Happy New Year 2009

These photos were from google and the celebrations around China.  I'm not that good with the new Nikon yet!

When we were in China last year the decorations were just starting to go up around the hotels, inside restaurants and shops.  Giant red lanterns were placed outside the hotel we were staying in and you couldn't help but feel that this holiday was indeed significant for a country steeped in tradition.
I took this photo outside our hotel in Bejing last year.  These lanterns were huge!

What is so interesting to me is how connected I still feel to this country.  I enjoyed our trip, met amazing locals as well as adoptive families, and managed to squeeze in a few of the sites.  Our focus was on all the paperwork and appointments we had to finalize before departing, but I wanted to absorb as much as I could and take home significant items for Kira to have from her birth place.  So in a sense, celebrating the Chinese New Year, also marks the time we were in China to adopt our daughter, indeed one of the greatest celebrations of my life.

So this year I took a few photos of Kira in her new country and home, but also in her traditional Chinese outfits.  She didn't need any Red Envelopes as she already found all the change in my coat pockets!

A Garden Party

The day was filled with anticipation.  The weather was perfect for a Garden Party at The Princess Ladybug Palace.  So tiny Princess Ladybug, stood at the front door to welcome her friends and invite them in from the cold for some flower nectar and green leaves to climb upon.

The Tiny Princess was very excited about her party, and so, she waited and made sure everything was neat and orderly!

She knew that these round puffy things would make for some fun and soft landings.


She made sure there were  tieras too for her Ladybug friends! 

She was a stickler for details and made sure there were enough flowers for any shy ladybugs to hide behind or perhaps play with. What Ladybug doesn't like a pretty flower to sit upon. There were also random petals strewn about so if any were to loose their way, all they had to do was follow the petals home! Princess Ladybug was so happy, everything was in order!  

OH MY, she exclaimed, I hear the Ladybugs arriving!  So she hustled to the front door and saw beautiful little Ladybugs arriving, each smiling, greeting her with a soft hello!  Princess Ladybug was very happy and couldn't wait to show them her special surprise, but she waited till all the precious Ladybugs were safely here.
Ladybugs Stephie and Danielle
Ladybug Lia
Ladybug Jade
Ladybug Katie 
Ladybugs Mia and Maddie
The Palace was a buzz with sweetness.  Here are Ladybugs Sydney, Jade and Hayley, gathering closely as ladybugs often do.



How happy Princess Ladybug was, seeing her friends dancing and laughing, even stopping to pose for pictures!

So Princess Ladybug decided it was time to share her BIG SURPRISE!

HERE'S THE SURPRISE, THE BEST DIRT ON EARTH WAS HERE!  YEP FULL OF WORMS, SPIDERS AND OTHER LUSCIOUS, EDIBLES...WHAT A SURPRISE TO ALL HER LADYBUG FRIENDS!  
AND STILL MORE, FLOWERS AND LOT'S OF YUMMY, TASTY FLOWERS!  THIS GARDEN PARTY WAS MORE THAN A PRINCESS LADYBUG  COULD HAVE EVER DREAMED OF!  

(The dirt was delicious, email me for a recipe)

The festivities continued and Princess Ladybug was just in awe of her new twirly dress, the music, the dancing and the fact that she could have anything she wanted to eat this day!  She jumped, twirled and ran through the Palace with laughter.  In fact the entire Palace was full of little Ladybug giggles and laughter (the result of too much sugar).  However, there was still the issue of a flowered, cake that needed some attention.  So all the Ladybugs and their escorts gathered around the table for a new song that the Princess has heard earlier that week.  Everybody started singing Happy Birthday and she stood up and clapped her hands too.  Momma Ladybug made sure the Princess didn't try to step on the cake as it really looked like real flowers.  All in all the cake was cut, the cupcakes eaten and then on to more fun with play.  

NOW THIS IS A CAKE (we made sure it didn't go upside down into some bag, like the first one, these pastry chefs knew that special Ladybugs were depending on this cake)!

