Surprise! A Son!

Dang Lancheng, 3 years old 

Welfare Institute of Langfang City

Hebei, China 

We are still working on a name for him,

but his little face is carving a place deep in our hearts!  His cuteness is just too much....especially in that girly coat! 

Our paperwork has always stated that we were open to two,

yet we weren't really in pursuit of another. 

God knew and ordered every step in His perfect timing. 

 

Our wonderful Lifeline contact, Andrea, has been talking with us about the possibility of adopting a boy as well.  This agency doesn't miss an opportunity to find another child a home, and she shared that very few families are open to boys.  They have pointed out a few boys to us, from their waiting children lists.  Each time, we have reviewed and prayed over files, but they just didn't seem to be ours.  Once, we felt a connect with a little guy listed as "Tony".  We prayed for God to give us complete clarity.  One day later, his file disappeared mysteriously from the shared list.  We had received an answer.  After that, we assumed that the door to a boy was closed. 

 

To our GREAT surprise, a late night phone call on Monday, May 6th, changed everything.  From Andrea, we heard the words, "You've been matched."  With heart on the floor and my head spinning, I told her thanks and that I'd check my mail.  Words failed!

This little face looked back at me from the computer screen,

and I was smitten.  The feeling for him was different and immediate. 

We had 48 hours to decide.

 

Where was Mark?

Oman. 

Yep, on the other side of the world at decision time.  This is how we roll! 

I stopped and prayed for clarity and that he'd have a computer to access and then time to review his file without stress.  The next AM, he called and I let home know about the match. 

 

One hour later, he called back, saying, "Let's adopt him."   

The decision, though covered in crazy, was easy. 

 

Our little guy has a repaired cleft lip and palate.  We will travel at the same time to adopt both he and Evie. 

Langfang is in the Hebei Province that surrounds Beijing. 

When Evie returns to the Heartbridge Healing Home,

our two sweet ones are SO close to one another!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

 

You can read Evie's story here. 

And Claire's story here. 

Falling For Evie, Part II



It has been a challenging week in our pursuit of Evie,

so we are going to spend some time remembering the miracles that the Lord has already performed on her behalf. 

 

Time to tell the rest of the story, started here.

 

So, we'd fallen in love, and had discovered that she was by pure miracle, a file of our agency, Lifeline Children's Services. 

 

God had already moved mountains for us. 

 

Unfortunately, on that Sunday AM, we were told that she was on hold with another family and had a list of other families interested in her.  Another neat connection was that we were one of those families.  Not recognizing her from the photos, we had no idea.  Still, many families were before us, so our hearts dropped.  She was SO close, yet truly far away.  We contacted some prayer warrior friends, and asked for another miracle. 

 

We prayed all day Sunday. 

Monday, the phone rang again.   

 

In a few words, our agency mentor, Andrea answered a prayer.  She told us that she was on hold for us if we wanted her.  She shared that the other family had released her file.  And though the list was long, Lifeline had prayed about it, and felt it clear that

 

God was speaking.

 

About an hour later, another agency worker called excitedly telling us that after months of paperwork, our dossier had a LID, Log in Date in China!  My prayer all along had been that we'd find our child around the same time that were were logged in. 

 

In perfect answer to prayer, it was the same day. 

 

This is a moment that has forever altered our faith, how we pray, and how we listen.  So often we pray, doubting the outcome, but hoping for the best.  This moment; however, was an "only God" experience. 

 

We later learned that a long series of families had had our girl's file on hold.  One family had even submitted a Letter of Intent for her to China and was in full pursuit of her.  Many others had wanted her, but had released her after having doctors review her file.  In the Lord's PERFECT timing, all of these holds and releases had actually held her for us, for the moment we were given her file.   

 

The week we were given her file also happened to be the week we were packing to move, and when Mark had heavy work travel.  We had two weeks to decide.  

 

We'd love to tell you that after seeing mountains moved, we said yes immediately. 

 

The truth though is that we are human and got scared. 

 

Her file was hard to read.  Evie had been fighting and that fight is far from over.  Her medical photos are hard.  Days before a house closing, we needed medical review of her needs.  We started with our pediatrician, who told us that her needs were extremely complicated. 

 

She suggested that we "let someone with more money to pay for medical expenses adopt her". 

