Father's Day Weekend

These three are TROUBLE Meina got some special time with Opa

Grand kids with Oma and Opa. How cute.

Meina got to try corn on the cob for the first time-Big hit.

Cousin Love

Does Chris look like his dad or what?

Chris taught Ramzie how to climb the tire by herself!

As you can see we had some visitors this weekend. My parents brought the boys (my brother's kids) up for the weekend. Ramzie was sooo excited to see them. They live in Iowa so we only see them once or twice a year, but when they show up they all play like they are together everyday. The boys are so good for Ramzie. She comes right out of her conservative shell and tries new things with them. They are staying with Mom and Dad for two weeks. We had lots of fun playing outside and having a BBQ on Friday. We even broke some of the leftover fireworks from last year. Just things like smoke bombs and parachutes. It was fun and the kids (except Meina who was in bed by 7:30) all crashed about 10pm.

Saturday involved a trip to the movie- Toy Story 3 and a trip to Costco (you know my Dad). Then we just played and visited the rest of the day.

They left Sunday morning before the big storm. Mom and the Boys will be back up this Friday and we will leave on Saturday morning to take the boys back. Ramzie and I are going to go with Mom. It will help her to have someone help drive and I will get to see my brother.

We have a busy week ahead on the home front with swimming and bible school for Ramzie and lots of playing and reading for Meina:-).

Have a nice week.

Joanie

An attempt at pictures

Yesterday we were playing outside because it was really the first real warm day we have had this spring. The girls were wearing the cutest dresses and were laughing and playing. The minute I ran to get my camera Meina stopped smiling. I swear she absolutely HATES the camera. I did get some fun candid shots though. Oh, one more thing, I promise I am not going to make them wear matching dresses all the time. Ramzie actually picked these out and you have to admit they look pretty stinking cute! I also had to add the picture of daddy with his girls and the one of her dresses like Cinderella (sort of). As you can see- big sis is training her early!

Happy Summer.

Joanie

WOW- One month

I cannot believe we have been Meina's parents for one month already! It is truly because of faith that we have her today. Many of you know that we had all but officially given up on a second adoption. We had been logged in for over three years and had been waiting for a medical needs child for two. Mike and I had accepted that it was not God's plan to have a second child. We were actually quite excited that we had made the decision. I was going to call and tell CCAI to take us off any lists THE VERY DAY that they called with our referral. We were just waiting for HER.
She is doing so well and her personality is emerging more each day. She is funny and S-M-A-R-T! She has an amazing capacity to trust and accept love and affection even after the trauma of leaving people whom she obviously loved very much. She gives slobbery, open mouth kisses which we all accept openly. She is growing every day and she is doing a pretty good bear crawl right now. We keep saying one day she will just get up and that will be that.
We got a message from her orphanage director saying they still miss her and wonder how she is doing. I sent an update and some pictures. I hope it helps them know that she is safe and happy.

We moved Meina's Crib into her and Ramzie's room last night and she did great. Ramzie LOVES having someone else in with her. Yesterday when I dropped her (Ramzie) off for swim lessons she started crying. I asked her what was wrong because this is very out of character for her especially when she is going to something she loves like swim lessons. She responded " I did not get enough cuddle time with Meina this morning"! Hmmm- use to be she was going to miss ME. I have been pushed aside for sister love and I love it.

Today we are going to watch Ramzie at her swim lessons, then we are going over to a friends house for dinner. The plan was to let the girls ride thier bikes, but the weather is pretty soggy. Anyway we should have a good time. Tomorrow we are participating in the Heart and Soul run.... Well Mike and Ramzie will be running. Meina and I will walk, lol.

2 weeks

We have now been home for two weeks (as of Saturday) and things are feeling very "natural" . IT really is amazing how this little girl just fits our family.

Last week we spent most of the time at home getting into a routine. We had a break between activities with no scheduled places to be.

We have Meina on a nice daily schedule now. She still takes two naps and sleeps 12 hours at night with one diaper change at around 10pm otherwise she is soaked in the morning. I mean PJ's, blankets, sheets, and whatever else is in the crib. We are using Huggies, which worked just great for Ramzie, but they leak all the time on Meina. Part of the problem is she is so long and lean. The size 3 are way too lose on her legs and abdomen. We did not have issues with the Pampers in China, so I guess, I will go get some here and try them. We are still working on getting Meina to pull up and sit down. She will just lay in her crib on her back and not even try to get up. She is talking more.... at least making sounds. She has a few words that are clear like Mama, Ellie and dada. She can walk with a finger to hold, and loves music.

Over the weekend we had some of our friends over and Ramzie had a blast playing with their daughter. She and Tia gave us a real concert American Idol style!

This week summer activities kick into gear. Ramzie is starting swim lessons and gymnastics and the summer reading program begins also. She is really excited and it will be fun to watch her progress. The other thing we are planning is to try to phase out her naps in the afternoon. She is like clockwork with them, so it may be a challenge. She likes her beauty sleep!

Here are a few random pics of the week.

I love the ones of the two snuggling on the couch watching Nemo.

We have nothing exciting to report other than we are just enjoying our lives as a complete family.

Best,

Joanie