One month ago today at about 10pm, we saw our daughter Lydia’s face for the first time. Here is the first picture we saw. We are guessing she was about 4 months old in this picture since that was her age at the time the paperwork was completed. She certainly was a teeny tiny peanut, don’t you think? I think my first words actually were “Wow, she’s teeny!” Here are the other pictures we received at the time.
Now, a month later, we’re counting the days until we get our Travel Approval (TA) so that we can buy some plane tickets to bring her home. It’s crazy to think that 1 month and 1 day ago, we were wondering if we’d ever find our Chinese daughter. Then, God miraculously brought her to us.
Today, we sent off a care package to her orphanage. I hope it makes it to her. We included a handful of goodies–snacks for the orphanage staff; bubbles, books, sidewalk chalk, stickers, and 4 pairs of pajamas for children; a disposable camera for the staff to take pictures of Lydia in the orphanage, and a photo book of our family for her to see us for the first time. I often consider how we all have memorized her photos and are so busy preparing for her. Yet, she has no idea who we are, what we look like, where we live, or even that she has a family waiting for her at all. Even though she is only 11 months and 8 days old, I hope that her nannies show her the album and talk to her about how much we love her already. I’m hoping she won’t be as scared when we meet her if she has seen our faces already. Here are the photos I included in the album. I had a friend help me with the Chinese characters to label all the pictures for her nannies to read to her.
This has her Chinese name, her new name, and then it says “We love you!”
The characters with Evan’s name mean “big brother.”
The characters with Ashlyn’s name mean “big sister.”
The characters here mean “our family.”
We thought the staff may like this picture. The characters at the top say “our house” and the other characters say “the park near our house.”
Sending the package and imagining her seeing her family for the first time has been a blessing to me today, particularly in light of the fact that I hit a big pile of plowed snow today while making a right turn and seriously damaged our car. Yup. That’s what I did. The snow pile was more like a boulder. I didn’t damage the pile of dirty snow one bit. It was rock solid. Just did a number to the right side of my van, the entire length of it. Yup. (sigh)
First of all, that little girl is simply PRECIOUS! I am so excited for you all!!
We sent a scrapbook and dispoable camera to our little guy while we were waiting. That was the best money we ever spent. On Gotcha Day he was flipping through the book constantly. He wanted to look at it about 10 times a day throughout our whole trip and would repeat the names of the family members after we said them. Also, we received the camera back completely full of photos. We haven’t developed it yet, but are going to soon.
Your daughter is in a different orphanage in Xi’an than Isaac was…Isaac was in the building that looks like a pink castle. I guess there is more than one orphanage in Xi’an. I am sure you are so excited to get her….one of the advantages of being I600 is that once you get matched, the rest of the process flies by! You only got matched a month ago, and here you are almost ready to travel! CONGRATULATIONS! I am so excited to see your family travel to get her (especially since you’re going to Xi’an!) I haven’t seen a whole lot of people going to Xi’an recently. Sarah told us that they used to send lots of families to Shaanxi and that it was a big draw because of the Terracotta Warriors. But she said not so many folks go there now.
Blessings to you and your family as you await that final document! LHAA is great with travel…you’ll have a great time I’m sure!
Lydia is so adorable! I know you can’t wait to hold her in your arms. She is so beautiful! I can’t wait to follow your journey to China. We sent Parker’s care package right before the second big snow storm. We are hoping he gets his family picture book to look through while he waits for us. We will see you on Saturday!
Tricia
me-oh-my … either that bouncy seat is HUGE or that Lydia is a teeny one! :) But oh so cute!
I love the photo book and I hope that she gets to see all of your faces many times before you meet her. How comforting that she will have that to look at and get familiar with her new family!
So excited! Oh, except for the van thing. That seriously stinks. :( Is the snow getting old yet or WHAT??
I can’t believe it’s already been a month!! WOW time does fly! Soon she’ll be home! Lydia is such a beautiful little girl. Absolutely stunning!
I love the pics you sent her with the Chinese characters!!
So exciting! Even though I was in your shoes just 9 months ago or so, it seems so long ago–I’m a little jealous of your upcoming journey. I too sent a care package. Didn’t get the disposable camera back, but Mia came clutching the toy bear (thought it was so clean I bet she was just given it) and the photo book. I was so glad she had some things “from the orphanage” that she could clutch and bring with her. She still sleeps with that bear and loves to go through the photo book and name everyone. Can’t wait to see the pics of you and your little pumpkin! Boy, she was a tiny little one!
