Disney 2009

Hollywood Studios today! We had fun and Shealin got to see Woody and he let her touch his hat! Lea had the Smores, yummy! Enjoy all the pictures.

A Beautiful Day

Today it was in the 70's here. Shea and I took advantage of that and went to the park. She rode her bike and got to swing. One of her favorite things to do. Then she did something that she has never really done before and boy am I so glad to have been part of it. She pretended! She had a post office and was delivering the mail to me! She is really starting to come out of her shell. Enjoy the pictures, although I think it is time for a new camera for me!

Halloween 2009

Some pictures from our Happy Halloween! We got lots of candy and Shealin really had a good time trick or treating with cousin Jeremy.

Imagine

As a parent it irks me that people seem to feel that even though Shealin was adopted at a young age, she can't possibly remember any of her time in the orphanage or anything that happened to her while she was there. I believe that she can. At 4 years of age my daughter is finally starting to emerge. I believe she is finally realizing that we are a family and this is her house and the toys are her toys. It has been a long journey to get to this point, each hug and kiss, each set of tears has been one small step in this journey. I love this beautiful little girl more than anything, and I can't imagine life without her. So to anyone who thinks she could not possibly remember, I ask you to just let yourself go for a minute and imagine what it was like.

Imagine being safe and warm cushioned in your mother's womb, you feel secure and content. Imagine being born feeling scared, hungry and cold oh so cold. Imagine being held for a short time and suddenly being wrapped in a blanket and placed in a basket and left at the bank. Imagine crying for what seemed like hours until someone noticed you were there. Where is my mommy? I'm so hungry! Imagine living in a place with lots of other babies all needing attention and never getting enough, but what you get you hold onto like it was the last time you will ever get it. Imagine being taken from your crib in the middle of the night. Imagine being taken from everything and everyone you know. Imagine the chaos of it, the screaming staff and crying babies. Imagine a nine hour bus ride, with strangers. Imagine a new crib shoved to the corner. Where are all of my friends? Imagine starting to get used to your new crib and caretakers. You start to think this place is not so bad. Then imagine one day being loaded into a van and taking a very long ride. When the ride is over imagine being handed to a very large stranger with tears in her eyes, in a room full of strangers all talking a strange language. Imagine all of this in your lifetime and yet you are only a year old. How would you react? How would you be? Imagine spending 3 months with this new lady, she keeps calling herself mama. Imagine one day she drops you off at daycare. All day you wonder is this my new home? Where is that lady? Imagine how happy you are when she comes back to pick you up. Imagine starting to feel safe again in your routine, only to become sick and wind up in the hospital. Imagine during this whole time you can't see really well, but you can't talk yet to let anyone know. Imagine being walked to the operating room and being put on the table by the one person you have come to trust. Imagine waking up in pain and she is not there to comfort you until finally they place you in her arms. Can you imagine always feeling on edge? Always waiting to see if something was going to change your world? Imagine growing up that way.
I was unprepared to lose my heart to this little imp! Our time in China was easy. She slept 80 percent of the trip. All of the other parents told me that I got the easy baby. I was worried. My daughter was hurting. She was dealing with it the only way she could. Little did she know that soon enough she would have to deal with this mama, and little did I know just how stubborn and persistent she can be. Each day brings us closer and thank God for his infinite wisdom for putting us together.

I Apologize

I apologize for not updating the blog in such a long time. Someone, who shall be named at a later date hid my camera. I just found it today! So here are a couple of pictures of my cutie and some of her schoolwork.


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Notice the bruise on her face! Her face met the water table at daycare.


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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

First Day of School!

Today Shealin started Pre-K. I am not sure which one of us was more nervous. She woke up at 5 and was fell asleep at 6:30. She said she was not scared, but when we went outside to get in the car she saw a school bus two houses down and got so nervous she asked me to pick her up. Poor pumpkin, I had to keep assuring her that she was going daycare first and the bus would piok her up there. We have been going over the routine for a couple of weeks. I guess she thought it changed. She looks really grown up in her uniform. For the record I did not cry, I got a little sad, but did not want her to see me upset. Enjoy the pictures!

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Haircut

Shealin went to get a haircut to start the school year. She got to sit in the purple princess jeep and watch Barney(her choosing). She was only a little nervous and opted not to have her hair blown dry.

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Random Cuteness!

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Family Day 2009

Dear Shealin,
These words describe you as I see you, I am sure the list will grow over the years:

S- stubborn, silly, spicy, smart, sassy, snuggley(I am sure that is not a word)
H- helpful, healthy, humorous
E- energetic, eager, edgy
A- amazing, adorable, active
L- lovable, loving, lanky
I- independent, inquisitive, intelligent, impish, impatient
N- nice, naughty(not always)

3 Years, 1095 days, 26280 hours, 1,576,800 minutes have passed and yet it seems like yesterday that you were placed in my arms. You were such a tiny little peanut with spiky hair, so full of wonder at everything going on around you. I will never know what you felt in those moments, but I fell in love instantly. I knew we were meant to be together and that you would fit into my life perfectly. You make me laugh every day, you can brighten my darkest days, you can frustrate me and try my patience like no other. I have loved every second of every year, day hour and minute that we have been a family. I am so blessed to have you, my daughter and I look forward to our lifetime together. This day brings many memories, the long wait until the bus left for the Civil Affairs Office, the chaos of handing over 5 babies to 5 different families, the tears and smiles on every one's face. I think of your birth parents and I thank them for you. I think of the great friends we have made: The Burningham Family, the Monforton/Roginske Family and the Munsinger Family. I am thankful for it all. Happy Forever Family Day 2009.
Love,
Mommy

The following pictures are all of Shealin and her 100 Good Wishes Quilt. Judy we thank you so very much. We both love it. Words cannot express how much we love it. Shealin has asked to go night night with it. You have won her approval. Thank you again and again. It is beautiful!

Parenthood

Parenthood is not for the feint of heart. You never have all the answers, and only want the very best for your child. Sometimes the answers are hard to find or are not concrete. While this may be hard you march on and keep looking. I will never know all of the details of Shealin's life before she came into my life, but I will say I don't think it was great. I am forever thankful to China and the people that have brought her to me, but at the same time so wish it could have been sooner. I strongly encourage anyone that is waiting to make sure upon arrival home no matter what anyone and I do mean anyone says call for early intervention. Have your child evaluated as soon as possible. The worst that can happen is they won't qualify. Always listen to yourself, and don't second guess yourself. I did not listen to myself and should have gotten Shealin help for her speech much earlier than I did, being a first time parent I listened to others and not myself. She is getting great thearpy now and I am so happy with her progress over the last week and half. She has made some great strides in speech and in her summer program. She brings home so many wonderful projects that all relate to what she needs to work on. I am truly amazed at this beautiful little girl. Here she is in her new hat that she made today in school. It has a giraffe, monkey and ladybug on it all things she loves!

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Birthday Pics

Not many as my camera was down for the count.