our princess turns four

Phrases that we've heard a lot of this past week:
"I'm so excited for my birthday!"
"Can I help make the cupcakes?"
"What shoes should I wear with my party dress?"
"I wanna help!"
"Right now I'm three, but on my birthday I'll be four."
"How many sleeps until my birthday?"

This mama is very tired of cleaning, worrying how all of these people are going to fit in my little house, making 5 batches of cupcakes between 11-3am and waking up at 8:15am to a little voice asking "Can I put on my party dress yet?" I decided it was all worth it when I watched Hannah running around the house laughing and holding hands with BOTH Allie and Gabriella. Daddy agrees, that was his favorite moment of the day.

I don't have many photos of the day as I was busy with FORTY PEOPLE in my little house. We invited everyone that Hannah asked to invite, and all came! Hopefully our family and friends that took photos will email some to me. Hint hint. Nudge nudge.

Hannah's favorite present: a hula hoop.

Mama and Daddy gave Hannah a gold Belle dress and crown, with a promise let her wear the dress when we take her to see Beauty and the Beast 3D in the movie theater. She's planning the popcorn and candy purchases already!

The hair clip that she's wearing today was a gift that Hannah received on the first day we met her. I can't remember who the clip is from, but knowing that it is from a birth family member or a nanny at the baby house makes the clip an extra special accessory on a very special day.

not your ordinary white woman from Farmville, IN

I had a really enjoyable work experience this week with a Vietnamese American in her early 20s that I'd never met before. After work we talked for about twenty minutes having fun comparing and contrasting what Vietnamese and Chinese to do celebrate the lunar new year. I like spring rolls way better than egg rolls. We both agree that moon cakes with egg in the middle are really gross, but she suggested I try ones with mung bean. She told me that she'd like to open a restaurant some day. I voiced that our area really needed someplace that sold boba tea. Her eyes widened and she got so excited, and shared that's exactly the kind of shop she'd like to open! We have the same favorite place for boba tea, the Joy Yee shop in Chinatown Chicago. I was told that I'm the only white person that she's ever met that knew about and was into this kind of stuff. I replied that I hope she'd get to know some local adoptive families, especially Vietnam adoptive families. I'm an adoptive parent that's totally into my kid, and I'm looking for inclusion for us into your word, too.

National De-lurking Day

I've read that today is de-lurking day. Readers, I'd appreciate it if you could take a moment to tell me who you are, how long you've followed this blog, and why you follow it. Let me know what your favorite kids of posts you are so I can get a feel for what'd you'd like to write more about. Thank you! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Reserve your room for Taiwan R.O.C.ks 2012

Taiwan R.O.C.ks Reunion for Taiwan Adoptive Familes will be at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Chicago, less than two blocks from Millennium Park and short walk to Navy Pier and the Lake Michigan beachfront. Check out the reunion blog for a link to make hotel reservations with the group's reduced rate. We made our hotel reservations tonight for a party of (prayerfully) four!

will smile for candy necklaces

Wanted to share a few funnies from today.

Offer Hannah a candy necklace and she's ready to pose!



Nana emailed me this morning about having Hannah over last night: "Funny at dinner. Nana said if you eat all your broccoli tops, do you want ice cream with sprinkles? Hannah chomped into the broccoli. Papa said, guess you need the right carrot? Hannah said, these aren't carrots!"



A phrase we hear a lot in the evening is "I'm not tired. I'm not tired!"
Tonight, I think she was tired!
I can't believe that she slept sitting up through an entire 45 minute Target trip.
She usually RUNS down the isles laughing and can't wait to see the toys.

Hudson's room has been painted and wood laminate flooring was installed yesterday. We moved all of Hannah's baby furnishings into Hudson's room today, cleaned them up, and changed the toddler bed back into a crib. We still have some some work with to do with accessorizing the walls and such, but it's really starting to look like a little dude sleeps there! I'll share photos when we're all done. Obviously, I have loved putting together special rooms for our children. Hannah's room was inspired by the mural of a plum blossom tree with everything pink and brown. Hudson's is a space theme with rockets, stars, planets in blue, green, and brown encouraging him to "dream, explore, and grow."

monkey bars mishap

Kevin and Hannah brought me lunch at work yesterday after preschool. Hannah excitedly said, "I want to talk to Mama. Mama!!! Someone went pee pee on the monkey bars today!"

Great.

Film: "The Sage Hunter" (2005)

Last night we watched "The Sage Hunter." I purchased it from Amazon because I wanted to see any film with subtitles that depicted indigenous Taiwanese people. It was pretty good, and I appreciated the importance that the characters placed on nature, spirituality, and family. I'd certainly recommend this film to other adoptive families with children from indigenous Taiwanese backgrounds. It had just a little violence in a war scene, and one scene where a father struck his son after he did something bad and dishonored the family. Those images were ones that I could explain to Hannah while we were watching the film so they weren't so scary and she could understand what was happening.

getting Hudson's room together

Hudson's wood laminate flooring has been ordered and will be installed in two weeks. Bring on the paint! The paint color selection story is fun. :) I searched online one night at different paint manufacturer web sites for a light/medium blue color that would go with Hudson's space themed bedding. It didn't have to color match, but I wanted it to be something that was clean and bright and could serve for something other than a child's bed room. I found a free color capture iPhone app at the Benjamin Moore web site that is really cool. It allows me to take a picture of something, like Hudson's bedding, with my phone and then suggests paint colors for me. I found a blue that looked just right, tapped on the color to see a larger image of it, and gasped at the color's name. YIN YANG!



