SIX Years Ago Today

Six years ago today Brian and I were sitting in a large reception room at the Civil Affiars Bureau in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Six other families sat there too, nervously chatting, double-checking cameras, clutching stuffed toys, bottles, sippy cups and snacks, knowing that within minutes we would all hold our new daughters for the first time.

Shi Qian Yu - referral photo

And suddenly there she was!! Our Nathalie Tess QianYu - so breathtakingly beautiful and amazing - peering nervously through the door to the room, clutching the bottle that rarely left her hands for the next two years. She was scooped up by one of the nannies and brought to us when our names were called. We were completely overcome with joy to finally have our daughter in our arms but the feeling was definitely NOT mutual! She screamed, she kicked, she struggled with all her might to get away from these strangers who looked funny, smelled funny, and spoke a language she couldn't understand. For the next few days she let us know, loudly and in no uncertain terms, that she was not at all pleased with us and that she wanted to go back to her "Ayi".

Our first glimpse of our wonderful second daughter

In our arms forever!

That scared and sad little baby that we first held in our arms six years ago is now seven years old (how on Earth did that happen so quicklly!?!). She is a strong, vibrant, compassionate, brilliant, confident young girl. She still wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and love in her heart. Part of Ellie's Chinese name means “beautiful”, and that is exactly what she is both inside and out!

Happy 6th Forever Family Day sweet Ellie! Your family loves you to the moon and back. :-)

Missing Our Big Brother

We are missing our big brother Jason around here. He moved to San Diego -- and that is a LONG way from Seattle. Hopefully we will be able to make a road trip down there some time in the next year or so. And hopefully he will be able to come home for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. But until then, we will miss him -- a lot.