Gotcha!

On February 25th, 2007, the orphanage director handed Chang Qiu Lu (Kate) to us, and we held her for the first time. This is known in the adoption community as her "Gotcha Day"! I love that term...it's so cute and cheerful, and is a yearly cause for celebration, somewhat like an anniversary or birthday. I cannot believe she's already been here for a year! The comments I hear most often from friends that see her is "She's very pretty/sweet looking." and "Oh my gosh, she has gotten so tall, and looks like a big girl."

I like that you can see Kate's name on her windmill.

We included my nephew William in the celebrations. William was adopted from Liberia 2 years before Kate. We all grabbed a glass of sparkling apple cider and said a toast to Kate and William, thankful that they are a part of our family, and sending postitive thoughts, remembering their birth families, who made it posible for us to raise these 2 neat kids.






There's something about her sweet little face in this picture I just keep staring at.



Here we have Kate's hair before her self-inflicted-bang-trim a week later.




Hey! How's it goin'?

I'm just walkin'.

Walkin', walkin'.

But don't blink, 'cause I'll be on the other side of the park before you can open your eyes!

Try me!





Homemade chocolate cake. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm.
Mommy gave me a extra big piece, 'cause me and Daddy were going to share. (Daddy let me have most of it though!)








We got home late in the afternoon, and decided to just let Kate stay up from her nap, and we'd put her down for bed a bit early. She didn't quite make it that long.

About 5 bites into her food, she was out, and didn't even wake up when we got her down, cleaned her up and put her into her pajamas. It had been a very full day...but a special one!

What A Difference A Year Makes!

Here is Kate's one year progress report...She sure looks little here!

Updates:
Speech - Kate is a pretty quiet girl. She still struggles with speech, but will try to imitate what you're saying to her. Mommy, no, milk (meeilk),ligh(t), hi!, and nun-you (love you) are pretty understandable & clear. Ryan is still y-an, Bryson is y-ton, and she still signs C next to her cheek for Colton and B for Brendan.

Her sign language vocabulary has increased to about 100 words(!) that she is comfortable using. She will sometimes sign a word I wasn't even aware she knew! Kate started speech therapy 6 weeks ago, and goes once a week for about 45 minutes, and seems to love going! Her current goal is to say (and/or sign) 2-3 words instead of just one. After her upcoming surgery, when they close up the remaining hole in her palate, it should be much easier for her to make the sounds that require a burst of air...b,d,t,p,and c. We discovered that the little piece of skin under her tongue (frenulum) also comes out too far, keeping her from easily making certain sounds, and as this is pretty common, they'll take care of it at the same time in her surgery.

Growth - When we first brought her home, Kate was on the 50-70th percentile in height (meaning if there were 100 kids, she would be taller than 50-70 of them). The last time she was measured, she was on the 90-95th percentile in height! I asked the pediatrician if that meant she would be a tall girl, or if she'll grow until she hits about 14, then just stop. He said it could go either way, so I guess only time will tell! But for now, she's a tall 2 1/2 yr. old!

Food - When we picked up Kate, she amazed us at how much food she could eat. She basically just over-ate for about 4 to 6 weeks. She never ate to the point of throwing up, but you would be amazed at how much food she could pack away. When she was done (or I thought she was done), Kevin would give her a banana, and she would eat that too. She would eat until her little tummy was as tight as a drum. Our thinking was just feed her as much as she wants until she understands that there is no shortage of food, and if you're hungry, we have food for you. I'd say it took her a good month before she called 'uncle'...I give up! I believe you! I can't keep up! She still is the best eater we have, including salad and vegetables, but will no longer gorge herself. She's pretty good about finishing what's on her plate, but if she's not hungry will sign 'finished/all done'.

Loves - Kate loves chocolate. A lot. Chocolate frosting, peanut butter cups, M&Ms...she's not picky. She also loves warm baths with floaty toys and bubbles. Music, music, music. It doesn't matter what kind! I've never seen a child who enjoys & is attuned to music and dancing so much. Warm, cozy footy pajamas and towels fresh out of the dryer will usually get an 'oooohh' and a big smile, and for some reason, loves trying on shoes. Looking at herself in the mirror after I put a bow in her hair and we say/sign, "Oh, very pretty!" Cats...real, stuffed or in a book, and horses & cows. Fruit snacks!! french fries, and anything that Ryan loves. Books and more books. If she's in her room, she's probably reading a book, then she puts it down and pulls out another book. Dora The Explorer, Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse club, but mostly Dora. Going on an errand with Dad, and being tickled by Dad! Oh, and we've just discovered, the joy of girl scout cookies. :)

Life is good.

To sum it up, Kate has fit into the last little niche in our family. She is definitely just 'one of the gang'. We've always had extra little kids around, so I think it wasn't much of a stretch to have Kate around. She has a unique relationship with each of the boys. Bryson is the one she's most likely to wave & say "hi (y-son!)" to, Brendan often times bathes her and buckles her in her car seat and she definitely looks up to him as a 'big kid'. Colton is the one she is most likely to go to for comfort...she adores him, and the feeling is mutual. Ryan is her playmate and antagonist, the one she looks up to and wants to do whatever he is doing (or eat whatever he is eating!) She thinks he is SO funny and looks at him with so much admiration and love in her eyes, then looks at me with smiling eyes as if to say, "Isn't he great?!" Kevin, she runs to when he comes home, as she tries to say 'daddy' like Ryan does. Daddy is the little-kid-tickler, and is the patient one when is comes to sitting next to her at dinner time, or at a restaraunt, and Mommy is Kate's personal assistant....hair stylist, potty trainer, photographer, carseat & naptime enforcer and the bringer-of-food.