Okay, gotta get off my rear and finish emptying Hudson's room of things that were once our home office. The painting starts today!

Dumpling Days

So excited about Grace Lin's new book! You can order it from Amazon here.

visa politics

This past week I learned that Taiwan born Americans must state their birthplace as "Taiwan, China" when applying for a visa to enter The People's Republic of China. If you don't, your visa will be denied.

Visa questions:
1) Chinese name _______
2) Current Nationality: United States of America
3) Former Nationality: Chinese
4) Place of Birth: Taiwan, China
5) Have you ever visited China Before: Yes

I've had some great discussions with a few Taiwanese Americans this week about how they feel about this. One opinion: "I think if you insist on claiming being a Taiwanese, then they won't grant you. My mom was told several years ago that on her passport, her birth place has to say China and not Taiwan or they won't grant her visa to China. It's unfortunate and that is why I refuse to go there!"

Little Mama

Hannah pretty much never wants to go to bed, and always pouts, "But I'm not sleepy!"
When she said this Christmas night, I reminded her
that it doesn't matter if she's sleepy or not. It is bed time,
so she can lay in bed not sleeping, or fall asleep. Her choice.

But tonight after my usual speech while brushing Hannah's teeth... I had an idea!
"Hannah, now that you have a baby to take care of,
you need to dress your baby in her jammies,
give her a bottle, and and tuck her in bed."
Hannah's eyes lit up and she scampered off to her bedroom.



I offered her baby doll Hello Kitty jammies so she'd match Hannah.
Together we dressed the baby doll, Hannah found the bottle,
and laid baby down in bed with her.
"Look, Hannah. The good bottle made your baby sleepy. She's closed her eyes."



Hannah loved watching her baby's eyes open and shut!



We tucked baby doll lovingly in bed next to Hannah's bed.
I told Hannah that the first night that she was with us in Taiwan,
she didn't sleep very well. I described how I would pat
baby Hannah's back when she cried, tell her softly that I loved her
and that she was okay, and baby Hannah would go back to sleep.



I watched Hannah patted her baby doll lovingly.
I got teary-eyed as I turned off the lights and said,
"Night night. I love you. Wo ai ni."

In other news... Hannah's not wearing pull-ups at bedtime anymore!
She's been consistently dry every morning
as long as we make her go peepee right before bedtime.

Christmas Day 2011

I was warm and wrapped up like a burrito in my bed this morning at 9:30am.
My eyes were closed.
I heard little feet scamper to my bedroom door and opened it up wide.
"Mama? Mama? Can we go check if Santa brought us presents?"







Santa came, and he brought the requested "baby doll with no hair."





Hannah ripped through her presents quickly, but went right back
to take care of her baby doll with no hair. She needed several
wardrobe and diaper changes until little mama was satisfied.



Santa didn't put anything in Sedona's stocking, and Hannah noticed right off.
Whoops! I think Santa was sleepy and forgot to take care of Sedona's stocking.





And she was certainly pleased.



Santa brought Hudson a train table with a note for Hannah.
Hannah is supposed to have Daddy help put it together and play with it.
When Hudson comes home, Hannah can show Hudson how it works.







The best gift we ever received.
Feeling exceedingly blessed.
Merry Christmas, friends!
聖誕快樂!

Redirect: Christmas Miracle

On Christmas Eve, Marijane learns that her siblings have been found. A sister writes that she is excited to reunite when Marijane travels to Taiwan in just a few weeks.

Silly the Elf meets Ballerina Barbie

Silly the Elf meets Ballerina Barbie... and they spent
the rest of the night together with a bottle of wine.

Santa came early this year

Santa came early this year and delivered two new photos of Hudson. Thank you. That's all I wanted for Christmas. He's so cute... and getting so big. I'm going to have to step up the weight training to be able to lug around this guy and Hannah!

gingerbread house construction gone wrong

We brought a gingerbread house kit to Nana and Papa's Sunday night.
I did one last year with Hannah and she loved it. I briefly read the instructions.



I laughed when Papa suggested putting it together with a glue gun.
"You see, Papa... that's what this thick icing is for."



We started having a little trouble. The roof began to slide off.
Hannah patched the hole with more candies.



Then... the roof fell off. Oh no!



Papa says our house looks like a bank repo.
Uh... apparently I missed the part in the directions where you're supposed to
let the house sit for 30 minutes after putting it together before you decorate it.
That thick icing didn't have time to harden before the candy went on the roof.



I think we'll use hot glue next year.

