Be Home

{five}

Over the weekend we celebrated our little girl's 5th birthday. It's only the second birthday that we have been able to share with her and its the first one that she really understood what a day all for herself looked like!

As is tradition, Andrew took her out for birthday breakfast. Fixin' up a big plate of whip creamed covered pancakes ought to start the day out right. Meanwhile, the boys and I decorated this tiny townhouse in style for a smashing party. Annika probably would have enjoyed baking her cake completely on her own but the rest of us wanted something eatable too so it became a group effort. She chose strawberry cake with strawberry icing and I added some crushed thin mint sprinkles for some hint of chocolate!

We usually pick out some party favors for all the kids and this one scored big. Tar-get had just put out stocking stuffer on the 1.00 racks so I had some early Christmas fun. Somehow in our tradition favors make the party and we laughed it up, seriously.

Celebrating Annika was easy for everyone to do because we all know that we just wouldn't be complete without her!

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

{re}member that?

We had a beautiful day celebrating Annika's big day. Of course, we had to go out for Chinese food. The all around choice would been Pei Wei hands down, if we were in Kansas City but the second choice would have to due. It was delicious. After enjoying the good eats we enjoyed a good walk all around downtown.

There is such internal pressure to make a memorable day, well memorable. I looked on various sites to see what others had done but was torn between making it the likes of a birthday bash or something low key. My sister had made a scrapbook for Annika when she had arrived home last year. It was designed for photos of our own choosing to be added but I never really had the opportunity to focus on it. About a week ago it dawned on me that it would be a perfect backdrop to host a month-by-month visual of our daughter's first year home.

Little did I realize how much this would touch Annika's little heart. She lit up when I told her I had a present for her, only to see her continually brighten every time she turned the page and saw herself smiling back at her. She kept saying, "(re)member that"? She has continued to carry it around with her daily and has asked me to sit with her and "show me" the pictures. I wonder how much is going on in that little mind and heart of hers. Without a single picture capturing her sweet face before the age of 3, I love that she is enjoying the knowledge of how special she really is to us.

Gotcha Day Anniversary

One year ago today I was nervously sitting in a hotel room in Beijing, China. Well, not so much sitting as much as pacing. Andrew and I were looking out the window, pretty sure that the black car that had been parked outside the hotel entrance the better half of the morning held our new daughter, waiting for the agreed time of arrival.

Sure enough, we watched as our guide met up with the Orphanage Director and a small little girl was carried out of the car and headed across the parking lot and into a life changing moment. Nicholas was poised with the camera and Peter with the toys. Finally, the moment I had imagined so many times in the three years proceeding, well actually, a few more than that.

Our daughter was meeting us for the first time.

6 months home

What is 6 months? For most of us it's the equivalent of two seasons, one which we hardly get a chance to notice and the other lasting longer than we want. Whether that's a fall/winter or a spring/summer, it measures pretty small in the vastness of our lifetime. For a baby 6 months is a little more recognizable. Going from birth to half a year old brings some defining moments that can be rather significant to their little persons. And of course then there is a young child, for most of them a few months becomes a very important part of their age. They are no longer 5 but 5 and a 1/2! And this 1/2 must accompany any inquiry of age, for it signifies only six more months till they will turn that all important next number.

But nothing compares to another kind of 6 months. The transformation of a child who has gone from living life on her own in the midst of a crowd, fighting for sufficient food everyday, and looking for comfort and love out of every smile to the beautiful rest found in a family. It is more immense than any time frame of months I've ever witnessed.

Annika is not the same little girl that we held for the first time 6 months ago today. Her once frail body that barely allowed her to walk for extended amounts of time without becoming tired is now strong and active, running and jumping and climbing everywhere. The expression of aggression that we first saw wanting to control in order to get what she thought she needed has now smoothed into a quiet confidence of knowing she is thought of and included in all circumstances. And a girl who performed with smiles and clung to every craving to be held is now joyfully content to simply be saturated in the atmosphere of those who continually shower her with love and grace. Annika is not just another nameless child among those we call orphans anymore she is a daughter, a sister, and an Orlando. We have known this for awhile but its so very different when they know it too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milestones to date

:: Loves to sing her "ABC's" and "Twinkle, Twinkle" and I love hearing it.

:: Carries full thoughts into how she communicates, connecting many words together to make sure we understand!

:: Aware of things that are hers...and things that are not. ahem.

:: Jumps, jumps, jumps. And pulls a few dance moves with her brothers. Kung-fu/rap style. It's all her own.

