Sleeping Beauty

This doesn't look comfortable but it must be b/c we didn't hear a peep from her until 5:00 in the morning!

Lillie's New Look

Today I took Zeke to get his hair trimmed and Karol wanted to try a bow in Lillie Mei's hair! I've tried before but she told the trick was to put a tiny rubberband in so that she gets used to it and can't pull it out. Then you just slip the bow in! Probably not her everyday look but pretty cute!

Hard at Work

Yesterday Lillie Mei was very intent on putting all of the animals into the ark. She would try to put them in one way and if that didn't work she would turn it around. As a last resort she would pick the ark up and bang it on the floor (one time that actually worked). When she finished she picked it up and they all fell out. She very patiently started over. She has a lot of work to do!


In the last picture she was trying to walk and I just thought she looked really cute in that outfit!

Just for the addicts!

I don't really have any major news but since some of you are addicted to the blog I thought I'd better not go more than 1 or 2 days without posting something.

Yesterday was Lillie Mei's first American Wal-Mart experience. She did great--I think she might like shopping! She also took a great nap yesterday and was in a great mood. Today she didn't do so well and only slept for 30 minutes--very grouchy.

She's walking a little more and starting to gain confidence. She seems to change everyday! It's hard to believe we've only had her 3 weeks. It feels like she's always been part of our family!




This picture is from Thanksgiving. Lillie Mei still loves to sit on any little item she can find!


She had fun playing with an ornmanet from her tree today.




Our friends, the terKuiles came to visit this weekend. Lillie Mei tried to feed her new friend, Dawson, some macaroni and cheese!

Ready for our first visit to church!

Lillie Mei went to church today for the first time The hat didn't stay on very long but she sure did look cute while it lasted. She was slightly disruptive in Sunday School but fell asleep during the service. It was wonderful to let all the people who have been praying for her get to see her in person.

She Walks!

While we were at my mom and dad's today Lillie Mei decided to stand alone for the first time. A couple of hours later she took her first steps! Of course, I didn't have my camera but we tried to replay the event. This is the best we got! She has changed so much in the past 2 1/2 weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm sure I don't have to list everything we're thankful for this year! God has been so good to us. We're very thankful to be home safely and for all of our friends and family that have accompanied us on our journey to get Lillie Mei. We all had a great Thanksgiving and then went downtown to watch them turn on the Christmas lights. We hope you had a great day too!

Almost a week at home!

We've been home almost a week now and things are starting to get into a routine. Our luggage came on Monday (only one thing was broken). Lillie Mei is going to sleep easily but wakes up A LOT during her nap and during the night. The boys are still going to bed early and getting up early but almost back to normal. Overall, it's been a smooth transtition.

Look Mom, no hands!

Lillie Mei's 1st experience with crayons.
She loves her noodles!

Cousin Erin feeding baby Lillie Mei just before bedtime.
Silly girls!

Starting to Feel "Normal" Again

Today was the first day that felt like it was somewhat normal(whatever that is). The boys went back to school and Lillie Mei and I had our first day at home together. We're still figuring out the nap thing but otherwise had a good day.


My sister, my neice, and nephew arrived today. Braxton wanted to help feed Lillie Mei. She's getting used to having other people visit.


Lillie Mei loves her new sippy cups.


We're trying to break Lillie Mei's habit of leaning back when she stands, we think she started this b/c she spent so much time in a walker before. She's doing great and loves her lion!

Cousins

Last night Kirk's family came to see the newest addition to the family. Lillie Mei was extremely fascintated with her cousin Abigail. She wanted to follow her around. We didn't manage to get a family picture but here are a few!





Kirk hanging out with Lillie Mei and her cousin Noah. Noah is almost 4 months old and weighs almost as much as Lillie Mei!

A nice surprise from our Sunday School Class welcomed Lillie Mei home. I told Zeke we couldn't eat it until we took a picture so he got the camera and took it himself!

HOME! (Powdered Doughnuts for Lillie Mei)

Hi everyone, Kirk worked hard to get us on an earlier flight. We left Chicago at 6:00 (we flew standby and didn't know if we'd make it on until 5:55). We arrived home around 11:00pm. We all held it together until the last few hours.

