New Pictures! Hannah's Birthday and Roasting Marshmallows

Hannah opening her birthday present at my parent's home. She really did not want to tear the paper! Very upsetting for her! She loved the toys though! Thanks, Dad and Mom!

Dan teaches a class the Summer B session so he is gone two evenings a week. We try to do something fun when he is gone those evenings. Last week, we decided to try roasting marshmallows over candles. It was fun to watch the different reactions of our children when their marshmallows caught on fire. Some calmly blew theirs out and moved on. Others freaked out and blew so hard that it blew other peoples' candles out. We had a great time and are looking forward to roasting s'mores soon!

Nicholas enjoys a very roasted, toasted marshmallow!

Elizabeth and Benjamin hard at work!

Matthew roasts his marshmallow!

Nathaniel roasting marshmallows!

Hannah enjoys hers just the way it is right out of the bag!

We Are Back!!

We had a wonderful time in Southern California! While we were gone, it was over 100 degrees in Turlock! We left town just in time! Hannah did great at my parent's home! She even gave my Mom a couple of hugs! My Dad received a couple of high fives; men still make Hannah nervous. The only time that she flipped out was when my Mom asked her to try on a jacket. I was already holding her, but she leapt further onto me, clung to me for dear life, buried her head in my shoulder and screamed bloody murder. Needless to say, we put the jacket away. 

My Mom took us to see the Terra Cotta Warriors displayed at the Bowers Museum. The exhibit was very well done. Each of us received an audio telephone-like gadget at the beginning of the tour. The audio was very informative. The details on warriors were spectacular! The workmanship was incredible! We also visited with my Uncle and my cousin and her two year old little girl. In addition, we enjoyed the pool in my parents subdivision. All our children enjoyed the water. We did have to tell Hannah not to drink the water. Inside I am sure she must be thinking, "What all this water and I can't drink it? What a waste!"

Hannah turned two on July 12. We celebrated early at my parent's home with cake and candles. Hannah seemed to know exactly what to do with the candles though she has seen us blow them out. She could not stand to rip the wrapping paper off of her present. We tried to encourage her, but she just really could not bring herself to tear paper. She was quite upset. Obviously, she has received some sort of instruction in her past about tearing paper which gives us insight as to why a just turned two year old can read paper book without tearing a page. Once we got the paper off, she was delighted with her gifts.

After a few days, we, then, drove down to Del Mar and enjoyed time with Dan's side of the family. We had the third annual Davies/McClellan/Renfro Reunion. We love visiting with everyone and catching up on the year! All the children have grown tremendously. We basically turn into beach bums for several days. The Davies family all tan; the McClellans and the Renfros seem to fry. We snorkeled, belly boarded, and got sand all over everything. 

Hannah did not fair so well during our time at the beach. All the people wanting to touch her and give her attention made her nervous. We chose not to celebrate her birthday again so as not to give her more unwanted attention. I don't think other people noticed how nervous she was, but we did. Lots of scratching. All things considered, a good time was had by all.

Our children now speak this half English half Chinese language. At my parents house, Nicholas was asking for something and none of us understood what he was saying. As he repeated what he was saying to us, he was getting more and more frustrated that no one understood what he was saying, as the frustration level was growing, the volume was growing, and words began to smear together. This is what it sounded like to us: "I'DLIKEASHAODONUT!!I'DLIKEASHAODONUT!!!!!" We were each muttering this phrase when it dawns on one of the kids that he was using the Chinese word for small and that all he wanted was a small donut. We laughed over that, but I don't think Nicholas thought it was too funny.

On July 14, Nathaniel lost his two bottom teeth. The first one came out while he was eating an apple. He couldn't find the tooth so we think he probably swallowed it. The second one came out while we were talking, and he was fiddling with it. We can hardly tell that he lost his teeth because the permanent teeth are already half grown in. He also can swim; he just can't quite admit it yet.  While in Del Mar, he was madly swimming away in the baby pool and I said, "Oh, look, Nathaniel, you can swim. Let's do it in the big pool." He replied, "I know I can swim, I just don't want to do it in the big pool." We did swim yesterday and I convinced  him to swim in the pool over the steps where he can stand up. I am sure that by the end of the summer he'll be swimming! 

