Some more photos of Zoe's first party!!

Our little birthday bash

Here are some photos from our little party for Zoe. The cake was awesome!!!( Thanks for the tip, Maura!!!) Zoe is getting bigger by the minute and constantly laughs. She finds Jordyn to be a constant source of amusement. I look at Jordyn and think she's 14 sometimes with the things that come out of her mouth. My first week back at work has been good. I 'm running a tight ship at home, everything is done the day before so our mornings are fun and smooth, I hate chaos in the morning and we all have to get out of here way to early. The best thing that happened this week is we did get Zoe's certificate of citizenship, that was a plus. You'll see in the photos how much Zoe loved the birthday hat. I also put a pic of my Dad, he loves being in pictures!!

Happy Birthday Baby!!

Today is Zoe's birthday and we are so honored to be able celebrate it with her. It is amazing to me, to think that a few weekes ago we did not have this adorable, good-natured, sweet little baby. She is so full of personality and warmth. We all just simply adore being with her. We spent a very fun day making cupcakes ( I let Jordyn miss school - I'm sure in the grand scheme of things, it will not be a big deal) we also went to the mall to have the girls pictures taken. I wasn't really crazy about the photographer we were given, not very warm and fuzzy. It's not usually a big deal- but if you're working with children you may want to take a different approach. So, needless to say we didn't get that many great pics. The theme for the photo shoot could have been "It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to" My very sad news is that I lost Zoe's poncho today. I usually would not be so upset but for those of you who know- this was my first knitting project. I am so sad it is gone. I knit that all summer as I was dreaming about this baby. I hope who ever found it uses it to keep a child warm. It would break my heart to think someone threw it out. Meanwhile, I am almost done with Jordyn's and now I'll have to make a new one for Zoe. Her are some new pics!!

Zoe is almost starting to walk!!

Not that we aren't happy about that but it opens up a whole new world!! She isn't walking yet but I give it another month or so. She is starting to stand by herself and is becoming very comfortfortable with this new activity. Jordyn loves trying to walk her around.

I also want to give a "shout out". I have a great friend who does the most amazing art work. She has given both my girls the most awesome hand painted jeans. I have gotten numerous compliments on both pairs. She can paint anything ( characters,etc..) on jeans, sweatshirts, jean jackets and more. If anybody is interested I will put you in contact with her, I know I am going to be ordering a number of gifts this holiday season. You can email me at dlschw28@yahoo.com I have posted some samples of her work.

Pumpkin Picking!!!

Today was fun! We took the girls pumpkin picking with some very nice friends of ours. Although, for the most part, the pumpkins looked to be in pretty bad shape. Supposedly, it was not a good crop this year. We went to a place called Hicks in Long Island. There were cute Halloween activities, a petting zoo and a hay ride. Halloween might be my favorite celebration. You can dress up to be anything you want and there is always chocolate. Those of you who know me know I am a complete choco-holic. I could probably even eat any of the various foods we saw in China, like sandworms, beetles, snakes or toads if they were dipped in a rich dark chocolate.

Happy Birthday Raenen

Today, we celebrated Raenen's birthday! I am a big loser because I forgot my camera. So, I will not be able to post any pictures from today. It is so incredible to watch all of these children grow up and see all the amazing changes. Even in just a few weeks, it is so awesome how different they can become. Happy Birthday, Raenen - we love you!!

Having fun!

Well- we have been home now 2 full weeks and starting our third. It is hard to imagine that Zoe has not been with us for that long a time. She is so much fun and Jordyn just adores her. BTW Jordyn is starting to like her parents again,as well. I was told " I love you " twice today. That was huge!!! We are getting into our groove and soon I will be going back to work. ( I teach). That will be a whole other adjustment. Zoe will be going to her new daycare this week for an hour to check it out. It is an in home daycare and the staff is wonderful. Jordyn went there and loved it. Here are some pics I took over the weekend.

New pics of our girls!!

Here are some recent ones from the past few days!! Zoe wasn't so sure about the swing.

Being Home

Sorry I have not updated in the past week, we have been a little busy. Everyone is adjusting, Jordyn is doing better but still has many moments. We went apple picking up in Warwick on Saturday with an offset group from FCC and had a great time. We have also had many visitors.