 

That same night, our friend Laura called with a telephone number of a medical specialist who just happened to be a close friend of their family.  This man was leaving THE NEXT DAY to move his family to Kenya for medical missions, yet he reviewed her file and called us.  He confirmed that her issues were significant and that many tests and many surgeries would be required.  He is a man of faith though, so he reminded us that

 

hard for us is not hard for God. 

 

Though we wanted her with all that we are, we got scared.  At the same time, our microwave stopped and our sink flooded, all the week that we were moving and Mark was travelling. 

 

After moving, Mark immediately had to travel again to Haiti.  So, I sat in a new house filled with boxes & two little girls with a hard file on hold calling more doctors.  Local surgeons and a specialist at a children's hospital in Cincinnati confirmed the level of complication.  We contacted hospital financial departments and our insurance company to learn more hard news. 

 

I shed lots of tears and forwarded the information to Mark.  While in Haiti that week, we barely were able to speak.  I was able though to tell him that I believed that God had confirmed to me that she was our daughter, but that I submit to his leadership of our family.  Beyond that, we were not able to talk. 

 

If God had confirmed it to me, I trusted that He would for him too. 

 

 So, during that painful week, we both experienced a test of faith.  I was surrounded by friends to talk it through with, but Mark was in Port au Prince dealing with God. 

 

Of course, the miracles continued and Mark returned with tears in his eyes and a yes on his lips. 

 

God was calling us to do something that made no sense to the world,

but the call was clear.  We'd been given a gift.   

 

On March 6th, we submitted an LOI for Evelyn Han Huizhen, and have been fighting for her ever since. 


You can read Claire's story here.  

Evie, Falling for Her

Evelyn Han Huizhen, "Evie"
Heartbridge Healing Home

Beijing, China

Home Province: Jiangsu

 

On February 8, my friend Kelly, advocated on FB for a little girl that had been posted on the Love Without Boundaries blog.  I see lots of lots of photos of little ones who need families, sometimes stopping to pray or comment.  Honestly though, mostly, I scroll on by.

This face was different. 

Following a link to the blog post, I read about a little girl who's had a hard fight.  The author said she needed a family,

and I loved her before reading it to the end. 

If we wanted more information, there was an email.  Scrolling down, every comment was a desire for her file.  I sent the link to Mark, asking him

if she could be ours. 

He...we...wanted more information, so we sent her file to our phenomenal Lifeline mentor, Andrea.  She told me it would be an enormous long-shot, but that they would pursue her file with the CCWA.   Our agency has partnership orphanages though, and those would be our best shot for a match.  Unfortunately, Chinese New Year was beginning and all government agencies in China close for over a week.  We were called to wait.  The next day, we celebrated the holiday with some of our favorite adoptive friends.  I showed "Jenny's" picture on my cell phone,

already in love, asking for prayer for a miracle. 

For the next week, I tried hard not to go back to that post, to her picture,

but when you are in love, reason goes out the window.

The following Sunday, I got a call from Andrea at 8AM.  They'd found her.  I heard, "You aren't going to believe this."  The miracle?  Somehow among all the little ones in orphanages in China, she was on the Lifeline special focus list.  Not a part of a partner orphanage, but somehow Lifeline's. 

Scarcely taking it in, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I heard the next miracle.  "She is Hildie."

This picture of "Hildie" had been posted on the LL list.  She was one of three children that we had asked about, but had not connected as being "Jenny".  I knew instantly that she was on hold by another family, and that a long line of families were on her "interested list". 

 

She'd been found, but was out of our reach. 

 

Andrea told us that she was sending her file to us anyway and that we should have a doctor review it.  She told me to guard my heart, but that she felt it was clear that

 

God had moved a mountain and was up to something. 

 

As it turned out the person who wrote that first blog post, really shouldn't have.  Technically, "Jenny" had a home.  She was on hold and had a list of families wanting her.  The miracle is that she wrote that post anyway, and it caught my eye. 

 

Indeed God was up to much on her behalf. 

More of her story to come...

Read part II, here.
 

Dear Nanny

 

Dear Nanny,

 

Your life has been deeply woven into hers, into ours. 

 

It is your arms that hold her. 

 

You that has fed her, pulled sleeves over little arms, washed her hair, held her body close, and soothed tears.

 

You that has travelled with her.

 

You that has nursed her. 

 

You that knows what makes her giggle and you that knows what foods that she will have nothing to do with. 

 

 

Take care of our girl, okay? 

 

Will you smile at her and make her smile? 

 

Tickle her and make her giggle?

