2months at home

I can't believe that our sweet Claire has been in our home for 2 months. She continues to grow and amaze us everyday. Today she said cracker....yes only mother could understand it, but she was pointing at a cracker when she said it. Her capacity to love is humbling. She is so joyous everyday. She is curious and beautiful inside and out. I can't believe it took so long to get her here. We fall more in love with her everyday.

DANG I wish I could find our camera.

~S~

Thanksgiving Fun and Feasting

I have the worst luck with cameras. Remember I lost one in China and now I have MISPLACED our camera at my mother's house. So, I have Thanksgiving pics I don't have the camera.

We feasted at my mother's with 7 adults and 8 children. Claire tried everything we put in her mouth. Her faves were turkey, dressing, yams, mashed potatoes, and strawberry jello salad. She did great around such a big crowd. Can you guess that we are fairly loud as well? My brother was amazed that it didn't phase Claire if someone would yell across the house to someone else. She has almost overcome her enormous fear of dogs. She loved all her cousins, especially my 12 yr old nephew. He was unsure of what to make of all the attention that Claire wanted to give him. Really precious to watch.

We can't wait to have Christmas with Duane's family and give them the chance to experience her sweetness and pure joy at everything she sees. I am so sad that it has taken so long for our schedules to be in sinc. I know she will love them as much they already love her.

I promise to post pics WHEN the camera is found. I have been reading other blogs and sounds like there was fun had by all this holiday. Everyone ready for Christmas with our new girls??

Shelley

working girls

The girls love the cool autumn days....I can't hardly keep them inside. Mornings are another story, but once we get warmed up...we are outside. Claire is beginning to love the dogs...she doesn't scream when they come into the house, but still won't touch them.

I can't believe that we have been home almost 2 months. Our little girl is growing and learning everyday. She has fallen into the perfect little sister role...always touching Hannah's things and not wanting Hannah to have any other her things. Hannah is adapting very well. I thought I would list all the wonderful accomplishments that have happened since we arrived in the states.

Words...mama,baba (daddy), nah(Hannah), nigh nigh, meow, woof, tat u (thank you).
actions...stairs, standing from a sitting position, doorknobs, riding Hannah's scooter (with help of course), shopping cart, carseat, and high chair.

WHEW that is quite a list for less than 2 monts. It is hard to think that she will be 2 yrs old in just a few weeks. What in the world will she accomplish next? The world is her oyster.

We are busily getting ready for Thanksgiving company. Claire will meet so many new people. I can't wait for the rest of my family to experience the beauty that is Claire.

Enjoy the pics...thanks for stopping by.

Shelley

For all you non-bloggers

REMEMBER YOU CAN CLICK ON PICS TO MAKE THEM LARGER AND EASIER TO SEE.

November happenings..lots of pics

Claire is still practicing feeding herself. She isn't the cleanest eater, but she is coming along. We went to a couple of showers at Duane's work and were really blessed by his friends and co-workers. They even showered Hannah with big sister gifts.

It seems that the girls grow closer everyday. They have their own games that Daddy and I don't play. They love to chase each other and have really begun to play on the trampoline together. Hannah is so gentle and patient with her, it is such a joy to watch. I can't believe that we are coming up on the holiday season, where did the time go? It will be so great to see Hannah AND Claire enjoy the family and traditions of the holiday season.

Thanks for stopping by..enjoy the pics

Claire's first Halloween...no big deal

Going from house to house wasn't what she thought it would be. She didn't really like the scary stuff and yes some people kept their porch lights on and weren't home. That became frustrating very quickly. Hannah on the other hand, had a GREAT time. She soon realized that Claire wanted no other candy than the suckers. Hannah had hit the mother lode!! She was saddened that we didn't have many visitors after we got home, she loves to pass out candy as well. They had great fun and now we have cute pics to look at.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wed. Oct. 25

This is part of the "Around the World" display at Hannah's fall festival. They had a section on China, so we thought we would stop and say hello. They had a really old map of China and the provinces weren't marked, but we guessed as to where Anhui was. The girls running the exhibit didn't speak much English, so Duane was having flash backs of the trip and we had to go. They were really nice, but again the language barrier was so bad.

Claire is learning to love being outdoors more often. My mother has a large house on a large lot. I took Claire over there and she actually picked up some leaves and sticks. She would turn and grin at me as if to ask if it was ok, then she would throw the leaf or stick and look for another one. Any progess is readily accepted now.

Thanks for stopping by.

More fall festivals and fun

Sat we went to Hannah's schools fall festival. It is always nice and small and she likes to see her friends. We then went out to eat and made a day of it. Claire still doesn't like the crowds but she would run around with Hannah a lot. She still doesn't want anyone else to touch her, which makes us feel more secure about her bonding.

She has begun to "sing" when she hears music. No words of course, just beautiful baby gibberish and melody. She will start to sing at the strangest times as well. She can be eating and then break out in song. Below in the pictures you will see her signing for more at the resturant. She is so smart, but yet so willful. It truly keeps me on my toes.

Hannah remains such a joy and great helper. She loves to "mommy" Claire and want to do alot by herself. It just still bothers her that sometimes Claire just wants mommy or daddy. I try to explain that she did that too, but she doesn't believe that she did.

Claire will be going as a ladybug this yr. and Hannah will be going as a witch. We love to visit my mother's neigborhood, as there are not many small children and the folks get a kick out of Hannah, now they will have Claire as well.

Thanks for stopping by

Finally fri.

This week Hannah sang in her 5th grade program for the PTA. They sang folk songs, only 4, it was very sweet. Claire did not like all the attention that the children wanted to give her. She is still timid in crowds. I wish I could have video taped Hannah's performance, she was the only child that was bouncing and patting her leg to the music. She was really having a good time even at a PTA meeting.

We are beginning to get some fall weather here and we are READY. It was 85 degress last mon. I am ready for a high of 50. We are ready to break in the fire place for this yr. Roasting marshmellows and all that fall/winter activies. It will be great to have Claire here for the holidays, especially since we thought she would be her LAST holiday season. She is such a sweet and loving child. She is so smart. Just this week she learned the parts of her face. She won't speak them, but she will point to them if you ask her.

My sister didn't get to come this weekend, sick children. I was very sad, as she hasn't seen her new niece in person. We definatley have more plans in the works to have her here before Thanksgiving. Wish us luck.

Went to the park and the swings are still a no-go. She does fine in the shopping cart, high chair, and stroller. No swing. Maybe later, she has done so much in just the short month she has been here.

Thanks for stopping by.

One month anniversary....she is really a Smith

Our girl has been with us for one month. Hard to believe sometimes, as she seems so comfortable in our lives but yet we learn new things everyday. We still having bonding to do and work on trusting each other. She loves her family and home, she really doesn't like to leave. We are also working on that aspect of life. You can't live your whole life in your house.

Hannah is a terrific big sister. She has patience and understanding of the whole process. There are days that Claire doesn't want Hannah to touch her and those are still hard for a 10 yr old to understand. It helps that she still rejects me from time to time. Never Dad.

We are awaiting a visit from my sister and her 4 children. Hannah and the cousins have always been so close. I can't wait to see Claire in the middle of things. Their ages (including Hannah) are stair-stepped from 14 to 6, now Claire will soon be 2 and able to hold her own with everyone else.

We are going to eat Chinese food for the first time since returning from China, tomorrow, on the DATE that Claire was handed over. Hannah also got an excellent progress report, so we will be celebrating that too.

Thanks for stopping by