The Moment I've Waited for....

Finally came true this past Saturday. My daughter told me she "Loved Me". My heart just melted and I fell in love with her all over again. "Wu ooh", the two sweetest words to come out of her mouth. She's also started calling me Mommy more and more. Of course it's still MOMMA when she wants something or MOM when she wants out of her crib!!! "Wu ohh to baby doll".

No More Physical Therapy!!!

We cancelled PT as of last month. Dallas doesn't seem to need it anymore. Her therapist said Dallas wouldn't qualify after her annual review in June because she has caught up to her appropriate age level finally. She will still qualify for Speech and Occupational therapy but she is catching up in those areas, just not as quickly. Dallas is fearless. She is climbing on everything and jumping off the furniture like a maniac. This explains all the bruises on her arms and legs!!!



This is where I found her last week!


She wanted some Easter candy.


So, she climbed on the table and got it herself!!!

Raspberries

I think this video was taken the next day in the evening after we had finalized the adoption. Dallas was finally beginning to open up to us. John was already teaching her to do all kinds of new things like saying DaDa, sitting up, rolling over, and Raspberries.

Video of Gotcha Day

Here is a short video of "Gotcha Day". Until today, I didn't know how to get video from a mini-disk and transfer it to the computer. It took a while to figure out what I was doing. Now that I might have figured this out, you will be seeing lots more videos of Dallas and of course Noelle! I have more video of the big day that I will work on tomorrow. Enjoy this short clip, I had to fight back the tears as I was working on it. I still can't believe the Lord blessed us with this child.

One Year Ago...

One year ago today we were handed the most beautiful baby girl, our daughter Dallas. I don't remember much about the hour leading up to the big moment. I was in total shock by that point. We started the process on December 27, 2004 and there we were on April 23, 2006 with our dream coming true. It was right after 5:00 pm that our guide James came in the room and told us that Dallas had taken a nasty spill a few days earlier and had a "bump" on her forehead but that she was okay. He just wanted to let us know so it wouldn't be a shock when we saw her. We both knew right then and there she was meant to be our child!!! They started bringing in the babies one at a time and the crying began, babies and parents!!!

Then came our turn. Dallas was so beautiful, bump and all! John grabbed took her first. She was so quiet. All I could do was look at her in total awe thinking "So your the one who stole my heart even before you were born." Then John placed her in my arms. I was actually holding my daughter!!! It was the greatest feeling ever. Right then and there I felt my heart grow a hundred times with love for this child. The motherly instinct kicked in right there and I knew what I had to do from there on out. She was our child and I loved her with all my heart and there was no way I was leaving China without her!!! She just kept looking at us and looking around. There were twelve families in our group and they were still presenting the babies. Then it was done and the babies were all in their families loving arms. I realized that I had just witnessed a miracle, the creation of twelve new families.

I will write more later today. I am also going to show our "Gotcha Day" video for the first time ever along with pics of Dallas from that evening. Here is a picture taken of us moments after becoming a "forever family". The second picture was taken of us yesterday after celebrating our "Gotcha Day" anniversary with my family.

"Gotcha Day" Anniversary in China

As I type this it is already April 23rd in China, our "Gotcha Day" one year anniversary. This time one year ago, we were already at the airport preparing to fly from Hong Kong to Nanchang. Only about 6 1/2 hours away from meeting our daughter. I remember just how excited, scared, nervous, and anxious I was. The day I had waited well over 16 months for and dreamed of a thousand times was finally happening. When I wake up in the morning, I will have had my daughter for one whole year.



We were so happy that day.


Our travel group.


Twelve anxious families.


Nanchang, here we come!


The scenery around the Hong Kong airport is spectacular.
Notice the high rise apartment buildings in the background.

One Year Ago Today...

We were in Hong Kong(according to their time zone). We were with our agency's groups doing the traditional tour. John and I had a great time. We went to Victoria's Peak, Aberdeen Harbour, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market, and the Jade Factory(My Favorite!!!). Later that day , John went back to the hotel to take a nap and I took off with several other ladies in our group to spend more money explore on our own. We did the traditional "High Tea" at The Peninsula Hotel. We got pedicures and body massages. We stayed out late so we could see the laser light show. It was spectacular, especially from the top floor or the Sheraton Hotel while having my last drink before motherhood!!! The thing I remember best, we were one day away from "Gotcha Day"!!!

NYC to London in Only 29 Days!!!

How to get from New York City to London in 29 days and 10 hours:

1. Go to Google
2. Click on "Maps"
3. Click on "Get Directions"
4. Type "New York" in the first box (the "from" box)
5. Type "London" in the second box (the "to" box)
6. Click "Get Directions" or simply hit enter
7. Scroll down to step #23 and get your swim gear ready!!!

No thanks Google, I think I'll fly the next time. Can you imagine swimming with a two year old!!!

Yummy Easter Cake

Let me try some of this yummy cake.


Maybe I'll eat it all at once.


Maybe I will savor each bite instead.


I love lemon cake!!!


Let's try this big piece.

Oops, dropped a crumb.


This cake is finger licking good.


Grammie, you make the best cake!!!

Easter Morning...Did Someone Say Candy!!!

Good Morning, I heard a certain bunny had stopped by.


This is what he brought me.


Oh, a KITTY!


Kitty needs a big kiss. I love my kitty.


I hear candy inside!

Ooohh, more candy!


See my Hello Kitty eggs and new book he brought me.


Wonder what I will eat next.


Mom, can I eat this stuff?

Just one picture of the silly ears.

Happy Easter from Noelle

Happy easter Everyone!


Great, the Kid is laughing at me!


The things I do to entertain her.


Mommy, can I take off the ears now?


These ears won't make it till next Easter!!!

It's Thursday, Must Be Naked Lasagna Night!!!

Mommy, decided to cook dinner tonight. This is a real treat because we have been so busy with outdoor projects and I haven't found much time to cook lately. I might have cheated just a little bit and cooked a Stouffer's frozen Lasagna. At least the garlic bread was fresh and I did make the salad from fresh ingredients(no packaged salads here tonight). We stripped Dallas down to her diaper and put her in her highchair. She ate all of her dinner with no help from us. We just had to hose her down when she was done!!!

Dallas and the Easter Bunny Kitty 2007

I took Dallas to see the Easter Bunny today. Last year our "Gotcha Day" was exactly one week after Easter. I was more excited than she was. Dallas was just happy to be strolling around the mall!!! I kept telling her all morning we were going to see the Easter Bunny so she wouldn't be scared of him. She wasn't scared of Santa so I figured this would be no different. Oh, was I wrong!!! Dallas went up to where the bunny was sitting and waved at him. Then we put her on his lap and she didn't like it one bit. She screamed to get down. Everybody was trying to get her to sit in his lap and smile. Nope, wasn't gonna happen. That's when Mommy told her that he was the Easter Kitty. Dallas took one look at him and went "Meeeooow". Then she sat on Mommy's lap and flashed her "Let's hurry up because he really doesn't look too much like a kitty" smile. Oh, the miracles of photo editing. You can see just part of my brown shirt in the picture.