My friend left today to go bring her daughter home from China. I am so excited for her and her family! God has blessed me through her friendship. We have journeyed together this past year to our daughters. She has offered me much advice and support; this is their third China adoption. Plus, they have four boys just like us. I can't wait to meet their newest daughter who is just a few months older than our Hannah. Please pray for them: safe travels--she travel with her sister and 4 year old daughter, that their new daughter will adjust well, that her hubby and children will do well without Mom.

Pictures!!

Nicholas gets into Mommy's lipstick!

The Davies Six Pack

Sisters!

Mommy makes "the sisters" matching skirts! Elizabeth is in heaven!!

What a cutie!!

Our first family photo! 

Vacation or a Trip?

We leave tomorrow for what most families would call a vacation. We call it a trip because vacation implies rest and relaxation, and really, who gets rest and relaxation when traveling with children? When we get back, we'll need a vacation! We'll be spending a few days with my parents in southern California. I am sure we'll celebrate Hannah's second birthday with them; her birthday is July 12. Then, we'll meet Dan's Mom and a bunch of Davies for our yearly reunion at the beach. We'll celebrate Hannah's birthday again with them! 

Hannah loved her first fourth of July! We figured she would either be scared to death or just delighted. We are thankful that it was the latter! She was so delighted that she was screaming and making all sorts of noise. When we travel, it will also be either extreme as well. I suspect that it will most likely bring on some anxiety. 

I just finished Hannah's two month post placement report. On the one hand, I cannot believe that two months have passed already, and on the other hand, I cannot believe that it's only been two months since Gotcha Day! Hannah seems to have always been with us.

Hannah walks around the house saying, "Shao Rui!" (her Chinese name) very loudly. To which we respond, "Hannah!" Then, she says, "Uh-uh." We still call her by her Chinese name and her English name. She answers to both! Unprompted by us the other day, Hannah said her first sentence, "Daddy whay lie!" which means, "Daddy is home!" 

I do remember that I promised pictures. My computer person is occupied this week doing other computer projects for Dad. He is learning a lot and this is good!

Two Doctors Appointments and Some Pictures

Yesterday, we took Hannah to the Developmental Neuropsychologist that works with the International Adoption Doctor in Oakland. She was wonderful! Poor Hannah was very anxious during the entire appointment. The doctor was so kind and had a very soothing voice and just played with Hannah for about an hour and a half. Our appointment was longer due to some melt downs. As expected, Hannah is a little behind in some areas, but we aren't worried at all. Hannah has progressed so much in the almost two months that we have had her that we think that she'll catch up quickly. The doctor is recommending that a physical therapist come to our home once a week and we'll re-evaluate in six months. 

After our morning appointment, we had a intake appointment with the craniofacial nurse at Oakland Children's Hospital. In July, we will get to have individual appointments with each doctor and they will come up with the game plan for treating Hannah. We were so relieved when the nurse agreed that it wasn't necessary to have surgery so soon since Hannah's situation is not serious. We could just see massive amounts of regression in her if we proceeded so soon and what the nurse saw of Hannah's personality she agreed! Praise God! 

It was a long day for Hannah. She was so happy to be home!! 

Today, I showed Hannah pictures of her foster family. I was going to show her last week, but I thought I'd ask the Developmental Neuropsychiatrist first. Hannah is so emotional that I didn't want to set her back. She told me to go ahead and show her now which I was relieved because I don't want her to forget them. They are an important piece of who her. She sat through the first few pictures. I asked her who they were. She said some jibberish Chinese words. Got up. Came back to sit down. Looked at another few. Said some more jibberish. Shook her head. Got up. Came back to look at another. Shook her head. Frowned. Said no. Came back acted like she wanted to sit with me, but went across the room. Climbed in a chair. (Amazing she can do this now.) Looked at me. Shook her head. Said no and frowned. She was not happy. I felt so bad that this part of her life brings her so much sadness. I don't know if she just misses them and doesn't want to see their pictures or if her memories of being with them just aren't happy memories. She does exhibit several institutionalized behaviors which we have surprised us. We may never know and that's ok. We are just thankful for this family who took care of her. I will take the doctor's advice and put these pictures in an album within her reach to look at in her own time.