Reality has set in!

Dear Family and Friends,

I know it has been too long since my last post but I returned to work this week and now I absolutely have no time!

My first day dropping Sophie off at the sitter's was horrible! She must have sensed something was up on Sunday because she had an absolutely miserable night! Monday morning came way too early for both of us and she cried all the way to my sister's house (about a 20 minute drive) and still didn't stop once we got there. After about another 15 minutes of crying, she finally calmed down enough to "read" a book with my niece and my sister. I used that time to sneak out and promptly cried half way to work!

Of course, once I got to work and called in to check on her, she was fine! She barely knew I had left! What an ego popper that was!

Now she is much better about it. As long as she doesn't see me leave, she is fine. I do love when I go pick her up though. She gets all excited and her arms and legs go flying in the air! (Of course, she gets that way when she sees her bottle too so I guess I shouldn't get too full of myself! I suppose being ranked side by side with her bottle is better than the alternative!! LOL)

Here are some more recent pictures for you to see. They are some of my favorites!





































She is just too much fun!

Blessings,

Chinamom and Sophie

China's Winter Storms and the Orphans

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been on my heart for the last few weeks and I am asking you to pray about perhaps supporting the orphans in China.

As some of you know, nearly all of China was recently hit with some very severe weather. Many of the already struggling orphanages have been hit very hard. In some cases there is no electricity or running water. Many of the children, especially the babies, are becoming ill.

I don't have any word yet on Sophie's orphanage, but there are so many that are in need. It weighs heavy on my heart. My daughter could easily have been part of this catastrophie had the Lord not worked things as He did.

Someone recently reminded me that during this time, there are still babies being born that will be abandoned. Pray for these children. Pray that the LORD will keep his loving hand of protection over them. They are so helpless, these little ones.

If you would like to donate to help in assisting these orphanages the following groups have a good reputation:

http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php

http://orphan.childrenshope.net/

Please, if you do not feel called to support the children financially, please keep them in prayer.

Blessings,
Chinamom and Sophie

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble..." James 1:27

Did you need new photos?

Dear Family and Friends,

As promised, here are some new photos of my Sophie Joy! These were taken by my brother in law about one week after we came home. She just loves Randy! He did get her to smile in some of the pictures but I can't get them oriented from the side view, ie. lying position. I will work on that and post more.

We did have formal pictures done yesterday. She wore this dress as well as a Chinese outfit that I bought in China. Every picture was beautiful and Momma had a very difficult time picking out the poses she liked! Needless to say, I left there spending more money than I intended! I can't wait to pick them up!

I need to run for now, bedtime is approaching and I need to spend some time with my little one, reading her a story and getting her changed.

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Blessings,

Chinamom and Sophie

Time is flying by....

Dear Family and Friends,

WOW! I can't believe how quickly time is going by! I am scheduled to go back to work next week and am dreading it! I am just not ready to leave my baby! (but then again, I don't think I will ever be ready to leave her - even when she's 20!)

We are adjusting very well. Sophie is cutting more teeth but remains a very happy baby despite the gum irritation. She won't take any teething toys (in fact she puts very little in her mouth other than food), so I have been giving her ibuprofen when she gets really fussy - otherwise she just chews on her shirt sleeves.

I have been very blessed in the last week to have had not one but two beautiful baby showers! My daughter will be the best dressed child in the Commonwealth for the next 3 years! She is too cute, my baby! She did very well at both events, despite being extremely over tired at both functions. She just can't help but be charming and flirty! I can't believe how generous everyone was and am so grateful for the warm welcome my daughter received.

I read the comments from my last post - thank you all for taking the time to write! Shawn - I promise to send you an email - I hope you and the tribe are well? Kathryn! Congratulations! I didn't know you were pregnant! How exciting! Can we get together? I know you are in touch with Ramona so maybe we can schedule something? Jane: I will give you a call - probably before you even get to read this! I think about you, Erik, Connor and Maddie all the time! What wonderful memories of Beijing I have because of you two!

I will download new pictures from my camera soon and update the Sophie pictures! She is just the cutest thing! and she talks up a storm! (not that I understand any of it, mind you!)

Blessings,
Chinamom and Sophie