Two years ago today. . . we had good news!

Two years ago today we had good news from a distant land! Our referral call for Ava Lu came in. I can still remember the phone ringing as I sat at my desk in the office. As the woman from our agency read over all of Jiang Mei Yu's vital details - my heart pitter pattered, I knew the promise of our girl had come to pass.

It's hard to imagine that was two years ago. Time has flown - and we are blessed more than ever. Here she is today - posing after a long day of fun, just for mommy.

Celebrating our daughter - Ava Lu!

Michelle

Out with the old, in with the new (2008 & 2009)

We had a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

We took Ava Lu out for french food on New Year's Eve and then to watch the very first West Coast ball drop. She made it up past midnight (of course, a late nap really helped). She is truly a party girl. Next year if we go out we have to buy her a New Year's hat and noisemaker. She was very enthralled with all the festivities. She told us she needed a "happy birthday hat to wear in the marching parade." We just love her!

And, we took a trip up to Tahoe for New Year's Day - played in the snow, sledded and had a car-picnic. Ava Lu was just squealing in delight as she played and rode the sled. Again, what a blessing to share in her new experiences.

Here's to an amazing 2009!

Michelle

Christmas memories

Ava Lu enjoyed the joyous Christmas season so much this year. She had her own tree and Nativity in her room. Here's Ava Lu in her Christmas jammies ready for her goodnight story time with mommy - one of my favorite times of the day!

And, I was able to capture a few photos of her enjoying Christmas morning. You can see she had just a few gifts to open (mostly due to the generosity of family - daddy and I were very good about not overspending this year :)).

As we count our Christmas blessings, our Daughter of Promise reminding us of the true meaning of Emmanuel - God With Us is the best gift of all.

Merry Christmas!

Michelle

Ava Lu's "camera debut"

Ava Lu participated in a commercial photo shoot last week for ads for my company. I wasn't sure how she'd do since she's not always been the best at posing for photos. But, she was really just an accessory for this shoot - the "model grandaughter" for our hired grandma/senior woman who was the focus of the shoot. And, these photos are very lifestyle in nature and given that Ava is great at life I thought she'd do well. She did!

Here are a few of the photos from the shoot. She didn't really care for the large ducks! You can see in one photo she was saying "enough"with her expression! Nonetheless, I was a very proud mommy. She's my precious girl

Michelle

Pumpkin Farm Field Trip

Ava Lu's first field trip was last week. Went went to a local pumpkin farm. Okay, how many preschools can you fit in one pumpkin farm? There were hundreds of little ones all over the place - in the corn maze, slide on hay bales, a little farm of animals and, of course, pumpkins.

I can't download my camera's photos for some reason but Alison (mommy to Michelle & Stephany - twins who are sooooo cute) sent me this photo of Ava Lu and her friends, Michelle & Stephany, from the trip. She loves her little twin friends! Thanks for sharing the photo, Alison!

I'll post more photos from her trip once I get my camera to cooperate!

Harvest days of fun,
Michelle

Pumpkins!

Each year we head up to Apple Hill in the CA foothills to cut our very own pumpkins. This year was filled with pumpkins, sun and harvest fun (code for AMAZING APPLE PIE). Ava Lu enjoyed herself cutting her own pumpkins, sitting on the farm tractors and enjoying a beautiful fall day.

This week we are going to another pumpkin patch with Ava Lu's preschool class - our first field trip! Such fun. I'm looking forward to it.

Enjoying my harvest,
Michelle

Girlfriends and Ballet

Ava Lu has had a fun few weeks.

We went to the circus with our dear friends - Melinda, Brian, Eliza, Liam, Maggie & Danielle. Brian, Eliza, Maggie & Liam were here visiting from Georgia. It was great to spend the time with them! You can see the three girls love being friends and have fun together. It warms my heart to see Ava Lu loving people and girlfriends. Those are pinnacles of her mommy's foundation!

And, on Friday, she started her pre-ballet class. It was mostly just movement, twirling, circles and wearing a pretty leotard but Ava Lu loved it! She told me in the car after class "that was fun - really, really fun. "

Ava Lu waited for daddy to come home before taking off her "balledina" outfit. She wanted to be sure he saw her.

Such joy it is to experience the fun and laughter of our dear daughter.

A grateful mommy,

Michelle

First day of preschool

Today was the first day of Ava Lu's 3 year-old preschool class. She dutifully posed for a few photos after mommy begged - before we went to school.





It's hard to believe she's already going to preschool. I had the "in two years, I'll be taking her to kindergarten" thought after I took her to class this morning. Time does fly and we're working on living for each and every special moment.

She had a good day at school after a little instruction and dialogue from teacher Paula on "kitchen play time." Ava Lu loves to run for the play kitchen when she gets to any school (last year's 2 year old class, Clubhouse at church, etc.) but in her new 3 year old class, the "kitchen isn't open" until after opening activity time and circle time. She'll learn and do very well - I'm sure.

Day #2 tomorrow - we'll see what fun it brings.

Michelle

Breakfast with Ellie!

and, Maria & John too!

While we were in So. Cal, we got together with John, Maria & Ellie for breakfast one morning. This truly was one of our highlights.

John and Maria were in our China travel group and Ellie and Ava Lu are both spicy girls from Chonquing. It was so wonderful to spend time with such dear ones to our heart - we were together with us when we received our beautiful daughters in China and we had such a great time bonding with them in China over the course of our two weeks there. I called Ellie "the Empress" from day 1 and she truly still is "the Empress" - such deep, striking beauty! She's a beautiful, spirited girl. It's wonderful to see her as she grows.

After breakfast, Uncle Robert treated the girls to Cold St*ne Ice Cream. Such fun!

When Ava Lu sees Ellie's pictures, she says, "I love Ellie." They are such cute friends.

Thank you, John, Maria & Ellie, for the breakfast date. It was great to see you and we look forward to more time together in the not-to-distant future.

Jim, Michelle & Ava Lu

Fun in So Cal

We made a trip to So Cal to visit my brother. Such fun on the beach, shopping and, of course, spending time with family.

Ava Lu got reacquainted with cousin Nicholas too. They had such fun in the pool and hiding under the barstools at Uncle's house.

And, here she is out to lunch with mommy in Santa Monica on Main! Ava Lu is a great lunch date.

Each day continues to be a joy in experiencing life as Ava Lu's mommy. The more we experience, the more I'm amazed at the gift of motherhood. Sunny So Cal never looked so good.

Michelle