A November to Remember

We remember November 2007 as it was our first Thanksgiving with Ella! Following up Halloween, we participated in Georgia's first ever International Adoption Day by heading to the State Capitol on November 17th. We made the CCAI Georgia Newsletter and were proud to be only one of a few families present to recognize the wonder of International Adoption. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Ritchie's at Featherstone's (Towne Lake Hills) and Ella enjoyed her Turkey quite well! Also, in November, we took a trip to see Laura's friend Kristin (awaiting adoption from China) at their new house in Forsyth County Ga (beautiful subdivision!) and we took our family pictures (which Ella was not too crazy about!). December started off with a trip to First Friday's - China Adoption Journey an event held the first Friday of each month in Marietta. We'll be sure to attend this group of families who have adopted and waiting to adopt as we are ecstatic to be in the midst of our own China Adoption journey. Now for some pictures:

Ella at GA Int'l Adoption Day

Sometimes Mommy lets me be messy! Addison and I love my new wagon! At Thanksgiving Dinner with the Ritchie's Also at Thanksgiving - can't forget about Evan with Ethan and Sydney Ritchie

October 07 - Florida Trip and Happy Halloween!

Well the month of October has come and gone and what began as a slow month; we actually stayed home for most of it with a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Apple Festival, ended with a weekend trip to South Florida to see Mom, Dad (Grandma and Grandpa)and Norma (to pretty much complete Ella's travel around the country to meet her new family). In Florida, we ate at some nice restaurants (the brunch on the beach with Norma, Fran, Bert and Stephi was spectacular!). Norma is turning 90 in November so we were able to celebrate this milestone, as well. Ella, Laura and Evan at the Pumpkin Patch in Woodstock After looking for Pumpkins, Ella really enjoyed Taco Mac with the Lazar's and Ritchie's. At the Apple Festival in the middle of October, Ella enjoyed watching Evan ride the bull. Pretty Minnie at the Gymboree Halloween party. Ella and Addison for Halloween (after trick or treating!)

Ella hits Disney World September 07

As September, 2007 winds to a close, we wanted to remember Ella's first trip to Disney World documented in the pictures below and at the same time visiting her great friend Jayson Havas (this is one trip Laura made alone with Evan and Ella, while I stayed back at work). Here is Ella in front of the Magic Kingdom with Evan, Jisele, Justin and Jayson. You really can't tell but it was a hot day - around 90 degrees. Ella playing in the pre-school section at Disney. She had a blast here and became more familiar with the Disney Charachters! Looks like Ella and Jayson thoroughly enjoyed their day! And when they got home, they enjoyed a fun bath! How CUTE! On the learning front, Ella continues to speak more words and understand brilliantly. Laura started her with reading time at the library in August and Gymboree classess. She is a really active girl and smiles each time she knows she is going! She also has learned the word No...and does not hesitate to use it - especially when anyone tries to take her from her mommy (whom she is so attached to!). We are having a great time with Ella Sarah and look forward to a quiet month of October, before we head down to Miami to see Norma, Mom and Dad at month end.

Parent's Note:::Happy 6 Months!

Ella - well today - August 25th - we've had you in our arms officially for 6 months, though you've been in our hearts for so much longer and forever will be. We are so proud of our little girl, who is growing and learning so much. In just 6 short months, you have learned some words, can walk, cut lots of teeth and definitely understand. You are crazy about chicken nuggets and fruit (not Chinese food, though!) and you continue to have the best personality we, as parents, could ask for. Plus you are so darn CUTE!!! We love you Ella and that comes from the bottom of our hearts. We already can't envision life without you and your wonderful brother, Evan, too. We feel truly blessed!

Summer 2007 - Ella Travels the US

Well What a summer it was in 2007 - Not forgetting Evan's trip of a lifetime to California with his grandparents, Ella also took more flights than some people take in their lifetime, travelling to Minnesota, New York, South Dakota and the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee (all on separate trips). This, before she gears up to travel to Florida twice in September and October, with an Xmas/New Years trip back to NY later this year. Lets start off with Ella's trip to Minnesota - solo with her incredible mom and visiting her "great" godparents - the Mortons - Ella had a wonderful middle of July, enjoying weather mostly in the 70s and playing with her buddy Prston. 3 pictures with at the Morton's including a merry go round. In New York having a blast at Grandma and Grandpa's pool A little time at home reading with Dad. In South Dakota, with Aunt Lisa, Roger and Dolly and of course Mom Lots of Pictures from Tennessee - the Mountains - where we rented a cabin with the Patron's (I mean McFee's, but we drank a lot of Patron so I got confused for a second!) First - what a view from our 3 BR and 3 BA cabin with pool table, air hockey and hot tub and more. Various pictures with Ella's oldest friend MayaMcFee = truly we are sure they'll be friends forever as they have a connection that can never be broken Finally, all of us - the McFees and Lazar's (we're not really happy in these pictures - taken Sunday morning just before we parted ways - Lazar's to Georgia and McFee's to West Virginia) Well that's all for now - it's real fun to narrate Ella's growing up blog online - I really thank all of our friends and family who make it possible for us to have so many memories to share.

