1 month with Abbey

I can't believe Abbey has been with us for only a month. To me, it feels like she has always been here. It does feel like forever ago that we were in China. Life as we knew it (aka before Abbey) has changed in some ways, but in other ways it pretty much stayed the same. Our lives were somewhat hectic prior to bringing Abbey home and still are.. just throw in a 17-month old baby and it spices things up a bit!

She is so amazing. She is happy for the most part and smiles the sweetest, toothy smile. She follows me around the house "helping" me with chores. And yes, she does like to be held.. A LOT!

The nannies at Amazing Hands told me she was a snuggler and they were not kidding.

She misses the kids during the day and squeals when we go to pick them up at school. They of course love that! Madeline has been jealous and we are working through that day-to-day! Remember, she was the "baby" and the "only girl" before we brought Abbey home. She had my full attention all to herself most of the time. Madeline adores Abbey and loves to play with her, but as soon as she starts getting tired... the little green monster shows up to let me know that "Abbey gets you all to herself. It isnt' fair! I have to go to school and Abbey gets to stay home with you."Like I said... day by day and lots of prayer.

Abbey is full of fun "tricks" and loves to show-off. She winks at us, plants wet, sloppy kisses on our faces when we ask her for a kiss, waves hello and bye-bye, holds "1" finger up when you ask how old she is, and blows kisses and gives the best hugs. So far we haven't found anything that she doesn't like to eat. Mike was making a pasta salad for dinner the other night and he gave her a black olive to taste... and you guessed it ... she ate half the can. She is finally sleeping better and goes to bed around 7:30 and wakes up at 7 am. Those first two weeks home were exhausting. I was beginning to think she would never sleep!Oh and she takes medicine like a champ.... unlike any of our other kids. We would have to hold them down to give medicine. She just opens up that little mouth like a little bird and "all done".

The weather has been warm here lately so we have enjoyed playing outside and strolling on her bike. She isn't to fond of the swing yet, but we are working on that.

My days seem to go by way to fast and there are never enough hours to complete all I want/have to do. I do find myself up to my shoulders in laundry though! Everyday!! When I die I want this put on my headstone~~~~~ "The Last Load"

just kidding.sorta'.

Pictures from Shower

Aren't these adorable?

Welcome Home Baby Shower for Abbey

Our Church, Brandon Presbyterian, wanted to give us a Welcome Home Party and Shower for Abbey. We were so excited for everyone to meet Abbey and share in our joy of finally being back home. On Friday, Feb. 11, we all met in the fellowship hall to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and the fixins. I was amazed at the number of people who came and it meant so much to all of us to have everyone there.

I can honestly say, thought, the highlight of the shower were the "Ladybug Cakes" that Rebekkah Dawson made. They were so adorable.!! Rebekkah and John had actually brought us supper the first weekend we were home from China. So Rebekkah got to see Abbey's nursery and the Ladybug theme I decided to use. Little did I know she would take those "bugs" and turn them into the cutest cupcakes, decorations, and the big cake centerpiece. I told her once all my adoption buddies saw the cakes.... everyone will want one! Rebekkah put so much thought into planning this shower and it was so wonderful.... I just cannot thank her enough for making it so special. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Big Sister Haircut

Madeline has wanted to cut her hair since before Christmas. I just could not bring myself to let her cut it! Oh how I have loved that long, beautiful dark hair! But... when we were in China, it was so hard to take care, keep it clean and pulled back, etc. So....on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2 weeks after arriving home from China. we got it cut!


She was so excited. I admit I felt a little sad, but I do LOVE her new haircut. It makes her look so Grown-up, just perfect for a new BIG SISTER!

Playing outside with her mei-mei

Love It!
I took this picture after her dance class

Getting to Know Abbey

We have been home over a week now. A week on Friday. I can honestly say the first weekend home was a blur. I remember bits and pieces of talking to people on the phone, washing clothes, sleeping whenever Abbey slept and somehow functioning just enough to get by, but really ...

