Another in creditable 1/2 year with the best!!

Annie Kate and mommy in Nantucket! What a great trip!!!

Off to Boston to see Big brother Teddy in Sept.

Baba and Teddy played rock stars at the Boston Children's museum!

           
More fun in the museum and off to a Red Sox Game!!

Picking apples…"I gots dis mom!"

 Beautiful fall kindergarten day! 

Started ices skating lessons! "mom can I sign up fer a hockey team?"

 Annie Kate LOVES her soccer…even in the rain…actually better in the rain!

 Off to a birthday party and just plain happy every day!!!

 "I wants ta be a ass-straw-not!"

Fall is so beautiful!

Me and my Mom! "You are da bestest mom ever!"

Adventure to Train Museum

 

 Annie Kate and Mommy went to the national Steam Town Historic Museum ! What a great time! We took a train ride and learned all about how engines worked. We took an imaginary trip by train to "Cal ee form na"We bought tickets, waved good bye to each other, hugged hello upon returned, took the elevator  to all the floors ( several times) to see all the displays. Touched everything we could and some that we were not allowed, climbed up on train engines, box cars and cabooses…some that had signs that attempted to prevent Annie's trespassing but she doesn't read yet. She asked every question and retained every answer.
   We thought there would be a place for lunch…there was not. Upon a recommendation we attempted to eat lunch at 4:30. The restaurant was closed for vacation. Annie Kate wanted to get home at this point. As we exited off RT 81 to the lake I asked if she would like some french fries. Annie kate has had fast food maybe twice in her life.
"Oh yes mommy can I also have some of dem chicken finds too? I am sooo hung-ree!"
As she ate her food from the colorful box on her lap she claimed:
" Mommy dis is da best back I ever had in my life! How did day make da fence fies so de-lish-ish?"
It really isn't very healthy Honey that's why we only have it once in a while.
"Ya and today is once in da while wight mom?"
As we finally approached home I asked Annie: So sweetie, what was your favorite part of our adventure today?
"Da fence fies and da snack a course…day were da best."

Annie Kate and Mommy's summer "ab-ven-tor"

 Annie Kate and I decided we needed to make a plan for our summer vacation or it would certainly slip by. So we made a list of all the fun things we want to do and places we want to go this summer!

Let the "ab-ven-tor" begin!

 

 First stop, strawberry picking! Last year we went here with our dear friends from AZ on a very hot, humid day and the strawberries were all gone so we picked raspberries.
This year Annie and I had a great day for strawberry picking. Tow whole buckets.

Annie Kate would pick one and say: "Wow, dis one is a beut-tee!"

Truly this child can teach us so much about loving the small simple things in life. Every day is exciting to her, everything is an adventure,  any experience is "Da best day ever"!

Joy, absolute pure joy!

Gad-u-ate-shun day!

Annie Kate "Gad-u-ate-ed"from TK at All Saints. She has made such huge progress. What a wonderful year.  She learned about all kinds of things like "pounded words, dinner-soors, letters, da earff, and good friends. She was protected by other 5 year olds soon after the school year started.

Mommy I hates it when day all talk bout my pecial hand…it is so boring, ever time we go ta a new class, somebody asked me where is my hand!"

A short time later:

" Mommy is no problem cuz now when a people ask bout my special hand I don't haf a say nothing, my friends,day tell da people, Annie is burned dat way!"

Let the summer begin!

Fw: Re:

Hello! News: http://www.kerveiza.org/hcs/wnews.php

      

kmyers209@aol.com        

 

 Two years ago we were on our way to China to meet Annie Kate. We were so scared. Would she like us, would she be totally terrified, would we be able to comfort her and make her realize we would take care of her and love her forever, would she accept us? This tiny little girl was ripped away from the only life she had ever known. Little did we know at the time...she was ready. Upon leaving the orphanage after having only met us two days earlier, she took my hand, looked over her should once to wave goodbye and lead me out the door never looking back. We were family! I have literally each day thanked God for the gift of being this beautiful child's mother. I don't know what I ever did to deserve the gifts in my life but I have so many.

 At 5 years old Annie Kate is healthy, smart, loving and oh so funny. We are not the best parents because we actually try not to correct her when she pronounces a word incorrectly because it is so cute, funny and as the youngest of six, we know it is short lived. She has picked up the inflection and tone of words she hears us say, like: "sears-is-lee", "oh yah", "yous gots to be kid-in me", "we needs ta goes to Weg-a-minnies". Annie loves to sing, she makes up songs and words. Others she sings well...sort of. From the play Annie: "Yous may wear-d yous best, butts you'd neb-er fullied dressed ...wif out a...BOW!" Annie Kate always wears a bow...the bigger the better!                                                                                        Her version of Grand Old Flag is priceless. " Is a gand olds flag is a high flying flag in peas mayyous never eber waves, your da envelope of da land I lubs, da home of da freeze and da braid. Ebery hart beats true for da red and da whites and da blues wif neber a boat or a drags. If olds con-quaint-ence be fergot, keeps you eye on da gand olds flag!"

