Happy 1st Gotcha Day!

Then; We waited in a large room at the Shanghai Children's Home with 3 other families. As we waited, Lia ran around the room and could not contain herself.  The door finally opened, and Rosie walked in with her nanny, and we all whispered to each other, "That's her!".  Our hearts stopped.  This photo was taken seconds after we met Rosie.   Rosie actually kissed me, with some prompting from her nanny and our guide, and didn't cry at all.  She was very sweet and timid, but also had sadness and fear in her face. When I picked her up to hold her close, her legs were like boards sticking straight out; they didn't wrap around me.  It was so painful to see a little one being like that; I knew that she hardly ever was picked up.  

Now; Rosie and Lia are best friends.  They love being close to each other, giggling, running around, and being silly.  Their favorite pastimes include drawing together, dressing up as princesses, and singing songs from the movie Frozen (they pretend to be Elsa and Anna).  And when I pick up Rosie (she often asks to be picked up!), she wraps her legs around me and snuggles her head on my chest.  She has learned what it means to be loved and safe, and will often tell us that she loves us.  At times, I doubted God's plan, and often times was humbled just thinking how Rosie accepted her new family so easily.  The only time I ever saw her sad was when we drove away from the orphanage; she had car sickness.  Rosie always has a smile on her face, and is full of life!

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Cor 3:7

I'm just in awe of what God has done.  In one year, Rosie is exploding with language, and is the happiest kid ever.  She wakes up happy and goes to sleep happy!  Her energy level has always been rather high, but she has become confident as a member of our family now.  Her personality is friendly and thoughtful.  She is very aware of her surroundings.  She is full of life, and has a fun sense of humor!  Not quite the girly girl as Lia, but a bouncy, energetic kid ready for adventure!

If we have an errand to go on, she's ready to run out the door in excitement!  If there's a new food on her plate, she's trying it!  If we're playing tag in the house, she's running hysterically laughing while running!  If she's praying at night, she's remembering all her teachers and friends!  If one of us skips having ice cream, she's asking us, "What about you?".  She's more than willing to share, and she always says thank you for things.

As we approach the 1 year mark of her Gotcha Day of June 17, we are just so thankful for Rosie.  It's been a tough adjustment for her; learning a new language, coming from an orphanage to a "family", learning what a mom, a dad and a sister are, but we are so glad that we took this path.   It's been very challenging at times, but we are just so in love with Rosie!   With a very grateful heart, we look up to God, and thank Him, who orchestrated this so perfectly.  More than I could have envisioned.

Readopting Rosie!

This afternoon, we readopted Rosie in Family Court.  This was our last phase of U.S. paperwork.  Judge Posner and staff were very helpful and so excited to help us through this process.  
We waited and waited, and then both doors opened up, and we were greeted by Judge Posner saying, "This must be YiRu!".

What a happy occasion! I instantly loved the judge, especially when I saw
 "All the Greats Know How to Keep It Simple".

Here's Rosie beforehand, getting ready for Family Court…got to look pretty!

Every time the judge said Rosie's name, she raised her hand and yelled, "Me!". 

The judge went through paperwork with us, including verifying with us what Rosie's full name will be. Although the tone of the room got serious, I could not resist a once in a lifetime chance of taking the above photo.  All you camera bugs understand that one, right?  (I've only gotten in trouble 2 times for taking photos so far---in a baggage claim at the airport…don't ever do that…. and The Plaza Hotel…but I guess the Plaza doesn't count, because I got Keith in trouble for that one….sorry Keith).

 Anyhow, Keith is laughing about this one today, thinking, wow, she got away with this one????

Judge Posner welcomed us with open arms and let the girls

pick out teddy bears to remember this special day.

Cousins are Connected Heart to Heart, Distance and Time Will Never Break Them Apart

Christian and Kieran came up to visit us last weekend.  

Here's a throw back photo of when Kieran first met Lia (3 months after we adopted her), and they became instant buddies.  They actually share the same birthday, so we have been calling him each birthday to celebrate over the phone.  

Of course, we had to go to Lia's favorite place ever, Adam's.

Big Eyes, Little Eyes Game, and Lia wins every time…without even trying…but Christian gets an A for effort, for sure.

Hanging out at the Culinary with Kieran

After lots of sledding in the yard, it's so much fun to warm up with homemade hot cocoa.

Lia and Kieran got along really well and…

Christian and Rosie were inseparable.  

It was actually warm on the Walkway.  Nothing like getting some Vitamin D, after a cold, long Winter!

  

 

Rosie is always so creative about doing new things.  She didn't like sledding for the longest time, but she got it figured out now…she just cracks us up!

Happy 4th Birthday Rosie!

Rosie's birthday was very memorable, considering that it was the first time she ever celebrated a birthday.   We decided to take the girls to a local steakhouse in the area.  Although she loved her  "Northern Lights" ice cube, it was not going to stay in her drink for long!

And here's the girls "trying" to be patient while waiting for dinner, as their drinks keep changing colors…

 

The moose delivered a birthday cake for Rosie and she did do the traditional thing; yes, she did kiss the moose.  It cracks me up to see Rosie's bangs flying up during her first attempt of blowing out the candle! She is getting to be a pro at this…

Rosie's party was this past Saturday.  She was so extremely excited and so sweet.  When she opened her gifts, she first said thank you, and then opened them. We just had the best time celebrating with our friends, and are so overwhelmed with memories of the evening.   Happy Birthday Rosie!

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

Lia especially loves "reading" to Rosie, and Rosie enjoys being a captive audience...

A Christmas Tree from the Culinary Institute

At Uncle Tim's, the girls had so much fun with their cousins Katie and Maddie, and of course their Uncle Mark.  Hard to believe there's no Christmas decorations in this photo...trust me that Tim did a fabulous job decorating...as usual!

New pajamas and getting ready for Santa to come...(how are they going to sleep?)

Christmas morning blueberry pancakes...

Christmas dessert was a chocolate peppermint cake.  It seemed like it came directly from the North Pole.  Very magical...

Lia noticed that Twinkle the elf had magically disappeared.  Twinkle's antics kept the girls on their toes through all the excitement! They miss her.

Sending Tidings of Joy

 I just get a kick out of seeing Rosie and Lia dressed up as angels.  They usually get crazy and goof around plenty, and we take a ton of photos.   This is one of my favorites; I thought this photo truly shows what fun they have together and how happy they are to have each other.

The girls are fascinated and curious about Santa.  Santa IS truly watching them (and waving to them)!

This is Rosie's first picture with Santa.  He offered her a present, and then she was OK with sitting on his lap.  Lia wanted nothing to do with it.  Usually when Lia sees Rosie being so brave, she will join her, but it didn't work this time.  This was a photo that Keith took at my ATA Holiday Party.  The girls had such a great time!  Hopefully soon I'll have a photo of Lia and Santa...be patient!