HAPPY 1ST GOTCHA DAY

On January 4, 2009, in a small room in the Gloria Hotel located in Nanchang China, Jiangxi Province, a beautiful little girl was pulled from the life she knew and placed into our loving arms where her new life began.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and we just flew from 20 degree weather from Beijing to 50 degree weather in Nanchang. There were 3 other families with us, and all three families were on a natural high as we knew that our lives were about to become complete.

Upon arriving to the hotel we were told that the babies did not arrive yet. We hurried to our room and started to unpack all of the baby stuff that we packed. I was actually putting diaper and wipes and little baby clothes away in a drawer, for only a short hour or so we would become parents. There was a knock on our door from our guide Sissi. In her gentle little voice she said, "the babies are here, come quick." We all scurried into her room and one by one the babies came in.

Our dear friends Rob and Susan received their miracle first, beautiful little Lily. We snapped pictures and shed a few tears of joy for our new found friends. Than I remember Tony saying, "Dee, Dee...she's here....Halainah's here. And when I looked up, I saw the most beautiful little miracle that God could ever give us...our daughter...Halainah Grace.


I rushed to her nanny and thought for a split second..."should I take Halainah out of her arms." Well a split second passed and I scooped her up and gave her the most cherished warm hug and kiss I could. With tears in my eyes I ran to Tony and at that very moment is when our family finally felt complete.

It was a hectic time afterwards as there were about 20 people in a small hotel room. The nannies gave us some very special gifts and one by one we exited the room. With our miracle in our arms, Tony and I walked to our hotel room amazed by God's grace. My brother who was walking behind us was sobbing tears of joy for he himself had not witnessed a miracle to this magnitude.

Once we got back to our hotel room, we unbundled Halainah as she was wrapped up like a burrito. She never cried once. She just stared at all of us soaking in her new life. We gave her a bath and got her all nice and cozy...and our lives as a family of 3 began.

Looking back at this past year with Halainah...I am amazed at what a beautiful little angel she has become. She smiles all of the time and emanates joy wherever she goes. We are constantly told that she is such a happy baby. And she is. But more so, she is the joy of our lives. She is our everything. She was destined to be our daughter and we thank God for her everyday. Years of trying to conceive somehow disappeared the moment our daughter was placed in our arms. I can't wait to see what the future holds for our treasure. For I know that anything she touches will turn to gold. She is a true angel here on earth.

Happy 1 year Gotcha day baby girl. We love you more than you could possibly fathom. You are our world and we love you all the way to heaven and back. I love your giant hugs, your sweet kisses and your warm snuggles (we call them snoogles). Our life is complete all because of one giant miracle delivered all the way from China...that's you...our most cherished Halainah Grace Qinyang.

Exactly One Year Ago Today...the moment Halainah made us whole.

Today, Halainah has grown into such a beautiful big girl. But she didn't like her gotcha day clothes...she kept saying, "off."

Talking to Daddy on the phone today. He called to say, "Happy Gotcha Day my angel."

Jiu Jiu holding his niece for the first time on Gotcha day 1 year ago.


Today, sitting in the comforts of her very own bedroom.


1 Year Ago, being unbundled from all 5 layers of clothes. Although she never cried, she was unsure of her surroundings and sort of just sat and looked around.

Today I see a happy little girl who is very sure of who she is and is very happy to be with her mommy and daddy.

Sleeping all snug like a bug in a rug on her very own little chair. Our miracle whom we thank God for everyday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND 1 YEAR AGO TODAY

Happy New Year.

May this year be an extraordinarily spectacular year for all.

1 year ago today, Tony and I boarded a very long flight to China. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I remember the fear I had boarding that 15 hour flight. I remember my father kissing me goodbye saying he loves us and to have a safe flight. I remember watching him walk out the door and almost wishing that I was going with him. And I remember thinking to myself that even though I was nervous I was so excited, that finally we would meet our little miracle, Halainah Grace. I remember looking at Tony and giving all my fears to him to carry the load and be brave for me. I remember taking his hand as we boarded the flight together knowing that in a few short days our hands would be carrying the most wonderful gift of all.

All day today I kept saying to Tony, "we just boarded the flight," "at this time we were flying for 5 hours," "we were almost there." I still don't know how we survived that 15 hour flight.

Reflecting back on this year, although it has been so difficult financially with the lose of my job. And the most difficult of all, Halainah's papa's illness and his calling home, we faced these issues as a family of 3. And our miracle has gotten us through the darkest of days. She truly is our shining light of God.


New Years Eve at around 11:30. Cousins, Halainah, Leanna, and Antoinette snuggled together while waiting for the new year to begin.

Today, almost 1 year later after she was placed in our arms. She has grown into such a beautiful little angel.

Halainah's big gift from Santa, her dollhouse. And Grandma helped furnish her favorite toy.


Here she is putting the baby into his crib saying, "shhhhh...night, night."

