Not so easy getting two girls to stand still for pictures these days. I love the picture of the girls laughing, my new favourite!

My girls

Took the girls out tonight for an Autumn Moon Festival get-together, a little solo parenting (Blair was working). I was wondering how this evening would go, 2 kids, buffet style restaurant, you can imagine my apprehension.
The girls surprised me. They both sat at a table with some other kids, without mommy. Okay, I did try and make Brennyn sit with me, but she wanted "sit with sister". Avery insisted on helping Brennyn and told me to go sit on my own "I'm the big sister mom, I can watch her you know". Who am I to argue with that? They were both so grown up.
I do find it fascinating to watch their different personalities. They are like night and day, these two and I love it.
Brennyn is so curious, she just cannot sit still for very long. People to see, things to touch and exploring to be done. Avery prefers to watch, and she does not miss a thing. She is one smart little cookie!
However, once she sees little sister having fun and running around, she must join in.
I was explaining to Avery that all the kids at the party were also adopted from China. She looked at me and said "no mom, not all the kids". I was thinking, hmm maybe she still doesn't understand this yet and she said "Katie isn't born in China Mooooom" Right she was, Katie is the big sister of one of Avery's friends who was born in China.

Brennyn's first day

Brennyn's turn. It was Brennyn's first day at Teddy Bear school (preschool at one of the local high schools).
Avery went for two years and now Brennyn. Avery probably said 10 words in 2 years, Brennyn would say 10 words in 5 seconds. I love that my girls are so opposite, keeps me on my toes!
Blair had to pick Brennyn up from school today since I was at work. Apparently, her buddy said that Brennyn was good, but very busy and likes to play with everything. I'm guessing circle time was probably a bit of a challenge for Brennyn's big buddy (Brennyn is not known for sitting around, she likes to move/explore/people watch).

Hard to believe that she'll be getting on the bus with Avery next year. Both my girls are growing up so quickly!

First day back at work, followed by Brennyn's day celebration. Pizza and Brownies for all! It's a tradition in my family that the person whose day it is gets to pick what food they want to eat. We don't go out to eat or give presents, it's just a special day spent with family.
I don't really remember what I used to pick to eat on my day, I'll have to ask my mom one of these days.
I've altered the tradition by also adding a cake/special dessert.
Of course, both girls always want to know why Daddy doesn't have a "Blair" day. Avery always forgets that her Dad wasn't adopted like Mommy, Avery and Brennyn.

One year ago

September 21st 2009, can it be a year already? The day was one big rush, rush to the airport in Beijing, rush from the airport in Xi'an to the hotel, rush to the bank to exchange money (I won't even go into why we had to exchange money 45 minutes before we met our daughter), rush to change, rush to the civil affairs office and suddenly time stood still.

There you were, a bald 2 year old, happy as can be playing with your nanny and checking the place out. Your little cheek had a huge red welt on it (we realized later that someone may have been pinching your cheeks trying to get you to swallow food you had been storing). You looked up at us and immediately resumed playing. It wasn't until I brought out the snacks that you came up to me. Of course, once I tried to put the snacks away, all heck broke loose. I didn't clue in until that night (when we tried to eat in the hotel room) that you had food issues and trying to win you over with snacks may not have been my best idea ever.
Amazingly, you went willingly with us to the waiting van and back to our hotel room. You took one look at the rickety old crib and looked back at us as if to say "I don't think so" and you have never been in a crib since!

It was the most difficult 2 weeks of my life (so far) and I'm sure you felt the same. You didn't know who we were, where you were going, or what was happening. You were terrified of all these changes and had no way to express that fear, except to scream. You wanted nothing to do with us, except for feeding time.

Baby, look at you now! You are such a cuddly, outgoing, happy little girl. You speak in sentences and have no problem letting us know what you want and don't want. I can freely admit that you have me wrapped around your little fingers and I give in too much. Oh, you can still scream and throw a mean temper tantrum but it's nothing like it used to be.
Honestly, I barely remember all the hard times but I know underneath it all you will never forget. I wish you could, and I wish you didn't have to go through all that pain but I can't take that away. I can just do my best to be the mother you need and love you with everything I have.
Happy first ever Brennyn Day!

More pictures

Both girls love watching Mom put make up on. I think it's because it's such a rare sight (never was much of a make-up person and it's only gotten worse as I've become lazier, I mean older). Of course, they wanted to be made up "like a real lady" too.

The rest of the pics, are just some odds and ends from summer. Ahh, what a great summer it was!

First day of school would have been a little smoother had the bus not driven by us, while we stood at the stop in the pouring rain.
Oh well, Avery was driven to school instead. She ended up having a great time and can't wait for Monday.