 Annie Kate has travel a fair amount which may account for the fact that she does not have a shy bone in her body...nature vs nurture? I don't know but there isn't a shy Myers in the family so who knows. She will talk to anyone and everyone. Often asking: "Do you speak Chinese?" This is regardless of the ethnic appearance of the person, black, white, Asian doesn't matter. When they say no, she announces that she does( not). " I cans speak Chinese and eng-leash a cause I was born-d in China and I gots dopted by my mom, my name is Annie Kate, Annie is mys fist name and Kaf-rin in my middle name and My-ers is my last name, XinTian is my Chinese name, dos yous hab a Chinese name. I dos a cause I camed from China dat is berry far aways."

Before we left for FL for Thanksgiving we had a few days of snow. On the third day the temperature rose to 50. On the way to school Annie observed: "Oh No...da snow is getting all melt-s-ed....dat sure was a berry fast winter."

              Annie Kate started "TK' Transitional Kindergarten. It was a bit of a rough start at first. The rough part was the cafeteria. Sadly I think it reminds her of an institution, the orphanage she came from.  I am so sad that our sweet little girl will likely always have triggers that cause her axiety but the good news is she is able to comprehend quickly that she is safe and cared for.
           In fact now, each day when asked how was school she quickly replies: " grate, I din't e-been cwried at alls."

          I need to try and catch up on the life and times of Annie Kate. I have not posted since May.  i will try to recall the highlights a little at a time.
           Annie Kate has continues to grow, learn and thrive each day. We all had a magical summer filled with fun, sun, swimming and playing.
         Dick's had a child size kayak, it was available in pink! We had to have it! We have clearly forgotten most of the time that AnnieKate is missing a hand... well I guess the truth is she isn't " missing" anything... because there isn't anything that limits her.  We but the kayak in the water, handed her the paddle and off she went.
         Annie Kate picks up any and all phrases she hears. Often she just tries out a new word and misses the meaning. Other times she knows exactly the correct context to use it. One of her favorite sayings when frustrated is: " Sears-is-lee". Usually with hands on hips and eyes rolling.  Annie Kate is not a shopper. Last spring while at the Mall in Fl with Molly and I she had, had it. "Let's goes home peas, i no yikes to be shopping." Ok honey we will go now. At that moment Molly asked to just quickly look at bathing suits. As I turned Annie's  stroller towards the swim suit department and clearly away from the exit, annie threw her arms up in the air and started yelling: "I is free-kin out heres, dis is free-kin mes out!" We left the mall immediately!

                                                           Mother's Day
                 Today is my 31st Mother's Day! Each year I cannot believe how lucky I have been to have such wonderful children.
                Annie Kate was so excited to jump up on the bed and be the first to say: "Hoppy Mudder's Day" She thinks it is a national holiday for only me. It is amazing that she has also, in such a short time, realized what she can do to help Mommy out.
                 Proudly she dragged three outfits from her closet... some actually even matched, to ask me: " Yous can pick what's ever one you wants me to ware dis day." She proudly dressed herself ( well) then bounced off to "prize" me. When she returned she excitedly told me to close my eyes and come to her room. There Annie Kate said: "Lookat dis... I mades my bed all myself." What was amazing was that she made her bed extremely well and even better she was so proud.
           Annie Kate then sweetly says: "Yous is da bestest mommy I ever had in da hole world" What a sweetheart she is!!

This dress is 25 years old. Worn by Annie Kate's sisters, cousins and friend.

Dinos and a new friend!

 Annie Kate and Jinx Jinx checking out the dinosaur displays at the Museum Of Natural History In NYC. On the drive to NY Annie Kate said: I's finks day have lotsa bones dare."
Yes they do I replied.
 "Yas and all da bones to-getter is ...a... is...hum...I's forgets da word."
 Would you like me to tell you the word?
 "No fanks."
An hour later we stopped for a drink and walk around a bit (buy Annie Kate new shoes at the outlets) Back in the car she excitedly announced : " I fought of dat word. Is skell-a-tons!"
Yep that's it... She is so determined!

 At the dinosaurs with Jinx Jinx. " Mommy I cannots beweeve hows huge dem is!"

                                          Can't we just sneak in here to look a little closer?
When we returned home daddy asked where Jinx Jinx was from.
"China, just yikes me."
"Oh does she speak English or Chinese" he asked.
 Annie Kate replied; " I finks I heared hers say Eng-ish but most she is just quiet and do not say nuffing."

"Hey, Mommy wooks, I am berry good at balwincing on dis." ( Until the security guard yelled from across the room for her to get down off of the top of the bench. Hummm... where was her mother anyway?

