Personalities

One Year

On this day last year, we met our sweet girls for the first time. After years of waiting to be parents, our dreams came true and life as we knew it was changed in an instant. All the families from our travel group gathered in our hotel lobby, from where we would walk across the street to the Jiangxi Adoption Office, and meet the babies, who were coming from seven different orphanages in the province. The nervous energy and anticipation were palpable, and everyone was anxious to finally see and hold their daughters. We left for the 10 a.m. appointment, with diaper bags, gifts, cameras, etc. in tow; and once we arrived, settled in to wait for the nannies to arrive with the babies. We watched a couple of families meet their girls and were ecstatic for them, but we couldn't relax knowing our girls would be there any minute. They were brought from the orphanage by four people, one of which was the Director of the Shanggao SWI. When we saw them, we realized immediately that they were wearing the outfits I had sent in the care package, and carrying the little stuffed toys I sent as well. Jonathan and I had planned that he would hold Eleanor first, and I would take LilyKate, but in midst of all that excitement, we somehow ended up with the other sister. I was handed Eleanor and she didn't cry at all, just looked at me with serious, quiet eyes. I looked over and saw Jonathan reaching out to get LilyKate. She didn't shed a tear either, but Jonathan and I certainly did...we were overwhelmed at that moment...grateful, relieved, scared, overjoyed...a bundle of emotions and feelings. It was unlike anything either of us had ever experienced. The Director was very kind and gave us a book with pictures of the girls, their foster mother, and the orphanage. We also got the disposable cameras back, which turned out to have lots of pictures of their foster mom, the house they lived in and some from the orphanage as well. I wanted to see the rest of the families meet their daughters, but once we got the girls, it was hard to concentrate on anything else. One by one, each family was united with their long awaited child, and the room was alive with the sound of crying babies, joyful parents and many people talking at once - it was crazy! We had to stay and complete some paperwork and get photos taken, as well as meet with the Adoption Officials, promising we would always love and take care of our babies. I am not sure how long we were there, but it was some time before we could head back to our hotel, give the girls a bottle and have a chance to really look them over. We changed their diapers, fed them and spent some time playing and getting to know each other before it was time to head out again to the local police station to complete more paperwork for the adoption. After the trip to the precinct, we had the evening to spend as a new family and we were so happy to see smiles and hear laughs from the girls. They were a bit quiet that night, but let us feed, bathe and cuddle them and we were able to get them both to sleep in their cribs with little fuss. I don't know how many times that day, and in the days ahead, we looked at each other and said "Two babies!" We just couldn't (and still can't) believe we had been so blessed!

Today, the girls have changed from those sweet, quiet, little babies, into still sweet, but very active little girls. They will turn two in a couple of weeks and are definitely showing all the signs of being typical two-year old's. They are so ingrained into our hearts and lives, we can barely remember what life was like without them, but we know it was less interesting, and most certainly less fun. They are little bundles of energy and love, and we are honored to be their parents.

Walking to the Adoption Center

Sign welcoming us

Jonathan and I waiting for the babies to arrive

Posing with the orphanage staff

The girls back at the hotel room

Jonathan and LilyKate waiting for the bus

Eleanor and I at the police station

LilyKate and Eleanor that first evening

Eleanor and LilyKate - June 16, 2009

Capturing the moments

We take pictures of the girls almost every day, most of which are never posted. Some of these images are cute and funny, but many are just simple, everyday moments...here are a few recent favorites.

Eleanor's latest funny look

LilyKate playing the piano at church and telling me no when I try to play too

Eleanor dancing at a friend's graduation party

LilyKate cuddling with Daddy and still sleepy from a nap

Eleanor smelling the roses in Grandma's garden

Stopping on a bridge while on a walk with Grandma and Grandpa

Fun at the Beach

The girls loved their first visit to the beach, and we LOVED watching them experience so many new things, and seeing it all again through their eyes. They loved playing in the sand, swimming in the pools, running on the greens (and everywhere else for that matter). The only thing they didn't like so much was the ocean...they loved looking at it, but didn't want to get too close to it. They ate everything, slept wonderfully and had a fabulous time. Check out our slideshow below of some of the highlights...if you double-click on the picture, you'll get the flickr set with captions, otherwise, you can just watch the slideshow without captions...enjoy!