 

Be gentle as you care for her?

 

Keep her warm and full?

 

Hold her more than you need to?

 

 

We pray that she is a blessing to you.

 

Our gratitude for you can not be counted in measurable ways.

 

We are praying for you without ceasing. 

 

 

With deep thanks,

Her Family

 

PS  Snapping a few hundred pictures would be great too. 

Her

It was her. 

Her we were waiting for. 

 

Three years, mountains of paperwork, a country change,
and all kinds of tears. 
For her. 

Dreamed dreams.
Of her.

 

We have prayed without ceasing.

For her.

 

Details to come.

For now, we are pondering the miracle of it all. 

Meditating on the Lord's promises. 

Considering how much of her story to share. 

In awe of the His well woven gift. 

In love with 

 

Her. 

Referral-A-Versary!

A picture can change the world.  Our world anyway. 

One year ago tonight, this little face arrived in our email in-box.  With just a glance at those little dark eyes, big cheeks, tiny clasped hands, shaved head and fuzzy green suit, she was ours. 

After four years of waiting and wondering if the promise really would be fulfilled, a picture arrived.  The call came late at night with Mark out of town.  I heard, "I've emailed you a file."  Suddenly my gut was doing gymnastics.  Could it really be true?  A referral for US?  A long wait will make you a bit numb, a bit unsure, wavering in belief.   

With trembling fingers, I dialed Mark and clicked onto email.  I knew.  One look and my heart screamed, "YES!!!".   Cleft palate, delayed development?  Still, "YES!" 

And so Mark and I became parents again (as he studied her little image on his crack-berry screen).  Our brains told us to take it slow, have the file reviewed by a doctor, give it a day to settle in.  You can't stop a momma's heart though.  The answer was, "YES!"

The little noodle wiggled her way into this team's heart.  We thought we had at least another year to wait.  In our minds a referral was not on the radar.  One day earlier, we had said yes to another sister in Ethiopia.  Less than two weeks earlier, Donna suggested that we consider talking to another agency.  We were cynical, but we called.  Less than a week after that call, February 20th became our referral day.   This was a God-sized miracle! 

I Hid it Well

 I hid it well.  As I look back on photos of our "family day" in China, I see the mask of a brave face.

  A wise and gentle friend always encourages me to share the tough stuff. Throughout our adoption journey, I have followed many adoption blogs.  The ones that encouraged me the most, were the ones that were raw and real. A blog pal just blogged about the panic that she felt on referral day.  I know her vulnerability will help someone out there be more prepared.   Now, it is our turn. 

We mostly post shiny happy family pics on our blog, but we occasionally must throw in some reality.  You have flooded us with your kind words of encouragement, but you must know that it was faith alone that carried us through our adoption trip.  We are not brave or extra compassionate as you suggest.  We are just ordinary folks trying hard to build our family and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.  We believe that orphans are close to His heart. 

We have been blessed by this adoption process.  We wish it wasn't so, but some of the hardest parts have resulted in the biggest blessings.   The most frightening day for me was Claire day.  For most families, it is the highlight of the journey.  The mountaintop experience.  For me, it was a day of extreme fear. 

This is a photo of me minutes before being handed Claire.  I wish I could say that I was brave, faithful and ready.  The reality?  I was terrified...as in panic level  scared.  As people came in and out with papers to sign, I could hardly hear them over my pounding heart.  I avoided looking at the camera, as my mind was trying to map out an escape route.  Brave?  Beautiful and honorable feelings?  Not so much.  

And then, unexpectedly, a woman walked in with the daughter we had longed for, waited for, prayed for and loved.  Our shaky hands held her tiny body for the first time.    My heart burst with joy, but in my head, I was still screaming, "I CAN'T DO THIS!" 

I kissed her and hugged her, but felt completely inadequate to be her mother.  We both were fragile. Just getting by moment to moment. I shouted silent prayers to God, begging Him for strength.

Mark? He was truly at peace. Strong, brave and full of faith. Instantly protective of us both. I think Claire sensed that, and just melted in his arms. We all need a father, don't we?

Though we were strangers, Claire and I held onto each other for dear life.  In those first moments, both of us became new.  Never again could we go back to before.  As scared as we both were, we knew it was good.  Terrifying, but deeply good. 

The first few days were more of the same.  Moments of intense fear, that gradually gave way to peace and joy.  As we watched our daughter blossom before us, my heart started to break for her and for the life she had lived.  In my heart, I became her mother. 