Not so "special hand!"

                                                       This is one very tough little girl! 

                 For the past several months she has periodically complained out her "special hand" hurting. At times it looked like the little finger buds were cracked where attached to her hand. We put on lotion, neosporin and other remedies. Some worked for a time. While in Fl last month Annie Kate cried out in pain when her hand bumped into something. I looked at it and it appeared to me to be red and swollen.

             Annie Kate heard me tell her daddy we were going to Urgent Care to have a Dr. look at it. She said: "Mommy da dock-ster is at da e-gent cared?" 

"Yes" I said. 

"Oh, I fought day is posed to be at da hops-is-till!"

           They bandaged her hand and for a time it was ok. This weekend she was really complaining about it. Finally, in the middle of the night, she came into our room screaming. She had (in her sleep) apparently tried to push her hair from her face and several of the hairs were wrapped around the sore little finger bud. I had to cut her hair to get it untangled. Poor thing was half asleep, frightened and in pain.

          In the morning I called our Pediatrician of 31 years, Dr. Nirgudkar.  He said to bring her right in but it may need surgical exploration it he cannot find anything around it.

         This sweetie asked 50 questions before he even got started. "Why yous got dat yite" , Whats dat for? Can I trys it. I need to yook inside dat too...."

        As the Dr. had to manipulate her little would be digits, Annie Kate cried out, "dat hurtses me".  She held still, whimpered and craned her head to get a better look at what the Dr. was discovering.       After he had unwrapped "stuff" and placed it on the gauze Miss Annie Kate needed to examine it intently. She had to use all the instruments in the entire office to fully inspect the item that had caused her the discomfort as if to be sure to recognize it should this occur again. I had to hold the microscopic "stuff" as she announced: "Since Mommy's hand is "berry, berry white, is hards to sees it too good so we needs a yite for it to be sees better." Satisfied we were finally able to throw it away.

        As we exited the office a van with a wheel chair lift pulled up. As the ramp dropped and before I could move Annie Kate was at that van door firing questions at the patient and driver alike.: "Whys yous got dat fing on yous car? How do's you gets outta dare. What's dis for?"

       The occupants were very nice. The women explained she had hurt her foot and..."Ohs I hurt my pecial hand too but da dock-ster he fixed it and nows is all better and I's was berry, berry braves. Are yous gonto sees da dock-ster too?" 

"Yes I am"
"Ok Annie Kate say goodbye and have a nice day to the people."I replied.
Darting out of their van Annie Kate yells: "Bye, has a nice day..." spinning around she adds: " tries to be berry braves."

5 years old!

                 Can this really be the face of the scared little girl we first met 16 months ago? Her 5th birthday was a huge success. Although Annie Kate still seemed a bit confused and slightly stressed at all the attention and people, especially all these kids that were touching and playing with her toys.                                                  When it came time for the piñata I handed out little baggies for the kids to gather up their candy. I held onto Annie Kate's baggie until she pulled her pink string for her attempt to  open the piñata.( no violent waiving of wooden sticks and blind folds any more) As another child's turn caused the candy to start flying I heard Daniel calling my name. As the kids all scrambled for the treats I looked at Daniel. He was trying to tell me to give Annie Kate her bag. In a panic, I was thinking how could she scoop up the candy with one hand and no place to put any of the sweets. As my eyes found Annie Kate she had managed to collect and retain as much if not more candy than any of the, many older, kids.
               This child's language can make you cry with her sentimental words and laugh with her correct usage of anything she may have heard even once. Last weekend after repeatedly stating that her "nappy-kin" had fallen on the floor she agitatedly said: " Trust me... my nappy-kin feld on da floor!"
Saturday afternoon after her party had ended, her dear friend and sitter Marissa pulled into the driveway. Running out to greet her Annie Kate informed her sadly, " You missed-ed da party. Is all ober now. I am very truly sorry."
                 Last week's "church school" assignment was for the child to state their prayer for the world as the teacher ( Marissa) wrote it on the paper next to the picture of the world Annie Kate had colored. Annie Kate's prayer for the world: " that everyone has families that love them just like mine does." She then pointed that the blue color was "da o-seen" the brown was China and the green was "her home!" When we came home from church school and talked about her prayer she said: " I finks my fiends in China wans a family dat loves dem too."
               Her attitude shocks us at times. On the way home from Fl a few weeks ago she announced:  "Mommy I finks is good idea I's has a pecial hand."
                "Why?": I replied
                 " A cuz if i'd have two pecial hands den I not be ables to open fings or writes my name, or do's my homeworks. Is good I goes one pecial hand annd one udder hand right?"
               When I heard Molly gasp and say, "Mom, did you hear what she said?" I knew I had heard her correctly. She is amazing!
                 I can melt on the spot when Annie Kate will say: " Mommy, yous is my bestest fiend, we wills be togetter for eber and eber. I wills neber, eber yeave you! You is da bestest Mommy in da wholed wold!"
          For over a year we have continued to ask, what did we do to deserve this gift called Annie Kate!

