at once?  If you have two swings that go pretty high you can. 

Natalie and Olivia petting a fake dog.

My little tiger.

MEOW!

Time goes by

We haven’t dropped off the face of the earth, in case anyone was wondering. Sidetracked, yes, so the blog receives its fair share of neglect. Our apologies. (Mama’s turn to write today, by the way).

Natalie has been keeping us busy, as usual, and she’s been up to a lot lately. She’s started potty training, a great adventure in itself. Between my 15-year-old cat and Natalie, I’ve cleaned up more pee in the last couple of months than I ever thought possible. She’s getting the hang of it but still has a ways to go.

All three of us now go to gymnastics class once a week so Natalie can tumble and jump around with her BFF, Lily. Oh, and there are other kids in the class too. Her favorite part is jumping on the trampoline (seat drops, anyone?), but she also does pretty well on the balance beam and has almost mastered somersaults. Cartwheels and work on the bar are very much a work in progress, but hey, she’s only two so we’ll give her a break. It’s all just for fun anyway. She loves ’nastics day. Natalie and I also just started back at cradle school, and if I can get my act together she’ll go to story hour at the public library. Some days I have trouble getting motivated to get us out of the house; it’s so much easier and more fun to stay in pajamas together until noon. Before I blink we’ll be sending her off to school for the day, so I want these times together at home with her to last as long as possible.

I conducted a short interview of her favorite things the other day, and here is where we stand:

•        Favorite food: broccoli
•        Favorite song: “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black-Eyed Peas (no offense to the Peas, but she is also exposed to better music than this)
•        Favorite color: orange
•        Favorite animal: cat
•        Favorite TV show: tie between “Ni Hao, Kai-Lan” and “Team Umizoomi”

No one prepared us for how fast she would grow, both physically and mentally. Since she first came home last August, she has grown at least six inches and gained just over ten pounds. She had a check-up this week and is now 36 inches tall. “I’m gonna be big like you, Mama” is something I hear a lot. She also says she’ll be as big as Stephen, but I haven’t seen many 6’5” women from China. Keep drinking that milk, sweetie, and we’ll see. Speaking of vocabulary, she pretty much says whatever she wants now. Her singing has also taken off, but I wouldn’t call any talent scouts just yet. Still cute though, and we love to hear it. The alphabet song is the most frequently heard song at our house these days, at varying decibel levels depending on her mood.

With upcoming pumpkin patch visits and Halloween, there are sure to be some supercute photos to follow. For now, here are a few to hold you over.

What's this? What's that? What's...

Holy cow this kid loves to talk.  Natalie's vocabulary has really expanded exploded here recently.  It seems like she knows how to express anything she is thinking or wanting.  Lucky for us, she has moved into the questioning phase.  "What's this, Baba?"

"You know what that is.  It is a door, Natalie."

"What's that, Baba?"

"The same thing it was 2 seconds ago, dear.  A DOOR."

Who knew that words could be so exhausting?  We wouldn't want it any other way right?  Because with all the questions that come from an increased vocabulary, there are also gems.

"I like you Baba." "He's a good baba." "You take good care of me."  "You keep me safe." "I want you to stay with me"  That last one often comes as I am leaving for work on Mondays.  It certainly doesn't make it any easier to walk out that door.  

Below you will see some pics of general summer fun.  She still loves to play outside and the 100 degree heat doesn't even seem to phase her.  She loves the pool and is "swimming" on her own with the floaties.  The last two pics were taken at the zoo.  We went with the Saltsmans and had a great time.  It is really neat to see the girls playing together, holding hands, and giving each other hugs.  Of course, they are still 2 year-olds so the occasionally pushing and signs of jealousy still pop up and garner a laugh.  It is funny to see when an opposite parent picks up a girl and that parent's child stops whatever she is doing to be held too.  Carrying around one 30 plus lb kid isn't easy.  Two is pretty rough.  Two in the midday sun at the zoo is downright hard.  Once again, I wouldn't trade it for the world though.  

The new dance craze sweeping the nation.  Yes, that is her vacuum playing the music.

Forever in Our Arms

Natalie at the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, Guangzhou

In Baba's arms

Every mother remembers the first time she held her child. I can’t believe that it was a year ago today for me. When Stephen and I woke up that morning in Zhengzhou, getting ready for the moments to come, we felt just as we had expected to feel—excited, restless, nervous. We’d been meeting a guide each morning since we’d arrived in China, but this morning when we met our guide, Rita, in the hotel lobby for the ride over to the registration office, the air was electric. We were already anxious to meet our daughter, and when we pulled into the parking lot, Rita informed us that there was a van from Luoyang there. My heart skipped a beat. Was she already inside?

We walked in, and there was an orphanage worker there with an infant girl about Natalie’s age. But it wasn’t her. We had to wait for a while, and I’m sure it really wasn’t that long, but you know how those things go. Stephen and I sat on a black couch and watched the door for any sign of movement outside. My hands were uncontrollable; I’d never been so fidgety. My nervous bladder got the better of me, and I made a quick dash to the “squatty potty” (with strict instructions from Stephen that I’d better hurry!). I didn’t want anything to spoil our first moments with our long-awaited little girl.