On a side note my favorite thing about coming home is dealing with all the nice people at Social Security (it's the whole system- not the people) I go to one office in Long Island and then find out, if you live in Queens then that is where I must apply. Ok- I go to the office closest to me- walk in, big sign they've moved. Fine, I walk a few blocks wait on line- the nice man behind the window tells me they don't issue cards in this office I must go to a different one. I love this system! I also love that they won't issue a card as a citizen which our children are if they came in on a certain visa- so that means I have to go back to the office again at a later date.

I will post pictures later!!

Updates of the last few days in China

Sorry, I did not have a chance to update in China- so I will recap the last few days. We had an amazing time the last few days there. Zoe is a vey sweet baby and laughs a lot, of course her sister keeps her easily amused. We went to a Buddhist temple and had the babies blessed- it was a very moving experience. We also were able to see some of the other ceremonies that were taking place. We then went down to Guangzhou to finish the last of the paperwork and get Zoe's visa to travel home. We stayed in the White Swan- I did a lot shopping and went to the pearl and Jade market. The girls liked the pool and Zoe looks like she wants to start swimming. We went on a dinner cruise one night in Guangzhou- that was a lot of fun.

On a side note, I was lucky enough to find out that Zoe was in foster care for four months. We are very grateful for the care she was given. She is very healthy ( at least she looks it) and happy. Somebody was very good to her and that means the world to us. I wish we were able to have contact with her foster family but that is not possible.
Here are some of the last pics in China!!! Thanks again to everyone for their well wishes!!! Looking forward to seeing everone soon!!

Noodle Races

The girls are starting to do well together and tonight while we formally dined, we let them have noodle races. It was very cute. Zoe was the winner! We have been doing a lot of fun things, today I went with Mary our guide and Jordyn to a traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and had cupping done. Then we took the bus back to the hotel which was a very cool experience for Jordyn. The trip has been great, the only downside has been all the staring people have done and pointing at Jordyn. She has been very upset by this and I have finally just started to point back and shake my finger. We want to thank everyone for their e mails and comments and phone calls. Tomorrow we are going to a Budhist temple. I'll post more pics then.

Having a wonderful time

Every day gets better and better. Zoe is starting to love the kisses from Jordyn and has started to laugh a lot. We are having so much fun with our girls and I love to be able to say that. This morning a few of hopped in a cab at 7 and took pictures of downtown Nanchang, a very awesome experience. We also were taken to a villge outside of the city and it was a very humbling experience. We weretold most of our girls came fromplaces such as this. There is no running water and extreme poverty. The girls are also not able to go to school. Here are some new pics!!!

Family Day!!

Sorry it took so long to post we have been a little busy. Zoe is adorable but it has been a little bit of a difficult transition. She was crying when we received her and Jordyn was very upset that Zoe was not very smiley right away. Jordyn also gave her a toy that Zoe did not want. We had two crying children for a while but by the time we got back to the hotel things started to change for the better.Jordyn is still having a hard time but things have gotten better. Having Darrin and Amy with us has been huge because when she's upset she goes with them. Today the adoption was made final. Zoe is a great eater and has a good sense of humor. We are in room 1314 for those of you who have the number. Nanchang is very cool and we have started to do some exploring. Here are some pics!!

we are here!!!!

HI!!!!
We arrived in China last night. Jordyn was great on the trip and was quite the trooper!!We had a wonderful time in LA with our family, thank you again- Nancy, Jill and Barbara as well as everyone else, it was a pleasure! Our guides have been amazing and we have ventured out to see some of Nanchang. We had a great meal last night and our group is really nice. Jordyn has become friends with the other little girl on our trip, her name is Hong Hong and she is adorable. We are leaving in about an hour to meet our new little sweetie pie, Zoe. The excitement is definately a 10!!! Will post later, wish us luck! Miss all of you!

We are Leaving!!!

We are finally done packing, cleaning, washing clothes and are ready to rock and roll!! Jordyn has all of her favorite movies with a few surprises as well as tons of fun coloring and cool activity books. Thanks to all of you who have given Jordyn travel gifts. We thank you as well as all the other fliers and flight attendants! Zoe here we come!!! Thank you again for all your phone calls and good wishes.

In one week- we leave!!!