"My's is doing great!"

We are on a plane heading to fl for the long weekend. As I watch Annie Kate I think of how fast this year has flown by. The changes in this little person came in small incremental steps that have resulted in a totally different child than we saw being lead in to the Hefei Civil Affairs office on the morning of Nov 29.

HER LOVE IS BOUNDLESS for us and the world. That love is mutual. She seems to hold no ill will for her humble beginnings. In fact, she has adjusted very easily to life in the American Myers family. So much so that a few months ago while riding in her car seat she announced: “ Mommy I wants to go to Floorda.” I said I was sorry but we cannot do that today. She quickly said; “Yes just dribe up to da airsport and yets gets on da pain.” I replied that we would be continuing onto Wegman’s  for groceries.

      I secretly am hoping she never or at least not too soon learns to pronounce all her words correctly. I love to hear her tiny little voice put extra “s” on words or leave out other sounds as her vocabulary explodes.

I marvel at how the fact she is missing a hand is literally forgotten by all of us. It is just not an issue.  We are conscious of the fact that Annie does not know any different. She has never had a right hand yet she can do whatever she needs to with one hand. She taught us from the first moment we met her to never assume she “can’t”. But occasionally something will happen to remind us that sometimes in certain situations we may need to think ahead.

      Annie did amazingly well in ski school last month, better than her Dad did as he nervously observed every chance he got ,while trying to stay hidden. During one of Tim’s seemingly clandestine spy missions he noticed Annie only had on one mitten. Seeing that as a reason to approach ( I think he sprinted) he asked the instructor where her other mitten was. Annie quickly told Baba : “dat it falls off alls da times so I do dis ( pulling her “special hand” into the sleeve of her coat) and its is worms.”  I need to sew some Velcro to the cuff of her jacket and mitten so it would stay on. The point being she is so smart she does not see any situation as anything other than a need for a little adaptation. She also knows what she wants. On that day at ski school When her dad wanted to spring her for his own comfort, what she wanted was the hot coco and the end of the lesson. So to that end told her Baba: “Key skool is not ober yet. Yous needs to come back yatter.”

         Dear China: Thank you for allowing us the incredible blessing of being this child’s parents

525,600 minutes of Annie Kate!

              525,600 minutes! 
                  525,600 moments in time! 
             How do you measure, measure a year?

            We have measured this past year in terms of Annie Kate moments. The smiles, the tears, the laughter, the hugs and kisses, the bedtime stories, the snuggles, the little voice that refuses to be silent. The metamorphous of this little soul has been unbelievable.  The amazement and wonder in her eyes and the look on her face each day as she has experienced for the first time all her that new life with her adoring family has exposed her to.
              To say she has come a long way baby is the understatement of the year! She has not only thrived but she has flourished and blossomed beyond our wildest expectations.

XinTian (Annie Kate) Dec 2011







               



Annie Kate (XinTian)
   Dec. 2012

                                                                                                         
                       



One year ago Annie Kate responded to the name XinTian. She could only speak in Mandarin and had never heard a word of English. She was a scared, confused and sometimes sad tiny little girl who was ripped from the only environment and people she had ever known at the tender age of 3 years 7.5 months old. Wearing her clear plastic backpack containing all her possessions, which consisted of the pillow, stuff panda and book we had sent her,  she was lead into a room and handed over to people who looked , smelled and spoke differently than she had ever experienced. My heart aches as I think what those first minutes must have been like for her. What was she thinking? How many minutes, hours, days did it take before she realized she was not going back. How long before she realized and accepted that we loved her and would always take care of her, we were her forever family? Family... when did she understand the meaning of that word?
                   525,600 minutes ago she walked into our home. We can never forget how she looked around, smiling with a look on her sweet face as if to say: "This is my home...I'm home...yes this is where I belong." It has been full steam ahead since that moment. Each day full of minute by minute transformational changes in her.
                  525,600 minutes later Annie Kate smiles all day long, is fluent in English, sings Adele and Taylor Swift songs at the top of her lungs and embraces each new experience she encounters with  infectious wonderment and enthusiasm. She is the happiest, brightest, sweetest, funniest, loving child who astonishes us each day. She has grown 3 inches and gained 3 lbs. Annie Kate ( knock on wood) has never ever been sick. She has not so much as had a cold or even a running nose. She has not made one trip to the Doctors for a sick visit. She loves every food she has ever tried including clams. muscles, onions, and her favorite... "icy keem" She has no trouble expressing her thoughts and feelings including, " I be berry fuss-traded wiff yours right now." and "peas, yours gots to use yours manors."
               Yesterday while trying to get my attention to ask for some of the M & M's in the candy dish she said to me: "Mama, look atta my nose and focus peas." About 6 months ago out of the blue she said: "Member when I's was in China and yours comes to getta me?" I replied, yes I do remember. To which Annie shocked me by saying: "Ya I's was yittle bit scared, but yours singed me dat song...den I feeled better."
                Now she will often say: " I's is so happy yours dopted me."
                   Today Annie Kate, unusually, woke at 5:50am. She announced she wanted to watch her Dora "kissmiss" movie. As a technologically challenged person, I replied I wasn't sure how to work the DVD player.
                 Annie Kate assured me, " I cans dude it for yours, common I showed yours but yours need to be berry patient and yis-en to what me telled yours, ok? Common we dude dis togetter." And of course she taught me.
                 As we approach the season of giving, the season of wonder and miracles there is no doubt we have a living example right in front of us, in her pink fuzzy robe and bunny slippers sitting here trying to teach us Spanish words from her Dora video.
                We have been blessed as we witnessed 525,600 minutes of  a living, breathing, walking, talking miracle. How are we worthy to be part of such joy and absolute goodness?
                I can't wait for each new minute.
     Happy Coming Home Day to our dear sweet Annie Kate!

