Two Years Together





















We have been very focused on looking ahead recently, to our move to Florida, to Daddy having new and different responsibilities at work, planning birthdays, and room designs, but I have to take a few minutes today and look back. Today marks two years since that moment when Julia was placed crying into my arms. She only cried those first few moments and after that only if she couldn't reach or see Daddy or I. Sometimes I can't believe it's been 2 years and others it is like she was always here. We had been preparing for her for so very long, so much longer than our paper chase and wait to referral was, though that felt long enough at the time.

I could never put into words the feelings of that day, try though I might. It was too big for words. It will have to be enough to say we were blessed beyond measure and though she is now a stubborn almost 3 year old, I would do it all over again in a minute. The waiting, the anxiety, the worrying about how she'll be as she grows, all of that is nothing to the joy we share every day as a family. Happy Family Day Julia! We love you more each day!

Congratulations Godfather Donnie!!

We just had to take a moment and say how very proud we are of Julia's Godfather. He found out today that he was selected for promotion to Master Sgt and he certainly deserves it!! So Donnie, it's been far too long since we've seen you but we think of you all often and again Congratulations! Enjoy the feeling of success before the work catches up with you that goes with it! ;)

Where to start....

































We had a most successful trip to Florida and can't wait to be moving there. Julia adored the beach and even put up with her parents busily running her from house to house trying to find the right place to call home. She's a trooper and such a good traveler. Of course on the way home she finally learned how to undo her seat belt in her carseat, not the best timing that. So there was a lot of "Put your seat belt back on!" and she would dutifully shrug her shoulders back into and reclip it. Until I turned around again that is!

Our conversation one night went something like this.
Julia " I want to go to Florida"
Mama " We are IN Florida"
Julia "In Florida? I like Florida"
Mama "We're thinking we might move here, would you like to move to Florida?"
Julia after a very thoughtful look and pause " Can we go to the beach?"
Mama --Laughing "Yes, if we live in Florida we can go to the beach"
Julia--jumping around the room "LIVE IN FLORIDA, LIVE IN FLORIDA!!!"

This child is too much. She showed absolutely no fear of the water and waves and would just laugh when they splashed over her. The sand on the beaches there is just awesome, but she couldn't be tempted to play in the sand, that meant getting out of the water. For my part, the white soft cool sand felt wonderful! I could definitely get used to it. :)

Just thought I'd give you a glimpse of our trip, more pictures are on dropshots and even pictures of the house we found. Yes we are in a pending contract to buy a house!! So exciting and nerve wracking, and every other emotion all rolled together!

Punchbuggy





























Julia had lots of fun driving in Ohio and I never imagined that you could fit a car inside a CAR, but we did it and it made the trip from Ohio to Texas. Thanks Papa and Nai-Nai I'm sure it will bring lots of fun for some time to come! I can just imagine what people thought that passed us on the highway though.. LOL

Happy 100th Birthday G.G.



























Yes, you read that right. GG turned 100 while we were in Ohio. Can you just imagine all that she has witnessed over the century? So many dramatic changes in our ever changing world. Amazing. As you can see, Julia enjoyed the birthday cake, she is still talking about GG's party, as a matter of fact she just sang "Happy Birthday" again as she was watching me load these pictures. Too cute.

More Ohio pics



Showing some attitude, and they both have it to spare. lol ;)


Being funny.

Picnic on the deck



Blowing bubbles with Uncle Dean

Visiting the Zoo



























Back to our Ohio trip:) I hinted in an earlier post about Julia and Tyler. These two were just too adorable together, in my opinion anyway. And of course being a bit closer in age and Tyler not being in school most of the week like the girls, Julia and Ty-ty got to spend quite a bit of time together this visit. And generally speaking where you saw one, you found the other. Ray and I took them to the zoo on one day of our visit and was it ever it a hot and steamy day, but I think they both had fun and I know I had fun just being with them. I heard that Ray and his dad took the two of them to one of Allie's softball games and Julia was quite the hit with the team, I guess Tyler got protective and told them all "lots of people make her nervous you know". Between the two of them you just never know what is going to be said next! I think they'll keep us all on our toes for some time to come! I hope they always get along so well.

Julia's new look



























Skipping ahead a bit because I thought you might like this quick update. We had Julia at the eye Dr's this week and yes she needed glasses. So we went out today and found some. Here's her new look. She's quite excited about being just like Allie (her cousin) and Mama and Papa and anyone else she could think of that she recently saw wearing glasses, let's hope the newness doesn't wear off too soon! :)

Memorial Day


























Memorial Day came and went while we were in Ohio and presented our first real opportunity to take Julia to a parade. You can see she was quite comfortable with her cousin Ashley. As usual, she seemed to take it all in at first and then decide it was okay to stand up and get a different perspective and be more active waving at the people passing her by.

The picture of her and Ty? Well, as you'll see in more to come that was a pretty common site all week. The two of them did quite well together, over all as always Julia had a great time with all of her cousins and is missing them this week, a long with Papa and Nai-Nai. :)

Meeting Alivia

Instant Friends

and they were off

WHEEEEE!

your turn Alivia!

we can share!

a little tight

ah, that's better!

Just Chillin'

Julia, Alivia and big sister Mary
















On our way to Ohio we detoured ever so slightly to meet up with Alivia's family. Alivia's mom and I have been in contact via email and web groups since about 2004 while we were both awaiting our turn to travel to China and have stayed in touch. It finally worked out that on one of our travels we were able to meet up! Hopefully, we'll be able to do that again in the future. We had a wonderful time and they were so nice to come out of their way and set up a meeting place for us! We had lunch at a McDonald's and then went to this park for a few hours. Let me tell you after a long day and half in the car this was a most welcome change!!

Julia and Alivia just immediately went to each other and had the best time!! As you can see they are very close to the same size and it seems from talking with Livi's mom that her and Julia are on just about the same page in nearly every aspect of life! LOL. They were just very well matched and I think they knew it. They seemed to share an instant understanding and no fear! This park had several play areas and these two girls (followed closely by Dads!) went on the biggest one there, after one time on that though we managed to keep them on the smaller scale slides and what not! Truly, no fear.

So Doug,Lisa, Mary and 'Livi, Thanks again for a great afternoon!!! It was just great meeting you all!

So much to catch up on

It will likely take me several posts to say everything I want to about this busy, busy month we have had. For starters here are some pics from a play date we set up in the park with other families in the area that have adopted from China. We took these before anyone else got there, and when all was said and done, only one other family made it after all. It didn't seem to bother the girls at all though and they had a great time and played very hard for a couple of hours! And we got to visit with the parents and share memories of China with a couple that are waiting to travel, so I still say it was a successful day. :)