Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Thanksgiving and Other Stuff (updated with photos)

I love my Granddaddy


I have been meaning to post for a while, but was waiting until Derek downloaded the pictures on to the computer. Well, he still hasn't done it so I thought I would post before I forgot everything. I know that I should learn how to download the pictures myself...I will eventually!

Thanksgiving was great. We had Thanksgiving at Debbie's (Derek's sister) house. It was a full house!! Ava did great with all of the family present. She also ate very well....much better than Peter. I made him try turkey and he gagged when it touched his tongue!!! I made Ben try the dressing and the sweet potato casserole...he didn't like either. How can you NOT like sweet potato casserole???? Ava loved Grandaddy Chapman!!! Anywhere he went, she was there. She spent most of the day on his lap.

Ava is doing really well. She is still happy all of the time. She and Peter are still good buddies. He tells me all of the time that he loves her. Friday night we all hung out in the family room in the basement. We had a fire, and watched a movie. We were going to make s'mores, but we didn't have any regular marshmellows. We only had these awful fruit swirl marshmellows that the boys convinced me to buy one day. After the movie, Derek and the boys decided that they were all going to sleep downstairs. It was really late and I knew Ava had to be tired so I took her up to bed with me. We got into bed, I turned off all of the lights except my table lamp. She would not lay down so I pretended to be asleep...that usually works. I continued to lay there hoping she would go to sleep. After a little bit, she turned and looked at me and I noticed that her eyes looked teary. I sat up and saw tears coming down her face. She was not making a sound. It broke my heart. I have never seen a child this young cry quietly! I put my arms around her and she just started bawling. I let her cry for a bit and then she pointed to the door. She wanted to go back downstairs. I took her downstairs and we ALL slept downstairs! We had a family slumber party! It might be a while before I have her sleep in her room by herself. I don't want her to be alone crying quietly! I wonder how many nights she has already had sitting alone crying quietly...not anymore.

We took her to church again this Sunday...we usually leave when the children go to children's church...she is not very good at being quiet. If fact, whenever it quiets down, she usually lets out a yell. She waved to Susan up in the choir loft when we sat down. She is very social. She has fallen in love with Andy (our choir director). He held her last Sunday for a bit and today when he was holding her she didn't want to go back to us. We had to pry her from him to go home.

We go to the doctor tomorrow. I'm glad to finally get her seen.

Helping Grandmama open b/d presents


Peter with b/d ribbon in his hair


Monday, November 19, 2007

Wonderful Welcome Home!

After our long flight , we get to the airport and had a wonderful welcome home!. Most of Derek's family, Ben and Peter were there to meet Ava. Jim made a beautiful banner and the boys made us some welcome home signs. It was SO nice to be home!!!

Welcome Home Banner


The boys with their signs


Ava finally in her own room

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Coming Home!!!


We went to the consulate today and finished up our paper work. As soon as we land in Atlanta and go through customs, Ava will be a US citizen! We have just finished packing. The bell boy is coming this evening to get our luggage and we leave at 5:30 tomorrow morning. We are SO ready. The only thing we are going to miss is the tropical weather in Guangzhou. See you all soon!!!!

Buddha Likes Orange Soda!



Went yesterday to the Buddhist Temple. Didn't know he liked orange soda but apparently he drinks a lot of it. People left him many cans of it on his altar. Don't think they are of the diet variety given his belt line. Sorry we don't have a picture but trust me it was funny.

Pictures on the famous Red Couch today then off to the American Consulate for the swearing in.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Go/Geaux Tigers












We brought an Auburn outfit to take a picture of Ava while in China. We hadn't gotten around to it and then yesterday we met an LSU couple at breakfast. They also brought their daughter, Emily, an outfit to wear. So, we decided to take a couple of pictures together yesterday afternoon at the red couch of the two of them together. They were really cute.




















Monday, November 12, 2007

Moving Along




Things are going great. Ava is always a happy girl. Everyone in our group talks about how happy she is. She is always smiling at everyone and making funny faces. She really likes to have fun and laugh.

We had her medical exam yesterday. The doctor listened to her heart and heard a murmur. She got the cardiologist to come listen to her as well. He confirmed this. Her medical report said that she had no murmur anymore. The doctor didn't seem to think it was anything to be concerned about. We were going to take her to a cardiologist anyway. Other than that, everything looks good.

We are off for some more shopping this morning and we have some sight seeing tours this afternoon. I don't even remember what they are.