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!!!

             One year ago today, November 27th, Annie Kate, aka XinTian, walked into the Hefei Social Welfare Institute and was handed over to total strangers who were already in love with this tiny 3 1/2 year old child. She was scared and dazed. These people look and sound. We were terrified. How would this precious little child would react to us? What might be some of her health or emotional issues? Would she fit into our family? One year later...She is our  family!
            Our child, Annie Kate, has brought us so much joy, happiness and humor. She is a Myers all the way.
            We were so  concerned having read and been educated as to the many possible issues facing a child who has been in an orphanage for her whole life regardless of the quality of the institution. I remember there were so many words that were in my mind. How would they be defined by Annie Kate.
We can now answer them easily:
Adjustment: Seamless embraces each experience, food, environment, culture with trust and enthusiasm  
Bonding:  Like Super glue  Nothing can separate her from all of us.
Attachment: Instantaneous with mom, quickly with everyone else
Attitude: Confident I was born to be with this family
Language: Fluent including expression of emotions, Ex. "dat is roode" "I is fish-tra-ed"
Health: Excellent Never sick, Not even a cold, not a single sick Dr. visit in a whole year.
Emotions: Loving complete and unconditional! 
Trust: Totally If we indicate it (whatever "it" is) is ok, she believes us and will try it.
              That day, that moment, seems like a lifetime ago. How is it possible that we have been a family of 8 for only one year. It feels like Annie Kate has always been here with us. But then something will remind me that she doesn't have 4 1/2 years of experiences in our family or this country for that matter.
           As Christmas approaches this will be the last holiday that requires a tutorial. Last year with limited language and home for only two before the holidays Annie does not know Santa or what Christmas means. Yesterday, while still in Fl, we went to see Santa at the mall. Although not afraid, she also was not excited. She seems to go along because Mom said something about pictures and she is always flashing a camera so this seems like another photo opt for no particular purpose.
         I tried to explain, as Annie Kate wanted to take up permanent residency in the toy kitchen display in Pottery Barn kids, that she could ask Santa for the kitchen set ( already ordered) for Christmas. But she needed to be a good girl for Santa to bring her toys on Christmas Day. She ignored me as if to say: "Yea like that is ever going to happen. I get in trouble when I start asking strangers for gum or objects off their desk and now I'm supposed to ask some big guy in a red suit for toys? I am not falling for that one. Plus you guys have been playing this "santa" character all year long."
       Today while having lunch with her big brother Timmy she asked him: "Do yous seed my pic-tour wit...wit...hum...wit dat guy?" Yes. That guy is Santa... don't think she quite gets it yet. I give her another week.

        Never did I dream we would be allowed to parent, yet another, perfect child from China. How did we get to be so blessed?

This should have been posted in Sept.
It's official, signed, sealed, delivered!
Yesterday we appeared before Judge Spero Pines to accept the signed and approved paper work that filed Annie Kate's adoption in New York State and the USA.  It was only a formality but very symbolic for us and hopefully meaningful to Annie Kate in the future. Although at the time, she was most interested in banging the gavel and playing with the microphone. She now has a USA NYS birth certificate, documents proving she is a US citizen and most importantly unequivocally, indisputably, undeniably OURS!
We went to lunch to celebrate the milestone. Annie Kate apparently didn't understand the vocabulary of "celebration." She thought her lunch salad was called a "salad-brate!"

It is official! All paper work done, filed, signed!

Baba, Annie Kate, Judge Pines, Mommy, Molly!

