Holt Picnic

It ended up being not as hot for the picnic as I thought it would be (like last year).  Thank goodness there was a breeze (more like a wind, though).  The kids and I left at 10:30 and because this event is close to our home, we like to try to go and be there early.  Last year and this year there really wasn't that many people there like the first couple of years we went.  Tony came later after his sales meeting.  It was good to see other families we know who have adopted from China, Korea and even Ethiopia!  Meighan got her face painted for the first time.  She enjoyed running between the bounce house and the swings.  We hardly saw her!  It was kind of nice to be able to just let her run as she pleased.  She definitely needed (and took) a nap when we got home!  Dawson didn't even make it a mile and he was out LONG before we got home (and we don't live that far away!).

I had instructions from one of the families that was in our parenting class to take pictures and put them on the blog, so here are the best ones:

One guy said, "He's sitting like a king!" and I said, "In a princess chair!"

She wanted to be a TIGER!

TJ and Grant

Lexi, Mindy and Dean

Our cool dude in his Oakleys!

The Most Beautiful Flower Girl...Since My Niece

Whew!  We finally got through yesterday and last night!  Meighan was asked to be a flower girl in Tony's niece's wedding yesterday.  We went shopping for the dress back in April.  We talked about what she would do and how pretty she would be.  Last week we practiced walking -- slowly -- in our hallway.  Thursday evening we went to the spa and she got her nails painted.  Friday evening was rehearsal and she and the ring bearer walked so nice down the aisle.

Yesterday was the big day!  We got to the church at the appointed time and hung out for a bit before we got her dressed.  Wow!  What a beautiful flower girl she made!  They had gotten her a headband to wear, too, which just finished off the outfit perfectly!  We took some pictures and the photographer took some pictures.  Then it was time for the wedding (finally!).  I took my seat in the 2nd pew.  The ring bearer's mother took her seat in the other 2nd pew.  Tony stayed in the back to start them down the aisle.  The ushers brought the grandparents and parents down.  Then it was the wedding party's turn.  When it was the ring bearer and flower girl's turn, the most beautiful flower girl came down the aisle by herself.  The ring bearer just refused to go.  Tony brought him down to his parents.  I think he was just too tired by then 'cause he fell asleep during the ceremony.  Meighan also said she was very tired and kind of laid her head in my lap.  They are only 4, after all!

So the wedding was very beautiful and afterwards the photographer took a few more pictures, including one BIG family picture with both sides in the same picture.  We drove to the reception.  By the time I got to the reception, I had one very tuckered out flower girl!  I gathered things and got her out of her car seat.  She woke up but still wanted to be carried.  We had to go back out to get the gift.

The reception was fun and beautiful with excellent food!  All Dawson really wanted to eat was fruit (and M&Ms).  He also liked the cake.  Finally the dancing started and Meighan watched the first dance.  She even took some pictures (some pretty good pictures!).  Then, you know how no one dances at all even though there's music playing....  I asked her if she wanted to go dance on the dance floor.  She did, so we went.  Then other little girls came out and started dancing and Meighan made some new friends for the evening.  Eventually, Tony brought Dawson over and he was walking around on the dance floor with all the girls, just enjoying himself completely!  We decided to stay a little longer.  The other bigger girls were spinning Meighan and she had so much fun!  Dawson just kept walking, almost running.  He even walked around in a circle and clapped his hands.  He LOVES music.  People were enjoying watching him!  They could tell he was really into music.  (I hope that continues!)

Well, FINALLY, they decided to have the bouquet toss and garter removal/toss.  After that was the dollar dance and that's when we decided it was time to leave.  We thought FOR SURE they would both be out by the time we got home.  NOPE!  Meighan jabbered the ENTIRE ride home.  Tony said that Dawson cried/screamed almost the entire ride home.

It didn't take long for Dawson to fall asleep, though.  Meighan went right to bed and went to sleep fairly easily, too.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Getting her nails painted.

At rehearsal

With the bride and bridesmaids

The most beautiful flower girl!

Practicing before the wedding

Walking by herself down the aisle.

Congratulations!

Blowing bubbles after the ceremony

My tuckered out flower girl

Meighan took this picture as they were finishing their first dance.

Dancing with other little girls

Dawson and his harem

Dancing with Kayla

Look What I Got Today!

A dozen roses for a dozen years! (on Sunday)

Happy 12th Anniversary to you, too, honey!

I love you!

