First Time Swimming?

We have some very good friends who have an inground swimming pool and they are gracious enough to have us over frequently during the summer.  We had our maiden voyage for 2011 this past Sunday when the weather was finally nice enough to go!

Let me back up and tell you that Abigail has been taking swimming lessons these past few months and Olivia has gone to watch a couple of times.  This past week, Olivia expressed the STRONG desire to "yo yong" like her sister does.  We held out hope that the weather would break and we could let her try it out. 

Well, let me tell you...she took to it like a fish to water, after the initial "wildness" since she was nervous and excited. 

As I've said before, she has a tendency to copy everything Abby does, so she tried it ALL.  She even jumped off the diving board, no wings, a few times until she stayed under just a.little.too.long.  It was a great day and I am certain this is the first time Miss Olivia Zijing has ever set foot into a swimming pool...what a joy to watch!

Abigail has come a long way in her swimming abilities over the last couple of years.  She is moving up to "EEL" now at the Y and is very excited!

Here's to a very warm summer this year, so we have lots of opportunities to swim!

Not Just Any Mothers Day...

Four years ago today, we became a family of five with the adoption of our precious Abigail Xin Ru. 

God knew what a blessing she would  be to our family, even when we didn't.  {He told your baba!}

 It hasn't always been easy; in fact, looking back, it was darn hard. 

Having recently adopted Olivia Zijing, many of those hidden away, long forgotten "sore spots" have come back as reminders that this road is NEVER easy, but the joy we have received from having Abigail in our lives is immeasurable. 

 I can't even imagine what life would have been like without her in our family, ours...or hers...

THANK YOU Lord for this gift we love so very much.  You've come along way baby!

Happy Gotcha Day, Abby!

One Month

One month ago today we were greeted by a nervously giggling little girl who was chanting "baba, baba"...

and now...shes's still that nervous giggly girl who loves her baba, but she's becoming more self assured.  She loves LOVES school, she loves our dog Zeus, she is generally happy, sleeps well and loves being outside.  Her obstinence shows up when we don't expect it.  "No" is a favorite word, whether she understands its meaning or not...food is a challenge at times, and she has a bit of a mean streak where her sister is concerned; not always, but not expected so it cuts deep.  Abigail has been very patient with her, but Ab's a bossy gal and that isn't helping the bond.  We are working with Ab to not be such a mother to Olivia, its hard for her.  The idea that just because Abigail has something, Olivia should as well is difficult too.  We are working through all this, loving on her whenever possible, trying to keep in mind where she came from, what she's been through...life is a bit hard right now, but there are glimmers of the sweet little girl we know is in there...

We are reminded in Matthew 18:5 that "whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

Momma, Mommy, Mom

I've made the transition with Olivia through the list above.  Actually she hears Abigail and copies her.  Who knew those names could be so annoying???

 

The struggle around home right now is that we just don't have two of EVERYTHING.  I was warned about this {Brenda} but am seeing it first hand.

It ranges from things like a bicycle helmet, kids sunglasses to one child having LOOOOONNNNG hair that can be put into a bun and one having very short hair that really can't {well, it did}.  We have this antique rocking chair that was my aunts when she was a little girl...well, let me just say, its VERY popular suddenly and I wish we had another :).

Day two of school went well again; wish I had pictures but the 45 MPH+ winds prevented that.  Thought Olivia was going to fly away, what with the backpack and all...it was comical seeing her excitement to ride the bus for the first time coupled with the fierce wind pulling her tiny body away...

The girls are getting along well, for the most part.  No real fighting, just some whining.  I'll take this gift, and thank the Lord for all of it.  Sometimes its hard to remember what a blessing this really is, but we are getting there...life is good.

 

Easter Weekend

Things around here have been pretty "normal".  Olivia is catching on and we are to her as well.  She's an hornery little thing, that one! 

We had a good weekend, finished up our bathroom tile project, had a date night with the hubby which was VERY nice and spent Easter Sunday praising the One who gave His all for US.  We went to church where both girls participated in singing a group song with the other kids;

then spontaneously hit the buffet at Quaker Steak & Lube while my ham sat in the fridge.  Who knew they had a buffet?  While it was tasty, it was a tad on the expensive side so we won't be doing that again...

So Much Fun

A lot has gone on the past week as we all get used to our new family structure, but today was the best.  Abigail had school, Bern went turkey hunting and I was home with Olivia for the first time, really just the two of us.  We got Ab on the bus, had breakfast and then went to run errands.  We went up to school and after much discussion, she is going to start Kindergarten on Monday with Abigail.  There are only 18 school days left and the principal and guidance counselor think its the best thing.  Then I will send her 1/2 days this summer to school, working on the language and reading skills.  She impressed the doctor yesterday by writing her numbers all out to 100!!  I don't think Ab can do that.  So, we'll do all this and then decide what grade she will go into next school year.  Great plan!  BUT the best thing was, we had a really good time together and I got some hugs and snuggles and just had fun. 

After dinner tonight, we put them to work doing dishes, no sense waiting, right?  Just kidding child services, they wanted to do it...

A New Normal

We made it home last Wednesday night unscathed.  After 26 grueling hours traveling from Guangzhou to Shanghai to Chicago to Home...just grueling.  All in all Zijing did well.  She didn't like having to put her seat belt on at the end of the big leg and started her whimpering, but she came out of it fairly quickly.  Both girls slept a good bit thankfully {must be nice}and were pretty pleasant in the long run.  

We were greeted at the airport by a small group of friends and family, so good to see familiar faces; especially Jack....thank you all so much!  We got home and Bern cooked burgers at 1:30AM; they were SO good.

So now we have a new normal; two girls to get to bed, get teeth brushed, fed, etc.  Abigail lapsed right back to her underwear wearing, sheet hugging, couch laying self and Zijing is so far going with the flow.  She was dressing up Barbies, doing their hair (even with a hand challenge) and seems happy...just like normal.  Life is good.

UPDATE: Reality Check

I am having some struggles with my sweet girl. She definitely prefers Baba which is still okay, but she has taken to actually shunning me at times, dirty looks and all.  Abigail goes back to school tomorrow and it will be mostly she and I as Bern will be hunting, so....we'll see!  Lots of alone time with drs. appointments and such coming up before we immerse her in school {a whole 'nother concern of mine}.  So thats the story from Home.  Lots of pics to upload, but jet lag and a chest cold have prevented ANY sort of physical exertion here.  This too shall pass!