Amongst friends

This post is a tad out of sequence, because we had at least three "Christmases" with family, and I have so many wonderful photos to share that I haven't managed to plow through all of them as yet. As all of you parents know, one has a brief period of time for things like sizing and uploading pictures after a little one has gone to bed. So tonight, since I had a manageable number of photos from this event (and since there are other friends from the group out there waiting to see...) I thought I'd post pictures from our little reunion with a few close friends from the adoption group. This first one is Ellie (Jennie and Merle's daughter) playing dolls with Q. As you can see, Q was less interested in the dolls than she was in playing with Ellie.
Q is not so much a doll person as a motor-vehicle person. She loves her dump trucks and her racing cars...and Merle was nice enough to find her a dump truck, which she happily played with for most of the night. But she does seem to feel an affinity for Ellie, and they played happily, even if their toy preferences differ.
Merle and the girls.
Next to arrive were Hayley and Mike, in town from Minnesota, with their beautiful daughters Piper and Paisley. Though I've been friends "virtually" with Hayley since early in our adoption journey, I had never met her in person. I have to say that she's EVEN BETTER in person than she is in the blog world. Truly a wonderful, warm and brilliant person whom I am lucky to know.
QQ spending some quality time with Hayley, Piper and Paisley.
Merle and his baby girl.
QQ took this picture of Hayley in front of the Christmas tree ;) QQ is quite the budding photographer.
Ellie, Paisley and Hayley under the tree.
The last arrivals were Christie and her family, all the way from Edwards. Check out Lina's cool Christmas outfit! What a little fashion plate! LIna is the eldest of our children, and I love her Louise Brooks bob!
Our hostess, Jennie, in a rare moment when she was not working in the kitchen. That's Hayley's husband Mike on the right, with his youngest, Paisley.
Thanks guys! It was beyond great to see you all, and I need to send special thanks out to Jennie for hosting once again!

Peers

Yesterday, while I was under the weather, M. and QQ went over to visit our friends the Yoos, and allow QQ a long-overdue play session with their daughter Esme, aka The Edge.
Some of you may remember that Esme came for a brief visit just after we returned from China, when QQ and I were still sick with parasites and not exactly at our most chipper.
Amazing that we've gone this long without getting the two of them together again...QQ has been home for four months now (and it's impossible to remember a time when she wasn't in our lives!)
These photos were all taken by M., and they really speak for themselves, so I'll shut up now.









An overenthusiastic hug from Esme resulted in her landing directly on QQ....
...no harm done, as you can see. QQ is used to being attacked with affection.
It's good to see her with a friend.

weekend

This morning, Flynn's grandpa and cousin Victoria came over to visit for a couple of hours. Now, I've said it before, Flynn is not a morning person. No, not so much. So she was a bit out of sorts in the social department. This is rare for a girl who lives for her social occasions! Still, I think she was glad to spend some time with family.

By afternoon (and having enjoyed a belated but restorative nap) she was primed and ready for visiting. We needed to stop by a birthday bash in West Denver and drop off a gift...because Jennie's little Ellie just turned two! Although QQ is technically in "quarantine" so as to stay cold-free for surgery, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop by. We kept it brief....just a drive-by, really.

But we did get lucky with our timing, and managed to see the cake ceremony! This (by sheer luck) was the exact moment that Ellie plunged her hand directly into the middle of the cake. As obligatory as this move is at any toddler birthday, it was in fact an accident, and though she looks happy at this moment, seconds later there was a major meltdown. Cake ruined! Well, little does she know a cake tastes just as good smooshed as it does whole.

There was an extra reason for us to be there as well...the chance to meet Mike and Piper, the husband and daughter of one of my very first adoption buddies, Hayley. Hayley, Mike and their two daughters live in Minnesota, so I couldn't pass up a rare opportunity to cross paths with at least half of the family!
As I said, I had to keep it short (and keep QQ out of contact with the other kiddos, sadly, hence the Bjorn) but we could not pass up the opportunity to take a photo with all of us in the same room! So, here it is, lounge lizzards...the photo!
(PS - Notice how I'm a head taller than everyone else? No, they're not short. They're normal sized. I'm the giant. Blame my tall, lanky, red-headed Dutch grandfather (see post below).)

More gifts for travel

Elizabeth, a fellow writer, sent me this wonderful adoption travel journal, along with the children's book she wrote, Lovebug. The journal went immediately in my suitcase, solving my journaling dilemma. I'm going to journal on the laptop in the evenings, of course, but as every writer knows, if you don't scribble notes during the course of a day (especially on a trip as distracting and action-packed as this one!) you have no hope of remembering all the details. I'll carry this one in my shoulder bag to write notes on-site. Mike also pointed out that we can paste memorabilia in it as we go. So it will be a sort of impromptu scrapbook of our trip.
Thanks, Elizabeth!

Lovely Zoey

Zoey's watercolor for Flynn.

These are pictures that my friend Stacie sent me of her beautiful daughter Zoey. I love her expression in this first one...to me, it looks like she's saying "Awwww, yeah! I know I look good!"

Stacie takes wonderful series of pictures of Zoey, and her multitude of expressions always make me smile. What a character! Not to mention the obvious beauty, and that amazing skin.

