Well, we are home and enjoying being here. Chloe is a very different person here. Last night, I put her to bed about 6 and she slept until almost 5. Tonight, we will try to keep her up until 7. She slept very well all night. We originally planned to put her in pack and play to sleep, but she slept in a twin bed at the hotel, so we decided to keep her in her bed here. After getting up this morning, she sat with me for awhile and the ate. After that, she got down on the floor and played and played. She crawled all over the house and even walked around. She will sit there and laugh and laugh at either herself or the boys. It is really funny. It is good to know she is getting more comfy around here and all of us.
Right now, the boys are outside playing. The back door is open. At first, I had it blocked so she could not go out it. Now, it is not, but she will not go out. She will sit right at the door and watch the boys play and laugh at them. It is cute!! I know that her sitting at the door will not last long; she will soon be going right out it. So, for now, I will enjoy having the door open and having her not escape.
Well, tomorrow the boys will go back to school after being out for almost 2 weeks. Cody and Kale are very ready to go back. Keegan is confused about the whole process. He apparently thought he was done for the year. Then we explained he still needed to go back and finish. Well, he was still confused about why I would not be there with him, so we are not sure what tomorrow will hold for him. He did get excited when I said I would bring Chloe in for everyone to meet her, so we hope that will help him.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Devoted Mom
Well we've finally made it home after about 20 hours of travel. We left Taiwan at midnight on Friday and arrived back in Dulles on Saturday morning about 7:30. Needless to say we were and are exhausted. Chloe did amazing on the trip from Taiwan to Los Angeles. We weren't sure how she would do since we left during the time that she would be sleeping but she did really well. However, like the rest of us, she was not in the mood to get on another plane for 5 more hours. The last two hours for her were very difficult to say the least. Since she won't have much to do with me, Jenn had to endure the whole 20 hours with Chloe. For those that have kids you know how difficult it can be holding a kid for an hour let along 20. Every time Jenn had to move or adjust Chloe had to move and adjust and vice versa. Jenn was amazing however. The last two hours were the most difficult as Chloe was nearing her wits end and I'm sure Jen was as well. But her strength through the whole process was inspiring to say the least of how devoted a mother she is.
Jenn will post more about our arrival home, but I wanted to share how thankful I am of her as a devoted wife and mom. Love ya hon.
Jenn will post more about our arrival home, but I wanted to share how thankful I am of her as a devoted wife and mom. Love ya hon.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Almost time to go
Anyway, I wanted to add some more pictures from our journeys yesterday and today. We have learned she likes lots of sleep. We are not sure if this is because she slept lots at SLC or if she just needs that much, but when she is ready to sleep -- WATCH OUT!! She gets very cranky and will scream and scream. She has taken a nap after breakfast and a long afternoon nap is then up for a short amount of time and goes back to sleep for the night around 7 and sleeps until 7. So you will see several pictures of our sleeping princess. Enjoy and we will update more once we are home. We have enjoyed reading everyone's comments!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
At last. . .
Well, just so you know, I tried to blog yesterday and got booted off. Sorry!! But, it is good in some ways because today as you will see has been much better. So read on. . .
Yesterday was the long awaited gotcha day. Sally met us in the lobby of our hotel at 9:45am. We then took 3 taxis to SLC. Upon arrival we met Spring Peach, Chloe's adored nanny. Then we went upstairs. They came in and we gave them two different outfits to put on Chloe. A little while later we could hear them coming up the stairs with Chloe. Finally no more waiting. . . it was time to meet our baby girl!! We had been warned that she would have a very difficult time. Let's just say they hit the nail on the head. She would have nothing to do with any of us. She did finally go to Jonathan but that only lasted a few seconds before she went to screaming. We eventually went out into the courtyard and stayed out there for awhile. Chloe went back and forth from screaming and crying to trying to figure out who these crazy people were who had her. Finally, we went upstairs to get ready to go. We went over information about Chloe and her schedule. Her birthmother had left her some gifts with her Chinese name on them. We did ask about her birthmother and she has visited a few times. As we were leaving we were given her pacifier and imagine our surprise when we gave it to her and she stopped crying. We left for the airport. Chloe, Cody, and myself rode in one taxi. Chloe slept the entire way there. We then flew to Taipei.
After arriving at our hotel, she screamed and cried. She was very tired and hungry, but would not eat. She did finally go to sleep with some help. Cody and Keegan laid on the bed with her and patted and rubbed her back. Also, she beats her head to put herself to sleep. Now this is really funny since this is something Cody also does. He thought that was really neat! She slept for a few hours then woke up screaming. Again, we tried to feed her, but she still would not eat. We changed her and put on some pj's. She again put herself to sleep and slept until about 6:30 this morning on a comfy twin bed. She woke up crying, but we had to be at our visa appointment so we were in a hurry. We dressed her and fixed her hair and then went downstairs for breakfast. Remember she had not eaten since lunch the day before. I offered her some bread and she started eating. Jonathan gave her the bottle and she started drinking. Since then everything has been great!!
