My dear Ella...

I know I usually write only when I get new pictures of Ella or Sophia but I felt compelled to write after walking into Ella's room (which is also Sophie's room) moments ago. As I walked into her room my eye caught the big panda I recently purchased for her. I then imagined Ella walking over to that panda in a couple of months...with her adorable little walk which is more like a waddle (as I have watched many times on a video I have of her). I just imagine her looking at all her new toys, new clothes, new house...new family. No longer will the nannies she's grown to love wake her up in the morning and feed her breakfast, dress her, bathe her...on and on and on. I can only pray that the love she will receive from her mommy, daddy, sister, grandparents, aunts and uncles...can ease the pain of losing the only caregivers she has ever known.

My dear Ella, mommy can not wait to hold you in her arms and love you forever and ever! Goodnight sweet daughter!

Back From Hilton Head Island

We had a great time in Hilton Head this past week. Even though we were just there in April it felt so good to be back ! Sophie had a great time...she LOVED the beach!! Everyday she met a new friend. This was her method of making friends... she would see a baby, say "baby", chase the baby down, then get really close to the babys face until she got his/her attention and then pet his/her head. Yes, her social skills are lacking but it's the cutest darn thing I have ever seen! We can't wait to bring Ella next year! Here are some pics...

Log in date!!

We just found out we were LID July 3!!!!!!

That means we are on day 44!!!! Some people get their LOA as early as 60 days but it seems that the average is 80 days!! We pray that it will come closer to Day 60!!!!

We are coming dear Ella!!!!!

Cute pics of Sophie

Daddy and daughter talk..."yes Daddy I will never date!"

Here are some cute pics of Sophie...

MORE PICS!!

Here are a couple new pics of our dear little Ella!

Whenever I am on the computer Sophie will always come and sit on my lap and say "babies". She loves to see all the Chinese babies on the blogs I check. Everytime I show her Ella's pics I will tell her "sissy". Now whenever she sees a picture of Ella (or a baby that resembles Ella for that matter) she says, "Sissy"!!! It's the cutest thing!

Crazy Sleeper!

I woke up this morning not from my dear little Sophie strangling me but from the flash of a camera...Greg could not resist this picture. At this point I'm used to Sophie being on top of me when she sleeps. She always has to have her arm around me too! Of course she does not sleep with us every night (thank goodness!!!). This morning she woke up at 6:30 (from a noisy Daddy) and started crying so I brought her back into my bed and we fell back asleep... She is definitely Momma's girl!!!

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NEW PICS OF ELLA

I was so excited to see a message from Christine when we arrived home from Enchanted Forest!!! As you may know, Christine went to China as a volunteer in the Siping orphanage with a group of admirable people!!! She met Ella last July and named her "Grace" (full story in previous blog) but now she was given the opportunity to go back and see "Grace" a year later!! This is what she wrote:

Hello,
Your daughter has grown up so much and she is the most beautiful little girl!!!!

We all fell in love with her. And knowing that she is soon going to be home soon is so exciting!!!

Let me tell you alittle about her....
The first day she was very shy. She would cry if anyone of us got near her. She would reach up for the Nannies. It was very cute and very understandable! It was wonderful to see she felt so comfortable with the nannies. And they are just wonderful and loving! By the second day she warmed up and I was able to hold her. She loves to look out the window! She is walking and has the best laugh! That is what I feel in love with a year ago was her smile.

I gave her your gift. The Nannies really liked it! They pulled the book out right away. They love to look at the pictures of the families too. One Nanny took Ella in her lap and read the book of your family with her saying "Mamma" and pointing to the pictures. Ella repeated it all so clearly! Mamma, Babba everyone. It was so cute! She is very smart! Even the nannies told me they thought she is so smart.

She loves to play with blocks. We used playdough containers for blocks and all the kids loved to stack them. We are going to send blocks over in our first care package!

I am still going through tons of pictures and I know I have video of her. I will send a few now and more later! If you have questions please let me know. I am still jet lagged so as I remember stories, I will let you know!

Blessings to you all!
christine

I get chills everytime I read it!!! My little girl now knows what her forever Mommy and Daddy looks like!! I can't believe how blessed we are to be in touch with these amazing people!!! God is amazing!!!