Happy Easter from Ariana

One Year with Ariana

We cannot believe it has been one year since we first held Ariana in our arms.  She has gone through so much in her short life and we are in awe of her spirit and resilience.  Over the past year she has learned about love and family, learned to walk, talk, and trust.  We love her more anything and she is the greatest blessing we could ever ask for.

*Scroll to the bottom of the page and turn off Playlist before starting the video

Gifts and Late CNY Celebration

This past weekend we attended our local Families with Children from China Chinese New Year get together.  Last year the event was held shortly after we got our referral so everyone was pretty excited to see Ariana in person. At first she was a little intimidated by the crowd, but before long she was leading the older girls around.

She even loved the dragon parade! Every year they lay down tons of bubble wrap to simulate the sound of firecrackers and she had a ball stomping on it.  The pictures don't do the dragon justice as it's made from a very beautiful silk one of the families brought back with them.

Thursday we opened the mail to find some adorable bows from Mia!  Her mommy also sent a template so my creations aren't so lopsided.  Thanks Gina!

Our friends the K's gave us a Lamb Chop puppet.  If you are as old as me you might remember his TV show. It has a voice box and we're pretty sure Ariana thinks it's alive.  So cute.

My fabulous cousin Brice was in town and helped me get ready for the party!

These three beauties are all former students of mine.  Ariana really took to them.

Now, if only my hair would grow!

My 1st Valentine's Day

If I look sad it's because Mommy ate all my candy...

Love at First Sight

It is almost impossible to believe that today marks one year since we saw Ariana's picture for the first time. I remember every detail of that Friday afternoon like it was yesterday.  My fifth grade students all knew what was going on and why I had my cell phone out.  At about 1:40 p.m. it went off and when I saw my agency's name I started jumping up and down and the kids all started cheering.  Lynn, my social worker, told me I'd want to check my email. I sent my class off to PE and waited (very impatiently) for Steve to get to school so we could look together.

We opened the email we had waited so many years for and found a beautiful 11-month old named Songhao Jiang looking back at us.  She was at the Jiangcheng SWI in Yangjiang, Guangdong, China.  I remember the mixture of excitement and happiness and also being surprised by how much genuine love I already felt for her.

The time since then has moved at warp speed.  We broke out one of our silk outfits today and headed to my parents' house to take some pictures.  They have big windows with lots of natural light but my subject wasn't having any part of sitting still.

Hundreds of pictures later this will always be my all-time favorite.

She looks a little spicy here and she is!  We think these pictures
 were probably taken in November of 2010 when her medical paperwork
was put together so she would've been about 8 1/2 months old.

Then and now

Sledding with Grandpa (Papa)

Christmas Card

This is a copy of the Christmas card we've been waiting years and years to send.  It was surreal to finally see it in living color.

The Best Christmas Ever!

Ariana loves her new kitchen and spends lots of time each day cooking up a storm.    Mommy and Daddy have eaten a lot of plastic food and air.

Two new babies moved in and she's especially fond of this one's "binky."

After a nap the party moved to Grandma and Papa's house where she opened everyone's presents.

Even though she was still playing with her new toys at 11:00p.m. the next day we got up early and headed to the Twin Cities for round 3 at Grandma Judy's.  On the 28th we headed back home where Ariana's much idolized cousin Brice and her fabulous Aunt and Uncle spent some time at their cottage near us.

The boat pulling has become somewhat of a ritual whenever these two are together-so cute!

22 Months Old

Today Ariana turns 22 months old.  We can't believe how quickly time has passed or that she'll be two in just 8 weeks.  Every day we love her more than the day before.

December 26, 2011
Home 

April 6, 2011
White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou

Santa Baby

Just wait until she finds out he brings presents!

Summer Recap

Wow, time is passing much too quickly for my liking!  I started this post in early July and never got around to posting it.  I can't believe how much she has changed since then.

Cutting baby's nails

First ever time at the beach.  I loved everything about it!

I'm not a fan of life jackets!

Fourth-of-July weekend at Pine Lake with my
fabulous cousin Brice

Steve and Betsy's little beach on Pine Lake

Waiting for my shots at my second pediatrician
appointment.  Mommy and Daddy really like
my doctor, but I pretty much hate him and scream
my disapproval as loudly as I can