New Year's day celebrated at Aunt Deb's. Halainah and Cassandra are only 6 months apart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Our family is still grieving the loss of Papa "Halainah called Grandpa, Papa." We tried desperately to make Christmas as special as we possibly could for Halainah's sake. We tried our best to put on a happy face. I know Halainah misses Papa too. She points to his picture everyday and says, "Papa sleeping." It breaks my heart oh so much. I do hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas filled with the love of your family and friends. We are inching close to our very first Gotcha Day anniversary. I sure wish Papa and Oma (my mom) were here to celebrate with us.

Christmas morning, a bare Christmas tree reminds us of the last few weeks events and why it is still bare.

Santa came and Halainah was overwhelmed with the presents.

She had tons of presents to open. Opa even came in the morning with a truck load.

Halainah is feeding her Elmo book a bottle...too cute.

Looking pretty.

Playing with one of Jiu Jiu's gifts.

You can always find Halainah sitting in a chair reading a book.


Relaxing with Daddy.

Aunt Chrissy, Halainah and baby Vincent.

All of the cousins ready to start opening presents.


Cutie Patutie Leanna sound asleep on the floor and our wild child Halainah still up at midnight.

Asleep in the car on the way to Aunt Ann and Uncle Klause's house.

Halainah and cousin Tyler on Christmas day.

So cute together.
Halainah enjoying Chocolate pudding for the first time!

GOD SAW YOU GETTING TIRED

God saw you getting tired when a cure was not to be

So He closed His arms around you and whispered,

“Come to me!”

You did not deserve what you went through

and so He gave you rest.

God’s garden must be beautiful, He only takes the best.

And when we saw you sleeping so peaceful and free of pain,

We could not wish you back to suffer that again.

Revelation 21:4

“And God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying, and there shall be no more
pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Grandpa, I will love you and remember you for always and forever! - Halainah

LITTLE MONKEY

Jiu Jiu and Tia Crystal sent Halainah this adorable Monkey outfit for her birthday. Tia Crystal nicknamed Halainah "little monkey" way before we traveled to China to bring her home. And it has stuck ever since. So this outfit was perfect. It is also super super soft. So Halainah wore it on Saturday which happened to be our very first snowfall this season.

Thank you so much Jiu Jiu and Tia Crystal...don't I look super cute?

A MEMORABLE WEEKEND

On Saturday we took my Godson Norman to the movie theater to see A Christmas Carol in 3D. We had a lot of fun. The movie was great but a little scary for the younger kids. Halainah and Cassie who are 6 months apart had a play date at Cassie's house. Halainah had a blast. The cousins played and shared and made lots of noise. Aunt Deb made dinner for us when we got back and we had a chance to chit chat while the kids played nicely together.

On Sunday we ventured out to Staten Island to celebrate my father-in-laws 80th birthday. It was a very special day. The entire family gathered to help my father-in-law celebrate such an important milestone. We are so very thankful that he was released from the hospital on Saturday so that he was able to enjoy his birthday at home. The house was noisy and rowdy with all of the cousins playing together but I wouldn't want it any other way. It truly was so very nice to see everyone together, laughing and enjoying one's company. I had a blast playing with all of our special angels and catching up on days gone by. I pray that we can celebrate many more birthdays with my father-in-law and that we can all gather around the table as a special family.

Halainah got dressed up for Grandpa on his special day!


Cousin Vincent...don't you just want to eat those cheeks!

Uncle Tony and our beautiful niece Leanna!

Cousins - Antoinette and Halainah

Cousins playing together

Leanna cracks me up in this pic...SO CUTE!

Grandpa blowing out his candles...Happy 80th Birthday Grandpa!

Cousins for life - Leanna, Antoinette, Halainah and Serena

Proud Grandpa with his children, Tony, Annmarie and Chrissy

The Entire Family Together. What a very special picture!

Grandma and Grandpa with all of their grandchildren.

Aunt Annmarie and her very first angel from above, Celeste.

And I just had to throw this pic. in. Tony was messing around with my early Christmas present special from him, my new camera. This is a setting on the camera. Halainah is watching Elmo on her early Christmas present, her portable DVD player.


We all had a wonderful most memorable weekend. And we are praying for many more weekends just like this one!

God Bless!

HALAINAH'S NEW RIDE

Halainah is such a lucky little girl. Her Godparents love her so much they gave Halainah her very own motorized bike for her birthday. And this little stinker of a dare devil loves it. She tells me "side" which means outside so she can ride her bike.


She gets onto her bike and takes off with no fear.

She looks back once to make sure I am still watching.

At first it's a leisure ride taking in the fall scenery.

Which quickly turns into a race to see how far she can get.

Uh...sweetie...you are only 2...wait for Mama!


In other news...Halainah met Santa and she most certainly feared him. Pictures soon to come!

In more other news...I am putting together a video which documents our entire adoption journey from beginning to end to honor our daughter for her 1 year anniversary with her forever family.

In more more other news...I have a great fund raising idea to help with our newest adoption journey to Halainah's Mei Mei. I am actually very excited about it and hope with the help of my Aunts and cousin we can make my idea into a huge success.

I can't wait to share our video with you once done and my fund raising campaign...hopefully both turn out spectacular.

Many Blessings From Our Family To Yours!