More Baptism Pictures!

Here are more pictures of our special Sunday.

Holy Baptism

Getting Ready to go to the Church
Quinn's getting excited now!

Look at this little angel!

Future Miss America! We gave her this "big sister" purse today.

Great Grandma and Grandpa Morrison

Family Photo with Godparents and all our children!

Presenting Elizabeth Quinn Yu Asbell.....

Donovan in his tuxedo. Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man!

Today was Quinn's baptism into the Catholic Church. It was absolutely beautiful, but it was very special because my grandparents were able to attend. I feel like every moment I have with my grandparents are precious because I don't know how many more of these times we will share together with the whole family together.

Kelly and Marty R. served as her godparents. Quinn will have the very best godparents! Kelly wore a beautiful Mandarin shirt in a cinnabar color for the occasion. I loved how she honored Quinn's culture by wearing that blouse.

My dad was the official photographer for the day. He did a great job!

I have to say, Quinn was very well behaved during the service. I loved it when Father Steve blessed her with the holy water. She smiled and giggled, and when he was finished she clapped! Father then blessed her with oils that had been blessed by the Archbishop. The oils consist of olive oil, cloves, and other scents that smell really, really good. MaryKatherine kept rubbing Quinn's head throughout the day and then rubbing her scented hands on her own neck!

We took several pictures and then came home to pink cake with strawberries, coffee, tea, lasagna, garlic bread and salad. It hit the spot!! Mom provided lots of Valentine themed cookies that were scrumptious, and the kids played throughout the house. Kelly's daughter Haylee played the piano for us. She is very, very talented. Alex said he would love to be able to play the piano as well as she does. It was a beautiful day full of memories that I will remember forever!

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

We're trapped like rats today because of the rain. Quinn and I have started this habit (good habit) of eating our lunch, putting her in the jog stroller, and we go, go go! I've put on several pounds since being home with Quinn, so now I'm fighting to get them off...ugh!
We've been averaging 2-3 miles each day. My problem is that I eat...alot....what can I say? I'm a food lover!!
I go back to work in a little over a month now. I'm axious...about going back to work. I've enjoyed staying home with Quinn all this time, but know that I NEED to work...for my sanity.
I DO miss my colleagues.
Today I finished my book club book by Wally Lamb: The Hour I First Believed.
I recommend it. Very good.
We celbrated Chinese New Year by visiting the library. They had festivities going on. Our local paper was there and snapped a picture of Quinn, MK, and myself. It was a "no-makeup" day for me, so the picture was quite flattering....NOT! The festivities were lots of fun though.
Today Q and I visited the library for the mommy and me program. I love to watch her around other children. She is fascinated by markers, glue, scissors. I don't think she ever played with toys or anything until this past November when she came home to us. The things I take for granted she is enamored over.
At this point in time she really loves:
. the cat
. the cat's catfood ( I am always taking it out of her mouth.)
. the stairs
. meat....any kind
. tuna mixed with macaroni and cheese
. tomatoes
. corn, peas, mashed potatoes
. hummus and flatbread
. anything starchy (bread, rice, cereal)
. riding in a car
. riding in a stroller
. loud, louder and loudest toys
. Debbie Scott
. her squeaky shoes
. laying on daddy's chest
. her siblings
. makeup (her sister is always giving her makeovers.)
. my nose

At this point, these are the things she doesn't like.
. scrambled eggs
. canned spinach
. strangers
I'm hoping that's as big as the dislike list gets.
I'm trying to figure out how to upload video, but I do have some updated pictures I'll post later.

Happy New Year-2009!

Fitting right in with this family!
Quinn loves playing piano with Alex!

My first ice cream cone!

Dad and MK painting the porch! She's a worker!

The three musketeers!

Christmas Day morning....after presents!

Getting ready for Hanging of the Greens at school.

Sisters...

2009 is off to a fantastic start! Life is great, God is good, and we have so much to be thankful for. My goal for the month of January is to put all of our China photos in an album, and begin organizing the stacks of pictures tucked in my closet. I was finally able to catch up on laundry the other day! For some reason, when I'm caught up on laundry, all seems right with the world! I wanted to post pictures of Quinn's first ice cream cone, and also some other random photos around the house. Phillip and MK painted "the porch" last weekend a beautiful blue color. "The porch" will now be a den, as it is now insulated and cozy! Did you all make New Year Resolutions? Mine was to get back into a running routine. So far, so good. I've been able to run almost every day with Phillip. We have fun! Hope you all are having a fantastic new year as well!

