Pictures...

We are finally home...and due to jet lag I am updating my blog at 5:30 in the morning...the flight home was LONG considering Ella only slept the last 4-5 hours which when you do the math gives us 9-10 hours with a 2-year old on a cramped plane....ughhh!

We are so happy to be home...I don't think Sophie knows what to think...ofcourse Ella is not making it too easy on her...Ella will hug her one second and then turn around and push her the next... :) Of course they did decide to play with the Weeble Castle together for about 10 minutes at midnight last night-so there was some bonding!...We did not even try to get them in their own beds last night so all 4 of us were together...nice and cozy!

Well here are some pictures as promised...

Thanks so much to everybody for the nice comments and words of encouragement! I will take all the advise I can get!! :)

More to come.... :)

Good news!!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Ella is doing MUCH better which means mommy is doing much better!! Her screaming episodes are minimal and last night she actually went down to sleep without a meldown (thank God!!!) She truly is such a sweetheart and we are so thankful that God has put her into our lives! We already can't imagine life without her...I can't say I felt that way the first day!

Yesterday we went to the zoo and she had a great time seeing all the animals and all the other kids...I think she really misses all of her "friends" at the orphanage...I pray they too will be adopted soon so they can experience life and love outside of the orphanage...

She is doing really well with her cleft! She amazes me! I think she has really learned how to compensate for it...she eats everything...and lots of it!!! This kid can eat! Last night she ate 2 pieces of pizza! It's such a good feeling to watch a child eat...I hope she rubs off on her sister!

The first 2 days she did not speak at all and I thought maybe she was unable to b/c of her cleft...boy was I wrong...she is a motor mouth but ofcourse I can't understand much...I know her cleft is impeding her ability to put lots of sounds together. But she can already say, "mama", "dada", "Ella", "hi" and "bye"...what a great start...I can't wait to see how much she learns from her sister!

AND the best news...she now likes Mommy!!!! She still prefers daddy but mommy is making gains!!! Yay!!!

I can't wait to post pictures!!! As soon as I get home I will post lots!!!

Hope to post more good news soon!!!!

Wow...what a week!!!

Well we did not plan to update our blog while in China b/c we did not bring our computer but our hotel has a computer so I've decided to update! Unfortunately we do not have any pictures though...I will post lots when I get home!

The last five days have been full of ups and downs. Ella is a little sweetheart and she is finally starting to let down her guard. The first couple days were extremely difficult and Ella was just so sad which made Greg and I very sad. She did not adjust to Greg and I like we had hoped...she cried and cried and cried some more...it was very tough because there was nothing we could do to soothe her! Especially me! She would only go to Greg for the first three days and still will not go to me out in public...Greg has to hold her all the time...this is also very hard for me to swallow! She is making gains though...I just had no idea that it would be this tough-very niave of me to think that she would adjust to us immediately. I guess it's hard b/c you read everybodys blogs and the transition seems to go so smoothly-maybe not immediately but very soon after...that was certainly not the case with Ella. She still has crying fits that seem to last for hours (feels like hours but the longest has been 40 minutes) where she does nothing but cry and cry and nothing will console her. As a mother, it's the hardest thing to experience b/c with Sophie all I have to do is pick her up and it calms her immediately and here I have a little one that nothing works! My heart breaks for this little girl and all I want to do is love her but she's not quite ready for that love yet...

As much as she hurts I know we are doing the right thing and eventually these days will be few and far between and she will be open to our love...

Uh oh she's starting to cry...must go for now....

China Bound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we come, Ella Irene Ping Whitacre!!! We will be there soon!!! Be prepared for lots and lots of hugs and kisses!!!! :)

We love you!
Mommy and Daddy!

TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in Albany for a conference and got the call from our agency...if we get our consulate date we will be leaving next Friday or Saturday....I'm still in shock!!! Please pray that we get our consulate date!

Here we come, Ella!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, ELLA!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Ella Irene Ping Whitacre!!!

Dear Ella,

Happy Birthday, sweetheart! We love you with all our hearts and are saddened that we could not spend your birthday with you! However, it looks like you had a great time with all the visitors this weekend! Mommy and Daddy will be with you soon!

Love, Mommy, Daddy, and Sophie