Over the river and through the wood...

...to Grandmother's house we go.

Well, not really.  More like,  "Up at 5, and down 84, to JetBlue terminal we go".  We went down to Florida to visit Keith's mom, sister, brother in law, niece and nephew the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Everyone loved meeting Lia!!!!

Hey Keith, couldn't we just all wear pajamas at this time of the night?

Pick me up!

"I love you Grandma".

Keith's niece, sister and nephew 

Lia's first time at a beach...

"OPA!!!!"  Tarpon Springs for lunch!!!!  

After a quick "jet-setter" weekend, everyone deserves a nap.Check out Lia's arm up in the air.

We got home safe and sound, and spent Thanksgiving with our good friends.  

BTW, Lia's been walking for a few weeks now, and discovered that she can run.  She especially loves doing laps through the kitchen and living room; of course I get a big smile and a hug each time she passes by me.

What a fun time we're having!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Now we're off to a Christmas party!!!!

Peek-a-BOO!

Keith here...  We celebrated Halloween tonight on Molly's Way.  Amy dressed Lia in a cute "dancing teddy bear" costume.   They went up the street with our neighbors and did a little trick-or-treating.  It was a cold night and Lia and Amy came back with rosy cheeks.  Thankfully the trick-or-treating for Lia was minus the candy, so she had no sugar high.  I'm sure that won't be the case a few years from now.   She did get a box of animal crackers from our neighbor...  and she loved them!   Here are a few pictures.  

I'm ready to go! 

Scary friends!

My sweet girls! 

Our neighbor grew this pumpkin and gave it to Lia. 

P.S.    I love being a "ba ba"... (Chinese for daddy).   

P.S.S  I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!  God has blessed Amy and I greatly! 

      

Lia's 1st Birthday!

Lia had a great time celebrating her birthday this weekend and ended up being quite the party girl.

 We took her to the Apple Pie Bakery (CIA) for a quick dinner.

Lia had a cupcake at home.  After we blew the candle out, Lia did what any 

one year old would do with a cupcake; she got really messy.

                                  

The next day, we had a small party with family and friends.  Before the party, Lia decided she didn't need an afternoon nap as Keith and I hung Chinese lanterns all throughout the house.  (She didn't want to miss anything, and was confused about our busy-ness).
It was great to celebrate Lia with everyone.  Somehow, she made it through the cake!  She could have done a face plant into it and fallen asleep (it would have been justified), but she loved the attention and went right along with accepting her new birthday tradition.

Emily, Annie, and Beth...

Wow, kinda scary, but I taught Emily in Kindergarten (don't want to tell you how many years ago!).  When I had Emily, I hadn't even thought of a Chinese adoption...maybe it was a seed that was planted in my head...

I had Annie just a few years ago.  Annie is from the same province as Lia!

It's been so cool watching the girls grow up. Through the years, I was looking forward to them finally meeting Lia.  

While we were waiting, Beth and Steve have always encouraged me...and now I can say "it finally happened"!  What a nice visit we had!

Yipee! Finally, the girls meet!

Busy Lia, smiley Emily and Annie

And the party goes on...

Keith's brother and sister-in-law came up this past weekend.  The weather was perfect; not a cloud in the sky.  It was so good to see them and for them to meet Lia!  The condensed version of the Dutchess County tour included...snacking on local cheeses and wine, Hartney and Sons, the Culinary, apple picking, and the Walkway.  What fun we all had!

Cheryl, Curt and Lia

Looks like we took a plane to Italy...(It's the Italian Restaurant at the Culinary).

And no one was wet...how'd Keith do it?

Last week's highlights...

Keith's good friend John and his wife Joanne

Isabella and Lia finally meet at Debbie's Health Connection.

Having tea with Lia always includes a chocolate cake! 

Tonight, we went to get our usual haircuts, but were very surprised to have a little party with our favorite haircutters, Fran and Barb.  It was Lia's mom and dad's turn to have REAL chocolate cake!!!!  Delicious! 

A fun weekend...

Last night, my brother Mark, my sister-in-law Liz and my 2 nieces came over to meet Lia.   Of course, we had to have Chinese food and try out the chopsticks!  During dinner, Lia couldn't take her eyes off Mark.  She babbled like crazy!  It was so exciting to have them come up and see Lia.

