BIRTHDAY GIRL

So on July 19, 2008 Claudia turned one. Since we had only been home about a week. We had a small party which included family and Colton's best friends Myles and Soren.

While I was at the store before the party I saw a little first birthday outfit that I could not resist. It was a shirt and crown that her little Ling sister Melynda wore on her birthday that we celebrated in China. Upon seeing it I just knew it was the outfit for her - luckily for Claudia it came with a tu tu and matched her first tiara which I had bought shortly after receiving her referral photo.

Claudia spent the day getting to know her grandparents, Uncle Dick, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. We had a puppet show which was about a Princess named Claudia. The children enjoyed water play and sugary treats courtesy of Deb Deb. The food had a cajun theme and included a shrimp boil with ingredients shipped in from Louisiana and did include alligator which, not surprisingly, Claudia ate greedily.

The day went by in a flash. I think I was still alittle out of it from the trip home and the adjustment. I can't believe she is one. I am sad and angry that I missed the first year of her life. Why China held things up and made us wait this long I will never understand, but I have to take solace in the fact that she was loved and cared for as best as possible given the circumstances and that everything happens for a reason.

Claudia received a birthday card from her Ling sister Kajsa who is in Madison, WI with her family. You may remember that we celebrated her parents and her birthday while in China. I wish they could have been with us and hope to see them soon.

She had many presents to open which her brother readily agreed to help with and she was happy playing with all the new toys.

After a long day of eating, drinking and playing Mei Mei and Ge Ge retired to their bath for a soak...but the only soaking done was of MaMa and BaBa...

I have posted a slide show of the big event below as well as one of some photos taken in the first few days home where she met her cousins Genna and Gianna, Uncle Lew and Aunt Michele and got to know her Nannie and PaPa better.

Thanks for reading this and thanks for all the warm e-mails I have received...

She Lands in the US

This photo was taken on July 10, 2008 after the 24 hours of travel from Guangzhou to Beijing and Beijing to Newark. While Claudia left her China with a tear, she landed in Newark with a Smile. While we were travelling the Ge Ge put on his big brother shirt made welcome home signs with his cousins and then they all drove to the airport to pick us up. We were so ecstatic to see Colton that I barely took any photos.

It was love at first sight between Claudia and Colton. After a great dinner of fried chicken and pasta plus Vietnamese spring roles and jook for Claudia the brother and sister changed into there USA pjs for the night. Claudia welcomed her bottle and crib. She took easily to her nursery. Colton on the other hand climbed right into my king size bed and wanted mom and dad to sleep on each side of him to wit we graciously complied..I cannot believe how long I was apart from Colton and how much I missed him. He made me promise that when I go the China to get his brother that he comes along????? Maybe he knows something I don't....

Anyway I put a slide show of July 10, 2008 below. While in China I had much spare time to update this blog while Claudia napped and slept. She was always in an orphanage and on a strict schedule which made it very easy for me in some ways. But she was so scheduled that to get her to relax and enjoy took time. I swear one day while in China she cried for hours seeming to say I want to go home..(and by home I mean the orphanage) The transition was hard for each of the babies. They lived their whole life only knowing one way and it was not our way and it was not us. But each day we remarked back and forth about all the differences we saw in the babes and all the bonding that formed. Since being home she still takes two two hour naps and sleeps from 8 pm to 8 or 9 or 10am, but she plays and laughs and eats and eats.

While she sleeps instead of typing this blog...I have been so busy with Colton. So to everyone in my travel group who was getting grief because I was posting more info on my blog don't worry I am getting mine now...people have been on me for the last three weeks to see photos of my son and daughter together. I am alittle behind but trying to catch up....

Anyway, I am off now..I miss all my travel buddies and their darling babies, I miss our little China cocoon where no one compared Claudia to babies here in the US, where no one pointed out her short comings and where we simply existed and enjoyed each minute as best we could...PEACE OUT!!!

Finally

Well it has taken some time but I finally have a chance to post an update...Things have been going great..we were meet at the airport by Colton, my parents, my sister and her children. Everyone had welcome signs....I think we caused a spectacle...I took some photos but was too overjoyed with seeing Colton and introducing him to his sister..she took to him right away and he appears to be in love..hopefully the honeymoon does not end.

Claudia has adjusted to her room and has continued to sleep from at least 8pm to 8am. She attended her first doctor's appointment. Overall things seem okay. She is obviously malnourished, but she is doing all she can to remedy that. I swear the girl does not stop eating. Dr. Aronson said as long as she does not throw up let her eat all she wants. We switched from Chinese formula to milk and we have been blessed with neighbors from Vietnam who essentially packed the refrigerator with Congee. I have cooked steamed eggs and congee both Claudia eats like crazy and she loves Lo Mein. She also has taken to Liverwurst Sandwiches and Mango Juice but dislikes applesauce and is unsure of ice cream as babies in China do not eat anything cold.

Colton enjoys waking her each morning and as you can see tries to carry her often. She is getting stronger each day finally able to hold her own bottle and sit unattended for sometime. We have been playing with her on the floor alot and feel she may crawl soon. She has a walker and is a terror in it as she was in China and also enjoys a jumper and exersaucer. Her low muscle tone should be much improved by our next doctor's appointment.

Claudia has started swimming lessons at the local Y with her Dad twice a week and has learned to enjoy the water. Her first bath or two in China were horrible experiences so much so that we gave up while there and resorted to just washing her down with towels, but when we got home obviously things would change and they did. The first night she cried and each night since then less and less and now she laughs and kicks and splashes. The difference - Colton. I put them in together and it is just one happy family.

In the mere 25 days since we have been home Claudia had a birthday. She was at the beach and boardwalk. She went to her grandmothers, enjoyed the Lake and visited NYC. She has meet most of her cousins and relatives and now we are in the process of planning her Baptism.

Tonight I plan to post a slide show of the past weeks and hopefully get to update more often.

I thank everyone for their love and support and generosity. If you have any questions just ask and I will be glad to answer...Until next time - Peace Out....