It's summertime...and the livin's easy

Hello, is anyone still out there? We know it has been far too long since our last post. But we assure you it is not from lack of enthusiasm over our little one's progress. Helena continues to charm and amaze us. We have been busy this summer with the busi-ness of life, but we have also managed to get some play time in, here and there. Helena knows all the parks around town by heart and has spent a fair amount of time swimming in Nana and Granddad's pool. We also managed to get out of town in July and spent an extended weekend up in Stanley Idaho, visiting some friends, and basking in the beauty of the Sawtooth mountains.
Helena loves spending time with her family, and is always eager to see her cousin Jake, grandparents, and aunts and uncles.
We keep in touch with Helena's orphanage '"sister" and her family. We had them over for dinner early in the summer and hope to see them again soon.

Although we have been diligent about the sun block, as the summer has progressed, Helena has gotten darker and darker. She is a beautiful golden brown. Can't say the same for her old man.

We hope you all are having a nice, warm summer...


HANGING OUT IN PARK CITY


HANGING OUT AT THE MOUNTAIN MAMA FESTIVAL
AHH, THE FRESH AIR OF THE SAWTOOTHS


HELENA TAKING PART IN THE SUMMER PAST TIME, BURYING YOUR FRIENDS IN THE SAND


"CHILLIN AT RED FISH LAKE...THE WATER WAS A LITTLE CHILLY, HENCE THE SCOWL


DINNER WITH HER "SISTER" RUBY, AND RUBY'S SISTERS

QUALITY TIME WITH UNCLE TYLER. SHE STILL HASN'T FIGURE OUT THAT HE CAN'T REALLY READ.

ALTHOUGH HELENA HAS A LITTLE-KID TABLE AND CHAIRS, SHE PREFERS TO BELLY UP TO THE BAR ON HER BOX OF LEGOS.

WITH NO SAFE PLACE TO PLAY IN THE BACK YARD (YET) DADDY HAS TO GET CREATIVE ON THE DECK. HELENA LIKES TO POUR, SPLASH AND SQUIRT.

NO FEAR. HELENA JUMPS INTO DAD'S ARMS AT THE POOL...CHECK OUT DADDY'S TAN!

18 Months and 32 inches

Our little “Pink Dragon” is one and a half today. Five months since “Gotcha Day” and counting…the time has just flown by. We are so thankful for her and this day we hold her especially close, and reflect on the struggles currently being endured by the people of China.

As we write this, there are literally hundreds of thousands of survival stories unfolding in Southeastern China. Our hearts are breaking for those with no voice, the many orphans, those who have just found themselves orphaned, and especially those who have lost children. After visiting an orphanage and witnessing the mediocre conditions that exist in “normal” times, we can’t imagine the state of things for those little souls this day. Our thoughts are also with those caregivers who must be struggling to put their own families’ lives back together, as well as dealing with the needs of the orphans.

Our adoption agency is also a non-profit charity and we have included the text from an e-mail we received from them yesterday. They have set up a fund to help with basic supplies for those orphanages in dire need. From what we have read and seen, the Chinese government is doing all it can to help the people in Sichuan. But today China did something that is not typically in their nature…they asked for help from the outside.

“Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province has resulted in the tragic death of at least 15,000 people and the collapse and damage of more than 4.5 million buildings and houses. In response, Chinese Children Charities/CCAI has established Earthquake Relief Fund (ERF) to help orphanages purchase tents, food, diapers, medicine, clothes, and post-quake building repairs and construction. Chinese Children Charities is a 501©3charitable organization. 100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go to help the orphans in China. Please go to www.chinesechildren.org to make an on-line contribution, or mail your donation check to Chinese Children Charities, earmarked “ERF”
Thanks for your support!

patiently Waiting for Summer

A real Spring or the lack there of is keeping us all a little antsy these days. It will get warm for a day or two and then cool off.
Today it snowed a fair bit and at one time seemed like a full-on February blizzard was upon us. Helena has heard about "the boys of summer," now she waits for their arrival.

Three months and counting with our little pink dragon and we are still having a blast. She has been busy learning how to play on her own as well as with neighbors and friends. She has an amazing sense of humor and likes to try and scare her Mummy, when she comes in the room.
She will also pitch and toss, when you are trying to change her diaper and then flash a little smirk as if to say..."I was just messing with you!" As the weather warms she is spending more time getting to know our yard and how to navigate the grass, the sidewalk and the driveway.

We are easing her into biking. The helmet is a tough one for her to deal with. We must admit it looks pretty funny, but damn cute too. It's unfortunate that she didn't grow up in the 70's, when kids had thicker skulls and didn't need silly helmets. Hopefully the helmet will eventually become associated with "fun," but not as of yet. She and I went for a little ride, with her in the bike trailer. It worked out fine for a while, but then something set her off and she had had enough. To avoid the neighbors calling the sherif on me for child endangerment- at least that's what Helena was calling it, Daddy had to pick her up and carry her in one arm as he pushed bike and trailer with the other (for several blocks). We haven't been out again, but next time we will try the jump seat- behind the cruiser bike instead of the trailer. If anything we will look cooler.

