Four Month Update

Its been four months since Emilee "Xiu Xiu" was placed in my arms and I cannot tell you enough how much my world has changed. All along everyone kept saying to me "wait until she come, your life will never be the same." I used to take it as an insult. But I have to say, they were right. My life is not the same. I have an angle that smiles and hugs me everyday. An angel that blesses me each morning until she falls asleep at night. An angle that has made me the happiest person on earth. My life has not been the same. I am not the same person I was four months ago. Emilee is such a joy to be around. She has an infectious smile and laugh that makes me tingle every time I see her. She is developing into an energetic, sweet, compassionate, curious, delightful, mushy child that has a very funny personality. Emilee loves to cuddle and hug. When you are holding her, she pats you three times on the shoulder as if to say "Life is Good." She still does her Tibetan Kiss where she rubs foreheads with you. Its the sweetest thing. And is you ask her for a hug, she wraps her arms around you and hugs so tight that she grits her teeth. At night when I put her to sleep, she grabs hold of me and pats me until she falls off to dream land. She also loves to hold hands and will sit on your lap while watching TV holding your hand. If she is in her carriage and someone is walking beside her, she will reach out her hand to hold their hand. . At her last doctors visit, Emilee weight 18.5 lbs and was 31 1/2 inches tall. We are still working on her verbal skills. I had her tested and although she scored way below her level verbally, she scores too high (at a 16 month level) in comprehension. She understands everything, and I was told that because I anticipate her need before she asks, she doesn’t have to use her voice. In the past two week she has finally started Babbling. Although it is not coherent, it is so sweet to hear. She also sings her sounds. Her favorite sound is "BA, BA, and we spend hours singing " BA, BA, BA, BA-BAB-Ron" ( from the Beach Boys) She starts me off and I finish the song. Emilee’s favorite song at the moment is "The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah" from Sesame Street. When you get to the end where you sing "They go down into the ground, BOOM BOOM BOOM", She laughs with Glee and stomps her feet. She also loves watching Mulan. (A favorite of mine) She hums along with the music. I wonder if she realizes its Chinese. I have also come to realize that she still understands Chinese. A few friends of mine speak Cantonese to her and she pops up and follows their directions. Motor Skill wise Emilee is going full steam ahead. Although she is still not walking (I think she will take her first steps any day now), she is cruising everywhere and she can lift herself up from sitting position to standing position and can stand for a few seconds on her own. The poor thing wants to walk so badly. She gets so frustrated when she falls and is determined to try to do it again and again. Emilee also wants to feed herself and mimics everything she see. She is developing a very independent side. Its amazing that only four months ago she couldn't sit up on her own and her head was still wobbly when she was held. Its been a great blessing watching her blossom. Its like a gift everyday. Emilee has 12 teeth now and is starting to get her eye teeth. She loves to chew on everything. I call her "Jaws." She still keeps her same two fingers in her mouth when she is tired or uneasy with the situation. Its her one vise. I guess I can live with it for now. I think she looks so cute when she is sleeping and her two little fingers are nestled in her mouth. As she gets older I will try to figure out how to correct this situation, For now, it is her one comfort from her old life. Emilee is still shy when strangers come to touch her. Emilee is very charming from a distance -- she waves to everyone and everything she sees -- but doesn't like many strangers to get too close. If she doesn't know you she gives you this snobby stare and has to check you out. This is actually considered a sign of healthy attachment and is a good thing right now. It means she distinguishes the people she knows from strangers and is understanding that we are the people who take care of her. I was told that I should be concerned if she went to anyone indiscriminately. With people that she knows, she is very playful and loves to share. She loves to play a game where she hands things back and forth. Emilee has a very busy schedule. She is in Gymboree, music class and we go to the library for reading time. I was surprised the first time I took her and she sat through the entire 30 minutes, but there were puppets and songs and she just danced and waved along. See also loves the park and the gardens. She especially loves to go on the swing. Her latest trick is to climb the slide. She hold your hand and walks up the slide then turns around and slides down. She can do this for hours. Thank G-d she is such a good traveler. She is always on the run. We have been doing so much visiting since I have been home with her and she adjusts well to all situations. As you can tell I am over the moon with her. I can not remember life without her. She is truly a great blessing. Until my next update have a great summer and please keep me posted with everything that is going on in your lives.

All American Girl

Lauren, Emilee, Gavin and Jeremy

Emilees New Hair-Do

Pictures from previous trips to China

Making Friends with the locals

This is the Village where my journey to Emilee began, 11 years ago.

Baggage Claim at a local Airport in Fuwen, China. And you complained about the Beijing Airport.

Four Generations

A friend of mine just sent these pictures to me. After I finally stopped laughing, i thought I would share them.

Enjoy

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my grandparents with my mom

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In 1916 my grandmother Sadie ( pictured in her wedding picture) came to America via Ellis Island in hope for a new life. She wanted to come to a place where Freedom rained and where opportunity lead to dreams paved with milk and honey. Almost 100 years later our children will experience the same dreams and hopes that our ancestors who came through Ellis Island fought for. They will have every opportunity that they cam dream of. Like our ancestors, they came from a far distant land and traveled many miles to the arms and hearts of a free land.

Sunday my family decided to take Emilee to the same Island that her Great Grandmother first stepped on to begin her journey of a new life. We hope that Emilee will one day TRULY understand and appreciate what is means to be an American.

"A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden."~Buddha

You are the poem I dreamed of writingThe masterpieceI longed to paint... You are the shining star I reached forIn my ever hopeful questfor life fulfilled...You are my childNow with all thingsI am blessed

"A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that playshavoc with the garden."

~Buddha

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We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.But those who make their journey home across time & miles,growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands.

Once upon a time there was a women that looked up at the moon And wondered what secrets it was hiding The moon stared back at her and smiled A sweet mysterious smile And illuminated the night until dawn The women was very happy and to the world she had it all But deep down inside her there was still a void and a calling A void that no one could see A calling that wondered what could be Although this woman did not know what she longed for She knew that somehow there was a journey in store She traveled the world, tried numerous hobbies and even studied a variety of subject But every night when she looked at the moon She knew she was not yet there Then one day it came to her in the most unusual way It was through the smile of a baby and a look in its eyes that showed her the map to its way At that moment, she knew why the moon had meant so much For it shined all over the world and held a magic touch It held in its glow, a secret that only a moon could know A secret that was now ready to glow And so the journey began in it own little way To search for the perfect gem For coal when its shined has a gift of its own And a precious diamond with in And the paper work came in mountains and stacks And was completed and stamped and sent off And when all hope was lost That the sun would never shine A ray of light burst into the night A picture had come of a beautiful girl A treasure with raven black hair The women looked at the picture and tears came to her eyes For she realized that it was a picture of her heart So off on the silver stork she flew To a land far far away To collect her bundle and bring her home It was now a new bright shining day When the women walked into the room And saw her angles amber eyes and raven hair Her eyes filled with tears that floated down her cheek For she knew that her wish was finally here. When the little girl was placed in the women’s hands And the two finally became one The moon and sun smiled as only they can For they knew that their journey had only begun The women could not believe that such joy and happiness could possibily be Wrapped up inside a little girl name Emilee When the sun finally set And the moon rose high in the night sky The women looked up and saw the same familiar smile and finally understood why The moon held its secret and knew the women’s fate For it also shined over the little girl that belonged to the family it would create The moon watched over this child As it did the women too It created a miracle that finally came true. And they lived happily ever after Is what most fairy tales say But this is just the beginning of a bright shining day For the two completed each other and brought joy to the moon. So the moon said goodnight little one And come visit me soon.

---SAJ---

Atlantic Beach