Yikes! It's almost been two weeks since a post. Hmmm...What HAVE I been doing? Well, our camera pooped out on me when I went to get a nice Christmas picture of the kids last week. I had them all spiffed up and shiny. So option B of the compact camera would suffice if I could find it after the move. No such luck. I even bribed the kids a dollar if they found it. They looked everywhere they could with flashlights in tow for two days and it has not shown up. My suspicions are on Caleb who loves cameras. Augh. So Erik is on it to get a new camera before the holidays. Since he is ever the analytical one, this is taking some time.
On the Lydia update, she is growing fast. Newborn clothes are long gone, we are trying to wear all the small 3 mo clothes before she grows through them. I took inventory of all the diapers I had tonight. I am hoping that we will be able to use all the size 1 diapers before she grows out of them (one brand is getting snug). If we can't get through them all I will be passing them along to our newest cousin set to appear in mid Jan. Which allows me to announce that my brother is returning from Iraq tomorrow the same day that my parents are coming back in town and will get to meet Lydia. So, this will be a big weekend for little Miss. But, it will not be enough family. I will still be missing my sis and family and sis in law and her family with their new little one.
Partially because of the camera mishap and also due to the fact I have not gotten on the ball to write a family letter, we did not send out Christmas cards this year. I still hope everyone is having a good holiday season. Maybe we will have a picture to post in time for further holiday wishes from our family.

A Lydia fix

Here's some pictures of our growing little girl and big siblings who are also growing like weeds lately. A certain grandma needed a Lydia fix - so here you are.

The siblings
I call her "Cherry Blossom" in these PJ's
Good times!

Caleb ADORES Lydia.
Mommy and Lydia

Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I am especially thankful for:
A new life in our family
My husband still has a job (as an indirect employee of GM)
We have a contract on our house
The wonderful life I live with many friends and family
Our country still upholds the freedoms that the pilgrims seeked out hundreds of years ago

These only represent the tip of the iceberg of my blessings, but I have to go exercise the right of motherhood and get my kids ready to go to our dinner at my aunt's house. I hope everyone has a blessed day.

2 Years

November 24th marks an anniversary of sorts. When we started our adoption jouney, it's one that we never imagined we would be thinking of. It has been a full two years to the day of our Log In Date for our little girl from China. Way back when we first started each month seemed closer and closer to our little girl that was a world away. With the way that the Chinese adoptions are moving, each month seems like we are getting further and further away from the date we will get to bring her home.
She is still in our thoughts and prayers as are the many other families desperately waiting to bring their children into their forever families. We know God's timing is perfect for each one. We trust in this and know we have to enjoy each passing day with the blessings that we have been given. However we still long for the little girl that needs a family to love on her. We will keep the candle burning for you little one.

Big Girl Bed

Well, so it's not exactly a BIG girl bed, but she slept in her own crib ALL night for the first time last night. The first two kids slept on their own from the first night we brought them home, but I knew that Lydia would have to sleep nearby because I need every extra minute of sleep I can get. The problem was, she was actually keeping me awake with all her little grunts and squeaks. I'd sit up, peek over, make sure she didn't need to be rewrapped, or a pacifier popped in her mouth. I remember the comment from some wise mama before Alexia was born. Put them in their crib, turn off the stinkin' monitor and you will hear them when they cry for something they really need. Well, the monitor stayed on (low) but I slept very well until she needed to eat which was 1:30 and not again until 6:30. Now, that's a great schedule for a 3 week old, and I'll take it any day, but, I am not holding out any hope on that continuing. She's going back to her room tonight!

2 1/2 weeks

After no mention of her since the birth, Lydia is doing great. She is eating a sleeping like a pro. She is finally having some longer periods of awake time during the day which is fun for us. Some of her first outings have included Chic-Fil-A, Barnes and Noble and of course the grocery store and Target. At her two week appointment, she had gained a pound and five ounces already and has started having some pretty good head control for a little squirt. Here are some pictures of our sweet little Lydia.

Pictures

The evening before we had Lydia we took a walk on some nearby trails and took the camera for a photo session with the big siblings. They came out so good I wanted to come back and post a few of how big the kids are getting (or do they seem that way because I just had a newborn?) There is also a shot of their Halloween getup as a bride and cowboy.