Dawson's Baptism

So, to end a VERY busy weekend for us, we had Dawson baptized today.  He did great while we were up on the stage/chancel but he doesn't do very well trying to sit in church.  I took him back to the "cry room" when the sermon started and we stayed back there until the sermon was over.  I (and 2 other moms) decided that he (and their kids) would be in the nursery from now on so we could enjoy church.

We dressed him in a traditional Chinese suit that we had bought in China.  It was still too big so we had to roll up the pants.  It is a fairly warm outfit (being it's silk) so I changed him into something cooler right after the baptism was over.

Enjoy the pictures!

Dressed in his "finest"

 

Before church there were some baby bunnies to pet so Meighan went and held a couple of them.

Dawson wasn't sure about the bunny.

Tony trying to show Meighan how better to hold a bunny.

Family picture before church

The baptism

Dawson's First Mother's Day

We got up, ate breakfast and left for church early today.  Tony had been asked to help teach Meighan's Sunday School class.  Last year they started asking the dads to teach the Sunday School classes on Mother's Day to give the mom teachers a break.  Meighan's class was also singing at the beginning of the service so that made me decide to put Dawson in the nursery for the morning.  That way I could video the kids singing without having to watch him.  That worked out wonderfully!  After the kids sang and the teachers helped the dads take the kids back to class, I went and sat by myself for the service.  Kinda nice not having to watch a toddler during church!

Afterwards, I picked him up and Tony and Meighan were done, too.  The nursery people had made little handprint picture frames and so I have my first handprint of Dawson's!  Meighan's class colored papers to put inside mugs.

We got home about 11:50 from church and started getting ready for our families to come up for a cookout/potluck/picnic.  Everyone was to bring whatever meat they wanted to grill and then a dish to share.  Oh, my gosh!  We had SOOO much food!  It was kind of nice that Dawson fell asleep on the way home from church so he slept while we got everything ready.  When it was time to eat I got him up and changed him into something for playing in.  He sat on my lap and ate part of a cheeseburger patty, potato casserole, baked beans, strawberries and raspberry cake.  He also had a few bites of watermelon.  Geesh, this kid can eat!  There was also potato salad, carmelized onions, broccoli salad, potato chips.  We supplied limeade, pink lemonade, tea and water to drink.  If anyone went away hungry from this, they weren't hungry in the first place!

After we cleaned up, we gave Mother's Day cards/gifts.  I had printed out 3 different poses of the pictures that we had our friend take a couple weeks ago and put them in frames.  I gave our mom's the choice of which one they wanted.  If they chose the same one, I'd print another one.

They ended up choosing the same one so I went in and printed another one!

So after everyone left, I wanted to get a picture of me and my TWO kids!  It didn't go so well...

So, after everyone had naps and Dawson was obviously in a better mood, we tried again...

This is the only one that was in focus.  (I look kinda tired.)

Otherwise, this would have been the best one.

Happy Birthmother's Day!

Today is Birthmother's Day -- the day adoptees celebrate/remember/think about their FIRST mother.

Today I am specifically thinking about Dawson's birthmother.  We did learn some things about her while we were visiting the orphanage.  We learned that she was 18 years old and single.  She worked in a factory.  She spent 4 days holding her son, touching his soft skin, smelling him.  She walked into the nursery of the hospital one last time, kissed his sweet cheeks and laid her keys next to him.  She probably cried silent tears knowing she could not keep the baby that had grown inside her.  (Being a single mother in China is very difficult.)  She even left her motor scooter at the hospital (the key for it was on the keys left with her son).

I cannot imagine the feelings that went through her mind and body as she carried a baby she could not keep.  But I am so grateful to her for choosing life for her child when she could have easily chosen otherwise.  I wish she could know that her son is happy (he has a very cute laugh and smile) and he's learning so many things in his forever home and family.  I wish we could someday find her and thank her.

But this will have to do for now:

Thank you for giving our son life!  May God bless you, wherever you are!

These are the keys that Dawson's birthmother left with him,

his only connection to his birthmother.

The note that is with them says

"Xu Le An's birthmother's belongings"

and was probably written by hospital staff.

You Know You're An Adoptive Parent When...

1.  The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2.  You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3.  You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4.  The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5.  You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6.  It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.

7.  You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth (2 years!).

8.  You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9.  You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10.  You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11.  You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12.  You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

13.  You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14.  You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

** One of my friends on Facebook posted this and I just had to share! **