Happy 6 months since Gotcha Day!(a day late)

Well, I really did mean to post yesterday but was just too busy. We had a visit from our sweet social worker, Terri, to check up on Miss Hannah's progress at the 6 months home mark! She will officially be home 6 months on March 8th, but it's unbelievable to think that 6 months have already gone by since we were nervously waiting in that Civil Affairs Office in Guangzhou to meet our new daughter! Terri was amazed at how much Hannah has grown since she saw her in September and was impressed with her speech and thought she was just adorable. Of course she is! We had to submit photos to be sent back to China that show her with friends and family and I spent the last few weeks putting poor Hannah through all the blood work and tests that I couldn't bear to put her through when we first arrived home. She HATED the blood work (who doesn't?) and I hated doing the stool sample(again, who doesn't?) but she's just fine and now we can send all that paperwork in. We have one more visit from Terri in August at the 1 year mark and then I can stop worrying that I may be doing something wrong and this wonderful child will be gone. Completely paranoid, I know, but this adoption process stresses me out no matter how much I tell myself that everything is ok now and Hannah is all ours. The truth is she is incredible, intelligent, funny, determined and every bit the curious 2 year old and we could not love her more. It's been a fantastic 6 months.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

I'm a week late with this post but just wanted to share pix from the great Chinese New Year Party we attended last Sunday! Hannah and Riley got to set off firecrackers, play traditional Chinese instruments, participate in the big dragon dance parade and Riley even made a rat snowglobe. (It's the year of the rat.) There were about 30 kids there, many adopted from China, Vietnam and Cambodia as well as friends of Chinese descent. Rob, Riley and I have gone twice to this party while waiting for Hannah to arrive, so this year was especially joyous for us and lots of people were very excited to finally meet Hannah En Ming! Hannah LOVED the dragon parade and giggled out loud at all the loud confetti poppers going off as the dragon danced by with her under it. She also refused to use her fork and would only accept my feeding her with chopsticks at the party, which I found very interesting. She was true to her heritage and culture for the night! We had a blast. Of course, the very next day found both of them not feeling well and Riley was absent from school for the first time since starting kindergarten at Haldane. They are both feeling a little better now but still sniffling and coughing. I cannot wait for the winter to be over. We also went to cousins Bryan and Johnny's big birthday party yesterday. Very fun for all and I will post a picture of all the kids from that party too. Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. We'll post again soon!

What a Party!!

Well, Miss Hannah celebrated in style on Saturday with her Elmo themed bash! All her aunts made it as well as all her cousins including her birthday sharer, Bryan. Happy 10th birthday, cuz! All the kids had a great time playing stick the nose on the Elmo, freeze dance, follow the leader, limbo and pulling strings on the giant Elmo pinata! My camera wasn't as cooperative as the crowd so I don't have much to post picture-wise, but a fun time was had by all and I once again marvel at how blessed Hannah is and, more to the point, we all are to have such generous, loving family and friends. Thank you to all of you for being there and for helping to make it so much fun for us. Now I get 2 months reprieve until Riley's turn comes around. Whew.