Happy Birthday Kira!  May your life be full of love, happiness and good health!   You will always be my sweet, darling button nose, Princess Ladybug, who has already made me the happiest Momma in the world!

A BIT OF SOUTHERN CHARM IN NJ

I JUST LOVE HER EYES AND EXPRESSIONS.  THIS HAT COMES WITH A DRESS THAT WAS DESIGNED BY MY FRIEND DALEEA.  KIRA LOVED THE HAT BECAUSE IT'S FASTENED WITH A LADYBUG IN THE BAG AND SO SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT OFF.  YEP MY FASHIONISTA, CLAD IN A SWEATSHIRT, PJ BOTTOMS, BARE FEET AND THIS GORGEOUS HAT!

THIS DRESS WAS ALSO HANDMADE FROM DALEEA.  I LOVE HER WORK BECAUSE SHE'S ONE OF A KIND, THE FABRIC IS VERY PRETTY AND FROCKY AND THIS DRESS LOOKS SO CUTE WITH JEANS.  THANK YOU DALEEA FOR DESIGNING SUCH CUTE AND DIFFERENT LOOKS FOR OUR CHILDREN.

THE CELBRATION CONTINUES...ELMO OR BUST (THAT BALLOON SOMEONE PLEASE)

PRACTICING SOME FUTURE BALLET POSE

I LOVE PLAYING ON THE STAIRS!  YES WE HAVE A GATE AND YES SHE FIGURED OUT HOW TO BYPASS IT!
SEE WHAT MOMMA BOUGHT ME?  BALLOONS SO I CAN DRIVE HER NUTS ALL DAY!
I LOVE TO CAPTURE PHOTOS OF KIRA WHEN SHE'S THINKING, ALWAYS SERIOUS, BUT SO CUTE.
OH, WELL FROM ANOTHER BAKERY, ELMO CAME ALL IN ONE PIECE!
OKAY, I HAD TO SNAP THIS PHOTO BECAUSE I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW SERIOUS SHE LOOKS PLAYING ON MY LAPTOP.  THE FUNNY THING IS SHE'S NOT PLAYING BUT FINDING HER ELMO MOVIE OR PULLING SOMETHING UP OFF THE DESKTOP.  

CAKE ANYONE?

WELL HOW STUPID CAN PEOPLE GET?  THE WOMAN AT THE STORE PUT THE CAKE IN THE BAG UPSIDE DOWN AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED TO IT!  
KIRA'S LIKE, "HEY BRING IT ON ANYWAY, IT LOOKS YUMMY"
SO IT'S OKAY TO STICK YOUR FINGERS IN THIS SWEETIE!  THE DOG FOOD AND CAT STUFF, OFF LIMITS.
A BIRTHDAY KISS FULL OF ICING AND CHOCOLATE CAKE FOR KIRA.  OH HOW I LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday Sweet Kira

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRA ISABELLA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SWEET KIRA,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

LOVE,

MOMMA AND ADDY (DAD)

Oh how happy we are to be celebrating your second birthday with you.  Last year we just came home you and the excitement was overwhelming.  Now this year, we get to (spoil) have more fun and look back on this amazing year.

So what is Kira doing now!

Running like a maniac all over the house,

Climbing on everything and nothing is too tall or challenging for you.

You actually know about 8 letters of the alphabet and can say up to 28 words.

You've got all your teeth, dress yourself, but like to undress and streak more.  We do hope you out grow that phase.

Laugh and smile, making appropriate silly faces.

You love to give and throw kisses.

You recognize those you love, and affectionately now call me Momma. 

Now you enjoy drawing, playing with your new little toy house, and carryiing purses around.

You imitate everything I do, which is quite hilarious, even my loud yawn!

Oh, I'm sure I'll add to this list, but at this hour, those are some of the highlights.

BABY YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY!

We wish you nothing but good health, a happy and long life and the fortitude to do the things you want!  

I love you with all my heart and soul, sweet child.  This year has been amazing for me as your mother and I so look forward to many more years of happiness and joy with you, our daughter!