We went to our visa appointment and she played on the floor with the boys in the toy area. Matt, Molly, and Malone were also there. On the way to the appointment she rode in the front of the taxi with Jonathan. The window was open and she loved it. Everything went fine with the visa. Jon will go back tomorrow to pick up her passport.
We then took a taxi to Taipei 101. This is the tallest building in the world. We found a Starbucks and grabbed some coffee and muffins. Chloe enjoyed eating these. Then we walked around and she chased the boys. She pulls them everywhere she wants to go and they go where ever she wants. Then, we rode up to the top which was the 89th floor. It was a very fast elevator. The view was amazing and we walked around the whole top floor with the windows. Chloe slept in the Ergo carrier (thanks Amanda and Jennifer) and it was such a blessing. She is heavy!! The only thing is she likes to move so you can't stay still. Then we went downstairs and ate KFC. She enjoyed some FF and we all enjoyed some real food. Next, we were off to the grocery store.
We bought snack items, breakfast items, water, and some other stuff. Since we all keep waking up around 3:00ish in the morning we will now have some food to eat. We are now back in our room and Chloe is sleeping. She took a very short amount of time to get herself to sleep. She is doing very well sleeping on the bed.
Today has been wonderful. Yesterday was extremely difficult on all of us especially Chloe. It has been nice to see such a change today. She is a very happy little girl and has a smile that will melt your heart. She loves her brothers and wants them to do everything with her. They are eating up spending time with her and helping her. Jon and I are still in amazement that we actually have not only our 3 wonderful boys but now we have a beautiful little girl.
Yesterday was the long awaited gotcha day. Sally met us in the lobby of our hotel at 9:45am. We then took 3 taxis to SLC. Upon arrival we met Spring Peach, Chloe's adored nanny. Then we went upstairs. They came in and we gave them two different outfits to put on Chloe. A little while later we could hear them coming up the stairs with Chloe. Finally no more waiting. . . it was time to meet our baby girl!! We had been warned that she would have a very difficult time. Let's just say they hit the nail on the head. She would have nothing to do with any of us. She did finally go to Jonathan but that only lasted a few seconds before she went to screaming. We eventually went out into the courtyard and stayed out there for awhile. Chloe went back and forth from screaming and crying to trying to figure out who these crazy people were who had her. Finally, we went upstairs to get ready to go. We went over information about Chloe and her schedule. Her birthmother had left her some gifts with her Chinese name on them. We did ask about her birthmother and she has visited a few times. As we were leaving we were given her pacifier and imagine our surprise when we gave it to her and she stopped crying. We left for the airport. Chloe, Cody, and myself rode in one taxi. Chloe slept the entire way there. We then flew to Taipei.
After arriving at our hotel, she screamed and cried. She was very tired and hungry, but would not eat. She did finally go to sleep with some help. Cody and Keegan laid on the bed with her and patted and rubbed her back. Also, she beats her head to put herself to sleep. Now this is really funny since this is something Cody also does. He thought that was really neat! She slept for a few hours then woke up screaming. Again, we tried to feed her, but she still would not eat. We changed her and put on some pj's. She again put herself to sleep and slept until about 6:30 this morning on a comfy twin bed. She woke up crying, but we had to be at our visa appointment so we were in a hurry. We dressed her and fixed her hair and then went downstairs for breakfast. Remember she had not eaten since lunch the day before. I offered her some bread and she started eating. Jonathan gave her the bottle and she started drinking. Since then everything has been great!!
We went to our visa appointment and she played on the floor with the boys in the toy area. Matt, Molly, and Malone were also there. On the way to the appointment she rode in the front of the taxi with Jonathan. The window was open and she loved it. Everything went fine with the visa. Jon will go back tomorrow to pick up her passport.
We then took a taxi to Taipei 101. This is the tallest building in the world. We found a Starbucks and grabbed some coffee and muffins. Chloe enjoyed eating these. Then we walked around and she chased the boys. She pulls them everywhere she wants to go and they go where ever she wants. Then, we rode up to the top which was the 89th floor. It was a very fast elevator. The view was amazing and we walked around the whole top floor with the windows. Chloe slept in the Ergo carrier (thanks Amanda and Jennifer) and it was such a blessing. She is heavy!! The only thing is she likes to move so you can't stay still. Then we went downstairs and ate KFC. She enjoyed some FF and we all enjoyed some real food. Next, we were off to the grocery store.
