winter at home

around Alexandria

 First a rest with the Ralph and Nene.

 Super-Dad Jeff entertains and walks with both the girls while I had an appointment.  They enjoy the town square in front of City Hall for it's walking ledge around the fountain.

 After riding the Old Town Trolley, we took a break at a new medieval place.

Jeff & Willow at Noodles & Co.

Jeff took Willow out on a father-daughter date to Noodles & Company.  She loved it!

A visit to America World

Willow and I stopped by the America World office on our way back from the Mins.  It's in McLean, and is inside a nondescript office building.  But the AWAA office itself is very cheerful and comfy.  We visited Kelcey Engling, our famly coordinator (pictured on right) and Yasmin Thornton, our post-placement coordinator (pictured on left.)

Yasmin and Kelcey at America World

Since AWAA works with clients all over the country and world, they don't always get to meet the families and children they help.  It's been nice to be able to work with them in-person (for both adoptions, except part of the time in Japan.)  Kelcey first called us in July about a "possible match" with Tao Hao Yu, and we decided to review her file.  It's a long story after that, but I might write it up someday.  Other people there who helped us: Sunny Lee (home study social worker), and Aleesa Ribbens (travel coordinator), Jackie (front desk), and Susan Maines (head social worker).  And Joy Kauffman was our first home study coordinator who quickly gave us good instructions on getting clearances from ALL places we've lived since we were 21.  That includes places Jeff was deployed.  Some clearances weren't possible (Kyrgystan), and they could state that in the home study.  That was a relief!  Deborah Bumbaugh (social worker) wrote up our home study.

Girl adventures

 We had Rama come over to spend the evening with Ariel.  We took Willow out to Chili's.  She was dubious about being out her sister, but when the food came, she was okay with it.  She was looking at a flap book about an Elf from Grandma Alice.

 At this point, Willow was still unsure about baths.  She was only secure in the bath if I was in with her.  She watched Ariel a lot, and did her "computer work" while Ariel bathed.

Willow and I went to Great Wall Supermarket in Falls Church.  It's very cold inside!  But it has good Chinese food (and Japanese & Korean food), including Chinese fruits and vegetables (like various bok choy, long eggplant, daikon radish, dragon fruit, lychees, pomelo, and Asian pears.)  A Chinese lady from Nanjing talked with me about Willow and how adoption from China works.

 Nene is usually not far from her sisters.

 Willow prefers a ball-point pen over crayons.  She holds the pen like an adult!

 Playing together on the Farm.  This has been a favorite toy over the years.  It has good music.

 Willow's first bath alone.  She did well!  She lined up all those letters and toys on the bath rim.

Play date with Brandon and Shari at their new place in Rockville.

our sweet children

 Snuggly, Frito-ey Ralph (he smells like Fritos when he curls up to rest.)

Ralph and Nene in the BOB jog strollers.

a party with friends

Stacy Elshami (a teacher from Ariel's old preschool) threw a holiday party, and a "secret" big birthday party for Karen Haggerty.  Karen is our friend, neighbor, cat-sitter, and former substitute teacher for Ariel's preschool.  Karen now works full-time at the preschool.

 Karen with her friend, Audra, who was visiting from California.

Stacy giving the talk about Karen being the best-looking "__"-year old around.  Karen's daughter, Reese, is in the foreground.

 Nasreen's husband, Nasreen, and Mrs. Khan.  Mrs. Khan was an aide in Ariel's old preschool classroom, and Nasreen is an aide in the class across the hall (they all work together and mingle.)  It was my first time meeting Nasreen's husband.  They are all from Pakistan (different parts.)  Nasreen's husband told us about growing up with a pet deer.

Joey.  He's Karen's son, and our wonderful cat-sitter (along with Karen and Reese.)  They have 3 cats: Mango, Toby, and Zoey.

Post-Placement Visit (1 month)

The paperwork never ends.  We had to get right on the post-placement visit paperwork, gathering copies of documents: visa, passport stamp, adoption decree, Chinese birth certificate, 8 current photos in PDF format, cover letter on Chinese government form, and typed statement about everything about Willow Hao Yu and her new family.