She is a little peanut…and an ADORABLE one at that!! :) How exciting to have your care package off to her. Praying it arrives in one piece and that her nannies start speaking to her about your family. It will all go so fast for you from here on out. What a blessing to see your daughter’s face for the first time and then have her home in only a matter of months. You are blessed!! <>< Hugs,
Tanya
Ahhhh Kelly..you are sooo close to her. I’m so excited for you all! Deeply happy for you! I’m sure they will share all this with her–and I’m sure it will make it just fine. Did you send it USPS flat rate box? Cause you can track that online and it worked well to do that for us. What a wonderful package and the photo album is precious. If I was her and saw that you were my family I’d be over the top with JOY. I know she will not understand like we do what’s happening–but I believe God has prepared her heart for you and she will do great.
I recently asked Izabella if God told her she had a family? She said with a smile and her head shaking vigoriously, “Yup!”.
So sorry to hear about your car–geez–just what you need right now! But thankfully everyone is ok and it’s just superficial damage–you can live with that!
Hi Kelly- I haven’t commented before- but I love your sweet blog! Your family is beautiful. And, oh, that Lydia….oh she is just a lamb. I LOVE your photo book that you sent to her! Where did you get those characters for the photos? We are in the process of adopting a second daughter from China- and when we get her referral, I LOVE that idea. We will be praying for you on your journey!!
Jenny
http://www.markmiller5.typepad.com
Lydia is beautiful. I can’t wait to follow you to bringing her home. She is going to make a perfect addition to your already beautiful family.
Look how precious she is! So tiny!
We left disposable cameras for Ava’s orphanage and we have the most priceless photos of her life while we where apart.
Go take a look at my photobucket slideshow @ the top of my blog and you will see a new much younger photo of Peyton! Thank you for that info!
Will you email me and tell me how you sent the package to China? Did you label the address in Chinese or just her name in Chinese characters?
Nicole
hi kelly…the Lord must be trying to teach us both something! since my mind has been totally focused on my Molly (LOI 2/5/10) I came home yesterday to find 1/2 my house flooded b/c of a cracked supply line! so with your car repairs and my home repairs in the midst of our WAIT for our girls i’m sure our character will be strengthened! i was just thinking…i have to go to china i can’t afford all of this!!!! but, he will provide! God Bless!
LOVE the photos! and that little girl is just precious.
Has it ben a month already??? WOW, time flies.
Darn that snow….sorry that happened. That’s a huge bummer to say the least!
I can absolutely see why you fell in love with Lydia’s picture the minute you saw them- she’s stinkin’ adorable in those pictures!!!! :) Teeny-tiny, but adorable!
Love the pictures you sent. I agree with you that even an 11 month old can understand that on SOME level!!! What program did you use to put the words right on the pictures? I need to learn how to do that- I LOVE the way it looks!!
Can’t wait to hear news of TA!!!
Kelly….I could stare at her all night! You just want to scoop her up and love her!
Those pictures are fantastic! Such a beautiful family! I need to get my pictures ready…yours have such a great background…where could I get a great background in the middle of February??? :)
OK, now you got me teary eyed! She is so beautiful! So glad you were able to send her a care package and photos!!!
Hoping and Praying that you’ll have TA soon!!!
Oh your little one is adorable!!! I can’t wait to send a little package to SJ. Did you use Ann @ Red Thread?
Just wondering.
Blessings!
I saw your post on our yahoo group. Congratulations on your little darling. She is just precious. We are also hoping to travel around the first of April to bring our little one home. She just turned four. I love the photos you are sending. I was just planning to send our photo book also. I have used Red Threads and Ladybugs n Love for care packages/questions/pictures this past year, but was wondering about just sending another package on my own. Do you know if this is possible to send to the orphanage without going through an organization? I would to know your thoughts on this. God Bless your family, Suzette
I just found your blog while searching through some of Erin’s pictures and I(we) am SOOOOOOO happy for you and your family!!!! Lydia is truly beautiful and it is precious to read your words and feel a fraction your excitement and love for your daughter. I am just sitting hear bawling!! I hope to be able to meet Lydia at family camp!!! Our prayers are with all of you and Lydia and her current caregivers in China! :) Love to ALL of you! Karen Raser