We bought snack items, breakfast items, water, and some other stuff. Since we all keep waking up around 3:00ish in the morning we will now have some food to eat. We are now back in our room and Chloe is sleeping. She took a very short amount of time to get herself to sleep. She is doing very well sleeping on the bed.
Today has been wonderful. Yesterday was extremely difficult on all of us especially Chloe. It has been nice to see such a change today. She is a very happy little girl and has a smile that will melt your heart. She loves her brothers and wants them to do everything with her. They are eating up spending time with her and helping her. Jon and I are still in amazement that we actually have not only our 3 wonderful boys but now we have a beautiful little girl.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
It's Gotcha Day: Dad's style
Well it's about 1:30 in the morning here and I am just a little too excited too sleep. I guess this is how couples feel who are having a planned C-section or something. Anyway, the day is upon us when all that we hoped and prayed for these last 9 months (actual duration of real pregnancy) comes to reality. We've all seen the pictures and we've all come to learn a little more about her each month, but to actually be able to hold her and kiss on her(as much as she will let me anyway) will probably be a little more than this Dad can take.
When we had the three boys it was absolutely the most amazing experience I could have ever imagined. I love these boys more than anything else life could give me. But there is a big difference in the way that adoption progresses. First of all, you get to choose. We have joked many times, with each other and friends, that if Keegan was the one that we had adopted we would be looking everywhere for his birth parents. That kid is crazy and I would want to meet them just to see who he gets it from. Second, you know all about her already (Yeah, I know there's still a lot we'll learn but you get the gist). Her tendencies, when she likes to eat, sleep, and play. That's what makes it seem surreal is that she is only a few miles away, and has been for a few days, and we can't see her. Third, is the fact that we are now in a small fraternity. Full of people who have adopted and know the joys, the hardships and the love that goes along with this process. These are the main differences between adoption and natural childbirth. The one thing that I know through both so far is that no matter whether you adopt or have your own you love them all the same.
So as we come to the final chapter in the prelude to Chloe I just want to express that she is as much a part of our family as our three boys are. Luckily for us our boys don't care anything about the fact that she comes from Taiwan, or that she looks different than we do. All they care about is that she is God's creation and they understand how adoption works in His kingdom.
When we had the three boys it was absolutely the most amazing experience I could have ever imagined. I love these boys more than anything else life could give me. But there is a big difference in the way that adoption progresses. First of all, you get to choose. We have joked many times, with each other and friends, that if Keegan was the one that we had adopted we would be looking everywhere for his birth parents. That kid is crazy and I would want to meet them just to see who he gets it from. Second, you know all about her already (Yeah, I know there's still a lot we'll learn but you get the gist). Her tendencies, when she likes to eat, sleep, and play. That's what makes it seem surreal is that she is only a few miles away, and has been for a few days, and we can't see her. Third, is the fact that we are now in a small fraternity. Full of people who have adopted and know the joys, the hardships and the love that goes along with this process. These are the main differences between adoption and natural childbirth. The one thing that I know through both so far is that no matter whether you adopt or have your own you love them all the same.
So as we come to the final chapter in the prelude to Chloe I just want to express that she is as much a part of our family as our three boys are. Luckily for us our boys don't care anything about the fact that she comes from Taiwan, or that she looks different than we do. All they care about is that she is God's creation and they understand how adoption works in His kingdom.
Our Sunday in Tainan
Well, in the last post I said we were not too tired. I guess I was wrong!! After showering yesterday, we went out for a little while to explore. We found a McDonald's and ate a meal there. It was a little different. We walked around for a little while and then came back to hotel. The boys and I laid down on the beds (Jon joined us not much later) around 3:30 for a nap. We woke up about 10:30 pm barely. We changed into pj's and slept until about 5:30 this morning. We felt MUCH better!!
Our hotel has a free breakfast buffet. We went down and who did we run into but Matt & Molly who are here to pick up Malone from SLC. It was very nice to see them and we sat and ate with them. The food was great--pancakes, french toast, fresh fruit, and more. We sat and talked for over an hour with them (and ate & ate & ate some more). It was very nice and Matt & Molly are extremely nice. We enjoyed eating with them. On the way up to our rooms, we realized we are next door to each other so that was neat.
We came up and got our bags to head out. Laura had recommended a few places to visit. We went to An-Ping Fort. It was very neat to explore, but it is also VERY warm. We walked around and looked at the fort. Then, there are many markets outside on the streets and alleys. these were lots of fun to walk through and shop. We walked for quite a while through these markets and still did not even finish. We bought several souvenirs and even a few food treats. Everyone loves to see the boys and talk about how cute they are. At one stand we were looking at the pineapple and they walked up and gave us 2 bags of it for free. They were thrilled with the boys. It was cute and the pineapple was awesome!! We then took a taxi back to our hotel and ate some noodles in our room. Right now, Jon and Kale are napping and then we will head out again to see a few more things. I have added some pictures of our adventures today on a seperate blog entry.