:: Writes with her left hand - always. Now I have two!

:: Knows all her basic colors and can count to 10...sometimes skipping 3 & 4. Oh well, just don't ask her her age.

:: Has long enough hair to wear pigtails all day without them falling out!

:: Wore size 12- 18 months and size 5 shoes in August. Now is growing out of size 7 shoes and I wouldn't buy anything less then a 3T in shirt and pants!

:: Weight 31.5 lbs (from 21 lbs) / Height 37 in.(from 33.5in) amazing.

:: Goes to class at church and has a great time but I have to sneak out when I leave and she yells "mama" when I arrive! Major strides for attachment. I love it.

:: Dresses herself all the way to her socks and shoes - although pretty fond of mama still doing for her.

:: Still naps from 2-4. Hallelujah! Mama is allowed to hold out as long as possible with the 4th kiddo.

:: Never once has awakened through the night - strange indeed but I'll take it! Sleeps from 8:30 - 7:30am.

:: Slowly understanding that you can't walk in when the door is closed. oops.

:: Loves Charlie & Lola. Really, who doesn't?

:: Always repeats after you if you mention China or Beijing. As in a question, are we going?

:: Always repeats "what?" 5x after every answer you give her. She knows she's pulling my leg. stinker.

:: Loves it when her and I look in the mirror together and I say, "you're my daughter". priceless.

 

:: Beijing, China - August 24th 2009       :: Orlando Home - February 24th 2010

5 months home

As of the 23rd of January, yes, I am a little late on this one, Annika has been home for 5 months! Here she is enjoying another all-american treat - her first ThinMints Girls Scout Cookie! We have a winner. I guess that means that there is one more person in this family to which I have to share my stash.

3 months home

pigtails

Another first for my baby girl! We have our first pigtails! I had recently purchased some little Goody ponytail holders thinking that we might need them in the near future. Well this morning Miss An saw them in her drawer while getting her dressed and she knew exactly what to do with them! Of course, we immediately made our way to the bathroom, stood on the stepstool so she could she herself in the mirror, and I made a very ouch filled attempt to make pigtails. Annika loved it! Let me just say that when I tried to take these pictures she got all giggly because she KNEW she looked absolutely adorable! The boys doted over her and so did her daddy, O my!

 

 

This last photo is her trying to find the pigtail to show me again. Let's just say a few hairs aren't quite long enough to make it back to the holder!

2 months home

Annika has been home two months now!!! And this is our first family photo. It was taken a few hours before our social worker arrived to interview for our first post-placement. Amazing what actually get stuff done sometimes!

It was a great interview however. When you answer questions about how your days have been going, it really makes you hear your own thoughts. I feel once again, overwhelmed with the faithness of God as He has weaved peace and goodness into establishing a new normal over our family.

She just gets more beautiful everyday...

full of smiles

Our little girl is doing pretty well. She's learning so much everyday. But I will say, that adoption is full of emotions - daily.

Annika loves to show affection. Many kisses, hugs, and cuddling go on here. It has made all our transitions (and there have been many so far!) have a certain grace that keeps things lovely. However, the more we are out and about, the more I realize that these terms of endearment are easily transferred to complete strangers! That is, strangers to her - not to us. Being mommy, it's a strange feeling. So bonding is something that doesn't just happen, it is something you consciously have to consider - daily.

But I found a good thing! Inspiration! A place my little girl can only find me for her affection. It's called a big comfy, yellow, chair right beside her bed. It's a place where my almost 4 year old becomes my baby. We rock back and forth, back and forth. Till her stillness is evidence of peaceful sleep. So maybe bonding is more natural than thought. And way more supernatural than emotions can contain.

firsts

There might have been a few firsts we have missed in Annika's life but we aim to remember a few starting right now!

:: An's first "St@rbucks" at our favorite bookstore. She was so thrilled to have a cup like everyone else's that it really didn't matter what was in it! Water definitely tastes different with the funny lady on the front, apparently.

:: First browse around our favorite toy store - it actually was a little experiment on my part, wondering what childhood fascinations would capture her attention. Yep! this is definitely part of being a girl. My boys wouldn't even think about touching this stroller, much less putting a baby doll in it!

:: Annika has even attended her first birthday party! Can you tell she enjoyed it?!

So I guess we can't exactly compare these events with say a first tooth or first steps but I can guarantee that they are every bit as delightful and amazing for her parents to share.