Maddie, Katie and Lia

After dinner, we had Jasmine tea and dessert. We used our teaset from Dr. Tea (bought in Beijing) that had dragons on them.  My nieces loved watching the dragons change colors when the hot water was poured into the tiny Chinese teacups.  We had good ole American apple pie with the tea.  What a fun night we had!!!!

Lia getting acquainted with our friend's dogs.

After church today, we meet our friends and their 2 dogs at the Walkway on the Hudson. It was freezing!  We had to put a hat on Lia!

Our real pumpkin was born October 22nd last year.

Did I hear what I thought I heard?

It sure sounded like Mama to me!!!

 I went downstairs to bring up something from our pantry, and took a detour to pick up a few things in the family room.  According to "Lia time", that was too long for her to wait to see me...she was sitting in her Exersaucer, and cried out, "Mama!".  Oh wow!!!!  From her perspective, she probably was wondering why I was smiling so much.

Now, Keith has been in his glory since the day we met Lia, because she's been saying Baba all along.   "Baba" in Chinese means Dad.

Showered with Love

Thank you so  much!

Our church gave me a shower yesterday!   It was great to see everyone and celebrate Lia.  We felt very loved.  Thanks for welcoming Lia into your hearts! Keith and I are so overwhelmed with your kindness... We also so appreciate the prayers.  I enjoyed showing Keith all the cards, special gifts and"Pearls of Wisdom" tonight.  Wow...it was a really special day, and I will never forget your kindness and love for Lia.

I am so glad that we were late to church yesterday (Sorry Pastor Lawlor). There was a benefit to it.  While in the back seat of the car, unknowingly, I had sat on a velcro attachment from Lia's car seat.   We walked quickly into church.  Keith didn't notice it on the way in since he was busy holding Lia. After the praise songs, I sat down and realized what had happened.  I never laughed so quietly and so hard in all my life!!!    Meanwhile, our friend Tom noticed the unusual floppy attachment but kept quiet, and thought it was something ridiculously fashionable.  He probably learned the lesson to never comment on women's new fashions...guys, can you relate?  Anyway, I think (hope) that Tom was the only one to see that.  After I got myself back together, I begged him to have full liberty from now on to speak up!!!!!! It brought back flashbacks of a dry erase marker that had velcro attached to it.  Somehow I had sat on it, and walked around my classroom with it attached to my skirt (same skirt, year earlier).  Last year's Kindergarteners didn't let me get away with that one, and even reminded me about it at the end of the year!  Good job Kindergarteners if you're out there reading my blog (I mean new First Graders)!  I'm very proud of your long term memory!!! (BTW; I miss you and hope you're enjoying First Grade!).

Ladies, I'm just warning you to watch out for velcro!  It seems so harmless and helpful, but can lead to "serious" laughter :)))))) or embarrassment (I lucked out, or at least I think I lucked out).

I also have been dealing with velcro bibs that I had bought at Babies R Us, that find a way to attach to socks, ugh...etc.  I am forever grateful for the new bibs I got with snaps...as well as all the other thoughtful gifts.

We've had Lia for one month!

Amy and I can hardly believe that only one month ago on August 16 we landed in Nanchang, walked into our hotel and saw Lia being carried down the lobby staircase.  Moments later she was placed in Amy's arms and we became a family.  We have experienced a lot during this month; bonding with Lia, travelling in China,  returning to New York and adjusting our home life to include a little baby.  Amy is enjoying being a stay at home mom.  Her days are full!

Lia is doing great and we love her dearly!  She is growing and getting stronger every day.  When we first got her she didn't like being on her stomach, but now she loves to roll all over the floor.  She's getting anxious to crawl.  She now has 6 teeth, with the 7th on it's way.

'Thanks to all for the warm welcome to Lia!

What a cutie! 

Amy's brother Tim visited last night.

The Art of Being a Parent

  Wow! I thought Lia was going to be the only one learning!  As new parents, we have been learning so much every day...

