Happy Birthday Anna! On Friday, November 9th, Anna had her very first birthday party. She was looking very cute, as usual and was oh, so rotten. She was loving her freedom to roam the room and my, my how she can work a crowd!
Anna can cast her spell on anyone. Just a smile, hug or the big guns, a kiss, to get her way.
Anna loving her Uncle Rick.
We used the "Red Thread" Chinese proverb to tie all the pictures of Anna from birth in China until now with us.
We had friends and family gather to help us celebrate Anna's first and second birthday. For us, it was not just a birthday party, but also a celebration of Anna being home and being a part of our family. Anna was more than friendly with all the guests. She was giving hugs and kisses to anyone who would show her attention. I don't think that she understood that the fuss was all about her. She just wanted the person that was holding her at the time to give her 110% of their attention.
Knowing Momma and Daddy won't let her touch the paper lanterns, she just moves to the next person who will...Anna with my cousin Janel.
She would walk around the room chasing the other kids in attendance or would walk up to the adults and let them know, in not so many words, that she wanted to be held. Everyone was more than willing to accommodate her wishes. As I expected, the whole gift thing was not her idea of fun. People were so kind and generous and she was totally content playing with the party decorations. So, I opened the gifts for her and she flicked a little piece of red shredded paper.
It's a family tradition with all the kids..."swing swong" with Uncle Pa Bobby
Anna had a blast, as did all the other kids I think. I know my boys did. All the cousins don't get to be together very often. They may get to be with Jack or Harris, but seldom do the boys, Jack, Harris and Caroline get to be together at the same time. Plus, some of our extended family was there as well with their kids.
I really feel old when my kids are hiding out in the corner listening to music instead of playing like all the other kids. Reason #5,287 Issac is cool - he brought his iPod.
We got home Friday night around 11:00 pm, totally zonked and I was ready for bed! But, we had all the left over food, presents and kids still running wide open to contend with. Saturday was going to be a full day again, so we got the kids in bed asap and passed out!
Parker's "brother Caleb" and one of Anna's #1 fans, Courtney.
There will never be a good picture of all of us...too much action!
Saturday morning, Anna's birthday, we had to go to Jacob's basketball game. Rodney was hunting and I was feeding Anna and Parker. Parker wanted a little play set opened, which I did, and he began to play. After I fed Anna, she got up and went to play with him. She walked around and packed a little puppy that came with the set. I was getting things ready for Carter and Jacob and I noticed Anna digging through the gift bags. A few minutes later, I notice she is sitting on the bottom step playing, with the puppy I think. As I walk closer to her, I notice the puppy is now on the floor. As I get closer, I see she found one of those pieces of paper in the gift bags, ditched the dog, and is now flicking the paper yet again. I know what Anna is getting for Christmas...boxes of shredded paper ;-)
We went to the Y for Jacob's basketball game and then stayed afterwards and played with the kids. After leaving the Y, we ate lunch and came home to put the babies down for a nap. Anna was totally exhausted. She took a good, long nap. I tried to straighten the mess from the night prior and put together Anna's little piano from her Nanny and Pa Ronald. When she woke up, we all played with Anna and got pizza for dinner (of course Anna won't eat pizza, so it was more the "party factor" for the boys) and ate MORE cake. This time, Anna actually ate some. Only fitting I suppose...the party wasn't actually on her birthday, so she saved her first cake tasting for her real birthDAY.
She knows when she is doing something cute and a perfect photo opp.
I don't know why, but she puts that foot up on the keys almost everytime she plays.
Sometimes it is very, I know this sounds cliche, but surreal to be where we are now. Just thinking how things were just 1 year ago. Knowing where Anna was and where she is now is just really unbelievable sometimes. There are times that I am just trying to keep the laundry somewhat caught up, get dinner on the table and take care of my 4, 5 if you count Rodney :-), kids. Then there are these moments, "I can't believe she is really here...we have a daughter from China...this really happened." I knew when we started this that God would finish it, but looking back, it is just amazing to me HOW God made it happen. It wasn't the way that I wanted, but it was perfect and in His timing, not mine. For whatever reason, things needed to occur the way that they did, and I couldn't be happier.
I had someone tell me just yesterday as they were commenting on how lovely Anna was, that she was a very lucky little girl. I responded that Rodney and I were the lucky ones.
Big birthday party, busy birthday morning, one tired little girl.
Excited about the upcoming holiday season and sending love from Rodney, Marcy, Carter, Jacob, Parker and Anna.
The first picture of Hai Zhi Yi, "Novie"