We just want to thank everyone for their emails and phone calls. It is so exciting to know how many people are waiting to share this great experience with all of us. Another wonderful thing happened today - we have a 12 hour layover in LAX- now for those of you who know me well- I can never be to early. I would be happy to sit for all those hours and wait. Jordyn on the other hand, probably not so content to read or of course the new hobby, knit. Dave wouldn't be so content either, unless of course there was a football game in the middle of LAX. We have a wonderful cousin ( Nancy) in LA, who has very kindly offered to pick us up and let us hang out with all of them for as long as necessary. This will be wonderful because we can see our family , who we never get to see. Jordyn will be very excited. We are one more day closer to meeting Little Cha Wan!!

We have Liftoff!!

The last 24 hours has been a whirlwind. I actually do a little better under pressure so I have accomplished a lot. We are going to leave Saturday the 9th for LA and take the midnight flight to China. We arrive in Guangzhou on Monday morning and then take another flight to Nanchang. We will be in Nachang at some point on Monday the 11th. We will be staying at the Gloria Hotel where we will wait to meet Little Cha Wan. ( This is the name they used in Zoe's referral packet and we think it's very cute). We have to stay in Nanchang for 9 nights and then fly back to Guangzhou where we will stay until we leave on Saturday the 23rd. We want to thank everyone for their well wishes and we cannot wait to share our experience!!

Oh my!!!!!!!

We received the phone call tonight- our consulate appointment is for September 21st. We have to be in Jiangxi on September 12th- family day in the afternoon. That means we have to leave next Friday or Saturday!! We are in shock and as prepared as I thought I was, I feel like there is still so much to do. This of course all happens as school starts ( where I work). Jordyn will only be in school for 3 or 4 days. Nice to get into a routine, huh? We are very excited but I am feeling extremely overwhelmed!!! I guess the upside is I can try to unwind on the plane.

We have TA!!!!!!!!

We are so excited to say we have received TA today. We should find out in a day or two when our consulate appointment is going to take place. As it looks right now we have been told we will probably have to be in province by Sept. 17th. That means we would have to leave on the 15th. I cannot believe all of this is happening. I feel like we have been talking about this for so long!!

I have packed Zoe's bag and will continue to pack for the rest of us. It looks like we will have good weather. Hopefully in the 70's and 80's. Harrah's has been wonderful!! We have been so well informed of everything! I understand our guides in China are also fantastic.

As a side note, Jordyn and I went to school today to meet her teachers. We told them about our upcoming trip and hopefully the class can follow us on the computer. Jordyn is so excited to be a big sister. Every time I show her something for Zoe all she keeps saying is ---" it's sooooo cute !!!" I bet it won't be so cute when Zoe takes a toy and breaks it. Better yet, how cute will it be when Zoe thinks the High School Musical DVD looks better surrounded in play dough? I am sure Jordyn will be our biggest helper on this trip.

Zoe has no idea how exciting her world is about to become- and we are so excited to love her!!!

My new hobby

Well, since I have had so much time waiting for the referral and Jordyn had been in camp - I took up a new hobby. I know many of my friends and family are quite surprised that I have started to knit. I am a complete spaz and this is all quite new to me. I have a very nice friend at our beach club who was extremely patient ( thank you Susie!). Here is a picture of my first completed project. Zoe won't know if it doesn't fit right or have an opinion about this first item. I of course have started one for Jordyn, as well. She has picked out her own colors and told me that Zoe will find the funky purple yarn itchy. She does not want it on hers.

Waiting for TA

We decided that while we wait ( and wait) for TA, we took a little trip to Cape Cod. We went to go visit with some of our cousins and had a very nice break last weekend. It was a little chilly last Saturday so we ventured into Boston and went shopping in Quincy Market where I, of course had to buy the girls matching t-shirts. Some people have recommended having the girls dress alike to help with the transition. I'll let everyone know how that goes. We have been very busy getting last minute shopping done, our Visas ( thank you Darrin!) and writing and rewriting packing lists. Here are a few pics from our little excursion.

Yeah, we have another baby girl!!!

We are so excited to announce our new addition to the family!! Her name is Cha Wan Ling soon to be Zoe Cha Wan . Her birthday is October 20th and we are over the moon with excitement! She is currently living in the Shangrao Childrens Center in Jiangxi Province. Looking at her photos, they have certainly padded her up in a ton of clothes ( she looks like she's sweating!)

Amy and Darrin's daughter, Raenan is with Zoe and the same SWI. It is so nice to know they are together!! I posted the pictures we received today.