 Once again, I had to completely surrender any belief that I can handle this parenting gig on my own.  No adoption buddies or adoption book could get me through it.  God alone.  Moment to moment.  

The beauty of it?  He got me through.  And I am better for being taken to a place of such extreme vulnerability.   

And now, we are home, bonding and more in love every day.  Unlike many others, my hardest bonding moments were in China.  Back at home things seem more right.  Not normal quite yet, but right.  She is our daughter, just as Sophia is.  

We know this to be true.  Adoption is a blessing.  A "rock your world" kind of blessing.  It is impossible to go through it and not be molded into someone new.

(We were "logged in" to get Claire four years ago today.) 

One Month

Dear Claire,
       Today you have been with us for one month.  We've come so far in these 31 days.  The day you were handed to us in a conference room in Chengdu, China will forever be etched in our family story.  You were so frightened, and we were too.  You whimpered and feel asleep in our arms.  We were terrified, and in love.   We didn't yet know you, but we knew we would fight to protect you. 
      You had never touched carpet, ridden in a car, been in a hotel, or eaten pizza.  You had seen the inside of your orphanage, but not the world beyond the gates.  These first weeks of discovery have been precious ones.  Every day you bloom just a bit more.  At end of each day, we are more connected, more deeply bonded than the last. 
     You are our daughter.  You now share our last name, a room under our roof, a place at our table, and a chunk of our hearts.  You are a fighter and a survivor.  Despite having your world turned inside out (and not being in perfect health), you are thriving.  Each day your body gets stronger. 
    Our legs are still a bit shaky and our hearts a bit tender, but we are stronger too.   We are learning how to love you, and you are learning how to be loved.  You were sent to shake us up and make us new.   You've helped us shed some layers, and deepen our faith.  As you lay your tiny head on our shoulders each night, our hearts swell with a new understanding of grace.    We are the lucky ones, sweet girl.  We are the ones who have been blessed.

                                                              With love,
                                                              Mommy and Daddy

The Story

In the late evening on February 20, 2010, this referral photo arrived in our inbox.  She is Liu Wu Sha, living in the Children's Welfare Institute of Chengdu City in China.  My heart knew she was to be ours. 

I can't pinpoint when the desire to adopt entered my heart.  I do recall telling my parents as a young girl that I would adopt a little Asian girl.  Despite having no exposure to adoption, I've always just known.

A few years later, when I entered college and met Mark, I shared my heart for adoption.   Being the man that he is, he immediately made that part of his life plan as well.  As we dated, all the while talking about our adopted Asian daughter. 

In February of 2006, over dinner as a married couple of almost ten years, I looked at Mark and asked, "Are we really going to adopt?" He answered with a simple, "Yes."  And so, we became waiting parents.  As we poured over adoption agency catalogs and attended informational sessions, our hearts opened for our daughter.  Our "paper pregnancy" had begun. 

We decided on an agency and were formally approved in May of 2006.  With great anticipation and excitement, we began "the chase".  We believed that we would travel to China in 2007.  The road before us appeared short and easy.  Little did we know that we were entering a time of deep vulnerability.  A stretching would soon start to take place.

We ordered birth & marriage certificates, got medical exams, were finger-printed, had background checks, had home study appointments, and on and on.

We took dossier photos to submit with our documents.  (This one includes Sharon and Scott, who we will travel with.  We did not know them at the time, but think the fact that they were in our dossier photos is another "red thread connection").

The road ended up being long and bumpy.  We have walked by faith alone.  I am a fiercely optimistic person, but must admit that nothing in this process has been easy.  From the paperwork stage, we have had to fight for our girl.  Everyone before us waited 3-8 weeks for USCIS approval.  We waited 5+ months.  It was at that time that the feeling of this being completely out of our control began. 

On October 27, 2006, after a very challenging paperwork process, we received word that we were "logged in" in China.   We were in line to adopt a non-special needs girl that we would name Claire. 

Thanks to Dan and Susan, we surrounded ourselves with adoptive families at monthly "First Friday" gatherings.  Our lives would never be the same.   It was at those meetings that we met many adoptive friends, including Jay and Angela, Pete and Julie and Tymm and Laura.  We also met Donna, who would be a major red thread in the process. 

We were excited and expectant.  Each month we blogged about being another month closer to Claire.  We read stacks of books about adoption and felt more and more connected to our daughter. 