Happy 4th of July - Independence Day

Hi everyone - It's Independence Day - Happy 4th of July and as much as we take freedom for granted, this is Ella's first truly free Independence Day (and by one newspaper account, this may be Ella's first Independence Day ever!). So we are enjoying the moment and thought we would take some time to share our little bundle of energy and joy! OK first for some pictures since my Mothers Day post. Let's start with Ella's appearance at David Burton's wedding in Pelham, Georgia in June. David is such a special friend to Laura and I and we are so happy to see him happy and now remarried after the tragic, unexpected death of his 1st wife and our dear friend, Candy, 2 years ago. Best of Luck David and new wife Julia! Onto a lighter note, here's Ella in the pool - it was one of her first trips to the pool in May, and may even have been her first visit. As usual with Ella, there was no adjustment period - she is having a blast! Oh yes, Ella loves books - just look at that face and the excitement when her brother opens a book in June. Now if only we could get Evan to be that excited about reading! Finally, here is Ella today, the 4th of July, climbing our house stairs with her great friend, Addison (Ritchie). We are headed out to Addison's parents (Jay and De De) house tonight for a neighborhood cookout / fireworks show with about half of our street attending (7 families). So we've been having fun. In addition to the above, we hoped to be able to show pictures of a nice Memorial Day trip to Orlando where our family enjoyed a weekend at the Ginn Reuntion resort. But yours truly dropped the camera in the pool, temporarily causing it to malfunction. Oh well - we had a great time Jamie and Susie and always look forward to our trips with the Havas' June followed with the Burton's wedding and then a few weeks to prepare for a busy summer. Ella used those weeks to LEARN TO WALK - yes our little girl is now walking and climbing stairs. And, like her brother, she is fearless and active. Evan was off to Lutheridge (Confirmation Camp for a week) in June and leaves tomorrow for a 3 week trip to NY and California with his grandparents. They'll be visiting Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, and down the coast to Los Angeles, before Laura, Ella and I travel to New York at the end of July to pick him up. Then, just before Evan starts school, on August 5, we are travelling to South Dakota for Laura's 20th high school reunion weekend and two weeks later onto the mountains of Tennessee for a weekend with Jill, Mike and Maya McFee, whom we cannot wait to see. I'm sure many of you remember that Maya and Ella grew up as friends in the same orphanage. Well, this is long enough and more pictures from the summer will definitely follow - we miss everyone and hope you are having a great summer.

Happy 1st Birthday Ella written on a Very Special Mothers Day

Well it's been about a month and a half since I've updated Ella's blog and what a special time it has been. It's now Mothers Day (May 13) 2007 and since we've updated the blog, Ella has been to Florida, had a terrific 1st Birthday Party, been Baptized and been a passenger on a long weekend drive to Delaware to celebrate her Nona's 90th birthday party. In between, she has grown a full 2 inches and gained another (almost) 2 pounds - in short, she appears to be thriving and so are we! Here's some evidence! A quick trip to the Beach in Citrus County Florida With her Family at 1st Birthday Party After Baptism with Pastors Paul and Justin Last But Not Least, Ella's Awesome Godparents

Back from China // 2nd Shower For Ella

It's now April 1st, 2007 and we're officially back from China, having landed 3 weeks ago yesterday. Its been a great three weeks, culminating with yesterday's shower, thrown by our great Sycamore Trail neighbors (Jennifer, DeDe, Meg, Wendy, Chris etc...) and made extra special with a visit this weekend from Laura's best friend from Minnesota (Dawn along with our godson Preston) and another great friend Krista, who is responsible for Laura and I ever having the chance to meet in the first place. Here are some pictures of yesterday's shower and from our fun weekend with Dawn, Preston and Krista. Coming up soon, this month in April, we will have some minor surgery for Ella to remove her ear tag - minor in everything but cost (its self pay due to cosmetic nature - how many kids have plastic surgery at 11 mos - Ella I sure hope I get out of braces for this one - though I doubt that!). We're also having Ella's first birthday party and baptism at month end. Laura and her crafty friends (especially Krista) put together some slick invitations to the party on April 28th - I'll get those on here when I post later this month - thanks!

So Long from China - Please Leave A Comment for Ella!!