A van pulled up, not even pulling into a parking spot, and several nannies from the orphanage in Luoyang got out carrying children. Then we caught our first glimpse of her, in real life, and not just in the same two referral pictures we’d been obsessing over during the past two months. Of course I wanted to hold her immediately, but Natalie was a bit hesitant to leave the nanny’s arms for those of this strange-looking white girl. The biggest surprise: during our years of waiting, I’d watch other families’ videos of when they first met their children in China, think about our own upcoming first meeting, and cry rivers. But when it finally happened for us—not a single tear. Natalie didn’t cry either; maybe I took my lead from her. She seemed so stoic, although I’m sure she was terrified. For me, I suppose it just felt . . . right. There was no room for tears in this moment. Everything had finally fallen into place and we three had found each other. But oh, holding her the first time . . . the emptiness in my heart had finally been filled.

That first night, as I held her and attempted to sing her a lullaby in the darkness of the hotel room, the tears came. Some may recognize the words and understand why: “They didn’t have you where I come from; never knew the best was yet to come; life began when I saw your face. . . .”

Indeed it did; our lives changed so dramatically for the better. Natalie Xue Er has brought an immeasurable amount of joy to our lives and to everyone she meets. I cannot fathom life without her. Sure, there are days when she drives me crazy, when we need to be somewhere else and she runs away,  giggles trailing behind her, when I need to (a) help her dry her hands, (b) fix her hair, or  (c) outfit her with a diaper (my personal favorite!). But then I remember other parents saying that there is no love like that you have for your child. I used to wonder what that would feel like. Now I know, and it’s indescribable how all-encompassing it is.

Natalie, our sweet girl, we’re so fortunate to have the honor of being your parents. Happy Forever Family Day.

July 4th and other summer fun

I could babble on for awhile about what has been going on, but I know what you really want is pictures.

Who am I kidding?  You know I have to say some things.  Those of you who haven't seen Natalie in awhile would be very impressed with how she has grown lately.  I am not just talking about size, although she does seem to be a foot taller every week.  Her personality is really starting to flourish, as is her vocabulary. She is forming complete sentences and using the proper pronouns and occasionally the correct tense.  It really is amazing.  Here are some examples.

While lying in bed going through the nighttime routine, I turned to say something and she lowered the book she was holding and promptly told me, "Quiet, Baba.  I tryin' to reading."

We were really impressed with this one: "Mama, please open the door; I can't."

When Amy told her the microwave wasn't working right, she responds "Well, haffa get a new one."  While haffa isn't exactly an English word, it is still real cute.

We are just so proud of her and astounded at how far she has come.  Enough with my talk and on with the show, I suppose.  In these you will see just some general summer pics as well as shots with her friend Lily at the grand fireworks show at the LaRue County Sportsman's Lake on Saturday.  Seriously, it really was a great display put on by Lily's Uncle Andy and we had a good time.  There are pics from a gathering at my parents' on Sunday.  Finally, some shots with Amy's family on the 4th.

2nd Birthday - Epic fail

OK, it wasn't exactly horrible, but it didn't go anywhere near as planned.  The good thing is, I doubt Natalie knew the difference.  She seemed to enjoy it very much.  Thanks to all our family members that came and celebrated with Natalie.  We are blessed to have a great daughter and she is blessed to have a family that loves her so much.

But yeah, seriously, the party did not go well for the parents at least.  We spent hours upon hours on Friday and Saturday morning getting things looking nice and pretty outside.  The weather was fabulous that morning.  Everyone arrived and it still looked great.  Then the storm came.  We kind of knew some rain was in the forecast, but did it have to be a full on storm and could it not have waited for a few more hours?  So, all that hard work outside for nothing.  The decorations were mostly shredded by the winds and rain.  We had to rush and get all the food, presents, and people inside.  

Our house IS NOT built to accommodate 26 people including 5 kids.  It instantly got very hot and very loud in there.  

Like I  said though, Natalie didn't seem to mind it at all.  She enjoyed opening her presents with all those people there watching.  She didn't quite understand why her cake was on fire and why this was OK.  She also didn't know why people were singing to her before she got to eat the cake.  If everything tied to this event wasn't such a "disaster," then you would be able to see a video of these events.  It chooses not to upload for some reason.  

Amy and I were so busy running around trying to keep things in order and moving things inside from the rain that we weren't able to get hardly any pictures.  Of the birthday pictures attached, two were taken by our friend Tim.  In an effort to not disappoint her fans by only posting one or two photos, I included some from Memorial Day as well.  Enjoy.

Thank for the photo, Tim.

Her first splashes in the pool for the summer.  By the end of it, her shirt and pants were both soaked.

She has some amusing looks.

This child loves her "melwon."  Notice all the juice collecting in the bib pocket.

Beach

We had a great trip to Florida.  Natalie did just fine on the plane even though we had to wake her up at 4 am to drive to the airport.  We thought she would sleep on the drive and on the plane.  How do you think that went?

She was excited to get to the beach and was never scared of just being in the sand even with all the people around.  Once she went to the water, she was OK as long as the waves never got above knee level.  She would let us carry her out deeper as long as we held her above the water for the most part. 

It really was a good time.  Amy and I loved the time we got to spend with her and with each other.  Not having to pick up after her, cook dinner, pick up after her, try to keep her busy and out of stuff, and pick up after her was vacation enough.

Enjoy the pics and video.  Sorry the audio isn't great on the video, but I didn't know how the mic would react to the wind.  

We will get some birthday stuff up after her party with family on Saturday.

Coolin' off

She thought this Sand Dollar was a "chip."

Chillin'