I going to be "Jack o man turn"

 

      "Max"
from "Wear da wide fings ares" 

We may have started Halloween a little too early around here. In August I started to explain October holiday after Annie Kate saw costumes in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. "Yes I wanta be da Max." We ordered the Max costume 
only to be told it was back ordered. While at T.J.Maxx we found the "Jack o man turn" costume. Annie Kate insisted on trying it on in the store and wearing out. Of course then Max showed up and we had two costumes! So much fun watching this beautiful child experience so many new things we would other wise take for granted. The pumpkin farm, Boo at Zoo, school Halloween parties and trick or treating. She still needs a little work on trick or treating protocol. Apparently she thinks that when complete strangers answer their "ding bell" they are really saying, here is some candy and by the way: come right inside, tour our entire home, help yourself to whatever you want and leave when your good and ready! Shy she is not!

These people just told me about this thing called Halloween! Seriously? I get to dress up in a costume, ring stranger's "dingbell", say "ticker treat" and they will happily give me candy!

                                                         I am one happy Pumpkin!!!

Almost 11 months

       I know I have been lax in posting Annie's progress. It is hard keeping with this amazing little girl. We were given the  advise that we would find our "new normal" with Annie Kate in our lives. Honestly, as documented in much earlier posts, we were not sure about this whole thing. Life would change for us...we had no idea that our "new normal" would be this wonderful.
      We experience each day with a little soul who finds every moment of life so new and exciting! I have been keeping notes and will attempt to go back and fill in moments that I have not had time to document for our and about sweet girl.
       She remembers and can pick up on anything she sees or hears. One of her new infatuations is, Taylor Swift.
While riding in the car she said: "Mommy play da Tee shirt song"
I don't know that song.
"Yes you do's, played it peas."
"honey I am not sure what that is?"
"Pretend mommy"
"Ok, Annie wears a tee...."
"No mommy no is Molwee's fav o it song"
"Oh ( light bulb moment) do you mean, She wears short skirts, I wear tee shirts, She's cheer capt. and I am on the bleachers."
"Yes dats it!!!! I loub dat songs."

Nine Months!!

      Sept 8, 2012 signified 9 months since Annie Kate's homecoming.  When I consider that 9 months is the gestational time frame for a newborn to come into the world, I find the parallels with our Annie Kate to be just as amazing!

       In nine short, fast, joy filled months she has changed dramatically!

      We were all in awe of Annie Kate from the moment we first saw her precious little face. Her first word, "Mama" sounded like a symphony! Each day brought a new discovery, a new joy, a new milestone to be celebrated. Maybe it was the ability to leave the can of tomato paste home, or start preschool or learn to swim. Everything she has been exposed to she has embraced...and maybe gotten a little too used to. On the way to  Weggieminny's last month Annie announced: "Mommy I wants to go to Floor-da ( FL). I said we will go back to Fl someday. From the back seat this little voice said:" No, I wants to go to Floor-da now. Let's go to da airports and ride da airopain teeday to Floor-da."

       How she has grown in 9 months! Physically, she is growing... finally. I have recently discovered she now needs a 9 1/2 - 10 size shoe after wearing size 8 forever. Although many of the size 3t outfits still fit, we can safely move up to the next size for Fall.

    Last week, while at T J Maxx, she discovered a pair of $2.00 flip flops that she had to have because: "Day match Molwee's pink sandals." and "Day is purfect size sandals."
      These flip flops (that are actually two sizes too big) to Annie Kate, are always referred to as my purfect size sandals only. She will run to find them calling out: "Waits I need to find my purfect size sandals," as if she is saying my nike sandals. Purfect size sandals is all one word.

      She still uses some of her early favorite phrases such as: "Hello, how are you? Nice to meet you. What's yous name? My name Annie Kate." This is now followed by: "What's you doing? What's dat? Why? What's in dare? You have gum?" All of this in rapid succession.

       Her growth in other areas has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her command of the English language is on par if not advanced for her age ( I could be prejudice) The other day I was trying to get her to take a nap. She has learned to make humorous(to her) snorting noises in an attempt to simulate snoring. When I asked her to please stop she replied: "Why, does you fink dat is annoying?"

     She loved going to the golf tournament and her first concert found her dancing the night away, afraid of nothing! She practiced and under stood that holding up the quiet sign before a golfers shot meant her too. She cheered, yelled, Good shot! Get in the hole! Ahhh, good try, good try!

     She  speaks in paragraphs, long winded stories full of details and imagination. Her three best friends, George, Xintian, and Max ( three monkey stuffed animals) go every where, often misbehave and need to have consiquences for their behavior such as sitting on the stairs.

    Unsolicited, she will say: " I love you forever, add for ev-er, I never ever leeb yous, not nevers."
     She told me sometime ago: " be-member when I was in da China and you camed to gets me?"
    I said: "yes I do."
    "My was a yittle bit scared, but you singed me da baby song...I feeled better."