Still not a great nap-taker in her crib, Lena loves to crash out in the car seat. Sometimes I will be driving and take my eyes off her for a moment- or is it the road for a moment?... and she is out cold. So we drive home and park in the garage and she takes a nice long snooze. I figure that will work until mid summer when the garage heats up to a balmy 207 degrees.

Last week she took her first buddy bath. Cousin Jake and her had a ball. We can't wait to get these two in the pool.

We were only home a month and Helena started insisting on going out on Friday and Saturday nights (dancing, she tells us). We make sure she has a safe, sober ride home and what else can we do. I included a picture of her applying her lipstick, as she waits for her ride- before heading out the door.

Thanks for checking back with us and keep those comments coming.

Spring Fever

Even though spring is a slow in coming this year, we had to get out for a little hike. She loves riding on Daddy's back but is also running on sharp rocks just to let us know she is becoming more independent.






















Baptizing a sixteen month old is no easy task, but she handled it pretty well considering that a man she didn't know very well poured water on her head.












Now that the snow has melted in the front yard, we spend a lot of time looking at old leaves, playing in dirt, sweeping, and catching a few rays of sunshine.

As far as Helena is concerned, the tub is the best place on earth.

Ready for bed.

Life with Lena

We have a chow hound on our hands. We have not yet found a food Helena refuses; she even ate brussel sprouts. One of the few words in her repertoire is "UM", said with urgency, which means "feed me right now". She also says "dada" and an occasional "mama" but both are a little indiscriminate. A few days ago she picked up "hi" and "do" (which means dog).
She's still a terrible napper but a great sleeper at night (12 hours, hallelujah). All in all, she's an easy kid, makes us laugh every day and we feel very lucky and blessed. The serious child we met in China has been replaced by a giggly, happy girl

I headed back to work part time a couple of weeks ago and started back full time on Tuesday. Justin, however, is now officially a stay-at-home dad. Huge decision for both of us but we feel it is the right one for our little family. Luckily, they still want him to stay on part time in his marketing position and he will be working full days on Mondays (my day off) and telecommuting several hours during the week. Will likely do him some good to have adult conversations during the day. By the way, Lane decided he hung the moon soon after we returned home.

Settling in

We so appreciated everyone's support during the big trip, however, we got a little sick of ourselves and we thought we would give you all a break.... until now.

So, we are finally settled into a routine and family life is very nice. Helena had a wicked upper respiratory infection when we got home and we were all thoroughly jet lagged. Our first week was rough, but things have smoothed considerably. She is a great sleeper and she eats everything in sight.

Here are a couple of recent pics. The hair is a little longer, and the nose a little runnier. You can see why we didn't to post too many pictures of our snotty-nosed kid :)

Home at Last!

After a 12 hour flight to LA, and a hour more to Salt Lake City, we made it home at midnight on Friday. Helena's new Aunt Kelly, Uncle Tyler,Nana and Granddad were there to greet us.

The transit went  extremely well and Helena was a very good little traveler. Our agency finished as strong as when they started, exceeding our expectations. Jason, our CCAI rep checked us in, worked out any last minute details with the airline, and escorted us to the security checkpoint with a big hug and well wishes for the New Year. After a little dinner on board, and with the help of Benadryl, a veterinarian (trained in administering medicine to small squirmy critters), and a bassinet attached to the bulkhead, Helena slept the next nine of the twelve hours on the long flight. With a wailing 3 year-old sharing the cabin with us, Helena's parents were not quite so lucky (Helena's seasoned orphanage ears could care less about the noise). 

Our arrival in LA, with immigration and customs also went smoothly. INS was extremely  courteous, efficient and helpful (as was the general service in the airport). I told Val it felt like everyone at LAX had just taken a customer service course.  

Aside from a small delay, we arrived in Salt Lake without a hitch and seeing my folks and sister and bro there to meet us was truly a very special moment Valerie and I will never forget. I get teary just thinking about it and I think the above image really caught the moment. 

The worst part of the whole journey (from beginning to end), was the thirty minute car ride to our house. We knew she would not like it, but Helena absolutely freaked over the car seat. She seriously balled for thirty minutes straight- we had never seen her that angry. Wow, good times ahead in the car I tell you. 

Our house was warm and welcoming and stocked with Mom's home cooking. We hunkered down for the weekend and started to recover from our colds and jet lag. Helena has taken to the place quite well. She likes her new room and all her new toys- especially her book collection. She seems to like her bed, even though the time change has been a real bear for her to break (hard on Mummy and Daddy too). She took a bath last night and absolutely had a blast. I think she would have stayed in all night, if we would have let her. 

Last night Helena helped me take down her match photo that has been on the back of our kitchen door since December 7th. She seemed to recognize her old self, but only for a minute, then she glance up at me with a quick little smirk and I knew what she was thinking...I'm not the same girl I was, when this photo was taken. 

We created this web log to give our families the opportunity to follow us along on our trip. We know from comments and emails that our family has grown well beyond our dreams. We have been touched with all of your well wishes and support. Thank you all for allowing us to share this amazing experience with you. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and we are excited for the next phase in our lives and the changes and challenges it is sure to bring. Val and I have not discussed the future of this blog. I suspect we will update it periodically with images of our family, especially our daughter as she continues to make us laugh and cry and worry and wonder and most importantly, count our many blessings.  Check back with us every so often. But for now, as they say in China, "bye, bye"