Merry Christmas - 2008!

Christmas morning!

Our Forever Family!

What an amazing month it has been! I think back to the last six weeks, and it's been like a huge whirlwind!

Quinn is adjusting very well to her new family, and the kids love her very much. It's like a piece has been missing in our lives for very long time, and now we are complete! I DO feel like an old lady compared to the last time I had a little one. Technically I am now old enough to be Quinn's grandmother!! But it's worth it!!

I hope everyone following our blog has a successful 2009, and you all fulfill your dreams! Quinn started off as a dream to Phillip and me 2 1/2 years ago.........

Love to all!

What a Long, Strange Trip It's Been!

SEE MY BUDDHA BELLY?

QUINN AND HER DADDY (BA-BA)

MK (JIE-JIE) MAKING QUINN'S BED

I LOST MY FIRST TOOTH!

HAPPY GIRL!

Sorry for the late post, but the last six days have been a blur. It's hard to believe we've already been home that long!

The flight home was pretty uneventful...thank goodness. We had a brief meltdown on the tarmack in Tokyo (baby, not us), and we were stopped by security in China twice, bags unpacked, etc. and once in Tokyo. We must look shady! I was almost in tears in China, because there is absolutely nothing scarier than Chinese security. Communist country....they don't smile at you.....or speak English.....military uniforms.....uggh! Thank goodness for our wonderful guide Helen, for helping us through it all!!! I will miss her more than anything! She became a good friend to Phillip and me.

Quinn was excellent on the flight to America. The plane was a big airbus, and there was hardly anyone on board; except a few adopting parents and an Italian soccer team. Thanksgiving is the day to fly!!

We were greeted at the airport by my parents, grandparents and MaryKatherine. It was beautiful to see them all, and I swear MK grew when we were gone!! She had a loose tooth the whole time we were gone and lost it a day after we got home. I was so glad to be here to see her lose her first tooth!!

As soon as we landed on US soil, Elizabeth Quinn Yu became a US citizen. That sounds so good to my ears!

She is doing very well at home, exploring her new house, and learning that in Indiana, we MUST wear warm clothes in December. She's beginning to tolerate baths; no more screaming bloody murder....She LOVES her brothers, sister and her daddy! Last night was amazing. We were getting ready for dinner, and Quinn ran into the kitchen and right to her daddy. She was freely giving hugs and kisses to everybody! We are so blessed by this little one.

I will continue posting weekly, and hope you all still follow our journey. It's been an amazing, remarkable one.

I'm Leavin on a Jet Plane.....

We came with three suitcases. We are leaving with five suitcases and a baby!! The suitcases say "Samsonitesan" on them. They were knock-offs, but as long as they make it home I'm ok with that. It's been an unbelievable journey for our whole family. We've spent two weeks in a culture with deep, deep roots in tradition; and ultra respect for the elderly. We have had an amazing adventure in China. Donovan wants to come back. He told me this evening that when he grows up he wants to adopt a baby. Looking at him playing with his sister 24-7, I believe he will do just that when he grows up. Quinn really likes Alex too. She calls him "Ai-Ai". Each day we've been with Quinn it's been remarkable to see how she grows developmentally. In just 10 days she has gone from a child who either cried or was "flat", to a child who has a gut-busting laugh and gives kisses freely. We truly have been blessed by God. There's no feeling in the world quite like having three biological children, and then be lucky enough to have another child! (Or maybe we are just nuts!)

Today our family stood in front of a representative of the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China and put up our right hand and took an oath that we would care for this child and that she will be a United States Citizen when we touch down at Detroit International Airport. I had a huge lump in my throat thinking about how dramatically this little girl's life has changed in 18 months. I'm so excited about our future together, and hopefully I won't mess her up too much!! :)

Thank you all for following our blog. It has been wonderful reading all your messages. It has gotten us through so much! Even though this experience has been the best ever, we've all been a little homesick. Thank you all. America, here we come!!

MK- We're almost home sweetie!! We love you!!

Mom, Dad, Alex, Donovan, and Quinn