Charlie's First Soccer Game and Auntie Kim comes to meet Sophie Su!

Our Big Boy is officially a First Grader!!!

Well we survived the first day of school yesterday...."we" b/c you know I had to get through it as well as C did!!! And he did Fabulous! Loved his new teacher(although he said he misses Mrs Fought and had to go say Good morning to her:) But he did great! Sophie and I went in and had lunch w/him and he was great, a bit tired, but good! And then we finished the day w/soccer pratice!
But this morning he was tired and of course, as I predicted, didn't want to go back, not b/c he doesnt like school, but he just wanted to be home w/me and Sophie....so we just put on a "happy face"...and went back today. He'll be fine, I know he will, but I must admit I felt a bit sad this morning on day two, he is gone again and I miss him!

First Trip to the Zoo!!!!

We took Sophie Su to the zoo today for the first time and she loved it! We met our good friends Lily and Andrew there as well! She amazes me still how easily she had adjusted to her life here....it's almost as if there was NO adjustment time....she just blended in as if she's always been w/us...it's truly a miracle!
And Charlie had his one last day of summer before going into first grade tomorrow! Boy what a difference from last year at this time...he was so apprehensive a/b elementary school and kindergarten(and I was beside myself..LOL)...but not this year...this year at open house he walked in like he owned the place..LOL!! His teacher is wonderful and we've heard tons of positive feedback a/b her so we are really excited for him!
And still he proves to be the best big brother! He adores Sophie and is so attentive to her..and visa versa....she completly lights up for him....the min he comes into her view she babbles and laughs and blows raspberries at him...it's just so amazing....FINALLY living my dream....my dream to have my two children home here, to raise them up and watch them grow.....just amazing!

Sophia's Dedication at Church

Okay..so it's offical.....I am offically that mom...that mom that now has two kids..and is ALREADY slacking on taking as many pic's of the second child that she did of the first..UGH...
Well, actually I left the camera on the kitchen counter as we walked out the door yesterday to have Sophia Dedicated at our church....
It was short and sweet, but we wanted to get it done now b/c our minister is retiring and we wanted him to dedicate her before he left!

Sweet little Sophie Su slept through the entire few min's we were up in the front of the church...so she was introduced and blessed and we were thrilled!
Not too long ago as I would sit on Sunday Service and watch other babies be dedicated I wondered if I would never be up there w/her...and it was surreal to FINALLY be the one up there..Praise God!!!!

What a difference one week makes...and lots of firsts for Sophie Su!

Well we made it one week home...HOORAY!!! And boy oh boy, what a difference one week(and actually sleeping through the night)makes!!!! I am proud to say I woke up this morning at 7am..followed by Sophie..followed by Charlie(and we all slept from 8ish the night before)and I was on my own b/c J had to go into work...BUT..I managed to play, get breakfast for the three of us...get dressed(and even had time for makeup..LOL)and get S dressed and C dressed for soccer..packed diaper bag..drinks for all and loaded us in the van and off to soccer practice by 8:45am...I DID IT!!!! I was proud of myself if I must say..LOL!

So anyway..this week had been(and the two wks in China)some of the hardest,most overwhelming, exciting, exhausting, happiest, most frustrating, exhilarating, tiring, but BLESSED 3+weeks in all my 34 years...but we did it, we got through it and now, today, one week past it all, I can say I truly see the Lord's reward in our precious Sophie Su Ruth...she is the most remarkable baby...so happy and sweet and has changed all our lives for the better!

And speaking of little Ms Sophie Su..she has had a lot of FIRSTS this week:

First trip to McDonalds...and loved the fries I might add!
First taste of baby fruits and veggies..so far she favors sweet potatoes and peas, just like Charlie did!
First walk around the block in her stroller!
First time sleeping through the night(w/us anyway)
First bike ride on the back of mommies bike up to the school park!
First cup of juice
First hair cut
First trip to the mall(but we all know it won't be her last w/me as her mama!)

So there it is...we are good, really really good!
Again, thanks to all of you in our lives, you all mean everything to us..and all the dinners that have been brought all week so far have been AWESOME!!!!! Thankyou, thankyou all!!
Love Amy

Sophies first check up....passed w/flying colors!

Well we took Sophie to see the Dr for the first time here in America today, and it went great! She is in the 50% for weight and 75% for height, and right on track developmentally!
We did have to consult him a/b her sleep...or I should say her not sleeping issues....and I can't believe it, but the plan he set for her actually worked last night and for the first time in 20+days our sweet girl slept through the night..PRAISE GOD!!!! Its the first nt J and I slept more than an hour straight too in 20+days too!!!!! As you can imagine, I'm FINALLY feeling a bit more "me" this morning having actually slept!
Sophie is adjusting soooo wonderfully...it's really so true what they say....This child was specifically chosen for us to fit us precisely....it is the most amazing thing ever....
Charlie is also playing the big brother role effortlessly as we knew he would! He adores his baby sister and is so attentive to her...it brings tears to my eyes to watch a dream I've dreamed for so long come to life right before my eyes....to see my TWO precious children together...it's priceless!
Thankyou again and again to all you out there that have supported us and loved us and prayed for us...all of you mean the world to us and we could not have gotten through this journey w/o a single one of you!
Love Amy

Taking it one day at a time..Sophie's road to adjustment!

