Christmas 2010 and Chinese New Year 2011

Yikes!  It's been a while since I've posted.  This is what happens when the mom goes back to work full time, right Chels?   You have been doing a great job dealing with all the new changes!  I am so proud of you!  You get ready almost all by yourself in the mornings for school, you get right on that bus after school and go to your after school program....where they have all fallen in love with you!  When I pick you up, you have smiles for me and run to me!   You are amazing!   I am "berry, berry prooowwwdd!"

Christmas 2010 was amazing!  Chelsee sure knows how to milk a holiday, that's for sure!  She told everyone, including Santa, that

she wanted a saxophone!  Not a doll, or a bike, or a even an iPod....a saxophone!   Her sweetie cuz Lydia plays the sax and Chelsee has been known to adore whatever Lydia or Julee is doing....so there!   Meanwhile, Santa had already decided on a brand new bike for Chelsee so the saxophone became the IT gift....and IT ain't easy to find one in Hilton Head.  So IT became the mission of my awesome sister!  Of course she came thru...she always does!   I love this video!

Just want to say thank you to all of my family and special friends who show their love to this child!   The phone calls, the presents, the cards, the well wishes...they mean so much to us all!   She is and always will be our (second) Christmas miracle!   December 29, 2008 - the day we saw your face!   December 2010 - your face lights up our lives!

Chinese New Year 2011.  It's beginning to feel like a special time for us now.  This is the biggest celebration in China and it feels good to add it to our holiday schedule!   Hey, Cindy, is there a tablecloth for this one?  If not, can you make me one??????   So, again, our wonderful Families with Children from China (FCC) group will be gathering to celebrate CNY 2011.   Even Al is attending and it's Super Bowl Sunday with his beloved Green Bay Packers playing!!  

Chelsee's Kindergarten teacher is about to go out on maternity leave. Hmmm, wonder what questions that has brought up? Oh right, "Mommy, there is baby in Mrs. Bambeck's tummy. Did I grow in your tummy too?" So, out come the you-grew-in-my-heart books and all the adoption-builds-beautiful-families articles I have read over the past 5 years! We have had some lovely talks about tummies and forever love and all those sweet niceties you can think of! Meanwhile, her little wheels are spinning in that smart brain of hers and I can see that she is becoming aware of her beginning. I'm in awe of how she processes things and asks really thoughtful questions! We have now talked about her birth mother for the first time. Chelsee wants to go back to being a baby for a little while so we can meet then...and then come back to being a 5 year old, so big and strong with a big sister and a dog! (Hey, I'd like to time travel myself, kiddo). Seriously, I am glad this whole topic has come up. It's good timing and easy enough for me to find the words to explain the depth of this concept so that Chelsee will always know about her earlier life. And that she can talk about it freely herself any time! All the BTDTs better be right, just sayin'!!