Happy Year of the Rabbit

Today is Chinese New Year, the Year of the Golden Rabbit.  According to my research on the internet, this year is supposed to be a time to "catch your breath" and focus on the home, family and relationships with women and children. ( My dear husband will have PLENTY of opportunity with that as he is terribly outnumbered in our family!)

Last year it was the Year of the Tiger, a year that "won't come quietly or peacefully".  For us it was a whirlwind considering that this time last year our Lydia was just a wish in our hearts.  In the last 6 months we have been to China and back, adjusted to being a family of four and been through our first major surgery with Lydia's cleft. 

Even the weather in our neck of the woods echoed the last roar of the Tiger as we got hit with a "historic" ice storm/blizzard.  Three days off of school has given us a lot of time to spend with our girls.
It is fun to watch them play (and fight) together.  They have become true sisters through and through.  Every so often they disappear in Gabby's room to play and although we enjoy the peace and quiet...it's when it gets TOO quiet that we wonder what Lydia could be up to!  We discovered that she could open the hallway linen closet.  We found her opening all the bandaids and sticking them to her body as Gabby was engrossed in her DS games.
 
Luckily the storm came after our annual Chinese New Year party with our dear friends who we now consider family.  It was Lydia's first CNY with us and the first time for Gabby to be the 'big sister' at this event.  Lydia got a little jealous when the other little girls were hugging Gabby hello...she quickly pushed one out of the way and held onto Gabby and yelled "MINE".  Of course Gabby loved being the center of all this attention.  We are so grateful to our host Stacey who asked a photographer friend to come to the party and take these amazing photos of our beautiful girls. 

We hope the Year of the Rabbit brings you and your family much luck, rest and time to enjoy your loved ones!

Surgery Update

We met with Lydia's surgeon and she has a fistula (hole) in her palate. We already knew because you can see it in her mouth, but he explained that unless it causes issues with speech or eating they will just leave it for now and fix it when she's older. Before the surgery her palate was completely open, now there's just a hole in the middle with most of it closed. We're a little disappointed but it is what it is.

Typically fistulas happen because there isn't enough skin to close the palate. When she's older they will take some from the inside of her cheek. The surgeon had already mentioned that she would probably need her lip revised to remove some of the scarring so unless there's a reason to do it earlier he will do her lip and fistula when she's older.

Then and Now

Adopting Gabby has brought so many wonderful people into our life. We met Stacey and Dave at our adoptive parenting class as they were waiting to bring home Harper from China in 2005.  They traveled with Denise and Steve who were bringing home Audrey at the same time. We happened to meet them at a Little Gym class.  Since then this little trio of girls have been fast friends and our families have become each other's extended family.  Tonight it was Gabby's turn to host the sleepover and as I snapped pictures, I couldn't help but remember one of their first posed photos so long ago in the same spot in our house. 



Gabby and her friends Audrey and Harper (aka The China Girls) during one of their first summer playdates. Still in diapers, sippy cups and princess outfits.

Now they are first graders, watching Barbie "A Fashion Fairytale" movie and big enough for sleepovers. Long hair, missing teeth, but still dressed up in princess outfits within 10 minutes of arrival.

How quickly they grow up.  How lucky we are to have such beautiful, amazing girls as our daughters. 

Happy BERTday to our Nanny

Hope you have a wonderful day Nanny!  We miss you!

A visit to the pumpkin patch

It was a beautiful day on Saturday and we went for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch, only this time with our little Lydia in tow. Double the fun!

 

Getting ready to explore the hay maze.

Big sister leading little sister through the maze.

A girl is not complete with out a pink heart painted on her cheek!

Playing in the corn was so fun!



Leave to us to find the ONE pink tractor in the place!



Watch out when it's time for us to drive!

These horses will have to do, the real ponies were running late that day.

We are ready for Halloween!

After much debate and discussion, Gabby has finally decided what she will be for Halloween.
It couldn't be a princess cause some kids in her class think princesses are for babies.  But she knew she wanted a dress that had pink, purple and blue. I was trying to steer her towards the fifties dress or Dorothy from Wizard of Oz.  But then she came across an outfit called Harajuku Cutie ( kind of a Japanese punk rock girl)  that had all the colors she was looking for and it was no longer up for debate.   After we got home and did the makeup and hair to match,  I  quickly realized that the days of simply dressing as a ladybug or  black cat are over.  Of course when Gabby was getting dressed up, Lydia began to strip down too, so we got out Gabby's first Halloween costume...the ladybug princess which Lydia looked adorable in.  When it came time to put on makeup...Little one was right there in line for the lip gloss!  Poor Rob...the teenage years are going to be lots of fun for him!



Adding the finishing touches to our costume.



Not even two yet, but quickly has learned how to pucker those lips for the gloss.

A girl can never be too sparkly!

Too cute for words.





Mirror, Mirror...

Well it's not a mirror exactly, but Lydia sure had a good time with her reflection she found in the oven door.

Looks like another sassy girl in the house has been created!

The first video she is telling off her reflection, saying no and pointing that finger

 (whereever did she learned that one?)  What cracks us up is her expression as she walks away, a mad smirk on her face, she is ready for her Oscar anyday now!

The next two she was playing peek a boo and cracking herself up. 

She was very aware of the camera at this point.