Emily Grace's New Potty

On July 23rd, Emily tinkled in her potty for the first time!! We were so proud of her and she was pretty proud of herself too. Now that she has associated tinkling with the word "potty" I can't even say the word without her "going" right at the sound of it or even at the sight of it. This of course means that she isn't always "hitting the target" so to speak. That's alright, we will get there...I am still so proud of her. Obviously these pics were taken while she was playing and not trying to tinkle. :-)

Asian Cultural Experience Festival

We went to the Atlanta Asian Cultural Experience Festival. It was very nice, but very HOT!!! There was great food, dancing and shows. We enjoyed our selves very much and Emily Grace looked ever so cute in her native Chinese silks.

Fun With Sunglasses!!

All I wanted to do is get one great picture of Emily wearing her sunglasses! It took forever, but we had fun!! She litterally rips them away from her face as quickly as I can put them on her. She just looks adorable so I had to keep trying! ;-)

What a fun filled week with friends!!

We really enjoyed our visit with our friends: Phil, Julia and Dora. We visited the children's museum, centennial park, Tanglewood minature animal petting zoo and of course watched the fireworks display on the 4th of July. The following are pics from all the events in no particular order. Also, on the 4th of July, another family who went to China along with us came for a visit with their sweet baby. Lizzie. We had a great time and now we are just worn out ;-)

Chinese by birth...Southern by the Grace of God!! :)

While waiting for our friends to arrive, Emily Grace enjoyed her grits!! She just loves grits. So I tease and say "Chinese by birth, but Southern by the Grace of God!! Mmmm...Grits!! Emily says "Come on and try them, you might just find out that you love them." :-)

China Travel buddies coming for a visit!

Our friends, Phil, Julie and Dora are coming the week of the fourth to visit!! We can't wait!! They are coming all the way from Madison Wisconson. We met them in the Beijing airport and all though that was our first meeting; we "new" each other well. We were meeting a couple who had been through the "adoption ringer" for the last two years exactly as we had. This is the couple with whom we ventured into the city to see REAL China. Julie is the brave one who ate chicken feet..Yummy! Dora is precious and we can't wait to see how she has progressed as well. Follow their story: http://www.ourdogsnewowner.com/

Happy 1st Father's Day Daddy!!

Yesterday was David's first father's day and Emily and I wanted to make it special. We prepared him a very special breakfast at home with all of his favorites. We made nutmeg and cinnamon french toast sprinkled with powdered sugar, mixed berries and drizzled with real maple syrup. Yum! We also had mimosa with strawberries and a bowl of mixed tropical fruit. He has also been waiting for the "University of Georgia vault" to be published. It finally has but it is on back order every where so now he has one coming in July. Emily also picked out a father's day card for him. It was a lot harder to take a walking toddler into a card store than I thought it would be. She wanted to pull EVERY card out of its slot. Just due to sheer exhaustion and confusion, I ended up buying a David a cheesy father's day card and he laughed and laughed. Oh well. Life with a toddler is never boring. We celebrated with David's parents on Saturday. It was really nice and my parents are out of town AGAIN. Must be nice to be retired!!

A REAL Emily Grace update

Wow! We have been so busy just enjoying our daughter that we haven't really updated the blog. We have been home for two months now and our little angel has progressed so quickly that she isn't even the same baby whom we met in China. She has so much personality that I am entertained all day with her. She smiles, laughs and sings constantly. She is ever so busy too. She NEVER stops. She literally moves from one thing to the next. She, however, will stay focused on one item for a matter of time before moving on. I began baby sign language with her in China, but it was a while before I saw her use it, but THE DAY that she decided to use her signs, she began to use ALL of them (sometimes, she would use two at a time) I was shocked and so impressed. She knows and uses signs for the following: milk, more, eat, finished, wait, cracker, change my diaper, water, drink, please and thank you. It is so helpful to actually be able to communicate with her and know what she wants. Also, Emily had never had any "floor time" before we got her, but in no time, she was crawling on her feet and hands (too cute) then, she moved onto pulling herself up and walking along edges. Soon, she was walking a few steps at at time, but this week, she decided that she was just going to walk and she is walking EVERY WHERE. I am so proud of her, but I cried and cried. We just received our BABY and now she is a toddler. I just want this time to slow down a bit. Of course, the same day that Emily began walking ever where was the same day that she decided that she wanted to run. It all happens so quickly. HERE ARE PICS OF EMILY STAGES FROM HER CRAWL TO WALKING! So fast.

More Pics at the beach

Here are a few more pics of us all at the beach!

Emily Grace's first time to the beach

We went to the beach this weekend with my brothers and their families. We discovered that a few of cousins were going to be there as well. We decided to have some "family beach" pictures made while there. While the actual photographer was taking pictures, my lovely cousin Shelly stood behind him and captured a few herself. His will not be ready for weeks, but hers are good and are ready now :-) The pics of Emily standing on the beach are pics of her actual first time standing in the water of the ocean. Her expression is real and it was too much fun!! We have other pics that we will include and they are to come soon.