BTW, DC traffic has nothing on the traffic here. There is not as much, but it is CRAZY!!! There seem to be no rules for anyone but especially taxis and scooters. Speaking of scooters, they are everywhere. Some will have two or three people on them; babies, senior citizens, everyone rides these things. When out and about walking we have to be careful as not to get run over by any moving object.
Well, tomorrow is the BIG day!! We will meet Sally in the lobby about 9:40ish. She will take us to SLC to meet our little girl!! I cannot even imagine what this will be like. It is very informal and we will be given time for Chloe to warm up to us. We have several items to bring for her to help such as bubbles, baby doll, blanket, and a few toys. Before we leave we will be given time to ask any questions we choose. Then the 6 of us will board a plane with Sally and head back to Taipei. So, we will meet her about 10:00ish tomorrow(Monday) which is about 10:00pm(Sunday) your time. This will be the big moment we are waiting for. We will take lots of pictures and video so we can share this experience with everyone including Chloe. Keep us in your prayers that all goes well tomorrow and Chloe falls in love with us!! We will keep you guys updated!
Our hotel has a free breakfast buffet. We went down and who did we run into but Matt & Molly who are here to pick up Malone from SLC. It was very nice to see them and we sat and ate with them. The food was great--pancakes, french toast, fresh fruit, and more. We sat and talked for over an hour with them (and ate & ate & ate some more). It was very nice and Matt & Molly are extremely nice. We enjoyed eating with them. On the way up to our rooms, we realized we are next door to each other so that was neat.
We came up and got our bags to head out. Laura had recommended a few places to visit. We went to An-Ping Fort. It was very neat to explore, but it is also VERY warm. We walked around and looked at the fort. Then, there are many markets outside on the streets and alleys. these were lots of fun to walk through and shop. We walked for quite a while through these markets and still did not even finish. We bought several souvenirs and even a few food treats. Everyone loves to see the boys and talk about how cute they are. At one stand we were looking at the pineapple and they walked up and gave us 2 bags of it for free. They were thrilled with the boys. It was cute and the pineapple was awesome!! We then took a taxi back to our hotel and ate some noodles in our room. Right now, Jon and Kale are napping and then we will head out again to see a few more things. I have added some pictures of our adventures today on a seperate blog entry.
BTW, DC traffic has nothing on the traffic here. There is not as much, but it is CRAZY!!! There seem to be no rules for anyone but especially taxis and scooters. Speaking of scooters, they are everywhere. Some will have two or three people on them; babies, senior citizens, everyone rides these things. When out and about walking we have to be careful as not to get run over by any moving object.
Well, tomorrow is the BIG day!! We will meet Sally in the lobby about 9:40ish. She will take us to SLC to meet our little girl!! I cannot even imagine what this will be like. It is very informal and we will be given time for Chloe to warm up to us. We have several items to bring for her to help such as bubbles, baby doll, blanket, and a few toys. Before we leave we will be given time to ask any questions we choose. Then the 6 of us will board a plane with Sally and head back to Taipei. So, we will meet her about 10:00ish tomorrow(Monday) which is about 10:00pm(Sunday) your time. This will be the big moment we are waiting for. We will take lots of pictures and video so we can share this experience with everyone including Chloe. Keep us in your prayers that all goes well tomorrow and Chloe falls in love with us!! We will keep you guys updated!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
We have arrived!!
Just thought I'd post to let everyone know we arrived (and survived with Keegan)!! We slept right much on the plane so we are not feeling too bad. We are getting ready to shower and head out some to check things out. We cannot believe we are this close to Chloe and still have 1 day left. I'll post more later
Monday, April 16, 2007
Shirts
Well, for some reason I had a crazy thought to make the boys shirts to wear to Taiwan. Not really sure where the idea came from, but I took it and ran. The following are the results:
So, now Jonathan wants to know where his is???
Friday, April 13, 2007
Clothes and such
I took pictures of some of Chloe's outfits. These are only a few of the outfits, dresses, and such. The clothes have come from showers and my many shopping trips. The fancy dress is for my sisters wedding in May. The boys picked out one shirt--can you guess which one??? We also let the boys buy her an item at Toys 'R Us. Cody picked out the puppy dog that is on the bed and a pink ball. Keegan picked out the stick horse/unicorn so she could ride like them. Kale picked out a cute Elmo/Cookie Monster ball that giggles. I spray painted the letters for her name and the letters are on a quilt Mrs. Eileen made for her. The other pink blanket was made by a former students mom, Mrs. Ponton--thanks Allison and Mrs. Ponton.
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