Not sure how I feel about this

Yes, that is Natalie "playing" a video game with her Baba.  She built the controller out of her Pooh Lego set.  So, while I appreciate her creativity and her wanting to be like me, I am not sure this is how I wanted her to emulate me.  What can we do other than shake our heads?  Well, I could always play video games less, but I don't really see that happening.

There is some other news to update everyone on.  Natalie had an appointment with the orthopedic specialist at Shriners Hospital in Lexington on Monday.  This was a regularly scheduled appearance, but there was a bit more to it than that for us.  Amy and I had recently become concerned as we could tell Natalie is starting to turn her surgically repaired foot inward a little when she runs and occasionally when she walks.  She also falls down a lot, but she is 2 and that happens at that age, right?  Help me out with that one, parents.  So there were concerns about a recurrence of her club foot issues.

The Dr. listened to our concerns, watched her walk and run, and even did a gait test in the Super Fab Lab. (We thought a fancy title would keep Natalie more interested. Turns out she did just fine.)  He was nowhere near as concerned as we were.  He continues to feel she is doing great.  He says that kids often have residual effects from this kind of condition and that they eventually grow out of them as they get older.  That means there may be some change physically as she matures, but most likely she will just learn to adapt.

So now we, or at least I, feel like overprotective or paranoid parent(s).  We have no reason to not trust this Dr. or the staff working with him. We just want what is best for Natalie and hate to see her struggle with something if  there is a way we can help and especially if there is a way we can prevent long-term issues.  Regardless, we move forward with our plan and with the Dr.'s blessing to have her play soccer in the spring.  She is very excited and I must admit that I am as well.  I really hope she takes to it as she likes to kick the ball around the house.  Also, despite the struggles mentioned previously, she seems pretty darn fast.  Finally, you know Natalie on the soccer pitch will make for great photos.

Speaking of photos. Enjoy.

Showing off some of her CNY gifts from China via the wonderful Julia and Marvin (and Suraiya)

Besties having fun at the Green Bamboo for CNY

Merry New Year?

I suppose I kind of have to combine the two since I am blogging post both holidays.  That just means more pictures and more for me to talk about, right?

So, Christmas...Well, Natalie had 5 Christmases this year.  That is a lot of work for one little girl.  I think she loved every bit of it, though.  She was much more into it this year.  By "into it" I am referring to actually opening the presents instead of sitting on the boxes (see last year's video if you don't remember).  She's still preoccupied with each gift, but usually the words "Natalie, you have another present" were followed by the sound of her little feet running to the holder of said gift.  She could even be seen playing Santa and handing out the gifts from time to time.  She may still be a little too young to REALLY get into it and enjoy the surprises, but she isn't so old that clothes are not still a great gift.  One of my favorite parts was her helping my father open his gifts.  He would hand them to her, she would unwrap them, then she would literally throw the box back at him.  Luckily they weren't breakable.

On to the pictures.  We loved this shawl and hat combo the minute we saw it and couldn't wait to put it on her.  Surprisingly, she liked it too and didn't fight to get it off.

She said she missed the tree when Amy took it down today.

Her favorite gift this year may be the salon set from her Aunt Brandi.  She loves giving everyone their "appointment time."

Putting on her fake lipstick.

I am a little worried that she was so amused by biting off the feet of this poor gingerbread man.

Natalie, Lily, and Lauren at the Kalightoscope exhibit at the Galt House.  We all had a good time.  Joe and I really enjoyed the scenery at dinner. #insidejoke

The new year, American version, has come now.  We obviously have so much to look forward to.  We start the year off as the duck family.  We have no idea where this is coming from, but Natalie insists on calling us Mama Duck and Baba Duck.  We usually have to refer to her as Baby Duck.  This is consequently the only time we are allowed to call her a baby. 

 We start the year off less one family member.  Natalie misses her and still talks about her.  She handled the news pretty well though and I think she understands she is gone.  She hasn't started asking for another pet yet, but I am hoping that once it is appropriate, we she can convince Mama to get a dog.  For now though, we are still remembering Abegail.

Chinese New Year will be here soon.  Natalie can expect more gifts.  Some from here and some from China.    You can expect some pictures.  In comes the year of the Dragon!

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.