It's Virtual Daddy!

Paul's recent short notice trip to Singapore (following on the heels of the week in Switzerland) has prompted me to investigate the Giraffe Video conferencing gadget at http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/07/giraffe-video-conferencing-robot-to-weird-employees-out/. The applications are amusing.

Virtual Daddy

Zara Playing in the Park

Here's a recent shot of Zara having fun at the park.

Recent Shots

Zara's First Words

Well, it's been 3 months since we returned from China and Zara is adjusting to her new life beautifully. She wants to be just like everyone else in the family and mimics everything we do and say with precision. However, the only English she utters consistently with the exception of "Mamamamamamama" is "uh-oh." I can truly tell she understands the meaning of the word. Too cute.

At Last - An Update

Things have been insanely busy as we settle into normal life. But, we're having lots of fun and Zara is doing so well. She's healthy and the happiest toddler I've ever met. You can see in our new photo album that she's always smiling.

BackintheUSA

We could not be luckier.

Making Plans for Chinese New Year

Things have gone so well since we returned from China with our new baby girl. I'm pleased to report that the whole family is adjusting well to the changes in our lives. Zara is doing beautifully. She has attached to both Paul and me. And I can tell that she thinks her big sister is the best. Both girls are now attending the Children's Center in Steiner Ranch and LOVE it!

We are making plans to celebrate Chinese New Year next week. Just got back from the MT Supermarket, Austin's first large Asian grocery store, with banners, ingredients for Chinese New Year cake, red envelopes for gifts and a large golden pig full of candy.

When we returned home and opened our mail we found a wonderful envelope full of photos of Zara beginning at 3 months of age. Apparently Families Through International Adoption, the organization that makes foster care possible in China, carefully monitors the kiddos in foster care and takes a photo of them each month. I am going to start donating to this wonderful cause as they are expanding their foster care program and I would like to make this available to as many children as possible. It's such a wonderful cause.

I'm also reading the wonderful book The Lost Daughters of China: Abandoned Girls, Their Journey to America, and the Search for a Missing Past. I really connected with the author. The similarities in our experience were amazing and she writes of all the same concerns. I find myself crying often while reading the book.

Make sure you take a look at our wonderful new portraits of the girls.

We're Back!!!!!

We're back and adjusting to the vicious effects of jet lag. We're also stocking up on essentials, organizing and trying to ensure Zara is interacting well with all of our dogs. Our plans for blogging throughout the journey were disrupted by busy kiddos, the fact that Google Blogger would only display controls in Chinese, and a very bad earthquake in Taiwan that sent China back to the pre-Internet days.

So, with a backlog of about 1000 photos, I am taking a different approach - Google Picassa. Please feel free to visit the photo journal by using the link at the top left of the blog. I will add captions during the hours that I am awake and alone each night.

Happiest Baby in the World

And the parents are pretty thrilled too. I swear I've never met a happier baby. Not one tear has been cried in a very stressful day. Zara is beautiful, healthy, and full of giggles. We are so blessed and happy that she isn't traumatized. You should hear the hallways at the hotel. Definitely a different story. Here's hoping she'll remain such a happy little darling.

The trip to Civil Affairs was a real no-brainer. We met in the lobby, boarded a green bus, and 20 minutes later we stepped off the bus. Next we took an elevator to the 3rd floor of a government building and within 5 minutes we met Zara or Zara Noelle Lanxin M. She was wearing Santa pants!!! (pictures in the Travel Journal section of the blog).

Alina is so happy. She's been very affectionate, sisterly and protective. She's a huge help. When we returned to the hotel they were cleaning our room so we headed straight for the playroom (pictures in the Travel Journal section of the blog).

Well, that's it for now. Lots of site seeing, shopping at WalMart (War-Mart) and other fun things to come as we wait for Zara's passport to be processed. Then we head to the famous White Swan hotel in Ghuanzhou for Christmas. Happy Holidays everyone!!