So long everyone - we leave China in exactly 24 hours from now, at 9pm on Friday, March 9th and I will not have time to post tomorrow as our internet access expires in the morning. Evan and I went to the Guangzhou Electronics market today and Evan got a bunch of DS games (Jordan, take note of this). 20 games and a Revolution memory card/adapter for $$$, well lets just say we got a good sale. The big event today was that we took the oath (just affirming that all of the information we have given is true etc)! This was our final step which allows us to bring Ella home (we received her Chinese passport and Visa to enter the US). When she lands in the US and we pass her through customs (Non US Citizens Line), she will then officially become a US citizen (she'll also retain her dual Chinese citizenship). Then there is the matter of just some ongoing paperwork back home (Social Security #, official birth certificate etc). We also had dinner and shopping with our friends Mike and Jill, parents of Maya, who are just terrific people that we love hanging out with even though the jokes are usually at my expense - there is a salesperson here named Dong - I'll try to snap a picture of him tomorrow but suffice it to say he could sell cars in the US real well. Well Dong got the best of me on a few purchases early on in the trip and we've all had a lot of fun with this. But in closing, and speaking for Ella, we know that she wants to thank everyone who has followed our journey to bring her home. We will be absolutely certain to save these memories forever, including all of the wonderful comments we have received from all of you. It means so much to Laura and I that you all could be part of our adventure and more than that, will be a big part of Ella's childhood. She is so lucky. So if you could leave a comment for Ella, we would really appreciate it. We're definitely not done - all of you should look into starting a blog on blogspot -we'll keep this going after special events (like Ella's baptism and first birthday weekend- we've learned that its such a great way to communicate and create/share memories, plus I will help with some of the technical aspects). Thanks again everyone - So long from China, but we can't wait to get HOME!

Red Couch Day Today - 9 Pictures Below

It's freezing here everyone. Todays high was 58 or something with a low of 50, but that is cold for Guangzhou (we are on the same latitude as Key West, FL). So, we have been enjoying the White Swan for the better part of the day, with only a quick excursion out to Lucy's - a neighborhood bar/grille that is both decent and cheap ($20 on average for a meal for the three of us and you dont leave hungry)! And tonight, we are waiting on Danny's Pizza and Bagel (quite a combination!) The highlight of the day was the traditional Red Couch pictures. I am attaching pictures below showing Ella with us, our local representatives from CCAI (adoption agency) and the other babies from our travel group. Oh and they are dressed in traditional Chinese outfits and Ella looked adorable. Tomorrow morning Laura gets a massage (she is thrilled) and then we head to an electronics market to buy Evan some DS games if we can find and then come back to be sworn in at the US Consulate - its the final piece of paperwork needed before we start our trip home Friday (morning USA time). So tomorrow's update will probably be the last until we get home. Well take care everyone - a short note today but not too much going on - Enjoy the pictures of the babies.

Todays Blog -Guest Starring Maya McFee - Read On...

They told us we would have some down days in Guangzhou and we definitely attest that there has been much free time. So today was a completely appointment/paperwork free, 60 degree (cool for here) day. So what did we do - more shopping of course! Here are some pictures of our excursion today. First we have a picture of the main square with McDonalds and KFC having large billings. Then we have a picture of the Pearl Market - we went again today - the place (and the prices) are addicting. Next Up are Ella and her friend Maya all bundled up for the cold weather outside the Carrefour (like a Target) that we visited today. It was the first time we really got to bundle the kids up - CUTE! Maya becomes more prominent as the next two pics are pictures we weren't sure we would get. You see, over the course of the 2 weeks here, because they are just exceptional people and we have a common thread in that Ella and Maya were from the same orphanage, we have become great friends with Mike and Jill McFee, who live outside Charleston, West Virginia (close to Ohio border)and Maya, who is incredibly precious and beautiful, was not allowing Daddy to hold her until today. So you can see a beaming Mike holding his new daughter and the happiness shows. It was a powerful moment for us - you can hardly imagine what Mike and Jill are feeling right now! Ella gets back into the pictures with me (for all of you who say Ella seems to be bonding so well with Laura and Evan, here's proof that she takes to me too...OK Mom's in the background prompting that smile...but we are bonding just fine!) Oh and Ella made progress today too. She took a bath without screaming! So good news all around - these open days arent too bad after all! Tomorrow, we stick areound hotel as our guides get Ella's Visa approved for travel to the US, where she becomes a citizen! The next day, we go to the US Consulate to be sworn in and the day after we head home. Oh speaking of home, we got our travel arrangements confirmed today after some confusion, but hopefully that wil be our last scare of the trip, one which despite the uncertainty, has exceeded all of our expectations --- thanks to ELLA. OK another quiet day tomorrow - I will continue to post.