It was hard to accomplish and still entertain children.  Catherine Burke (pictured on right) was our social worker from America World who did our post-placement visit and wrote the report.  The report goes to China, and is very important.  Our next post-placement report will be at 6 months.  Catherine had a lot of good advice for us about easing Willow's fears about losing her new family, and anxieties about not getting enough to eat.

video from playground

Okay, the blog is really not totally private.  It's only for people who don't criticize my cooking and ability to feed my kids (who are not vegan, by the way.)  If you are reading this, you made the cut!

It takes a while to go through photos and pick some for the blog, but here is a video from the playground a few weeks ago.  Willow still likes wearing her squeaky shoes from China.  She can put them on herself!  Ariel is in her last couple days of school before winter break.

Some more notes off the top of my head:

• Willow is 25 pounds, Ariel is 35.  Willow is fitting well into Ariel's recently outgrown clothes!  Ariel has grown tall in the last year.
• Willow will see a neurologist next week.  Maybe she will have some insights into the cerebral palsy diagnosis from China.
• Ariel has been very happy at school lately (according to her teachers.)  Willow and I visited the class last week to read Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin, and show some Chinese food (bok choy, dragon fruit, pomelo) and other Chinese things (money, silk dress, panda toy.)  The 3rd graders were studying China.  It's a mixed class: half K-1, half 2-3rd grade.  They have a partition between the classes that they remove at times during the day so all the kids can mingle.  I love visiting Ariel's class.

doctor, dentist, library, playground, shopping

This will be my last post before taking the blog private and sharing photos on Shutterfly (or similar) instead.

Ariel has been in school all week, so Willow and met "people in our neighborhood".  She saw Dr. Cynthia Shen at KidzDocs for her first American checkup.  Dr. Shen spoke Mandarin with her.  Then she saw Dr. Adam Ta at Kingstowne Pediatric Dentists.  All teeth in, beautiful, and no cavities.  Nai Nai did a good job teaching her many things, like toothbrushing.  Often, the children adopted in China have tooth decay.  Not Willow Hao Yu.

 Playing "Bah" (peekaboo) and telephone with the Yang Yangs.

 at Chessie's Big Backyard playground

She was tentative, then explored all around.

 First Costco trip.  She liked the letters on the cart and wanted the apples I put in the cart.

 Reading books in the dentist waiting room.

 First trip to Toys R Us, after the dentist.

 She has a mirror in the car so she can see herself, and we can see her.

 First library visit together.  She's obviously been to a library before, because she knew all about it, and surprised me by sitting at the tables to read, then independently walking (almost running) up and down all the aisles.

In this photo, she was playing "Bah" (peekaboo) again.

 We read a book called Holly, a true story about a cat.  Believe it or not, she loves cats.

 Some books we grabbed to read there and some to check out.  The top one is called Rice is Life, so I'll read that one to Ariel!

And she's off!

LOVE Girls and the future of the blog

 Jeff took the girls to Fort Hunt Park in our neighbor's double BOB.

 A happy snack and Grover books to keep everyone out of the kitchen while I made dinner.

 Saturday lunch at Dishes of India with Jehangir.  It's a close and popular restaurant in nearby Belle View Plaza.  I like their pink decor.  Of course, Jehangir gets the special treatment and discount.  As far as we know, this was Willow's first Indian restaurant.  They both loved it.  Willow especially liked the palak paneer.

 Pb bagels at Breugger's in Old Town.

 At City Hall in Old Town.  Ariel & Willow model their striking new LOVE shirts from the Mins.

 After a scenic drive through DC (Tidal Basin, Kennedy Center, Rock Creek Park Parkway, Embassy Row, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan) while Willow napped, we stopped at Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove for a walk.  It's off the George Washington Parkway next to the Pentagon.  We'll miss DC when we move.

 Super Walker Willow

Super Dancer Ariel

In a couple weeks, I'll make the blog our own private family blog (if I have time) and have it printed for the girls' "baby book."  I'll share photos on Shutterfly, or some similar way, instead.  It will be easier - this blog can be cumbersome and time-consuming, and some things I want to include don't concern everyone, but the record is good for us (growth stats, health info, teachers and classmates, doctors.)

On Shutterfly, we can share more photos, they'll be easy to view and order, and the quality will be better.  Thanks for your loyal readership over the years!