Then, the months turned into years and the wait grew staggeringly long. Waiting got hard and "walking by faith" had new meaning.   Tears were shed, and we became more and more frustrated with bureaucratic red tape.  It was hard to understand why thousands and thousands of children wait in orphanages while we sat at home with willing  hearts and a home to share. 

It took us some time to realize that if God was withholding her from us, then it had to be for the greater good.  It was by walking this journey that we came to understand how truly feeble or faith was.  We had been living as if we were entitled and in control.  God intended to do a good work in us, weaning us from dependence on anything other than Him.

"Adoption, even when it heart-wrenching, can be a precious part of our pilgrimage towards God." ~Kristin S. Wong

Luckily, we have had countless blessings along the way. Tears have fallen onto our keyboards as we watched friends blogging through their adoption trips to China, Ethiopia and Colorado. We have celebrated children coming home, and mourned for orphans who never will.  Adoption has altered the course of our lives.  This journey is no longer about our family adopting a child. We are changed, and for that we are grateful.

We are not the same people who signed our adoption application in 2006.  The "slow boat to China"  was actually a purposeful journey.  Our closed door was a gift; a painful experience that was just what we needed.  God showed us our deep need for Him, while also opening our eyes to work that He was calling us to. 

Zimbabwe, April 2010

 Watoto Orphanage, Uganda August 2010

In May of 2009, we submited a medical checklist, opening us to the referral of a special needs child.  Again, we saw only obstacles, as even the special needs wait loomed long.  That same month, Claire entered her orphanage with a cleft palate. 

Throughout the year in 2009, we felt that we were supposed to also adopt from Ethiopia.  We were fearful though, so we kept trying to put those feelings aside as we waited for China.  On February 19, 2009, we finally gave in.  We surrendered control of BOTH processes, and submitted an application to adopt from Ethiopia.   We let go all questions of finances, being a multi-racial family and having a family timeline. 

On February 20th, the day after the Ethiopia application, we received a VERY, VERY unexpected referral.  We see this as a gift for being obedient, and for FINALLY surrendering all control. 

A week earlier, our orphan advocate friend, Donna, contacted us, urging us to consider contacting an adoption agent named Xiaoqing out of CA.   We were skeptical and didn't believe anything would come of it.  Luckily, we felt a prompting to make the call.  THREE days later, we saw Claire's face. 

The process since then has been filled with more bumps and more trails.  We have waited much longer than most for LOA and TA.  We have fought for our daughter every step of the way. 

Since May of 2009, Claire has waited for us in her orphanage.  She has already had her own challenging journey.  She has come through trauma and survived.  Finally, tomorrow, we head to China.  Our journeys will merge, and we'll keep fighting together.

"I am thankful for the trails and tears of adoption and for tumult that may still come.  They reveal my poverty of faith, leading me limping into the arms of my Heavenly Father.  God gives special treasures in times of weakness and pain."  ~Kristin S Wong

Xie Xie (Thank you)

These sweet friends threw a little mini "sprinkle" for us last night.  To be surrounded by adoptive mommas one week before leaving for China was a HUGE blessing.  We looked at travel/adoption albums and talked endlessly about China, Ethiopia and the tremendous blessing that adoption is.  Through all these years, we have celebrated the adoptions of friends.  To now be on the receiving end, is a surreal experience. 

Even though I wanted for us just to hang out and celebrate, they all brought gifts for us, for Claire and for Sophia. 

Angela made this beautiful keepsake for Claire.

Laura found this amazing Chengdu charm for me.  I could not love it more.

Thank you, friends, for the blessing of last night.  Even though we don't see all of you often, you mean a great deal to us.  Your support has been a major gift to us on this long, long journey.  You have cheered us on, and we are so grateful.  Each of you has inspired me to have a bigger faith, to be a better mother, to fight for the cause of orphans, to live more simply, and to love more freely.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Xie xie. 

We missed you, Julie! 

Party of Three...for Two More Weeks

Preparing.    We are preparing to travel to China to bring home the daughter that we have longed for.  We are also preparing our daughter at home to be without us for two plus weeks.  Our lives are about to change in the largest of ways.  We will soon be a "Party of Four".  This is big for us, and for her. 

To comfort/prepare her for BOTH parents to be gone for such a long time we have/will have:

~A mommy and daddy basket.  She'll have a small and simple gift to open every day while we are away. (puzzles, dollar store craft kits, books, etc.)

