Happy Anniversary!

Awwww... Who is that sweet, young couple starting their lives together? That's Al and me, twelve years ago today! And what a wonderful twelve years it's been! Can't wait to see what the future has in store for us and our family!

My Baby is Ten Today!

Our little Hannah turns 10 today! "That's double digits, Mom!" she keeps reminding me. As if I need reminding...

First day at home with us...

Sitting in the grass, probably for the first time in her life...

Snuggling under the afghan Nana made for her...

I love her Chinese name: Zhipan. Zhi means "will; aspiration". Pan means "looking ahead to the future". Hannah has great aspirations for her future...

- She is going to be a science/history/art/music teacher.
- She is going to have 12 children - 6 by birth and 6 by adoption. They're going to ride around in a limousine, because that's the only vehicle Hannah knows of that will hold that many people!
- She's going to build her house in the field right next to our house, so I can help her take care of all her children.
- She has most recently announced that she wants to be a missionary in China, helping Christians who are persecuted and imprisoned for their faith.



Daddy-Daughter dance...

Winter, 2008

Field Museum of Natural History...

Our beautiful, grown-up girl!

Hannah, your Daddy, sisters and I are so proud of the beautiful young lady you are becoming! We love you more than you can imagine! Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Happy Nine-Year Gotcha Day, Hannah!

Nine years! Hard to believe!

Our first moments with you. You were a squirmy baby!

Curious baby...

Nanchang countryside (complete with water buffalo)...

Tired baby...

We celebrated Easter in Guangzhou...

Guangzhou airport, on our way home...

My first Mother's Day, just a couple of weeks later!

Abbie's Birthday Portraits

Just wanted to share a few favorites...

Chinese Almond Cookies

I made these almond cookies for a play date with Hannah's China group last week, and several moms asked me for the recipe...

Chinese Almond Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1/2 pound (1 stick + 2-3 tablespoons) butter-flavored Crisco
2 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
Almond halves or slivers

Directions:
1. Preheat oen to 325.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.
3. Add the shortening, egg, and almond extract; knead the ingredients until just combined (do not overknead).
4. Place 1-inch balls of the dough on 2 ungreased cokie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Place an almond half or sliver in the center of each, pressing down slightly. Bake 18-20 minutes, until cookies are big and yellow (avoid overbaking).
For larger cookies, make larger dough balls. Makes abut 30 cookies (I make smaller cookies, so I get a lot more than that).

Happy Fifth Birthday, Abbie!

Happy fifth birthday to our sweet baby! I can't believe how grown-up she's getting. Five just seems so, well, mature! It's school-age. Such independence! But I still call her "The Baby"!

Thought I'd share a few baby photos of Abbie...

This is her referral photo. The first glimpse we ever had of her, and the earliest photo we have.

This is one of my favorites, taken while we played on the hotel bed in Guangzhou.

Love those soft little terry sleep-n-play outfits! Cuddly!

She was already pulling to stand and cruising the furniture and walls when she was placed with us at 8 months! Check out the cute feet!

Playing in her kitchen - age 10 months.

Her first Christmas, 10 months old.

Pretty in pink!

Snoozing in her high chair.

I love this shot of Abbie, examining the wave drum so intently. Love those little feet!

Playing peek-a-boo in her high chair.

Abbie would walk around the kitchen, pushing our little plastic "Naughty Chair" in front of her like a sort of walker. Note the chubby thighs and feet!

Snoozing in the Exersaucer I would put her in to keep her safe while I showered. She slept well in odd places - too bad she didn't sleep so well in her crib at night!

I always bathe my babies in the kitchen sink when they're really little!

One-Year Portrait

Two-Year Portrait

Three-Year Portrait

Four-Year Portrait

Our Abigail Lihuan today!