Jewel-Kat hand made jewelry

www.jewel-kat.blogspot.com

Please check out my new re-designed jewelry blog!

I hand make unique pieces for every occasion, special orders also available.

Over a year!

Over a year!
It's seems like forever, already! Our little man has made so much progress in the short time he has been with his family. He is such a fun, always smiling little guy with the best personality! He fits right in and we love him to pieces! As with his older sister, we could not imagine having him in our lives.....no matter what challenges we had!

Shaun is now talking...putting 2 to 3 words together! It is amazing how fast this started, just a month ago! He is able to communicate so much more, without getting upset or mad. He is polite and just very sweet in his talking! He knows when to say please and thank you....what more could we ask for?
He sleeps very well! He averages about 11 hours a night and is still taking a 2 hour nap daily....if our schedule allows! He has enjoyed his summer with his sister and friends. He loves the pool and is very content with a bucket and a cup by the side. He has started to play with the older neighborhood kids and is just thrilled when he gets their attention. He has started taking interest in the potty...yup, at 28 months! We are not forcing, but allow him to make the call. Last week, it was 3 days in a row...saving a lot of diapers!

He is a momma's boy...if you can believe it! From where we started, I am shocked myself! We cuddle and spend lots of time talking, coloring and building with blocks. I get lots of kisses and that is just fine by me!

Happy Gotcha Day, Abby Liz!

Today we celebrate our 6th Gotcha Day with our Daughter, Abby Liz!

On June 28th, 2004 we met our smilin' daughter in Hefei, China.
I cannot put into words the joy she has brought to our lives! We love you Abby Liz "noodle". You are the best daughter in the whole world!

Any reason to celebrate! and #6 was a good one :)
We hosted the Anqing sisters #6 reunion and the girls are all growing so fast! We had 8 out of the 9 families with us on Saturday. These 8 girls were all adopted on the same day and lived together in the Anqing SWI.
What a special day for them, as you can see...they had a blast!
From Left to right: Abby Liz, Lucy, Mei-Lin, Anna, Ella,Molly, Abigail and Alex
-missing, Monica

A SPECIAL WEEKEND PLANNED

CONGRATULATIONS CML !!!!!!
( forever a "WISE-GUY")

We are busy, busy, busy preparing for Abby Liz's 6th "Gotcha Day" !!!
Again, this year we are hosting a party for the group of girls from Anqing SWI. 9 families traveled together 6 years ago today to meet their little girls! All the girls are the same age and last year they had a great time seeing each other. It should be a really fun weekend :)

I took these pictures yesterday....they were clean....and they matched! I am glad I did, because I think these are the best pictures yet of our 2 kiddos! Yesterday we witnessed Abby's friends re-adoption! It was a wonderful thing to be a part of!

Summer has begun!

Let summer fun begin!!!!

No more pencils...no more books......well, we are still going to be readers, even though school is over! Abby is officially a second grader! Yah! for Abby!

Summer has started full swing at our house! The kids are spending their days outside, playing with friends, splashing in the pool, or being lazy with a good movie on hot afternoons. We are waking up a bit later and staying up later...it has been nice for all of us.

Shaun and Abby really enjoy our back yard. They explore a lot and make up funny games that they play together. It's so fun seeing them play and laugh and run!

This photo was from Memorial day....such posers!

Abby Liz......stop growing so fast! Since Shaun has been home, I have noticed such a change in our little girl. For one, she is not so little anymore :( and it's kinda sad. As Shaun becomes an absorbing toddler.....I often think of Abby Liz at his age now. How stinkin cute she was ( and still is), how easy going she was.....how funny! Shaun is opposite from what she was like in every way. Well, except for the "stinkin cute" part!

My daughter....the baby I wished so long for is now almost done with 1st grade. It seems like yesterday that she was toddling over to me, rolling her tongue and trying so hard to say her first word. Kevin and I will never forget the first time she said "mustard", we were rolling on the floor with laughter....and we still chuckle when we talk about it. Every day has been a blessing with Abby Liz. I know she was sent to me from above! I am so proud to be her momma!
She is so compassionate and kind. She does very well in school and is a great friend. She loves animals, reading, writing and singing. She is the best big sis she can be and has made Shaun's transition into our family so much easier. I could not imagine life with out her, never!

This year Abby Liz has joined the Cheer Team in our area! She is so excited to start this month!
Summer for her is going to be filled with friends, fun and silliness!
Last summer we were traveling or adjusting, so I really want her to enjoy! Her cousin Eric is visiting and that is always fun for her, they are very close, even though they hardly see each other.

Above is her BFF, she hopes to see her lots this summer :)

It's been a while......been busy with 2 kids!

Well, it's been a while since our last post.....I am awfully embarrassed to see how long it has been. (since Nov.?)

Honestly, life is a bit busier with a now 2 year old Shaun and 1st grader Abbyliz! The kids have been wonderful and really enjoy each others company. I could not ask for 2 better kids. They make me laugh more than I ever have. Each day is filled with something new and I try to soak up as much as I can daily. We are a super happy family of four ! What more could we ask for <3

We had a sick house on Christmas, Shaun and Mommy had the flu which was horrible.... but we made it through! It helped Shaun and I bond a bit more since we spent many, many evening on the couch watching Bob the Builder together. I can say he is now a "mommy's boy", which I love!

Mid-January I dropped a coffee table on my foot which caused 2 breaks and 4 fractures, it took so much of my energy just to get around after that, wearing a boot to my knee and feeling pain when ever I stepped on it. I am out of the boot now, but still have considerable pain when I am on my feet to long. I have found that I am a slow healer....

We again celebrated CNY with our friends, it was so nice having Shaun with us this year! I remember thinking the year before how wonderful it would be, and well.....it was! He loves Abby's friends and get all the attention! Who wouldn't? right!

Shaun turned 2 on April 6th with a small party! He loved his chocolate cupcakes and having friends over to play. He has fit right in here...as well as everywhere we take him. His wheels are spinning all the time and people comment to me about how fast he is......even with his short little legs! He is almost 25 pounds now and seems to be getting bigger everyday! He is a sweet boy who can be very intense ...but has done real well with clear boundaries.

I will post more pictures soon! But this one from Easter is my favorite. Gotta love those smiles!