Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Happy 2010!!

Kavanna's readoption ceremony was last week. Here we are with the judge, who completely freaked out Kavanna for some reason, even though he was really nice and even gave her a teddy bear!

As to the new year: Shouldn't we all be driving around in cars that fly? Or wearing jet packs? When I think "2010" I think futuristic. Is it just me?


Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Holidays!!

I love my two beautiful girls!
Happy Hannukah!

Dinner with our friends Marty & Elisabeth and their new baby... This photo is deceptive because Ariel is on a lower level of the house... she's actually now taller than I am!!

Whether you celebrate Chanukah/Hannukah, Christmas or Kwanza, have a wonderful holiday!!

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Delighted!

Kavanna just LOVES to go on the swings at the park. We love her peals of delight!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Happy Birthday, Kavanna!!


Kavanna flashing our friend Di (Sophie's mom!!)
Kavanna is perpetually in motion!
Except for when I can scoop her up into my arms :)
Elmo is big at our house.
A megaphone also works as a hat!
Wheeeeeee, Kavanna loves the trampoline!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Congratulations, Di & Dave!

My dear friends Di & Dave finally got their referral for their beautiful daughter Sophie!  She is sooooooooo cute!!  If the link doesn't work, check her out at www.sophieonmymind.blogspot.com.  I'm so thrilled for Di and Dave, and for Sophie, who is lucky enough to go to such amazing, loving and wonderful parents.  


Monday, October 12, 2009

A trip to the zoo

Our first trip to the zoo together... The Guangzhou Zoo, about a year ago.
Our second trip to the zoo... This was Kavanna's favorite part - the train ride around the zoo!
Ariel got to feed a giraffe.  Giraffes have black tongues and are skittish.  And they love snacks!



A fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon...


Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Kavanna is 23 months today!

Ariel at her regular Friday night gig, playing acoustic guitar and singing her original music. We're so proud of her!
Kavanna at a Pinkalicious party... check out the pink hair (unlike her sister's red hair, the pink washes out!)
Very focused on drawing with that pink crayon...
Look at this mature expression... our wise toddler-ette!

I blinked and the month passed. Ariel is doing well in school and her songwriting is really evolving. She was asked to write a song as part of an ad campaign proposal and she just shot her first music video. We're so proud of her! She's also studying to take her drivers permit test... yikes. I'm anxious just thinking about it. My baby, driving? Whaaaat?????

Kavanna is talking like crazy and delighting us with her funny, smart personality. Last night Ariel said, "I love you, Kavanna" and Kavanna said, "I love you, too." I just want to kiss her cheeks and squeeze her chubby thighs all day long. She was chosen to be a model for a new line of baby shoes called Shupeas and did a commercial shoot a few weeks ago. She's also sleeping through the night in her own crib. I repeat, sleeping through the night in her crib.

It only took ten months before that momentous event took place. More on that later.

I'm hoping that my wonderful friends Di and Dave get their referral this week... today would be a good day! Their daughter Sophie has waited long enough for her parents... I can't wait to see them all united. My heart goes out to everyone waiting.... may you get good news soon!

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Worth the wait

One year ago today we saw Kavanna's face for the first time. She has brought so much love, laughter and joy into our already rich and fulfilling lives... she is a true blessing to our family and worth every minute of that horrendous wait.
Kavanna a couple of weeks ago
Kavanna's referral photo (she was six months old)

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

It's a girl thing!


No shoe is safe in our house. Take off your shoes at your own risk... Miss Kavanna Lin will find them and wear them. And she walks in pumps with surprising ease.




She looks equally good in Ariel's jelly flats.

Or Ariel's old cowboy boots, bought in Dallas many, many years ago.

"These boots are made for walkin'......"

Shoes are the ultimate accessory.


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Kavanna is talking!


Kavanna is always in motion, even while wearing Mommy's flip flops!

So cute!
Kavanna has been talking for a while. Some of her words are absolutely correct and some of them are hilarious interpretations.

Her first word: Ariel (pronounced "Ay-el")

What she says perfectly: mommy, dada, more, no, hello, apple. And did I mention her favorite word, "no"?

Also:
A cow says "booooo" instead of "moo".
A cat says "now" instead of "meow"
Juice is "jew" (well, when she yells "Jew" in our house she's always right!)
A phone is a "hello"
A puppy is a "buppy"
When something falls, it's "uh-oh!"
A bottle is a "baba"
Her blanket is "nana"
Best of all, "I love you" is "Ah luh ooooo"

She has created her own sign language.:
An attempt to snap her fingers means, "put on some music"
Pointing to a couch or a chair means, "sit here, now"
Making a sign for milk, followed by touching her ear means she wants her formula, as opposed to milk. She came up with this at 12 months. She has a bottle at night which David would make and bring into the bedroom. I'd wait with her and put my hand to my ear, telling her, "Let's listen for Daddy".
One day she was signing for milk so I gave her some milk, which she rejected. She made the milk sign, followed by touching her ear, to let me know exactly which kind of milk she wanted. Brilliant!



Friday, July 17, 2009

See this happy face?

Kavanna was not so happy last Sunday when we went to the Bastille Day Festival.  Everyone parked at the stadium and big white vans took us to the festival.  As soon as we got into the van Kavanna started to tremble and look frightened.  We think that the day her foster mom took her to the orphanage, a white van drove her and the other babies from the orphanage to Nanning, where she was placed into our arms... We think she remembered the van and was afraid her life was about to change again.   We just hugged her and told her we were all going to stay together.  She clung to me in what can only be described as terror.  Later, on the way back to the parking lot, she was much more relaxed.
She is a happy girl, very smart, very joyful, friendly and outgoing... but the past trauma is still there, and unpredictable things can trigger it. 

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Happy Bastille Day

Ariel and Kavanna dancing in front of the crowd as Ariel's friend Ariana sings at the Bastille Day Festival over the weekend.
It's Africa hot but Kavanna still must bring "Nana" (her blanket) everywhere she goes.
She loves to wear shoes... other people's shoes, that is!  The adorable tie-dyed outfit was originally Ariel's.  I'm so glad I saved it!
These flipflops are almost as big as she is!
Got shoes... and she's on the go!