     Annie Kate picks up on everything said to her. I have used my early childhood education to recognize that if a young child...or any child at any age is looking directly at you there is a greater chance they will actually hear what you say. With that in mind Annie is the 6th of our children to be subjected to my famous: 'Look at my nose" command to ensure their attention.
   When Annie wants to make sure she has our attention she will say: "mommy, mommy, Listen to my nose." while pointing to her own nose. The other day she told me in a very stern voice:" I telled you 15 times!!" Apparently I wasn't listening and apparently she has heard this before!! ( cough, cough)

   Annie loves music and has her favorites: The other day she repeatedly asked me ( while in the car) to play:" da tee shurt song."
I could not figure out what she was referring to until she said:"Mommy, yous know, is molwee's
fav-o-it song."At that moment I thought I would die laughing.
     I said: "Do you mean, She wears short skirts, I wear tee shirts, She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers?" (Taylor Swift's, You belong to Me)
"Yes dat it, I loooobe dat song." Her other favorite songs are: Lady Gaga's, Baby I was born this way.
Adele's Someone like you, and Hallelujah in Mass each week.

     At this time last year we were wonder if we had lost our mind, were we up to this, could we really handle a 3 year old? At the adoption agency they said it will be different, it will be a new normal.
    What a difference 9 months can make in a life(s).
We are just thrilled beyond our wildest dreams with our new normal!
I promise to try and be a better blog poster! There is so much to tell about this little creature!!!

Just about exactly one year ago I opened my e-mail and saw her picture. The picture of a little girl that would become our daughter, Annie Kate.
I remember gasping, unable to breath. I remember thinking, oh my God can we do this? I waited two days to show her picture to Tim. This was real. The picture we were shown was of XinTian at age 2, but she was now 3. The photo was over a year old. What do we do? We had 48 hours to "accept" or not.
I'd love to say that I knew in my heart that everything would be just fine but the truth is, I was terrified. As my mother might have said: "Was I biting off more than I could chew?"
Tim and I would go back and forth several times. We couldn't sleep or think.  Every time we thought we were being realistic, one or the other would say, "But... then again... maybe we could...may be we should." We prayed. We looked for a "sign." We asked each other, was that a sign. We asked stupid questions like, what room would we put her in? Then we would look at each other and say," Ok that's not really a serious concern."
One phrase repeated in my mind,"If not us then who?"
Tim called our oldest son Timmy in Fl who had already simply said: "Go get her, bring her home."
It was a role reversal, father asking son for advise.
Timmy said, "Tell me,what are your concerns?"
 Tim replied, "I just don't know if mom and I can do this at our age."
 Our son said, "And what makes you think you will be doing this alone? You have all of us, our family and the Hillis. We are all in this together."
 That was it. The doubt was lifted and this little angel was ours and we knew it.
One year later we cannot imagine our life without her. What a gift, what a blessing, what joy she has brought to our lives and family. What a difference a year can make.
What a difference 7 months can make in the life of a child. Annie Kate has changed so much from that scared, confused little girl who was lead into a large conference room and handed over to a strange man and even stranger woman. The only one who look normal to her was Molly... thank God a sane person she must have thought!
Yesterday was a routine visit to Dr. Nirgudkar, our pediatrician for the past 30+ years. Annie Kate has repeated the assessment she heard him say: "Dacor say, I doing great."

Annie Kate has gained 1 1/2 lbs, grown 3/4 of an inch and is the 25th percentile. More importantly her adjustment, emotional development and attachment has progressed at warp speed. She is so happy, comfortable, smart, entertaining and has such a passion for life. She has embraced each of us as her family and knows she is home. She loves us and I know she comprehends that she is loved by us. She accepts that it is normal to have each of us wrapped around her finger.
Last year at this time even my rose color glasses did not see this beautiful scene we are so blessed to share and experience every day as a possibility!
Life is good!

Kayaking with big sister Molly!  "Don't getta me wet," Annie Kate would tell Molly as she paddled around the lake.

The lake is Annie Kate's new favorite place. She is in the water any chance she gets. Our neighbors came to meet her and gave her some wonderful gifts. Among the presents were a pair of pink "sunny..gloss..eez." Annie Kate loved them.
Try as we might to warn her that swimming with the coveted glasses was risky, she insisted... down went the glasses to the bottom of the lake when Baba lifted her onto the raft with him.
At dinner the story was: "Baba lossed my pink sunny...gloss...eez, darnit!"
Enter 9 year old neighbor, Aaron. While swimming at our dock Annie was again beating up on her dad's indiscretion regarding the priceless glasses. Without us noticing, Aaron put on his mask, search around the dock and found the glasses.
Annie Kate was thrilled. She put on her glasses... and jumped back in the water but this time she held onto them...for now.

