Family Photo Shoot

We were blessed to be able to have some family photos shot by our dear friend Eric Beaubien.  We are so pleased with how all of the photos came out :-).  It was also wonderful to spend a morning with Eric and his family.

The last time we had family photos taken was when Matthew was a baby.  It was at JC Penney in San Diego.  This shoot with Eric was way more natural and fun - and we all love the results sooooo much more!  Thanks for letting me share :-).  

Love, Chenning

Lily's Gotcha Day!

One year ago today - we met our Lily Claire for the first time!

This is Lily's photo from when she was 9 months old.  It is the oldest photo that we have of her.  It is the photo that is on her file that came from China.  Look at those big brown eyes, and that rosebud mouth.  She has already healed from her lip repair that was down in China when she was 7 months old.  I don't like to think about her enduring that surgery all by herself.

Gotcha Day!  This is when she was first handed off to us in our room at the HuaTian Hotel in Changsha, Hunan.  

This is the two of us last week.  Look how happy she is!

So at home and right in the middle of everything - doing a science experiment with brothers.

Manning the remote for Sunday afternoon football with Daddy.

I cannot imagine our family without her dear scrappy adorable self.  She just warms out heart every day with how much she trusts and loves us all.  What an honor it is to be loved by this little child.  Her brothers all dote on her and have accepted her so completely even from the beginning.  I feel so blessed to get to be her mama.

I miss China.  Such fond fond memories of such a special special time!

Lily's Adoption Hearing

We had our court hearing this morning for Lily's readoption.
I know, it's a bit confusing.  She's already adopted.  However, being REadopted in the States means that she will have a U.S. issued birth certificate.  It also means it will be easier for her to access her benefits, etc. as she grows up.

It was such a cool experience!  We had never been in a courtroom before!  Cameras are actually not usually allowed inside the Superior Court buidling, but they allow the exception for adoptions :-).

Our family!

Waiting our turn to be called back to the judge's anteroom to sign the papers.  You can't see them, but there was a whole room of families with their adopted children.  It was awesome to think about how all of these families were being put together.  So beautiful!

Our turn to meet the judge and sign papers.  This is the Honorable Thomas Cain.  He is such a nice man.  I would imagine that this is one of the nicest parts of his job - finalizing adoptions.  He was smiling the whole time :-).  Dave and I had to raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  We promised that we would treat Lily as our natural daughter, with all the rights and privileges and benefits thereof.

The court even gives each child a chance to choose a toy or book.  Lily chose the the little teddy bear that is on the right side of this picture.  She discovered also that the sash on her dress would allow her to babywear her two "babies."  The bulldog, who she calls "Wowo" is from home and her usual travel companion.

Our dear friends came to celebrate and witness the event with us.  The K family is the closest thing to family that we have up here.  So happy they could make it :-).  Afterwards, we walked to downtown San Jose for lunch at the Sonoma Chicken Coop.

Lily is poking her eye here because she is asking if she can try on Nicky's sunglasses.

You can see that he obliged :-).  What a happy day!

We are just so delighted to be Lily's family.  She is truly such a great gift that has been given to us.  It is hard to imagine how life was without her here.  Hoping to update you all in more detail about how her speech is progressing in the coming days.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:14-16

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-6

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.

Psalms 68:5-6

Around Here. . .

Well, this has been an utterly s-l-o-w day.

Matthew and Aaron are still out of commission with their stomach bugs.  Nathan took a 2 hour nap this afternoon, which does not bode well.  I have a feeling he is coming down with it as well.  It is a terrible bug.  Matthew was up until 3am, throwing up and just in general feeling miserable.  Poor lamb.  Thankfully, Aaron seems to be getting better now, but he is still sooooo out of it.

Nearly all of our silkmoths have emerged.

A drawing Nathan made in his silkworm science journal.
Here is an excerpt from his journal dated 6/10/12:
"One of are moths has hatched from is cacoon!  And all the moth will do is lay her effs. (if of course it is a female) they lay eggs to about 300-400 eggs.  And when they mate they stick there abdomen together.  When the moth first emerges it will spit out a liqid, (don't ask me why because I don't know).

The reddish liquid actually comes out of its behind, and it is called meconium.

You can see all the eggs that are being laid by these moths.

Totally unrelated, but a rare family photo of us from a wedding we attended a couple of weeks ago.  

A cool photo I got of Matthew and Lily about a week ago before the stomach bug hit.  And Lily's dress is mama-made.  It is from a pattern in Handmade Beginnings.

Looking forward to better health next week :-).