Trying to adjust....

So being home is oh so wonderful..no words can describe how it feels after being gone for 18 days in a place I did not enjoy too much. I feel a bit of guilt admitting that openly...but all who know me well, know I'm pretty straight forward and honest....no disrespect to Ch*na....I will forever be grateful to the country that gave me my daughter...I will forever teach and cherish that country to Sophia for her sake and background...BUT..I never desire to go there again...
I don't think anyone can quite prepare one for that journey...maybe I thought too highly of what that trip would be..or maybe I pictured it being more of a vacation w/a bonus of getting our precious baby girl...maybe I underestimated how stressful it would be having Charlie w/us(but I could never have left him for 18 days..so no regrets there), but I was not a happy camper over there...I never adjusted or enjoyed it....granted, the last week in Guangzhou was MUCH better and I did enjoy our first few days in Hong Kong...but pretty much I was very homesick and so out of my element....I learned a lot a/b myself..and the #1 thing that was very clear, was how much of a homebody I am..and Charlie too..although he was a champ and I think did better than ANY of us actually..LOL!

So anyway..it is what it is..it was, what it was...and I'm so thankful I can put that behind us and move forward w/my precious family of four! I have waited almost four yrs to exp this and I am determined to stay postive and keep my chin up and enjoy this exp home now, even though I've never been more sleep deprived or out of it ever before....
Charlie was sick throwing up all morning yesterday and then slept 10hrs during the day...by evening he was totally better(Thankyou God)but wired....
Sophie is still not quite adjusting to our time....she is going to bed between 7 and 8pm like in China..but she is waking a lot more and crying than she did in China...

I need to post a giantic praise to my sweet husband...he has been letting me sleep from 8pm to 2am(when she wakes for a bottle)...he has been the best partner/husband ever and I thank God for him soooooo much....
J I love you so much and have never been prouder to be your wife..your partner in life...I don't know how I would have survived Ch*na w/o you..thankyou, thankyou, thankyou..I love you more than you'll ever know!

So okay...This morning C, S and I have been up since 4:30am...we already ate , watched too much TV and took an hour bike/stroller ride around the neighborhood at 6am! It's now 7:30am and S is sleeping still in the stroller and C is still going strong...I've had so much coffee my hands are shaking..LOL!
I need to thank so many people and I promise I WILL eventually get cards out...but I do need time....wow..see..even control freak, "type A" Amy is able to change...LOL... I have learned so much through the last four yrs of my life and esp while in ch*na and the best thing I've learning so far is that it's ok to not do everything perfect...it's ok to not be organized...it's okay to live in your house where it looks like a bomb went off and just let it go..it's okay to not sleep like you want and still smile through it..it's okay to walk in day light in my neighborhood where people who know me live w/no makeup..a face broken out to the high heavens b/c of the yucky water in China..w/pJ's on, no bra, a jacket that does not match and my hair not combed...LOL...ok..I know all who know me well are LOL rt now b/c the old Amy..the "pre-ch*na" Amy would not have been caught dead doing that...!!!!!Again..see, change is possible!
So thankyou really quickly to all who greeted us at the airport..I will never forget turning that corner and seeing so many who love us and support us here in Cbus...It meant more to me than you'll ever know
Thankyou to my wonderful girlfriends who have treated me so wonderfully, cleaned my house...arranged meals for over a month and made me feel so welcome home..I will forever cherish all of you and all you've done for me.
OK..well S is up now...
Thankyou for all who are praying for us...I could not have survived Ch*na w/o all your prayers and support...I've never felt the Lord w/me more than I did while over there and I know that's why!
If you could all keep S in your prayers still that she continues to adjust and trust that we love her and will never leave her!
Love to ya'll
Amy

We are Home!!!!!!

Hooray!!!!! We are home...words I've been waiting 18 days to say!!!
We are so jetlagged and have been up since 4am today...BUT..we are soooooooo happy to be here in our home sweet home!
Sophia did NOT do well last night...although she has transitioned onto our time zone here...she woke up every couple hrs crying....so Jeff and I have not slept in two days..UGH...Hopefully she will get used our house soon and sleep better again!
We will post more new pic's now that we are home when we have a moment...(which may not happen for a bit..LOL)!!!!!