Update on Christopher

We arranged for a care package to be sent to Christopher Xiaohu a couple of days ago.  We sent mooncakes and tea for the Mid Autumn Festival as well as a photo album of us, a stuffed animal and letter.  Anne at Red Thread China (care package company) told us she would get an update on Xiaohu for us.  Well imagine my surprise this morning when I saw an email titled red thread update.  We have 6 new pictures and new measurements.  He is now30.7" tall and weighs 27 pounds.  We even received a picture of him with his nanny and friends!

 I love the look on his face.  This kids has quite the personality.

 I just LOVE this picture with his friends and nanny!

I love the pictures of him putting on his shoes.  I do think these pictures are the result of something being lost in translation.  I had asked as part of his measurements for his shoe size.  I didn't receive a shoe size or even a measurement of his foot but did get these pictures.  I am wondering if it was translated to what kind of shoes does he wear.  They must think I'm strange.

Well I can say that I am a very Happy Mama today.  I can't wait to get there and hold this cutie.

First Soccer Game

It was a beautiful day to play soccer.  It was just the right temperature not too hot and not too cold.  Xuelian woke up and told Tim that she needed a good breakfast because she had to be ready for her game.  I think she had sausage, eggs, fruit and orange juice.  Xuelian had a great time playing in her first soccer game.  It was great to see her having fun but was painful to watch as well.  There are a bunch of new (to soccer) kids on the team including her.  They are playing against kids who have been playing soccer for a couple of years.  Well it was a blow out.  I know it was at least 10 to nothing.  She and the other new players didn't know what they were supposed to do and none of the coaches said anything.  I think I need to talk to the coaches at practice.  I've never played soccer.   I would like to know what she should be doing so that I can help her learn.  What I noticed was that they would say you are defending now.  Well the kids didn't know what you need to do when you are defending.  I think the coaches don't realize that when you have never played before you need to be spoon fed what you are suppose to do.  When we started yelling from the side lines what to do they jumped in.  I hope this week goes better.  It would be great for team moral if they could at least score and not be shut out.  I also think that some of the nervousness will be gone.  She wants to learn and play well so hopefully we'll see improvements every week.  I know this was hard for her she came home upset because she didn't know what to do.  I told her there is no where to go but up from here and that we'll help her learn the game.  

Back in the Swing of Things

Xuelian's first day of school was August 28th.  We have been running ever since.  It is amazing how much paperwork comes home in the first week of school.  We are finally settling into our routine. We are up early making breakfast, packing lunch and making sure everything that needs to go to school gets there. Then we are out the door to the bus stop.  She is so excited to be riding the bus this year.  She loves talking to her friends on the bus.  We have only one day where I pick her up at school.  Fridays she has soccer practice right after school.  I head over a little early and watch some of practice.
She has been doing really well in her classes.   We have been really proud of her and how she handles homework.  Xuelian comes home with homework every night as well as studying for spelling and any other test coming up in the week.  She gets home has a snack and watches one cartoon.  Then she gets her homework done.  She is motivated to get it done so she can get outside and play.

First day of school

I had to take a few silly pictures and then she posed for the nice one.

She also wanted a picture that showed off her new backpack.

This weekend she will play her first soccer game.  The first game was last week but she was under doctors orders to not play.  She hurt her left index finger at the first practice.  One of the boys kicked the ball at the end of practice and hit her in the hand.  It swelled up that night.  By Sunday it was really bruised and swollen.  We ended up going to the emergency room for an x-ray.  They said it wasn't broken but wanted us to see a specialist.  We went 3 days later.  He said while he couldn't see a break the bruising was consistent with a break.  It was his opinion that there was a small break that couldn't be seen.  She has to keep that finger strapped to the one next to it for two weeks.  She wasn't allowed to practice or play soccer last week but she is cleared for this week.  She is excited and nervous to play her first game.  I'll post pictures next week.

In other news all of our paperwork has been sent to China.  We are waiting for confirmation that it is at the US Consulate in China.  Once there it will be two weeks until Article 5 is issued and then it is off to China's side for TA which is Travel Approval.  Our travel coordinator says we have a 50/50 chance of November travel and a 90% chance of traveling the first two weeks of December.  I'm a little bummed. Christopher turns 2 on December 8th so we may get to him days after his birthday.  I am still hoping to be there for it.  I am just happy that it looks like we will be together as a family for Christmas.  My dad and I sent in our passports and Visa Applications.  That was one more thing to check off the list.  However, we found out that Tim and I have some extra paperwork to get together since he isn't traveling.  I am stressing over traveling without my husband and daughter but it is what's best for her.  I looks like I'll be gone for our anniversary which is a few days before Christopher's birthday.  I can't wait to go get him.  I know it's silly but I am stressed over being away from my husband.  I don't think we have been apart more than a three or four days in a row in the almost eight years we've been married.  I have to say I really don't like this.  I am so glad my dad is going so I won't be all by myself.

I have been getting things ready for Christopher.  We have his room almost finished.  We need a rocking chair and to clear out the drawers that have our overflow still in them.  We also finally found car seats that will fit in our cars which wasn't easy.  They are so big now.  We ordered gates for all of the stairs and to keep him in certain rooms.  We'll install those right before I leave.  The cats are going to hate them.  They can't stand change.   I figure they'll be hiding for a few months once little guy gets home.  They did the same when we first brought Xuelian home.

It's hard to see but we have decorated with a CARS theme.