Re-finalization

It really seems that the most important milestones along this adoption journey have been the very things that we do and then say "so, that's it?".

We re-finalized Amy's adoption on Thursday morning at the county courthouse. We met with the Judge in the conference room - not even the courtroom - and he signed a paper and that was it.

It was pretty funny though... He came into the room and asked Amy what her name was; she replied "Amy" and then pointed to me and said "Mommy". I looked at him and said "well, that's pretty much it, isn't it?" meaning that she knows who her family is, so who are we to question it.

So WHY re-finalize?

So Amy can have a state birth certificate. It's ironic, really. It will say that I gave birth to her on March 1, 2004 in our county. :) HILARIOUS!

 

Little Girls and Brides and Dancing

We had the honor of attending the wedding of my cousing Ryan to his beautiful new bride "Kat" yesterday in Estes Park, CO. It was a beautiful wedding in a beautiful setting.

It was Amy's first wedding. I don't know if I will ever tire of her reaction to seeing something for the first time! When she saw Kat coming up the aisle she just awed at her "pretty dress".

After the wedding, our two girls greeted the bride - as all little future brides do. They are so taken by the fairy tale of it all: the dress, the veil, the groom.
It certainly didn't take long before both the girls were on the dancefloor - dancing as if the occasion was only for them. It was a beautiful thing. There were several times that I had to remind myself that this sweet little one has only been home for 5 1/2 months and that she truly is becoming a little American Girl.
She jumped right in and took the opportunity to dance with the bride - making her feel like the super special little girl that she is! 

Before and... well, not quite after...

I love demolition.

I went to New Orleans in November and worked with Samaritan's Purse. SP was (and still is) working along the Gulf Coast in the areas most devastated by huricane Katrina. Our work team (the Jills and I) along with a rockus (just kidding) crew from Tyler, TX completly "gutted" the home of two NOPD offiicers - a husband and wife - whose home was flooded by the levy break on Lake Ponchatrain. It was the hardest work I have ever done, but the sense of helping this family start with a "clean slate" to rebuild was awesome!

So, that is the reason why I love demolition. I love the idea of destroying something with the intention of re-building.

Not that this post has anything to do with the greater good of humanity; it mostly has to do with my love of demo and our kitchen/family room remodel...

:)

Here are some before and... well, let's not call it "after" but maybe the end of the first quarter?

Before of kitchen and dining room...

After of newly expanded kitchen...

Before of family room...

After.

It's a fun process. Not based on anything of eternal value. Hoping that we can take full advantage of the newly expanded and renovated spaces to invest in something eternal...

 

Amy's Discovery...

It was a beautiful thing... I was shopping (no - that's not it) at Kohl's today, looking for a new coat for Ashleigh (we are headed to the mountains and some snow this weekend in Colorado). As I was looking, Amy was exploring. She made the happiest squeal; I turned and saw a smile on her face a mile wide.

She saw a Christmas tree!

Now, I know it is RIDICULOUS that Kohl's already has Christmas stuff out (still 3 months away), but it was such a beautiful moment.

She loved the twinkling of the lights and the sparkle of the ornaments. She explored using half of her senses - touching and looking and listening.

How precious to celebrate our daughter's first Christmas when she can really enjoy the season!

 

My little monkey

I am NOT into all the astrological mumbo-jumbo BUT who of us hasn't looked at the placemat at our favorite Chinese resturaunt to see what animal from the Chinese zodiac we are?

Amy is a monkey.

Funny really; since she acts like such a monkey!

And wouldn't you know? Old Navy has a monkey costume this year!

Amy was going to be Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) this, her first Halloween/Fall Festival, but after seeing this costume (thanks Brad and Kim) we KNEW she had to be a monkey.

Enjoy!

 

Amy is 2 and a HALF!

Far be it from ME to miss out on a perfectly good excuse to have a party! And, since Brad and Kim and their family were going to be visiting AND our friends Michael and Vicki had just arrived home from China with Piper AND Amy was turning 2 1/2 on September 1... well, you get the picture!

I organized a playdate for some Dillon China families that are friends of ours (plus our dear friends Darrel and Gail and kids) and we celebrated Amy's milestone with cake. It wasn't really a birthday party since there weren't presents involved, but since it was a special day, we couldn't skip out on cake! And it WAS healthy... well, let's say it was banana cake and let you decide if it's still healthy with chocolate icing...

Singing "Happy Half Birthday" to Amy...

Michael holding "Baby Piper" and Steve with Katherine

Everyone enjoying cake!

Gail, Vicki with Piper, Michael and Joy

 

A picture of 7 kids - all looking at the camera???

You have GOT to be kidding!
So - here's the next best thing - and it's much funnier!

 

"Meeeee-yuh" and "Aim-uh"

Or - as the rest of us might say "Mia and Amy"

Two little monkeys jumping on a bed...

Now THAT'S a fun Red Couch picture!

Two Guangdong beauties with matching jammies, shoes and teddy bears

Getting ready to say good-bye

What do two 2 year old girls do to stay busy for three days???
-play kitchen
-head bang with Mr. Brad to 80's music
-share snacks
-try on eachother's shoes

(We were quite blessed to have Brad, Kim, Nolan, Garrett, Nate and Mia stay with us for the long weekend. The kids had a great time and so did the adults!)