Big Smiles

Emma smiles. When she does, it lights up the whole room and warms you to your toes. It has only been three days since she entered our lives and hearts. The first day, Emma slept most of the day and her greatest moments were gripping her sisters hand...she smiled only a few precious times and they were not yet the full face open mouth smiles we get now...they were timid....now, when she smiles her whole face and body smile...her eyes twinkle and curve upward into the sweetest smile...her nose crinkles, and her mouth..it opens and the smile stretches her beautiful red lips to show her toothless gums her mouth widely....her arms tighten and her legs kick with joy. When i think of the vacant look when we first held her and now see her eyes open and focus and her little heart have enough security to shriek with joy, I find myself smiling with my mouth wide open too.

Emma Turns 1!

Today, Wednesday July 21st, is Emma's birthday. It is a big day for more than the age milestone, but for the little/big developmental milestones Emma is making. Today, Emma held her head up all by herself for longer than a few seconds. We could see her concentrating, trying her hardest because she wanted so much to interact with the world around her. She lifted her head and watched what it was she wanted so much to see. Exhausted, she put her head back down, but we saw the big step. She did it again and again for longer and longer. Amazing...after three days. Later in the day, a very quiet first birthday of outings to the slim embroidery factory and the park she fell over on the bed while propped up on pillows. I went half way to her to help her up (she had face planted)....knowing she couldn't roll over and struggles to hold her head up, I wanted to pick her up immediately. But I stopped this time. And watched as she struggled and then with a might effort, pushed herself and made a half roll onto her side. Her eyes widened and her little head shook from all the effort and I ran over to scoop her up and give her proud mommy kisses.

Later in the evening the families gathered for dinner in the hotel to share in emma's first birthday and the traditional 1st birthday cake Amy ordered for her special day. I had no streamers or balloons...nit even presents to unwrap for her. We lit the single candle and everyone gathered around her to sing to her. Her big sister blew out the candle and we all had a piece of cake while she sucked down her supper bottle. And we shared in her big birthday victories. It was a quiet first birthday...no big plans...no bells and whistles...but big victories in quiet moments. Not bad for a first birthday!

Thrusday, July 21st, the Embroidery Facotry and a Walk in the park

It is Emma's birthday today and we are off to. A morning of touring and then a quiet afternoon at the hotel. The embroidery factory is a special visit and one we made with Gracie seven years ago. The beautiful silk of Hunan is an endangered art that China is trying to protect. It is increibly detailed and skillful and beautiful. We meander through the embroidery history where both Nina and Gracie seem quite interested in their heritage. The unassuming building is more like a traditional Chinese house that meanders and we meander with it from room to room until find the halls of silk embroidery pictures framed and ready for sale...a dangerous room to find. After an hour or so of families searching fir the right gifts and the right treasures to bring home for their daughters to have someday...we load up and head to the park. The heat is stifling and Emma doesn't have good body temperature control so I am somewhere between a sweat bath and fanning her at the same time. The baby ergo is great on the back, but in the heat it is deathly... Opting to leave the treasured ergo baby next time around.

Nina Ellie and Gracie feed the giant Koi at the funky amusement park and down ice-cream to before heading back to the bus. It is amazing how little outings wear you out so much and we are all ready for a quiet cool afternoon floating between one another's rooms.

Birthday party for Ellie....Wednesday, July 20th, Day 3

Meanwhile Nina and Gracie have been planning a big birthday party for tonight. Their new friend Ellie has turned 9 today and the party was planned to the last detail and held in Gracie and Nina's room where the two have created quite a party atmosphere complete with balloons, snacks, and rice crackers (a favorite among the girls and babies alike). Our little family of four families gathered with babies and snacks to celebrate. It really does feel like a big family. We are certainly in this together, sharing in each other's moments and joys and struggles...supporting....it is a surreal experience...but of course, so is this whole experience...and having one another makes it even richer.

Wednesday, July 20th: Day 3: Babies

Babies! Our wonderful little group of four families met in Hing Kong and have been on our journey to our little ones together. Monday introduced four beautiful baby girls into our lives. Since then, we have shared formula, diapers that didn't fit our little ones, switched clothes with each other because our babies sizes were little like we expected, and shared stories, big successes and milestones for our little ones (each day brings miraculous changes), and poopy diaper stories. Emma, Jenna, Morgan, and Stella are the little darlings that have changed our lives these past 3 days.

The oldest of the little ones is Morgan. She and Emma are orphanage sisters. Morgan is a beautiful little one who is keeping her mom and dad on their toes. She has a sweet tooth we have discovered and with such a change in her little life at 18 months, a few extra sweets is okay. She likes to play games with her food and it is pretty cute when she does because she gets a smile that well, if you are the one to get it from her, you would want to do it over and over again.

While Morgan is a picky eater, Stella is the adventurous eater. She is discovering new foods every moment. And the girl knows what she wants. Stella is 13 months and the new member of the Braddock family, our dear friends whose oldest Nina is Gracie's orphanage sister. Stella began her life in a foster home and the difference is obvious. She is right on target developmentally and is in fact directing her parents quite well with her famous directorial point to all things needed including pointing to dirty diapers just in case her parents miss the odor in her britches. Stella is running for president someday...you know, when they change that whole have to be born in America thing.

Jenna is adorable and the youngest in age. She is a tall one at her little 8 months and has this sweet bottom tooth grin that melts you. She is also an orphanage sister of Nina and Gracie's...although I am happy to be able to say she lived in the new facility. She is playful and adores her mommy. She is eating solid foods which is wonderful at 8 months here. You can see she is very loved by her new mom, dad and sister.

And our Emma. She is 12months, but more like the age of 6 month old and the same size as one as well. Developmentally, she is the youngest and has yet to hold anything more than her Auntie blankie corner and our fingers. She is gaining strength to hold her head a bit now but her neck isn't strong...but her smile...oh that smile is strong...and it tells me a lot about her inner strength and our Emma is going get there just fine I think. She is also the affectionate bug. She loves to put her hand on my face or caress my arm. See loves to hold her sisters fingers and loves daddy.'s big broad chest for tummy time. And often I look down while holding her and catch her simply staring at my face and right into my eyes and then when I smile and her eyes focus, she gently smiles back.

4 babies. 4 sweet personalities. 4 stories. 4 places in their growth. 4 families in love. 4 beautiful flowers blossoming before our eyes.

Jie Jie and Mei Mei

Three became big sisters this week. Jie Jie as big sister is called in Mandarin. It isn't just a big moment for mom and dad but also for those becoming big sisters for the first time. Lots of questions. Will I be a good big sister? Will mom and dad still have time for me? What will she be like? Will she like me?

Each big sister had their own questions about what was happening. But becoming sisters is pretty incredible...and a sisters' relationship is unlike others....there is something about it that only sisters can really understand. And well, right now, they are each getting started, finding the answers to all their questions...but if not already, very soon, they will have that thing...that indescribable thing that sisters have and only sisters understand....I think it is already starting....

Happy Sister Day, Ellie, Nina and my sweet Graceanna.

Baby Stella and the Braddocks

Our dear friends, the Braddocks, joined us in this journey to get our daughters. Their daughter Nina and our Gracie were adopted together and were orphanage sisters. together we met our second daughters. Here are a few snapshots of the new member of the Braddock family, adorable Stella.