The whole family is the giver and receivers of hugs.

It's been a full year at out house, and in another way, it seems to have flown by.

I've Been Here For 6 Months!

For some reason, I wrote this entry, then left it as a 'draft'. Since Feb. 25th, 3 days ago, was her 1 year "Gotcha Day", it seems fitting that I post this one!! Look for her 1 year update in the next few days! :)

As of September 7th,2007, Kate has been here for 6 months! She has put on 4 pounds, grown 3 inches, and has outgrown a 4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2 shoe and is about ready to outgrow a size 6 shoe!

Her hair has grown and has gotten shiny. I told Kevin, I don't remember her hair this silky & shiny when we first got her. She also has this cute patch of brand new hair on the top of her head about 3 inches long. When you put her hair in a pony tail, it works it's way out and leaves her looking like a little dandelion.

Most people ask me if she talks yet, to which I answer no, not really. She seems to understand pretty much everything we say to her, but still speaks about like an 11 month old. She says Mama, or Mommeeee, and once in a while will say 'go'. She can say no-no, and light (ligh). Murphy is something like on-hee and she will pat Murph at the same time. Ryan is y-an, Brendan she does not even attempt but holds a sign language 'B' up to her cheek. She still signs 'father/Dad' for Kevin, and as Colton is her security buddy, she will sign a 'C' up to her cheek, but it's usually more franticly done because she really wants him!

She signs to get her basic needs met: water, milk, owie!, hungry, thirsty, hot/cold, sign (meaning put on my sign language dvd), shower, bath, more, please, doll and baby. Oh, and I almost forgot, read and book. She loves books! and cat and dog. She tries to 'meow' when she signs cat...pretty funny. We are in the process of getting her signed up for speech therapy, and when she is 3, we will go through the school district.

We will go back to the surgeon in a couple weeks to see when Kate will go back for surgery to close up the opening in her palate. She still has a small area in the shape of a paisley behind her front teeth that is open, and the small hole in the middle, back, is trying hard to close itself up. Aside from her palate, she has been very healthy, and is a great sleeper. She is quite a bit more rambunctious than we had thought, and is very smart. I wish I could be her for a while and see what she's thinking.

Not feeling too hot

Did the flu hit your house? Well, it definitely made the rounds at our house! First one down was Colton, then Kate, then it hit Mommy. Yikes!! It was the ol' fever-and-you-feel-like-you've-been-run-over-by-a-truck, kinda flu, with a terrible cough. Once hit, you were down for a good 5 days.

I gave Kate lunch and turned on Dora the Explorer for her. I went to make Ryan's lunch, and came back to Kate asleep, with her forehead resting on a banana.





Coming to momentarily...






...and, then...out again.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We saved her 'Cutie Pie' outfit for Valentine's Day, and she looked very cheerful & festive as we dropped off Ryan at preschool! Mommy was wondering who had been dipping into the bowl of Reeses Peanut Butter cups on the table, wrapped in red and gold foil...Hmmmm.....


Taking Ryan's "ride" for a spin...

Last Post-Placement Visit....Whew!

This past Saturday, our social worker, Loren, came to the house to complete our last post-placement visit. For China, you need a homestudy (pre-adpotion), and two post-placement visits. After the visit, the social worker writes up a report including such things as Kate's recent height & weight, her upcoming surgery, any milestones, changes in the family or our living conditions, etc., and 6 pictures from us. One of the reports goes to All God's Children in Portland, one to us, and the last is sent to the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs). The social worker tries to "paint a picture" of how Kate is doing and her life here.

Rumor has it that they aren't there to see how clean the house is, but I still feel obligated to make sure we put our best foot forward, so spring cleaning ensues! From what I remember, each postplacement visit & report costs 250.00, which needed to be paid before the adoption took place. China is very adamant about the postplacement adoption reports being done and in on a timely basis, and understandably so. They do want to make sure that these children are being well taken care of. If people fail to get the post-adoption reports done, it could affect future adoptions from China, and that's not fair to those people adopting, who don't have their little one yet.

It feels good to have completed this last post-adoption visit, and passed that benchmark! Kate is taking a nap as I write this.

Chinese New Year - in February

On Sunday afternoon we celebrated Chinese New Year at our friend Lisa's house down the street. She and her husband have two beautiful daughters from China. It was a potluck buffet, and there was so much good food, I'm sure I came home weighing a couple pounds more than when I had left our house.

I think there was probably 15 little Chinese girls there, only 1 or 2 of which actually had Chinese parents! Most little girls (and a few of the parents) were decked out in traditional Chinese dresses, and looked very sweet. (Kate being the cutest, of course!) Chinese music played in the house. Did I mention there was a ton of great food?? It was a very happy, cheerful environment, and felt like a celebration of these beautiful girls in our lives.

Kevin plays a game with Kate and Ryan...he hugs them and when they try to walk away, he grabs them and pulls them close again, as they giggle. Then to shake things up a bit, after a few times of this, he lets them get a bit away, and they will turn around to look at him, like, aren't you going to grab me?? which he does as they squeal with laughter.




Kate feels secure when the boys hold her, and goes to them when she's tired or needs comfort. This is Kate with Brendan.



















The two giggle boxes with Dad "trying" to get away. I love the look on Kate's face in both these pictures.










Ryan talked Kate into climbing up the ladder and going down the slide, assuring her that he would help her. "Come on Kate!"







Naked feet on the grass...It's been a busy year!




As the afternoon went on, shoes and socks came off, pigtails began to droop, and her shirt with it's traditional closures refused to stay "buttoned".






I think this is one of my favorite pictures of the day.



My mommy says I'm 'very 2 1/2!'



It's a good day when you're with your big brother, and you know he loves you.