Six Months

On Thanksgiving, it will have been six months since we saw this sweet baby's face for the first time. It was absolutely love at first sight. We read and reread every tiny bit of information we had, practiced pronouncing her name, researched Guiping, bought baby supplies, and very impatiently waited until we could bring her home.

We loved all 3 pictures of Jin Qiu Ju, but none of them showed her smiling. She looked so alert and responsive though that we just knew a smile was lurking inside.

And of course, it was! She is such a happy baby. She has also grown up so much in the past few months. She's gone from the 5th percentile in weight up to about the 40th, she's learned to pick up food and feed herself (it's amazing to remember that she really couldn't do that when we met her!), she can now walk, she's gone from 6 teeth to 14, she's learned to hug, kiss, and be comforted, she can tell you what a doggie says and what a lizard does (cute little lizard tongue action), she's learned to love books, knows what "no" means but thinks it's funny, and can say about 25 English words (when she's in the mood).

She loves her blankie and her bottle, loves to be carried around, thinks the Wiggles are great, and likes to wear tupperware on her head. Mostly, she's just really happy.....

...except when she's not, and then she's really really not! We've never seen a baby who can so instantly produce tears. There is absolutely no work-up time between pouting and gushing. Fluids just spontaneously shoot out of every facial orifice. It's really something to see. Thankfully, she's not too hard to comfort!

"Happy Qiu" we met almost immediately when we got to China, "Sad Qiu" we got our first glimpse of on about day 3 with her, but it really hasn't been too long since we've met and embraced "Silly Qiu". It's been so fun to see her personality emerge! Surprisingly, considering her happy little self, she still rarely laughs. Maybe that's just her nature, or maybe that's a side of her personality we'll see later, or.... maybe we're just not that funny!

The other day at the library, Maya was walking around with her Chinese squeaky shoes when we heard what sounded like an echo squeak. We realized there was another little baby with the exact same shoes! Her mom told us they had just returned from China only 6 days before!

I totally felt like I did when I had my biological kids and they were a few months old and I'd see a mom with a newborn and think how cute the new baby was. But, then I'd notice the mom sitting gingerly and remember the multiple late-night cry fests and the extreme tiredness and I'd be so thankful I was a few months past that!

It's the same with international adoption. This little cutie and her mom looked jet-lagged and tired. Her daughter was still getting used to her crib and high chair, American foods, her new routine, etc. Yes, I'm so glad to be at the point we are now!

Have you ever seen a cuter profile?

This little girl has been such a blessing in our lives. She's brought so much fun and laughter into our home. She's taught the older kids how to take care of a baby. She's helped us to love and embrace another culture. She's taught us to be more open and accepting. She's shown us resilience and strength. She's brought us to a deeper knowledge of Heavenly Father's love for all of his children. On this first Thanksgiving with Maya Qiuju, we are thankful beyond words that she's a part of our family.

Abby's First Date

For several years now, Madeline and Lyle have planned daddy/daughter dates. They don't happen often, maybe a couple of times a year, but when Abby got wind of it, she knew she wanted a special dad night too.

They got it put on the calendar, and on Friday they had their first date. Abby was SO excited! She had me get her looking cute and then wanted Lyle to come knock on her bedroom door. She waited and waited for him to come upstairs. Finally, she said on the intercom, "Have I been stood up?!" Lyle arrived and promised me he wouldn't keep her out too late.

They went out to dinner at Red Robin, where Lyle said that got lots of smiles and "oh how cute," types of comments. Afterward, they went to a movie and then came home. Abby was sad that her date was finished and wanted Lyle to do a "sleepover". Lyle politely declined. Let's hope that by age 16 she can end her dates at the door!

Sneetch Family Night

Last Monday, Qiu Ju had lesson for Family Home Evening. Although she is a pretty remarkable 14 month old, lesson-giving is a bit beyond her. So, Abby, who had snack duty, said that she and Maya had discussed the matter and were going to work together on a special lesson/snack. Abby said Maya wanted to watch the Dr. Seuss movie, "The Sneetches" and talk about how everyone is special and that to go along with the show, we needed to have a "marshmallow roast". Well, the whole thing sounded interesting, except that we live in the rainy northwest and there was no way we'd get a fire going in our soggy woodpile. From the photo, you can see our truly pathetic alternative.

Of course, where there's fire, there's also a 12 year-old male who simply must set things ablaze.

Ditto for the 10 year-old girl.

A bit burnt, but still tasty.

Lyle was very patient, twirling his marshmallow slowly over his tea candle. He then carefully implanted a Hershey's Kiss and savored his delightful little morsel.

Someone should have been watching Abby more closely. She rarely roasted, she just ate....and ate.....and ate and came downstairs later that night wanting a bowl beside her bed just in case.

Thanks Qiu and Abby for a memorable family night!

Halloween

We had a theme going this Halloween. Ever since she saw Wicked, Madeline has been dying to be the witch. Thankfully we already had the Dorothy costume, and we also already have a munchkin.

Adam just wanted to hand out candy. Too bad. He would have made a great scarecrow.

Halloween Eve

Carving pumpkins!

Madeline and Adam insisted on carving their own pumpkins. Madeline really is quite scary with a knife, but thankfully she kept all digits.

Adam makes me almost as nervous.

Thankfully, Abby is happy to have Dad carve her pumpkin. She gave Lyle quite an elaborate drawing to work from--a pumpkin with 11 teeth!

I wish the pumpkins showed up better. You'll have to trust me. They were pretty cool.

