We're back from a memorable week in Tahoe

Turns out that Jinji is a great little road traveler. She made the more than 9 hour trip to Incline Village, NV with minimal fuss.

She basked in the love and attention from her family.





And, of course, an empty box was one of her favorite toys.

A Child, A Child......

We wish all our family and friends the warmth and best of this season. As you know, we are blessed with the gift of bringing our daughter home and we are so grateful.

Thank you for all your love and support.

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year!

Roll Bounce

Jinji is ready for the rink with the charming roller skate booties that were made by Claire, sister of my coworker Becky.

The perfect dress - gift from Auntie Pam, who spent too much.
A great Santa with a real beard - free at the mall, but $26.99 for a photo CD.
The classic 10-month-old reaction - PRICELESS!
(expectations, leave them at home)

Feel the Love

We are feeling the love from friends and family. We all visited Mommy's workplace and felt the Love. We delighted in introducing Jinji to many who know that she embodies the realization of our long, challenging quest.


We have to admit that there aren't any plans to decorate our house for the holidays, as we will be away.


This ornament is our sole holiday piece, but is packed with Love. Our friends Lori and Brian sent this and it brought a tear to our eyes and it is choking me up as I type. Bill and I have been a "family" for almost 10 years, but now "family" as a new meaning.



Jinji is even receiving "Out-of-State Love". Her Great Aunt Elaine & Great Uncle Warren sent this great bib.

With every "Congratulations", gift and/or word of encouragement, we are blossoming as new parents. Thank you.
We hope you can feel the Love coming back you way?

Jinji met more of her loving family-

We took Jinji to meet her Uncle Ronald, Aunt Kathy and cousins, Marcel and Jayson. She met them with open arms and it was wonderful to see her with her cousins, who have been waiting to meet her.

Jinji's First Party Invitation

Jinji attended her first party on Sunday. It was a celebration of Linda Eisenhamer's 1st birthday. Jinji donned a party dress:

There lots of toys and children. Jinji loved it.

It was delightful to celebrate with Linda and we had a chance to see her walking.

She will fly swift and far

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends with you His might that His arrows might go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran

Here are some videos that we have been meaning to post

This first one is Jinji's first experience in a swing at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou . Her "friend" is a baby Pooh that she loved-Santa plans to put one under the tree.

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Here's one of the first time we saw her crawl. She was doing what we call a "commando belly crawl". Now she is on all fours and moving quickly.


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This next one is from the day we received Jinji. We had just given her a blow up beach ball.


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Mommy and Jinji Visit Daddy at Work

Mommy and Jinji visited daddy at work today. We had a great visit and went to the Chinese Buffet for Lunch.

It's been 2 weeks since we returned from China

Jinji is doing really well. She is sleeping in her own room, in her own crib. Last night I checked on her to be certain she was still breathing; she slept through the night.

She is eating well and delights in her surroundings. She wakes ready to smile and laughs easily.

Mommy and Daddy are settling into parenthood. Mommy has a renewed respect for all Moms who came before me. However, the work is worth the reward.

Go to your room!

I am not sure that age old exclamation will work with Miss Jinji right now. She loves playing in her room.

The Highlights of the last few days

Today, we saw Cynthia, the lab tech at Kaiser when we returned. Cynthia has been listening to all the details on Jinji's adoption as she drew Mommy's blood. She was so happy to see Jinji made it home.

Yesterday our Calle Cuervo Neighbors, Tammy and Taylor stopped by with a present for Jinji. It was a musical swing. Jinji got some "pre-Christmas" package opening practice.

A long time coming

Bill and I have been attending Families with Children from China (FCC) events for more that a year. I look forward to seeing the happy families each time and witnessing the blessing of adoption. However, each time we yearned to bring our child. It was a bit like Christmas with an empty stocking.

Well, yesterday we attended an FCC event with our girl, Jinji. It was the 10th Anniversary celebration and, as is turns out, Jinji is the newest member. She was photographed with the oldest member.

We enjoyed the afternoon lunch and magic show with our friends, Bill, Melissa, and Linda.

Firsts

I guess we will be posting a lot of "firsts". Here is Jinji on her first ride on a swing.
Daddy took her to a neighborhood park. At first, she was tentative, then she was all giggles. She also enjoyed watching the older children.