Photo credits on this post go to Nana and Papa.

four years of visiting Santa

Christmas 2008 - Tainan, Taiwan


Christmas 2009 - Indiana


Christmas 2010 - Indiana


Christmas 2011 - Indiana

little sweeties making Christmas cookies

Hannah and I spent the day yesterday with Allie and Hannah.
The little girls made Christmas ornaments, decorated Christmas cards
with foam stickers, and someone cut their hair or a doll's hair.
I thought it was a doll's black hair, but after closely examining Hannah's head tonight,
I have a feeling that Hannah may have given herself another trim while at Allie's house.



Of course, they were most excited about decorating Christmas cookies.



I think Miss Lora really gets a kick out of...



watching my daughter shove sprinkles into her mouth.
I'm surprised that Lora hasn't offered her a shovel yet.
If Hannah asked for a sprinkle shovel, I'm sure Lora would find one for her.



That's okay. Allie had a little trouble getting the frosting to come out fast enough.



This photo made my day!

Hudson's first birthday

Tonight we celebrated



a little guy in Taiwan.



We know our photos and developmental milestone info about you is so out of date now.
You may have taken your first steps. We wish we knew your fist words.
Favorite foods. What toys make you laugh out loud.


We can't be with you today, but we celebrated with
homemade cupcakes baked made my Grandma and Hannah,
decorated with entirely too many sprinkles by Hannah... of course.

I hope you had a tummy Taiwanese bakery cake topped with beautiful fresh fruits.
I hope your foster family sang to you and made this a special day for you.
I hope you feel loved, because you are.

We have a name for you. Hudson Ray {Chinese Name} {our family name}.

letting go of things beyond my control

When we arrived at the Secretary of State's office yesterday, I pulled out our documents one by one from our adoption agency, checking off my list to make sure everything we needed was being authenticated. I had kept everything together inside a huge envelope to make sure I wouldn't loose anything. I freaked out when I discovered that we were missing three kinds of documents to authenticate from our adoption agency. We went ahead and authenticated everything we had for them to do. The staff was so nice to me and reassured that it would be fine. I should just FedEx/UPS them back to them, including a prepaid mailer, and they would authenticate them same day, so I'd have them back in 1-2 days. I even showed the staff a photo of Hannah and retold the story about Hannah exclaiming "I want to do the gold stickers!!!!" The staffer thought that was so funny that she slipped me a gold seal to give to Hannah. So sweet! She showed me several photos and Christmas cards that international adoptive families send to the Secretary of State's office, and she said that authenticating our documents was one of their favorite things to do, because they felt a part of bringing families together. I got all choked up, and decided that would be sending a Christmas card to the Indiana Secretary of State's office this year.

I had forgotten that our state doesn't charge for authentications. I was remembering how much a friend in Nevada had paid for hers... in the thousands of dollars perhaps! The staffer told me that our state is the only state that doesn't have a fee for the service. Thank you, Indiana!


Hannah and Grandma with a gold sticker

After leaving the government center I called the adoption agency. No answer. This is not good. IDEA! I know someone who mentioned that they had their private cell phone number! Phoned a friend, got the hook up for the cell number, called agency rep, and agency took care of overnighting the missing documents to us. Kevin FedExed them today to the Secretary of State's office, and we should have them back on Tuesday to overnight to TECO, arriving in Chicago on Wednesday. I was a little frustrated by this delay and hate the idea of lil' dude waiting on us, but over all I'm feeling good about letting go of things beyond my control. I can only do so much. Most of this adoption process is out of my hands, and all I can do is wait. And pray. And eat chocolate. And go power walk three miles on the treadmill to work off remaining frustrations.

gold stickers

Tonight while getting Hannah ready for bed I explained that we're going on a trip tomorrow. We're going to a Taiwanese restaurant for boba tea and yummy beef and noodle soup. After lunch we'll go to an office to get some gold stickers on our adoption papers that we'll send to Taiwan to help bring home your baby brother.

Hannah's reply, "I want to do the gold stickers!!!!!!"

Cracks me up! I have a feeling we'll be looking for a sticker store to buy gold stickers tomorrow. Love that girl!

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Approved! Finally!!!

We learned last Friday evening December 2nd that our adoption facilitator in Taiwan has approved our referral match, and now we can proceed with the adoption. It took exactly three months for this approval, obviously way longer than we ever expected. We were asked some questions in our adoption application, and poured out our hearts in the answers. Thankfully, we can proceed now. I learned tonight that our contracts have arrived from Taiwan. We hope to have them in our hands next week so we can travel to the Secretary of State's office and then send them off to TECO for authentication.

We've had a stomach bug making the rounds in our house this past week. Not fun. Grandma and Grandpa are visiting with us from Florida. Hannah loves it that she gets to share a room with Kevin's mom. They snuggle together under the covers and read books with a flashlight. Hannah NEVER asks to go to bed, but the first night Grandma was here she told us she was "just a little sleepy" and needed to go to bed with Grandma to start the slumber party fun. Love that girl!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone