Tennis Season is Over

Kaitlyn played her last tennis match of the season yesterday.  She won 6-3!!!  Elli had fun exploring the grass and leaves while we were waiting for the match to begin.

Language

Elli's language comprehension is amazing!  She knows animals and the sounds they make, foods, clothing, household items, things outside...the list goes on and on.  She understands and points to more items than she will put into words, but she is starting to repeat things after us, usually only the first syllable.  She knows and says some things in Chinese also.  She melts my heart when I say, "I love you", and she says in the cutest little voice, "La-voo".

China trip pic...Traffic

Here are some pics from the traffic in Zhengzhou, the city where Elli was found.  The streets were crowded with cars, mopeds, bicycles, and pedestrians.  To pass on a crowded street, they would honk, and then squeeze over and create a new lane.  Traffic was also extremely crowded in Beijing.  Our guide said there were 15 million people in Beijing.  He said you could drive three hours and still be in Beijing.  After the Beijing Olympics in 2008, cars were more affordable and there are many more cars and new drivers.

Don't get my toes, puppy dog!

Mama's Little Helper...Grocery Store

Going to the grocery store is a big adventure!  Elli is really good about trying new foods, but her favorites seem to be rice and Ramen noodles!  No surprise. :)  Our family does not love Asian food, so I want to find some yummy Chinese recipes to help broaden our palette. 

Homecoming Dance

After Kaitlyn finished the tennis tournament on Saturday, we rushed home so she could get ready for the Homecoming dance!  Daddy drove her to the Japanese Steak House where she met up with a group of girls for dinner before heading to the Homecoming dance that evening!  Our sweet girl is growing up so fast...

Tennis Tournament

Kaitlyn had an all-day tennis tournament on Saturday.  During the last game, she and her doubles partner had two match points and took it to a tie breaker but lost 7-9.  They finished 2nd place, the highest ever for our school at this tournament!!  We were so proud of her! 

Homecoming Parade

Our Homecoming parade and football game was Friday.  Elli was taking a nap when the parade started and didn't wake up even when the band passed by or the fire truck siren sounded!  Just as Mommy was catching a necklace that was thrown toward her, she woke up and watched closely for the rest of the parade.  Later, we snuggled under blankets for the game to see our home team win!!

China trip pic...More Acrobats!

We really enjoyed the Chinese Acrobatics show we saw in Beijing.  Here are a few more pics.

Remembering Last September...

I am reflecting on how God moved in our lives a year ago in September.  We had already been waiting over four years for our adoption.  In September, after much prayer, we decided to switch to the special needs, waiting child program.  I had looked over the medical conditions checklist before, but fear had always won.  But this time, "minor heart condition" seemed right.  Maybe it was because my mom and her side of the family have heart conditions, but we felt that God was speaking to us and was leading us on this path.  Six months later, we were matched with our beautiful Elliana...God's perfect timing.


I had made a post on facebook just 11 days before we were matched with our baby girl.
"It makes me sad when people think we have given up on our adoption by now because it has taken so long... This baby has been growing in all of our hearts. God has taken this time to grow us even closer to Him. Pray for our little girl, that her heart condition is stable, and that we will soon help heal her broken heart in more ways than one..."

Fall Season

I enjoy the fall season!  I can once again open the windows and feel the cool breeze coming in, refreshing the house with the smells and sounds of nature.  I think of camping trips, campfires, roasted marshmallows, bike rides on a scenic trail, apples, pumpkins, hayrides, and trees painted a beautiful new color.  I think of warm, comfort foods like yummy apple pie, homemade bread, soup, and chili.  Oh, we are so very blessed!

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance." - Psalm 65:11

Mama's Little Helper...Sweeping

The first week we were home, Elli saw me using the Swiffer duster on the floor.  She loves to help me sweep the floor, especially if we hold the handle together, have a little dance in our step, and sing our little "Sweep the Floor" song!  Oh yeah, Mommy knows how to make the work fun!

Elliana's Heart Surgery Anniversary

One year ago today, Elliana had a 3 1/2 hour successful open heart surgery for a very serious congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).  This heart defect involves four abnormalities of the heart and is a common cause of the blue baby syndrome because of low oxygenation of the blood.  The four abnormalities include a narrowing of the pulmonary valve, an overriding aorta, a hole between the ventricles (VSD), and right ventricular hypertrophy.


We are forever grateful to New Day Foster Home in Beijing.  New Day Foster Home's sponsors and supporters raised funds for Elliana's heart surgery!  New Day also had an amazing staff of nannies and volunteers who prayed for and cared for our sweet baby girl before and after her surgery.


If you have a heart for orphans but have not been called to adopt, please consider sponsoring a child or supporting a home such as New Day Foster Home.  You could be a part in helping provide a life-saving surgery for a precious child.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

This is Elliana at about two months old when she arrived at New Day Foster Home.  Isn't she a little angel?  A special intern who was volunteering at New Day at the time when she arrived named her "Kiah".  She helped care for her, prayed for her, and loved her.

China trip pic...Jade Factory

We toured a jade factory when we were in Beijing.  We were given a demonstration of how to determine if a piece of jade is authentic jade, glass, or marble.  Authentic jade has a high-ting pitch when tapped.  Jade also has visible minerals and doesn't look perfect when viewing in the light.  However, jade is considered beautiful if it is translucent.  Jade is most often found in shades of green, but it can also appear in a variety of colors.  Glass also has a high-ting pitch like jade, but glass is very clear and perfect in the light.  In glass jewelry, the green coloring is injected and the color is usually a deeper, richer green.  In contrast to jade, marble has a dull sound when tapped.  There are three classes of jade:  Class A is 100% natural; Class B has injection of color; Class C is low quality, possibly glass, and is very dark green due to the injection of coloring and purification.

The Chinese people say that everything has a price, but jade is priceless.  They believe that jade can protect the body and keep the evil spirits away.  Three pieces of jade are traditionally given to a girl during her lifetime;  by her parents when she is born, by her parents in a box on her wedding day to symbolize they treasure their daughter like they treasure jade (the groom's family also normally gives the bride jewelry), and by her children when she is older.  Other traditional gifts given by a girl's parents on her wedding day are a rice bowl, chopsticks, silk pillow, and a quilt.

We were told this dragon boat was carved from one piece of jade! It was extremely expensive!!

Chinese zodiac chart

Calcium

Here's Elli in her favorite Kai-lan pajamas drinking some milk before bedtime.  We have transitioned from formula in a bottle to whole milk in a sippy cup.  Babies in China are often deficient in calcium.  We were told that when babies start getting calcium that sometimes calcium deposits might develop because the body can't absorb it quickly enough.  In China, we noticed Elli had a little white bump under the skin on her chin, and now a few other very small bumps have formed.  I am not sure if they are calcium deposits, especially since she had one in China.  I am anxious to ask our pediatrician about them at our next visit.  Elli also likes to drink apple juice, diluted orange juice, and water.  

Funny Bath Pic!

Friday Night Lights!

The eighth graders played with the high school band at Friday night's football game for Step-off Night.  The band was not in uniform, but wore matching band t-shirts.  Brady played tenor drums!  Elli was excited to see her big brother play and to cheer on the football team!

China trip pic...White Swan-Mama & Elli

Here are pictures of Mama and Elli at the White Swan Hotel on "Red Couch Photo" day.  Pictures were in the morning, and we didn't find our red squeaky shoes until that afternoon...