Happy First Thanksgiving!

Aubrey Mei had a wonderful time tonight at Aunt Mo and Uncle Rob's. She had so much fun meeting her new friends Kathleen and Eddie and Gary and Mary. She thought Gary was very funny! She just loved her new clothes from Kathleen- thank you, Kathleen. She tells me she wishes her Mommy could cook like Aunt Mo and bake cookies like Mary. She sat next to Goppy at dinner and of course had to share her meal with her. Poor Katy could not get a break from our little girl - she is crazy about that dog!
Maureen assigned me Grace tonight - she knows that I am not very good at this, not a good speaker and get embarrassed easily - even in front of family, but I have so much to be thankful for this year that I looked forward to it. I said the usual Grace and then had to express just how thankful and blessed I am. Of course, for my precious daughter sitting next to me at the table.  I will always be thankful that her biological parents left this sweet child in a place where she would be found quickly and brought to a very good orphanage in Fuzhou - one that receives funding from Half the Sky foundation (how their hearts must have broken that day). I will always be thankful that she was almost immediately place in foster care with foster parents who loved and cared so much for my sweet girl. Will always be thankful for the more than 5 years that I had to wait for my girl, for if I did not have that wait we would not be together now and I can never, ever imagine life without this incredible little girl. Thankful that her Goppy was sitting next to her at dinner, she had to endure such a difficult time this year and multiple hospital stays  and we are all so proud of her strength and determination to get well. So proud of you, Mom! Thankful to all our family and friends who love us. Maureen and Rob always make Thanksgiving so special, but this year I will always remember sitting at the table with my happy daughter for the first time -- thank you Maureen and Rob for always being so good to me and now to my precious daughter!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Looking gorgeous in her new dress

Aubrey was a little nervous over meeting new friends - she clung to her Goppy to feel safe. Of course, this did not last long and was soon laughing and smiling with everyone.

My girl is so beautiful - How blessed am I to have her in my arms!

Wow - what should I try next? It's all so Yummy!

Can we take some of Mary's cookies home? Please!!!

All that yummy food made me sleepy

First Saturday Mass with Goppy and Aunt Mo

I am ashamed to say it took me this long to get to mass to thank God for my most precious gift in the world, my daughter. My excuse, my daughter - I know it was not a good one but wanted us to get to know each other a little more before venturing to mass ( one hour of not talking, laughing or moving around)-- did not know how my little girl was going to do it. She did great! It helped that she slept through the 1st half, then woke up to see Goppy and Aunt Mo next to her to entertain her. She has gotten even more vocal - when she wants something she keeps repeating THAT - very loudly!! And she wants a lot of things! So I was glad we sat in the back and she kept it to only a few THAT's. Aubrey was so intrigued by the Blessed Mother statue- she just kept staring at it. Maybe she felt the presence of her Grandpa there, as I did. We lit candles after mass- 1 for Emily, 1 for Goppy, and 1 to give thanks that Mommy and Aubrey are together at last. Aubrey received a blessing from the Parish priest at St. Peters before we headed off to go shopping at the mall. Everybody knows by now this kid loves to shop (thanks alot Aunt WahWah Shang Sha). She got a ride in Goppy's walker, then off with Aunt Mo to explore the Mall! We had to play all the musical stuffed animals in the card shops-- her Mommy has a very difficult time not scooping all of them up and buying them for my sweet girl! Then we looked at Christmas dresses for my cute little China doll- can't wait to see her dressed up for Christmas. After the mall we went to Cheesecake Factory - one of her Mommy's favorites. Aubrey loved it! She had mac and cheese and some of my dinner and Aunt Mo's -- Aunt Mo heard a mouthful from little Aubrey when she wasn't fast enough sharing her food! She can't wait until we go to Church next weekend!

Um, Give me another minute, please. I haven't quite decided yet.

So glad that nice waiter recommended mac and cheese - yummy! So good I need two spoons.

What do you mean by BAD HAIR DAY??

Always on the move!!

My girl is always on the move. I love to see her exploring her new home - she gets so excited when she is walking with her new walker.  She is such a pleasure to watch. Aubrey Mei met Uncle George and Aunt Maryann today. She would not leave Aunt Maryann's side from the moment she met her - Maryann must be exhausted! Thank you to both Uncle George and Aunt Maryann - they are always so wonderful to me and now to my precious daughter. Aubrey Mei loves them so much, even sat in Uncle George's lap while her Mommy gave her the usual nightly foot massage!

Can't catch me!

Gonna get you, Mommy!

Got you!

Look - One hand!

Aubrey loves her new coat and hat from Uncle George and Aunt Maryann

Playing peek-a-boo with Aunt Maryann while holding on to Goppy - She can't stop giggling!!

More presents from Uncle George and Aunt Maryann- they must really love me!

More Cousins ---Yeah!!!

yummy mac and cheese in my cool highchair from Aunt Mary and Uncle Rob

1st meeting with my cousin Autumn

Love playing with my cousins Bobby and Brian

Race you, Brian!!

Hey Elmo- who is driving this thing, Autumn or Ryan?

4 weeks ago

Four weeks ago today I held my daughter for the very first time. She cried so much those first hours with me, she was so frightened and sad - I cried along with her that day and just prayed she would feel my love and eventually learn to trust her new mommy and feel safe in my arms. What a difference 4 weeks makes. Now I see the trust in her eyes. I see a very happy girl (most of the time) and hear so much laughter! She knows her Mommy - called me Mama the other day! She is now crawling all over the place and exploring her new home. She is actually sleeping through the night most of the time --for about 11 hours, may wake up during the night for a diaper change (so cute- she whimpers a little, keeps her eyes closed and lifts her little legs for the diaper change and then back off to a sound sleep). I can't believe God has blessed me with this precious child. How did I get so lucky? She amazes me every day. What did I ever do without her?! Words can never express the deep love I feel for my sweet little girl, my daughter. Thank you God and all our special angels in heaven for bringing us together. Your Mommy loves you soooo much Aubrey Mei!

Love my quacking ducky bathtub!

Big mirrors in my room - YEAH!

Look at me stand by myself!

Hugging Jing Bear in her sleep - how sweet

BATH TIME AGAIN!!!

Is this the same little girl that hated her bath 3 weeks ago? It is amazing to see the change in her. She would scream each time we tried a bath. Tried first in the baby bathtub placed in the tub, she screamed. Then tried taking a bath with Mommy, she screamed. Then tried the little bathtub outside the tub, she screamed. She started to warm up to the idea ( a little bit) in New York - took a bath with Emily and saw how much fun Em was having and only cried half the time. Then at home in the sink with Aunt Mo entertaining her with Mommy holding her and her little feet dangling in the water - she still cried, but not quite as much. The next day Goppy came to our house to do her Physical Therapy in the pool. Thought my little girl would freak out over the LARGE BATHTUB! But no! She wanted in to play with Goppy! So in we went and for over an hour she smiled, laughed and kicked her feet and gave Goppy hugs and kisses!--Now my girl loves the bath - cannot get enough! In fact she is getting two baths a day because she is such a messy eater! She does have me wrapped around her little finger and knows how to get what she wants from her Mommy- so I wonder--- Is she messy just so she can get another bath?!

One of my favorite bath toys - burt's bees shampoo bottle

notice the little fish to the right from Aunt Mo - she is not sure of them yet, will blow them kisses, but they are not allowed in the bath yet!

Thanks to Collette, Aunt Sha, and Aunt Mo for all my bath toys

Love my hoodie bath towel from Aunt Mo  - My Mommy just loves to snuggle me after bath time when I am all wrapped up in my towel