It's been awhile...

We just returned from the beach and I have a ton of great pictures to post, but before I do that, I need to acknowledge a special anniversary - Referral Day. One year ago, on May 2nd, we received the phone call we had been waiting for for three years...the phone call that changed our lives forever, and in a matter of minutes! Our agency called us that afternoon to tell us that we were parents, to not just one, but two beautiful baby girls, Shang Guan Xin Ling and Shang Guan Xin Long. After all that time waiting, dreaming and loving a baby we had long named LilyKate, we had to wrap our minds around TWINS!

After we got over the initial shock, we cried, laughed and screamed with joy. We were both shaking and crying, and trying our best to write down the information that Kim from our agency was telling us. We were parents! Then she sent some pics and the image above is the first we saw of our daughters - we could not get over how beautiful they were. It was the most amazing day and we got to celebrate with family and friends that evening at the rehearsal dinner for our niece, Erica, and her fiance, Robb. Then the really hard part came...waiting to go get our little sweeties. We had a lot to keep us busy in the interim, but that six weeks felt like an eternity.

They have changed so much since then and are so much a part of us, we can hardly remember what life was like without them...infinitely less colorful and fun, that's for sure. We love these girls with all our hearts and are grateful for every moment we have with them.

LilyKate and Eleanor - Seaside, Florida

May 2, 2009

Easter

We had a lovely Easter weekend with the girls hunting for eggs, spending time with family, and enjoying the beautiful Spring weather. The girls just seem to accept every new thing with ease, and we are continually amazed by how much they are growing and changing. They are starting to say more words and comprehend everything you say to them. I know it won't be long before they are talking up a storm...well, they talk all the time, but not all of makes sense just yet. They get more beautiful every day, yes, but more than that, they are sweet, loving, happy, affectionate and smart little girls. They love being around people, love to laugh and have fun. They are starting to test their boundaries and can get pretty emotional when they are tired, or something doesn't go their way, but they are almost two; so that goes with the territory!

Here are a few pictures from our first Easter together:

Mommy helping Eleanor find her first egg

Daddy and LilyKate on the hunt!

Why are we stopping for pictures when there are eggs to be gathered?

They loved their first Easter egg hunt

LilyKate wants more eggs

Eleanor gives her cousin Matthew a big smile

LilyKate checks out what the Easter Bunny left

Eleanor examines an egg

That face!

Eleanor digs down to see what else is there

Easter morning before church at the living cross

Easter Portrait

Fun with Daddy

Eleanor in red socks, LilyKate in white :)

First Haircut

The girls had their first real haircut this week and although they both cried through the entire process, they were very brave and let the stylist do her thing. Fortunately, it didn't take more than a few minutes to trim their ends, and then put their hair into pigtails, but it was a rough few minutes! I felt bad taking pictures of them crying, but it was a first and I had to capture the moment, even if it was a tearful one. They were fine right after though and even left the pigtails alone for the rest of the day, which I couldn't believe.

LilyKate went first and neither the cool new yellow ball from Grandma nor a cookie could stop the tears.

Eleanor clung to her new ball too, but wouldn't even look at the lollipop and cookie I put in her lap.

LilyKate calmed down and then watched her sister suffer through her haircut.

Eleanor almost done and look...pigtails!

Later that afternoon, both girls still had their pigtails in place, even after their nap. Back to their smiling, happy selves.

The Big Chair

We shared a delicious Mexican dinner tonight with our friends, the Chapman's. As we were leaving the restaurant, Ben and Pete spotted this huge chair, so we decided to sit the kids down for a photo op. Surprisingly, everyone cooperated and we got a pretty good shot...a rare occurrence with five kids, especially when it was past our girls' bedtime!