Last month, while at the lake, I jokingly asked Annie Kate if she had made her bed and picked up her clothes which is the rule for being able to go in the water or on the boat.
She said:"I be right back" She returned pulling my hand saying: "Come I show you."
The above picture is how she made her bed..."all by my cell phone," she proudly exclaimed.
I was not sure if I was thrilled or sad that she could accomplish such a task so well at her age. I asked her if she made her own bed when she was in China...she happily said, "yes me did."
I choose not to dwell on what was likely expected of this little girl at such a young age while in China. I am going to celebrate that her skills will serve her well in life.
She knew how to make her bed, we did not teach her. She was able to picked up all her clothes and neatly put them back in her little duffel bag placing that in her closet.
The good news is she is very proud of her ability to be self sufficient and to help.
The bad news is her adult and almost adult siblings have yet to reach her level of personal responsibility.
Solution: From now on Annie Kate is in charge of supervising all clean up. Let's see her brothers and sisters ignore her... as it is, they hang on every words she says, find it impossible deny any request she makes and love it each moment they spend with her.
This seems like a win/win.

"Watchie Me Foks"

The other day Tim was playing on our back yard swing set with Annie. He guided her to the fireman's pole and helped her secure her arms and legs around it so she could happily slide to the ground.
Tim turned to me saying she doesn't realize she could just jump onto the pole herself.
Annie clearly hears, comprehends and can implement any directions. She climbed up the ladder, reach for the pole with her hand, flung herself onto the pole and stuck the landing perfectly!
With the speed of technology Tim immediately sent the video to all our older kids/adults.
Timmy text back: "Dear China, You told us we were getting a Special Needs child. Liars!"

Today, while at the lake house, I asked Annie Kate if she had picked up her clothes and made her bed. She took off upstairs only to return a few moments saying: " Come wif me uppie stair." She had made her bed ( bottom bunk) better than most of her older siblings. Her clothes were packed and zipped into her little suit case.  Maybe she was required to to this in the orphanage or maybe she really is that smart and co ordinated. Either way, she is the best of the best!

Fishing, nails and water slide

Just when we thought Annie Kate couldn't get any more amazing... she does.
There is nothing this child cannot do, try or accomplish. Timmy gave her a fishing rod of her very own for her birthday. She can hold it by her "cell phone" while reeling in a fish.( she prefers hot dogs as bait as opposed to shrimp...Timmy's favorite.)
Sunday when I told her I  needed to cut her finger nails... she proceeded to cut them herself! She held the nail clippers against her chest while maneuvering her fingers exactly into the correct position, depressed the clipper to cut them perfectly... all five of them.

Today, in the 90 degree heat, she sailed down the water slide, "all be her cell phone" wearing her month old plastic birthday crown, holding rubber duckie and yelling "quack, quack, quack as she flew down the slide.
Last week on a rainy day, she wanted me to move my car from the garage so she could ride her bike. When I agreed she replied and I quote: " Fank you so muchie, I reedy pre she ate tea"
Daniel had to translate: "Thank you so much I really appreciate it."
I can't imagine that we really had one moment of doubt about this child joining our family... It was a plan that could not have played out any other way!

Hoppy Bird Day Mudder See Day!

Annie's version of Happy Birthday combined with Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day

Today, is my 30th Mother's Day.  It has never lost it's magic and importance for me. I remember each moment that my 6, wonderfully different, children were placed in my arms. There are no words to describe the joy, the amazement, the instant unconditional, total, complete love.... and the fear.
This year is my first Mother's Day as Annie Kate's mom. I wish my Mother( GMA) was here to meet  her newest granddaughter.
As I picked her up from "BU" preschool Thursday, she eagerly presented her first ever Mother's Day gift to me. It was her hand print made to look like flowers with stems coming from the bottom and a sweet poem in the center. Her teachers were saying "Annie wanted to make it that way." At first, I took that as her left hand print in yellow and on the right side she painted what looked like a realistic tulip in blue.
It wasn't until Annie insisted on re-enacting the procedure that I understood her teacher's slight appearance of uncomfortableness.
Annie placed her left hand perfectly over the yellow flower then pointing to her right, said: "Do paint on my pecial hand, puttie on da paper, maka nudder flowrer," with the hugest smile on her face! Looking again I saw the blue flower is the imprint her missing hand made on the paper.
 It is the best gift... my child being proud and comfortable with who she is.
Happy Mother's Day!

Go Yankees!!!

Today was Annie Kate's first NY Yankee baseball game at the famous Yankee Stadium! As with every new adventure with this absolutely ( her new word) amazing child, she embraced every moment!

She was a bit confused at first. As she heard the first cheers of a home run being hit by Jayson Nix (#17) Annie started clapping and yelling : "Yeah Kenny! Good job Kenny!" She was referring to the PGA golfer Kenny Perry who she has watch on TV with Timmy. Not to worry, she figured it out quickly. Soon she was yelling her Grandpa Dan's favorite baseball cheer: " hid it yike yous mean it!" and "Go Jeezter!"
We had a great day!!