Happy Autumn

Laughing Linney

Active Abby

Cheesy Qiu

Goofy Guys

Madeline's Haunted Party

Since Madeline's birthday is so close to Halloween, she wanted a spooky-themed sleepover party. I'm so thankful that Lyle was home the day of the party so that he could help me decorate. Lyle took on the task of decorating the front porch. He headed down to the garden and gathered the items for this pretty fall display.

Madeline, however, really wasn't going for "pretty". She wanted SPOOKY! So, we added the cobwebs and some bats and spiders.

The spooky guy on the front porch was acceptable to both Madeline and Mom. I just couldn't do gory. This guy looks like a friendly sort of spook!

Decorating the "haunted library" was very fun! We were generous with our use of cobwebs, with the chandelier getting a heavy coating.

I thought Lyle's painting was great for the haunted house look. He just needed eyes that moved back and forth!

When Lyle picked Madeline up from school he apologized that he'd forgotten it was her birthday party day and he hoped they'd be able to throw together some decorations before the party. She was SO thrilled to walk in and see the haunted library!

We used Madeline's witch costume broom and and hat on the mantle. We couldn't find candle holders for the halloween candles, so Lyle drilled a couple of holes in one of our pumpkins for a fun centerpiece.

For dinner, we had witches brew punch (with a floating ice hand), broomsticks (breadsticks with a fringed edge), witches hands (chicken fingers cut with 5 fingers) and for dessert texas sheet cake with frosting cobwebs and plastic spiders on top. Madeline and her friends had such a fun time! After dinner we played "Bear" and some other spooky games and they had a very fun sleepover--Madeline's first. We had fun putting it all together, but I'm glad the kids are only allowed a friends-over birthday party every other year. It's tiring!

Sweet Sisters

Look what Maya can do!

Surfer pose to help her stand up...

....and she's off to the races! She KNOWS she's doing something cool!

It's pretty funny to see her walking!

It was last Sunday, at 13 1/2 months of age, when Maya decided it was time to walk! She technically could do it before, but her heart just wasn't in it. Now, she's almost running and trying to climb! Watch out! Still, though, her favorite mode of transportation is being carried by Dad and at a distant second, Mom.

We had such a sweet moment with Maya at our last Family Home Evening. We did our traditional "This is the Night We've Waited For" dance (we won't go into detail so as not to completely embarrass our tweener kids), and Maya just looked SO excited and smiled so sweetly at everyone in the circle. It was just a little moment, but it was so special. We felt so strongly how much she needed and wanted a family.

And what a blessing that we get to be that family!

October 8

Before the start of school, our neighbor across the street hosted a formal "tea party" for the little girls on Bay Ridge Dr. Abby looked forward to this like it was Christmas. She was SO excited!

I love this picture of our pretty girls headed to the party. It's been hard lately to see Madeline growing up so fast. I can't believe she's nearly in the double digits! I have to cherish these "little girl" moments with her.

Thankfully we have two other girls who still absolutely qualify as "little"! I am having so much fun during the day with Abby and Qiu Ju! I think since it's been several years since I've had such a tiny one at home, I'm really cherishing this time. Maya is just eating up (literally- she doubled her weight percentile since coming home!) her new life. She is such a joy.

We enjoyed a visit from aunts Cari and Jean and cousins Blake, Sophie, and Tacy. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of them all together, but I know Cari and Jean were taking pictures, so hopefully they'll post some. Tacy is just as sweet and smiley as she can be!

I did get a few pictures of Blake with Charlie. Cari and Tony, this boy needs a hound!

I hardly ever get any photos of Adam because he usually hides when he sees the camera coming. This, however, was his "self portrait". He started Junior High this year, and although it's been a big transition, and a bit rocky, he's really making strides. Sometimes I look at him, and just have to do a double-take because I can't believe he's getting so big!

He cracked us up the other day when he came home from school and said, "Well, I've met my goal. I've made 18 friends." We're not sure why he chose that particular number, but he sounds like he's reached his maximum. He may need to start a waiting list.

Abby isn't always in a camera mood either! Seriously, she can be so sweet, but boy can this girl do feisty! She continues to be an absolutely fabulous big sister and tells us numerous times a day how much she loves "Show Joo", as she says it.

Abby gave a talk in Primary today and she did such a great job. She READ the talk, which she was very proud of. Abby kind of holds out on us. Recently I dropped by her school and was shocked to see her writing sentences! She had told me she couldn't even write all of her letters. Hmmmm. This girl is a mystery!

Some friends from church held a little baby shower for me and Maya. She doesn't have many opportunities to wear her China outfits, so I thought this was as good a time as any. She is SOO close to walking! She's gone as many as 5 steps, but really doesn't want to do it. She pouts and plops down on her rear. She'd much prefer to crawl.

We went to our first "Families with Children from China" event last week. There was a big potluck at a local church and there were about 25 girls there along with lots of siblings and parents. Maya was the youngest, with most girls in the 4-5 year-old range. The oldest looked to be about 9. It was so heartwarming to see all of these little girls, all abandoned, looking so well-adjusted and happy with their new families. I would like to have some of these contacts for Maya as she grows older and maybe wants to talk with someone who can relate to her experiences.

We were thrilled today to hear that Maya's orphanage friend, Summer, came through her open-heart surgery like a true champ! These girls amaze us with their strength and resilience.

Bathtime brings out the craziness in this little girl! She does animal-like screams and makes funny faces. During times like these Adam likes to call her, "Thing from Guiping". We also call her Qiu Qiu, Qiuster, Qiuey, and all sorts of really horrible derivatives of Qiu. Really, we're trying to call her Maya, it's just been hard. Everyone else does, so I think she's accustomed to hearing both names. Whatever we call her, we sure think she's sweet! We're so looking forward to taking her to the temple in December! Let's hope she leaves her "Thing from Guiping" alter-ego at the door!