Madeline and Matthew started back to school on Monday. They were both so happy to see their friends again! Not so happy to get back into the morning routine--:(

Abbey started off the week with her first ride in the dreaded CAR SEAT. She hated it, screamed and cried almost all the way to the kid's school. I remembered our Chinese language CD was in the car and put it in... wa-la! no more crying. She just sat there and listened. Needless to say, we have brushed up on our Chinese language skills this past week everytime we get into the car. (ha)

Here are a few things we have discovered about our sweet Abbey since having her home.

1. She loves DOORS... she must open and then close every door she sees. And it must be done correctly...no half-open doors, mind you.

2. She is a climber... she will put those little feet up onto anything she can get a hold of.

3. She is a snuggle-bunny.... she loves to be held, cuddled and loved on. She will give us "kisses" by opening her mouth wide and planting slobber on your face. She also leans forward and puts her arms around us when we ask her to 'give us love'... so precious!

4. She has a temper... yes, it's true. Take something away from her and she turns into the Tasmanian devil. Tell her no and she lies down on the floor on her back and sticks her bottom lip out and begins the most pitiful wail you have ever heard. It's amazing how that wail ceases the minute she is picked up!

5. She is very smart... already figured out how to press the door latches down to get into the cabinets... (see #1)

6. She loves dogs... she stands at the back door and living room windows and squeals when she sees our pet dogs, Sadie and Jacob.

7. I think she has the sweetest little laugh on this planet. And she is ticklish big time!

Abbey has been through so many changes these past few weeks. Our entire family has been been "changed" the last couple of weeks. Abbey has made us stop and see once again just how amazing our children are. Each of them bring their own special gifts into our family. I feel so blessed to be called "mom" and love my kids so much.

Now just waiting to hear those sweet words from Abbey calling me "ma-ma".

Travel Journal

I will not be posting to this blog during our trip to China. We have a site at http://babyjellybeans.com/ that you can follow. Just enter Abbey Runner under child's name and our password is: runner
I hope you will follow along and feel free to post a comment as long as it is nice (ha!).
Keep us in your prayers.

Xie' Xie' (thank-you)

Here we Go!

It is Monday afternoon and I am counting the hours before we board the plane to Abbey.
We found out this morning that our flight to Atlanta was cancelled due to the ice/snow accumulations there. So... our travel agent, Sue Sorrels (who is amazing by the way) spent the morning trying to re-route us through another city. Long story short: we are leaving here and flying to Dallas at 6 am in the morning. Early...yes. From there we fly to Seoul, Korea, layover there, then on to Beijing. We arrive in Beijing on Jan. 12.

The past 2 weeks have been so busy and crazy. I have spent most of my time preparing for this trip and making 500 trips to Wal-mart! I am sick of Wal-Mart.
So last night after I had finished packing and repacking for the "umpteenth" time, I actually took a minute to sit in Abbey's room and just think.
I sat in the rocking chair that I have rocked all my babies in. I looked around her room thinking of what it will be like to look over at her crib and see her standing at the side-rail smiling back at me.
What it will be like to snuggle up to her.
What it will feel like to hold her little misshapened hand in mine.
I will kiss that little hand and hold onto it for dear life.

I will forever be amazed at this process of adoption and the change it has brought about in my life.
I cannot imagine my life without Madeline, now Abbey, the connection I feel to China and it's culture, the friends I have made who also adopted children from China, and my FAITH that has been tried at times throughout this process; yet sustains my very existence. It is faith that has told me time and time again... don't give up, she is waiting.

And I always, ALWAYS think of the birthmother. How can you not think of the person who brought this miracle into the world? I often pray that somehow the birthmother will know how much their baby is loved and adored. I thank God these 2 little girls call me "mom" because of the "mom" who gave them life.

My life is amazing and I cannot think of a better place to be than "right now". We are about to make our family of 5, into a family of 6! I am beyond blessed. Now just hold on for the ride as we countdown to bringing our next "China princess" home. We are coming sweet Abbey. Mommy loves you.