Seaside Oregon and The Fair

We headed to Seaside Oregon for a few days to get away. It ended up being cold, foggy and rainy. While back at home it was in th high 90's and miserable. But its the chance you take! We made the best of it and had a good time.

We also went to the Evrgreen State Fair wth Ray and Sherry. Kayla and Jon are working at the fair so we visited with them. It was hot- but we had a great time. Grace loved seeing all of the animals. She stayed up well past her bedtime and passed out on the way home- a sure sign she had a good time.

Summer is almost over and am not ready for it too end- we didn't get to enjoy it as much as we should have. There is always next year!

3 Years

Today is the 3rd anniversary of my Father's death. It still hits me like a ton of bricks. I know it takes a long time to get over the death of someone you love as much as I loved and idolized my Dad. I would never have moved to Seattle if it weren't for him. Some of my family hate that I am here, but it was what I was meant to do. We moved several times when I was younger for my father's job. So it seemed natural that given the opportunity I would do the same. So I am 3000 miles away from where I grew up- but I know I belong here in the Northwest and have never regretted the move. Besides, I would never have met Scott and Grace would never have come into my life.
So, Dad- I love you and miss you everyday- Thanks for being a great Father and friend.

Grace Loves Ice Cream

I bought an ice cream maker to try my hand at a home made treat. It seems to be working well and Grace and Scott (more Scott) gobbles it up soon after its made. So that's a good thing- right? Grace likes her ice cream in a cone. Scott- well, he'll eat it any way he can get it.

Before we met.........

Thanks to one of my coworkers Chad Marsh- I am so happy to be able to post this video clip of Grace. This is when she was only a few weeks old and in foster care. This clip is from Brian Stuy's Qianjiang video. He's a guy from Utah who visits finding places in China and offers the finding adds etc. for sale to adoptive parents. Its the little bits of info we as parents crave to help our children put the pieces together of where they came from and to show them that they were cared for and loved before we became a forever family. Renee Sattazahn was the one who was certain that this was Grace in the video- I had not been able to watch the whole video and never came across this part. Thanks to you both

Gotcha Day

One year ago today- Scott and I added to our clan and FINALLY became a real family. Instead of a 4 legger we added a 2 legger to the mix- Miss Grace Olivia Li Stafford. I remember getting into Chongching and all of us being told our babies were on the way to us and we should be meeting them at 5 pm. So we all rushed to our rooms and unpacked and hurried to wrap our gifts and maybe try to relax and get something to eat. We ordered room service but I couldn't get myself to eat I was too nervous.
Well, as usual our group didn't get any breaks- the babies were 2 hours late! Scott continued to go up and down the elevator and was checking the lobby as I sat in a chair right next to the phone. Ricky our guide finally called and told us our baby was in the lobby and to please come get her. (Like I wasn't half way out the door 2 seconds after I hung up.) I still remember the butterflies and the " Oh my gosh" feeling. Somehow we were the first people downstairs and as we walked out of the hallway by the elevators they were all lines up on 2 of the couches in front of us. I froze and just couldn't believe they were RIGHT THERE.
I started to panic because I couldn't see Grace on the sofa in front of us- I started to think what kind of a mother as I and couldn't even pick out my child! Scott pointed all the way to the left and there she was- hanging out on the couch just watching the world go by! Oh my gosh she was just the most precious and beautiful baby I had ever seen.
We had to wait for all of the families to come down before they started calling names. I wasn't even sure I'd know how to hold her but everything went so smoothly. None of the babies cried and it was just the most perfect moment.
So a year has gone by and we are looking forward to all of the rest of them to come. Grace is our sunshine and our precious gift. We could not have asked for a more perfect child!
Happy 1 year to all of our Chongching families!

Almost 2

Grace will be turning 2 in September and I can't help but marvel at how far we have all come in just this past year. We had been waiting for what seemed like forever (it really was forever) to get to our referral and then 8 short weeks later we were on a plane to China- first stop was Beijing. Then a few days later in the wee hours of the morning we were on another plane to Chongching to be united with our daughter.

In these past 12 months Grace has learned to walk, eat everything she tries, talk constantly, and the list goes on. One of the very first words she learned was "Al"- our dog. I kept thinking she was saying "OW" but then she crawled over to him and touched him and said Al- Mystery solved and already a dog lover just like her Mom. Ralph and Maggie's names followed soon after.

She knows all of the family and friends we point to in pictures. ABC's and 123's are a part of our routine on a daily basis. She's a little fashionista too- know what she wants to wear and what she does not want to wear. Talk about a hissy fit if she is being made to wear something that no respectable 22 month old would be caught dead in! She has more clothes than I do. GEEZ!

Oh yeah, and she is growing like a weed- how could I forget that. Last night was a little cool so I pulled out a pair of footie PJ's we got at Costco a few months ago. They were droopy on her when we bought them, but- well, last night they are on the verge of being to small. How the heck did that happen!? She's also in a size 4 shoe- just barely. Seems like it took forever to get out of size 3. The pink boots her aunt Casey bought her will be fitting soon- I have a feeling.

The last post placement visit was Wedenesday and it marks the last of the year long visits we were required to have. What a sigh of relief that we don't have to "report" to anyone anymore. Now we just need to do her readoption so we can get a passport. Then maybe a trip out of the country to celebrate that! Hmm... maybe Switzerland..... We'll have to wait and see.

Gotcha day is just a few dyas away- stay tuned!