A gift of golden pigs

Today, a box came from Vivian in Canada, full of a shower of golden pigs for our golden pig girl! There were a set of gorgeous Canadian stamps from the year of the Golden Pig, a pig ornament, and several cute onesies...but my absolute favorite (so much so that I had to take it to dinner with me. At a restaurant.) was the Starbucks bearista disguised as a Chinese pig. The little pig nose is attached with a string, and comes off to reveal the bear face! He's even carrying a little Chinese lantern. Could anything be cuter? Flynn is going to LOVE it...if Mommy ever lets her have it!
Thank you Vivian, once again, for your unflagging generosity. OX

This is Vivian's adorable daughter Kerri, with a book I sent her. Vivian, this is my favorite picture yet of Kerri - really shows off her intelligent and animated face. She's such a vivid personality! I might have to paint another picture from this image (when I have time to paint again...haha!)

Thank you, Hayley, Piper & Paisley!!!!

So, today the our post lady came waddling up the walk hauling a package so big and heavy that she barely got it up the three steps the our door! It was a box from Hayley full of wonderful hand-me-downs from her well-dressed snowflowers, Piper and Paisley! Hayley and I have known eachother for quite some time now, and have similar tastes, and it was absolutely amazing of her to send such a plethora of goodies for QiuQiu (many of them even organic!)

But the thing that put the huge grin on my face was the drawing that was lying on top - welcoming Flynn home from Piper and Paisley!! Nothing could have been better or more heartwarming than that! It's getting framed and put in her room to welcome her when she arrives.

Among the clothing that Hayley sent was this incredible jacket, and I had to show the picture of Piper wearing it back in the day, because it's just the cutest thing ever.

Here's Piper again modeling the snowsuit that will keep Flynn warm through the sometimes-harsh Colorado winters. Flynn's wardrobe (while vast) is thin on winter things, so these were things of which we were in dire need.
Thanks guys! You warm my heart!!

Portrait of a young lady

A few days ago I sent my friend Maryellen's daughter Sophie an Etsy hat. Today, Maryellen sent me these two photos of Sophie wearing the hat.

I had to post them because they're so very beautiful - both the girl and the photography! Thanks for letting me show her off, Maryellen!
Note: For all those who have asked, the Etsy store is called SavannahLaneDesigns.

Thank you, Trena!

I really am overcome with the beautiful things that QiuQiu has received from well-wishers. This one came from Trena, who is waiting for her lovely daughter, whom we'll call "Lady L", also in the Xuzhou SWI with QiuQiu! Trena has obviously been paying attention to our blog, since she matched this outfit with its embroidered Indian elephant to the chair I painted months ago for QiuQiu's room! I absolutely love this outfit, style, color and print! And, of course, most especially the elephant!!

Friends with generous hearts

Seems like every day when I get home there is a new package on the steps...oh, not for me, for MISS FLYNN!! Her world is already filled with testaments to the generosity of those who welcome her into our world. And the wonderful thing is that each gift has been given with such careful thought...each perfect just for her. I am putting each and every note and card in her life book (well, I've tucked them into the album for future pasting, since that's one project that has been forcibly on the sidelines of late!)

Fliss sent her this wonderful singing book, which is very zen, and is also all about DUCKS! Yes, I am already preparing to teach Flynn all about the wonders of ducks. Before long, I have no doubt, she will be just as duck-crazy as her mum.
'
Hayley sent a wonderful package full of goodies in her inimitable style - Hayley, who has been my friend since very early in our adoption process, understands our lifestyle very well. Among her gifts were a full set of mini-masters board books (art being, of course, a primary influence in our family dynamic), and this absolutely fantastic version of Pippi Longstocking, as illustrated by Lauren Child (of Charlie and Lola fame). I absolutely love it, and it is the perfect book for our Flynn!

After perusing it heavily, I discovered that this is my absolutely favorite illustration from the book. I have a feeling that at some point we will have a very similar picture of Flynn in her pirate hat (which Hayley also provided, in an earlier package, I might add!)

Again, I just don't have the words to express how grateful I am to all of you who have sent such thoughtful and perfect gifts to Flynn. So, Hayley, Fliss, Heather, Yoli, Maryellen, Doris, Juliette, Chrissie, and everyone who has sent packages for Flynn, I owe you all "thank you" cards. I am waiting on a few very special sets of cards that I ordered recently from Bluebird Lane...so I'm a bit behind the ball, but you will be thanked!...and thanked, and thanked....OOXX

Gifts for our girl

OK, so I was finally able to take a better picture of the beautiful antique gown that Maryellen sent for QiuQiu. It took just the right light to pick out some of the detail, since the needlework is so very delicate...but I think you can see some of those tiny tucks here! So fragile and lovely.

And here's a cute little outfit that my sister-in-law sent the other day. The goldfish is particularly appropriate since we just put three new koi in our outdoor water garden....still very skittish but doing well so far!

And more good wishes in the mail for QiuQiu - she is so showered with good thoughts that I think she must be able to feel the love even across thousands of miles!
(ps - Vivian, as you can see I'm still wearing my adoption bracelet 24-7!)

I have lots more news and pictures to post... but have not had time since we've had a couple of busy gardening/project days. I'll post more tomorrow. In fact...thanks to a wonderful and dear-hearted fellow Xuzhou mom who's in China right now, we have MORE new pictures of QiuQiu to show! So keep watching this space.... ;)