Our luggage didn't make the flight. We knew we'd get it later but when we got home we realized we'd left one of our carry ons at the airport--the one with all of the adoption paperwork, the boys' homework, and the pearls in it! Kirk called the airport, they didn't have it, so he turned around and drove back to Charlotte at midnight. He found the carry on!! I cried when he called and told me--someone had turned it in (probably thought it was a bomb or something). God answered yet another prayer--He has completely overwhelmed me through this whole trip.

Kirk also got 2 of our 4 checked bags so hopefully we'll get the others today. Lillie Mei and I got some sleep from about 1-5 but she cried about every 30 minutes-not sure what is wrong. So once again, I'm up at 5 am posting. Kirk didn't get in bed until about 3:00 so we're going to tag team today.

Lillie Mei has been up less than an hour and she has changed the TV so that it took me 5 minutes to get the picture back, caused me to clear my coffee table, and tried to eat the fake apples on my end table! Boy, I forgot what it was like to have a toddler in the house! However, she also kissed me about 20 times in a row last night-the first kisses she's offered (except for 1 Kirk claims to have gotten??).

So far, she's only had 1 new junk food--powered doughnuts--an immediate hit!

I'll try to post more later as we all figure this new family life out!

Love you all!

Stuck in Chicago!

Hi everybody! We're in America and Lillie Mei is officially a U.S. citizen!! However, our flight home got cancelled and instead of arriving at Greenville Spartanburg at 5:01 pm we will now be arriving in Charlotte at 11:59 pm. We are sooo very tired but thankful for how well the trip to Chicago went. Lillie Mei and the boys slept OK and we had a great seat arrangement. There's a small play area at the airport and the boys are having fun right now and Lillie Mei is asleep.

Here's our flight info-American Airlines Flight 4386 departs Chicago at 9:10 pm (Chicago time)arrives Charlotte at 11:59.

Just keep us in your prayers!

On Our Way!

Our luggage had to be outside of our door at 4:30 this morning and we leave for the airport at 5:30. We'll be in Greenville, SC in just over 24 hours from right now. Please pray that all of the children get some sleep on this long flight!

When we get home it will take a while for Lillie Mei to adjust to the new sights, smells, and sounds of our home and we'll all be very jet lagged. Our agency warns us that we need to keep her close to us to continue to promote bonding. We're not sure how quickly we'll be ready to take her out or how quickly we'll be ready for visitors but we'll let you know. We'll also continue posting on the blog so you can see what we're all up to!!!

See you soon!

Our Last Day in China!

Today was very busy as we had a lot of group photos made, ate our last meal as a group, and finished up shopping. The highlight of the day was going to the American Consulate to get Lillie Mei's visa to come to America! We had to promise that everything we had submitted was true and show them her Chinese passport and our American passports and that was it! She'll be an American citizen when we land in Chicago tomorrow!!!

As tiring and hard has this trip has been, I'd do it again tomorrow to get Lillie Mei. She is such a joy and it feels like she's been part of our family all along. I can't wait for all of you to meet her!

BTW-God answered another prayer. There is a dermatologist here adopting a child. She looked at Zeke's legs for us and it is a form of eczema. She gave us some samples of a prescription med. and it is already clearing up! Thanks for the prayers!






Our cute kids (if I do say so myself)!


There is a tradition at The White Swan Hotel that everyone take a group picture on the red couchees in the lobby. Lillie Mei cried the entire time--this was the best picture we got.



Quality time with Dad.

We were blessed with a wonderful travel group. We have all shared such a special time in our lives together that we will forever have a bond with these 7 other families--yet another way God has blessed us.

I Couldn't Make this Up!

I can't figure out how to put this picture at the bottom of the post. Lillie Mei loves to sit on any little step she can find. She'll just sit there and smaile. Doesn't she look cute in shorts!






















Remember that I was actually excited about eating at McDonalds last night? Well, we got there, took the stroller up 2 flights of stairs, and got settled. Then one family member from each family went downstairs to order. It was sooo hot in there. We waited about 15 minutes for the food and then all of our spouses came back up with no food! McDonalds was out of hamburgers!!! How does that happen? It actually had something to do with cooking them--the power went out or something. Anyway, we came back to the room and ordered pizza which was fine.




We went back to Starbucks last night and ordered the vanilla frappacino again. As soon as Lillie Mei saw it she started screaming for it. I think she may already be addicted. The Daily Grind may be getting even more of our money now!

This is from dinner Monday night. This is typically how we ate. Every table has a big "lazy susan" in the middle. They bring out about 6-10 dishes and we eat whatever we want.