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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Happy Fall

Pin It Well even though we are still in the 107 temperature range.... We had a wonderful glimps of Fall visiting Grandma in Northern California. We try to get there every 4 months and my mom visits here in between that time, so Lexi is seeing Grandma every couple of months. She loves her Grandma so much! It makes my heart so happy to see these 2 together. Lexi has an old soul and she loves to take in all of the beauty of nature. She loves animals and birds, planes that fly by, bugs on the ground that she calls daddy to come get. Grandma goes right along with her slow paced style and they compliment eachother perfectly. She does not like change, had a complete melt down when she had to ride in Aunty Kim's adorable little red car. Blue... she cried, Blue...... She has named our Suburban Blue (yes it is blue in color, how'd you guess?) Every time we got in the red car she would completely melt down and sob BLUE!!! She has seen a great deal of change in her little life. She lived with her China Mama from birth til she was 4 months old.  At 4 months she was left at the gates of the HengYang City Social Welfare Institute. She was brought in to care in that orphanage the day she was found and resided there for the next 3 months. When she was 7 months old she was put in a foster home. She had a foster mama and baba for about 4 weeks and then she was put back in to the orphanage. At 9 months she was taken to a different Province and a whole new orphanage. We are told it was for better observation of her heart. She was there for a few weeks and when all her tests were done she was sent back (A THIRD TIME!!) to the HengYang SWI. She remained there for about another 6 weeks and then she was presented with a Mommy and Daddy who would never ever ever ever leave her or rock her world again! We know why change is hard for her, even though she is very young, she has lost everything she's ever known so many times that her little mind knows to be on gaurd, and she IS on gaurd. She is so smart, so observant, so in tune with things. She has every right to wonder what's going to happen next, every right to question our every move. I pray I am doing a good job of earning her trust. 10 months in to this new relationship, this new life and I know while she may still question what we are up to, I know for sure she loves her mama like no other. I know she thinks her dada is her Prince Charming and she has him so wrapped around her little finger (but in a very healthy way) that there is no move she makes that doesn't bring him absolute joy. When your husband says things like "How could life be any better", and "How could we have almost missed out on this", and "There is no cuter, no smarter, more fun child on the planet"... you know he is in love with his baby girl. Bryan loves his kids with every cell in his body and he is so proud of each and every one of them, Lexi is so lucky to have him for a daddy and he is so lucky to have this little peanut for a daughter. Our family has grown by one but it feels like it has grown by more.  I see my mom and Sister and the rest of the family way more often now. I appreciate them so much and miss them terribly. While our oldest, Quincie, no longer lives at home, she is home very often and it is for much more than the free food, it is to make sure she has a close relationship with her baby sister, and that SHE DOES! Lexi adores her. Kince she calls out when she sees her with the "I" being held for at least 3 seconds as if to say it's about time you got here, I've been waiting for you. I love seeing my oldest and youngest playing together and loving eachother.






   I am rambling on and on, I really just planned on posting some pictures and going to bed! My friend Bonnie and I skyped today, she is leaving for China a week after we did and getting her baby 3 days before we did so talking to her today and knowing that her baby is where Lexi was 10 months ago has left me really emotional tonight. We call our babies China Cousins. Jane came in to care as soon as Lexi left, really the timing is amazing! We think they may have had the same nanny. Bonnie is going to take a little book to China for us and give it to the director of the orphanage. It has pictures of Lexi from China until now and we have had a letter translated in to Chinese for them as well. Our daughter is healthy,  and regardless of how "different our care is from the care she recieved there, she survived during her time in China and for that we are forever grateful!

Cousins



Too Big


Just Right


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Ni Hao Y'all
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9 comments:

sweet momma luv u said...

Hi Mary,

What a beautiful post! I had no idea that Little Lexi had all of those traumatic times.... What an incredible story. I was crying... I just can't even imagine going thru all of that and at such a young age.

She is so adorable! I love her painted finger nails. Precious...

God has been s amazing in what he has done for us to give us these beautiful children.

If you are ever get up to WA let me know I would love to meet you and Lexi!

Hugs,
Jody

Stefanie said...

You are blessed indeed! She is adorable and it seems that, although she endured a lot of changes (a LOT!) before coming into her forever family, you are doing a wonderful job to be the rock she needs :)
Great pumpkin patch pictures! I can only imagine how cute she'll look at Halloween :)
Happy Sunday!

Christel Ann Cook said...

Good grief Mary! Could she get any cuter!!!! Lexi is just a doll! Thanks so much for posting on my blog! I always love to hear from people who have children from the same places as us!!!

ok the yahoo group for Hengyang is PRIVATE... haha! but you have to email this guy to ask to join. Larry Rosenzweig
hengyangadoptivefamilies-owner@yahoo.com
L_Rosenzweig@yahoo.com
Group "Owner/Moderator"

I am not sure why they try to keep it soo private, but they do, and they raise all the money for all the foster care in Hengyang. Which is pretty amazing, my Kimi is in Foster care there so i am appreciative. I would love to be in contact with your friend who is going soon, and anyone else that is going there. I feel like i know so little about Hengyang. I will go back and find your trip and read through, that should help. :)

thanks for writing, my email is christel@weedfreegardenbed.com

Christel

Virginia said...

She could not be any cuter! Love all of the photos. Wow,I had no idea she'd been through so much change, but she sure seems to be happy and thriving now. A wonderful family like yours goes a long way in healing a little heart =).

Annie said...

She is just beautiful as is your very touching post!

Big Happy Family said...

That is one sweet post...I think we are incredibly blessed to have met you and Brian in China, and we get to watch Lexi grow up right in front of our very eyes! She is as cute as can be, as are all of you wonderful children.

TanyaLea said...

Hi there, Mary~

What a tender post. It brought me back to all that you went through during your travels less than a year ago... but so neat to see WHERE you are now. I'm so glad that God seen fit to place her with your family...she is blessed to have you ALL, as you are to have her. Such a little Cutie Patootie! She is growing SO much. That face of her's just gets more adorable with each passing day, I tell ya!! Glad you had a nice time with your family...priceless for sure.


Loved the little manicure session... sweetness! The pumkin patch painting looking like fun, too!!

Have a blessed week! <><

love,
Tanya

The Cutest Blog on the Block said...

CUTE BLOG! HI Mary, I love tart frozen yogurt too! Nice to meet you!

Hanna said...

Hi! I found you on snapshot Sunday. Many blessing to you and your beautiful family:) You can find me at www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com

Your blog is gorgeous Too!!

 
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