Easter Lily

Lily experienced her first Easter this year. She had fun leaving carrots for the Easter Bunny and getting a basket filled with treats the next morning.

Lily's brother Eric joined us for Easter brunch. And to Lily's amazement, the Easter Bunny showed up at the resaurant!



Lily and Mom coloring Easter eggs






"I can do it Mom."

Eric, Pamela, & Lily waiting for brunch

The Easter Bunny showed up!

Xuzhou Sisters meet again

Kathleen and her two daughters visited us again last weekend and we had the pleasure of meeting Marika for the first time. I have been looking forward to this occasion for months...thank you Kathleen!

Mari and Cai Cai (another Xuzhou baby) have been permanent faces in our home since receiving a photo of Lily's first birthday from the orphanage director last March. Lily, Marika and the other Xuzhou babies spent their first year(s) together and they will be forever bonded in sisterhood.

I find it so special that Lily and Mari will have the opportunity to grow up living so close to one another; re-united from another life half-way around the world. They were a little shy at first but quickly warmed up to each other. It was so wonderful to see Mari's sweet smile in person.

"Haven't I seen you before?"

Meeting again after a year apart.

Getting to know each other

Friends again!

Lily Planting Onions

Lily has been with us for 11 months now. 11 months ago she could not make sounds, other than to cry or to make minor coos. She could not sit up or even crawl. Her body was deprived of oxygen due to her heart condition. She was underweight to the point where she couldn't be measured on a scale compared to other children her age.

What a difference 11 months makes. Lily is now speaking full sentences, singing songs, parroting expressions, and walking around with that beautiful smile on her face. She has a positive impact on everyone who comes in contact with her. She is a very bright ray of sunshine in our lives!

And now she's an onion gardener!













Is this the way you do it Daddy?

Lily is a Gardener

Today Lily learned about dirt. Dirt is fun. Dirt is what plants grow in. Dirt needs water. In addition to the pansies shown here, Lily helped Daddy plant tomatoes.

Singin' Along with Dad

Lily is learning to sing and she loves doing it with her mom and dad... or just by herself. This video was taken at bedtime and, as you can see, she is still very attached to a washcloth. Washcloths served as her "security blanket" in the orphanage. When you don't have a teddy bear, or any other soft toy, a washcloth feels pretty good.

Lily is 2 Years Old!!

Sunday was a very special day for us. A year ago we were celebrating Lily's first birthday halfway across the world from her; still waiting with great anticipation to meet her and hold her lovingly in our arms. Her second birthday was so much more special. We were able to celebrate with her; and hold her lovingly in our arms.

Lily was joined by friends from her school and from her neighborhood to have a fun birthday party. She had fun playing, snacking, having her birthday cake with the other kids, and opening her presents.

A year ago Lily was flirting with death as her heart was barely functioning; today her physical and cognitive development is growing at an incredible rate. It is such a joy to experience and share daily the changes in the growth in her communication skills and in her physical abilities.

And Lily is such a happy child. It's rare that she doesn't have a smile on her face and isn't ready to enjoy a playful giggle.

We have been blessed with this wonderful little person.





Lily's birthday cake



"It's my 2nd birthday, and I'll smile if I want to..."



Lily and her friends



Blowing out two candles



Yummy birthday cake!





Lily opening her presents



Misha sharing Lily's birthday party

Lily the 737 Star

On our trip back from Ohio recently on Southwest Airlines, the crew was infatuated with Lily. She was invited to the cockpit by co-pilot Ron Hodges. Hodges shared with us that he and his wife were considering adopting.


The flight attendents spent time interacting with Lily. They told us how much fun they experienced each time they came by our seats.

Lily has the gift of attracting people with her charming personality and fun-loving spirit.

A Visit to Grandma

Lily Mei visited her Grandma Ethel last weekend in Ohio. It was a very special visit because Lily also got to see her two aunties, Lin and Sarah, her cousin Rachael, and her Uncle Vince.

Grandma Ethel threw an early birthday party for Lily and invited a group of her dear friends. These friends said many prayers for Lily when she's was undergoing her heart surgery last year.



Reading a book with Grandma Ethel



Playing with Grandma Ethel



Beautiful mom and daughter



Opening one of the many presents given to Lily



Uncle Vince, Lily, Dad, Grandma, Lin, Rachael, and Sarah

2009- The Year of the Ox

The dragon roars





Today we celebrated the Chinese New Year by attending a celebration in Seattle’s International District. Lily loved watching the Dragons dance through street and kick off the Year of the Ox with firecrackers at the Gateway to Seattle’s Chinatown. We had an opportunity to mingle with other adoptive families and Chinese families who were also sharing the tradition of the “Spring Festival”.

The director from Lily’s orphanage sent us a special “New Year’s Greeting” and shared pictures of the orphanage all decorated for the occasion.

Last weekend we had a very special visit from another Xuzhou mommy, Kathleen and her adopted daughter Mia. In mid-February Kathleen will be traveling to China to bring home a second adopted daughter, Marika. (Marika is one of the little girls in Lily’s birthday picture) Who would have ever guessed that one of Lily’s best little friends from the orphanage would be living in Seattle! We can’t wait until these two little girls are reunited and we look forward to a wonderful new friendship with Kathleen and her two beautiful little girls.

Kathleen and Mia visit us last weekend

Waiting for the dragons


Seattle's China Gate


The big dragon slithers on by


Lily shielding her ear from
the firecrackers


Lily in her traditional Chinese clothes to celebrate the New Year

Painting Lily's Chinese name- Chu Fu Rong ("beautiful flower")

Talking with Chinese families

Lily with Dad in the Chinese pavilion

A Very Special Adoption Day

The last day of 2008 was a very special adoption day for us. Lily Mei was "re-adopted" in America so she could have an American birth certificate to accompany her Chinese birth certificate. And moments later John's adoption of Eric was finalized. Joining us for this special occasion was Nana (Barbara) and the Bashinski family; Scott, Kelly, and Justin.

During the proceeding, the judge asked John and Eric to talk about their decision to become father and son. John talked about being a part of Eric's life since he was 16 years old, learning to love him as his real son, and working hard to model what a father should be. Eric talked about John being more a part of his life in one month than his biological father had been in his whole life.

Lily Mei was in her glory, wearing traditional Chinese clothing and carrying her ever-present purse. She strutted through the courthouse as if she knew this was an important day; a day that added more confirmation that she was now an American.

After the preceding we all enjoyed an early dinner at a local steakhouse and then returned to our home. There, we exchanged Christmas presents with the Bashinskis. Lily was thrilled with her new rocking horse and doll house.

Lily and big-brother

Eric on their way to

the courtroom

Look out,

here I come

Waiting for the

proceedings

to begin

The swearing in.

Eric says "I do."

Posing with the judge

Our family

Pam, Lily, and

godmother Kelly

Proud grandmother

Barbara and handsome

grandson Eric

"I'm an American!"

Scott gives Lily her

first ride on her new

rocking horse.

One last Christmas

present to unwrap...

Lily's new doll house.

These ribbons and bows

are a real pain in the neck!

A White Christmas for Lily Mei

Lily Mei's first Christmas was a wonderfully joyous day for us all. The snow fell all night, and the reindeer and sleigh tracks were clearly visible on the roof in the morning.

Watching Lily experience each new moment was so exciting and emotional. Her delight in the smallest of things reminded us of how much we take for granted. With Mom and Dad, Nana, and Eric and Rachael, Lily Mei had a great time opening her gifts. As she tore the wrapping paper off each box, she looked up and asked... "What is this?" What a difference over what she must have experienced last year on December 25th in the orphanage.