This week my goal was to learn how to feed her neatly.  Every once in a while, I thought I was doing so well, and then her little hand would jerk suddenly, right into the spoon.  Then of course, she immediately had to put her hand on her forehead, and then start for the hair.  I always intercept before the hair.  So, when I think about it, it really is going quite well, because it hasn't ever ended up in her hair.  ...And I haven't ever had to give her a bath after eating.  The joys of a 10 month old!

Every night, Keith can mesmerize Lia into a deep sleep in 5 minutes.  I haven't had that happen yet.  When we have company, it becomes the crazy hour for me.  I try, and try...then Keith gets in there, and he comes out so quickly.  "She's not totally asleep, but she'll be out soon".  I don't get it.

Everyone has been asking, "How did Lia do on the 13 hour plane ride?".  I couldn't believe my eyes...he held her the whole entire trip.  She would fuss for a second, and Keith would readjust her little airplane pillow, she would give a sigh of relief, and then go back to sleep.  I knew better than to interrupt this routine.  It was incredible.  Me, on the other hand, spilt ice cold water in my seat at the beginning of the flight.  I figured I better just sit still and be content.  Sometimes you just need to count your blessings and not look any further.  I was happy to have a husband that helped out so much, and a beautiful little girl.  Keith is a baby whisperer I guess.

When our eyes meet, her face breaks into a smile...

We've been home for 2 weeks now.  Routines are definitely getting easier.  One of the best things is to be wakened up by Lia's coos.  We love to rush in to see her.  It's very funny to see the positions she wakes up in.  One morning, she had her foot between the slats, just relaxing.  

Here are some more photos for you to enjoy...

"Why am I sitting here?"

The Vanderbilt

"I don't need caffeine, but my mommy and daddy do every morning".

We took Lia to a Chinese Garden (Innisfree) to see the lotus blooming.  

Relaxing at Innisfree...

Home Sweet Home...

We arrived home to Molly's Way last night after traveling and being up for roughly 31 hours.  We're all tired!   Keith and Lia have been sniffling and sneezing all day... colds from being worn out!  We left the hotel in Guangzhou at 5 am Thursday morning, took a van ride to the airport in Hong Kong where we caught a late morning flight to Tokyo.  After a two hour lay over we caught our twelve hour flight to JFK.  Lia did very well with flying. 

Lia getting ready to go home Wednesday night. 

Starting our return home...                       

4:50 p.m. Wednesday, August 25 - New York time

4:50 a.m. Thursday, August 26 - Guangzhou time

Got home...                                              

9 p.m. Thursday, August 26 - New York time

 9 a.m. Friday, August 27 - Guangzhou time

Ready to travel from the Hong Kong airport. 

Japan Airlines - somewhere between Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Leaving JFK in her first car seat. 

Welcome to America Lia! 

Home feels so good! We were greeted with balloons and decorations on our mailbox, garage doors and front door. Thank you! So sweet!

What an experience these past two weeks have been.  We thank God for taking care of us in all of our travels and especially for blessing us with our little china pearl, Lia!  We love her dearly!  We loved China very much and hated to leave.  We found the people very friendly and gracious.  The sights were amazing and the was food delicious.

Some random pictures...

Lia sees the Mango Pudding... it was delicious!

At a restaurant in Nanchang where we ate some excellent Chinese food!

Our little china pearl on a red sofa with the Pearl River in the background.

(she's dreaming of no more pictures please!)

Tuesday, August 24.

Hello family and friends.

One step closer to bringing Lia home....

Today was an important day. We went to the US Consulate in Guangzhou where we took the oath of adoption for little Lia. Now we are waiting for her visa to enter the USA under her Chinese passport. It's nice to know that we are almost done.  As Lia's father, I had to sign a form at the window.  Without us knowing it, Lia took the pen with her as we went back to our seat.   The joys of being new parents! 

This afternoon our entire adoption group of seven families took a group photo on the hotel main steps. There was some crying and fussing of course.

I've included a couple of pictures of the beginning of our trip to China almost two weeks ago (seems like a lifetime) to verify that Yes we are in China. The pictures are of Tiananmen Square, Amy and I at the Summer Palace and at the Great Wall (all pre-Lia). We saw many great and beautiful sights in Beijing.