~A CD with videos of us.

~Cards and letters for her to open.  She LOVES getting mail and anything related to mailboxes.

~A family photo album for her to look through whenever she wants.

~A countdown chain

~Matching "Mei Mei" t-shirts for the girls to wear

~Skype accounts for video chatting

Many thanks in advance to our parents, sister and family who will care for our girl while we are away.  It will be a team effort, and we are beyond grateful.  We know that it won't be easy, but we know that it will be a fun time too. 

Although we will miss our girl tremendously, we trust that this will be a time of growth, fun and learning for her as well.  Sometimes big blessings come out of releasing control.  We know that she'll be fine, and that this entire process will ultimately alter the state of her heart in the best of ways. 

China Travel Plans

TA yesterday, travel plans today.  Sleep?  Not again for some time!

******TRAVEL APPROVAL******

"Claire"

Today we received Travel Approval from China! 
We are beside ourselves with joy.  After all these years, we are actually going to hold our daughter.  Hoping for a September 8th consulate appointment, which means an 8/25 departure. 

Waiting and Planning

What are these folks waiting for?  News of our TRAVEL APPROVAL!!

Many thanks to those of you who have been anxious to hear about our travel plans.  Where are we?  We're waiting and we're planning.

Last week we received a tentative itinerary and a hint that our Travel Approval (TA) might come early.  Our stomachs turned somersaults, and then we got busy choosing hotels in four Chinese cities, looking at flights, deciding on travel agents and preparing to be away from Sophia for 2+ weeks.

Unfortunately, our TA has yet to arrive, but we are still hopeful.  We are now hoping to leave around August 25th.  Four years later, we are masters at hoping, waiting and believing. 

Article 5

On Thursday, July 22nd, or "Article 5" was picked up and overnighted to Beijing.  This was our last big government hoop prior to TA (Travel Approval).  We are hoping for our TA in three weeks, with travel a couple weeks after that. 

Emotions are running high and planning has kicked into full swing.  Keep us in your prayers as we near the end of the wait, and start the real (and finally physical) journey to Claire. 

Chengdu Connection

The adoption community is big, wide and beautiful.  It has blessed us beyond measure.  With adoptive families, there is an instant connection and a true sense of community.   It is only within this group that you find people who really "get it".  They know the lingo, and they understand the joys and the pains of the journey.

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful couple who have four sweet children from China (the cuties in the funny kiddo photo above).  The neat thing is that they saw Claire in June.  They have walked the halls of the Chengdu Childrens' Welfare Institute. 

They gave our hearts a boost by reporting that the orphanage is a clean and loving place.  When they walked through her room, Claire was peacefully playing with her blanket as she went down for a morning nap.  She is in a room with 20 or so other babies on one side of her room, and about 30 on the other.  There is no heat or air in the orphanage, but that the Half the Sky Foundation nannies are loving on the kids.  Our girl is being held and played with.  

Thanks, Marye and Greg, for the advice, the double stroller and for the almost at the end of the journey boost!

Supper Club "Sprinkle"

Our sweet supper club friends hosted a Chinese themed "sprinkle"/celebration for Claire this past weekend!  It was clear that much love and thought was put into this special night, as every detail was perfect. 

The food was delicious, with everyone bringing Chinese dishes to share.  It was quite impressive!  Our crazy awesome hosts, Ashley and Jessica,  made a huge ladybug themed diaper "cake", and guests placed donations (toward a double stroller) in red envelopes in it.  It is much too amazing to take apart anytime soon, so it is now serving as a gi-normous centerpiece on our table!

One of the coolest things of the night was our cake, which had Claire's smiling face on it!  It got lots of "oohs and aahs".  Sophia quickly said, "That is my SISTER!  We aren't going to eat her, are we?" 

We had a great, great time hanging out with our friends and cousins!

The favors were adorable little take-out boxes with ladybugs on them.  Inside were fortune cookies and Chinese candies.

The littles got these adorable little Chinese ducks. 

It was such a fun night.  The littles and adults played hard late into the night!  We were so totally grateful for all of the love and support.  Someday soon Claire will be another little one adding craziness to our monthly dinners!  Thanks, friends!

Cuteness

Just when we thought we couldn't bare another day without updated photos, these three sweet images arrived in our inbox from Chengdu, China.  We are mush, and totally in love.  Is she the cutest thing ever, or what?