Hannah's First Christmas

Here are some pics from Hannah's first Christmas! Our day began quietly with just the two of us but then we quickly moved into par*tay mode with family and friends!

Christmas morning at home with Mommy


Breakfast with friends Carol and David and their family - An annual tradition



Christmas with my family. It was great that both my brothers and most of their families were able to be there. We celebrated earlier in the week with the children that couldn't be with us Christmas day.








Finished the day off at Grandma and Grandpa Perkins.




A great day from start to finish filled with love, laughter, turkey and lots of fun!!

I cannot begin to express to you what it is like to wake up to this precious little face each morning!! This year it was God rather than Santa who gave me my very best Christmas gift as Hannah Catherine XiaoFen was placed in my arms November 2nd!!! I love you sweet baby girl!

You Know It's Time To Take Down the Christmas Tree When...

...you find it adorned with a bib

and a cookie!

Hmmmmm....guess if that's the worst it wore with being so near her high chair, I should be thankful!! I'm guessing if I look close enough I might even find a Cheerio or two stuck in the branches.

Speaking of Christmas trees, Hannah really liked the one at Grandma and Grandpa Perkins too as it was right beside her play area and she could roll right under it and sit up too!

Merry Christmas Hannah!!!

I shared this beautiful video last Christmas while Hannah was still growing in my heart. Now my love is home and I praise God for this and thank Him for my precious Hannah XiaoFen!!!

This year I can share with you the words from the second verse and oh how sweet it is!!!

It's Christmas time again and now you're home!
Your family is here and now you will never be alone!
So tonight before you go to sleep I'll hold you in my arms,
I'll tell you from my heart,
And I'll tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas!

This year I woke to this most precious little girl and was able to wish her Merry Christmas!!!




I cannot begin to express to you the overwhelming joy that filled my heart as I gazed at the beautiful face of my sleeping angel and whispered 'Merry Christmas XiaoFen. Mommy loves you!' into her ear!

'Thank you Lord for entrusting your precious child into my care. My heart cannot contain the love I have for her! Thank you seems so insufficient for a gift so great! So today, as we celebrate the birth of Your Son, I also thank you for the gift of my daughter!'

Milk and Cookies for Santa....Hannah Style!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Christmas Photo Shoot!

A couple of weeks ago I decided to try my hand at a Christmas photo shoot. My little subject enjoyed getting dressed in her adorable Christmas dress and was quite curious about the fur. We ended up doing this two different days as the first one was hampered by an amature photographer and subject with a nose that insisted on running! The first pics were ok but the 2nd attempt was more successful. Here are some of our faves from our two photo shoot adventures!

Day I Day II Here's a video I took during our second shoot. You can see here why our floors have turned to foam! :o) She's like a Weeble but she does fall down. (Please ignore me in my pj's. It was a morning photo shoot but to be perfectly honest it could have been at 3:00 and some days I'm still in my pj's! Ahhhh...love mat leave!!)



Merry Christmas to all!!!

Agency Christmas Party!

Sunday was our agency's Christmas party and Miss Hannah was the belle of the ball! When I walked in with her sleeping in her bucket car seat people immediately gathered. Their first response was that it was a long time since a baby had come home young enough to fit in a bucket car seat! The wait for my precious may have been long but I am forever grateful and thankful to God for her young age! She woke as soon as we got there and we enjoyed the music being provided by one of our China travelmates, Robert. Great job Robert!! It was so nice to see you, Bonnie and your adorable Serena!

Before we left the party I wanted to capture a few special pictures. Hannah and I with Deborah, the director of our agency. I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am for this wonderful lady who helped me every step of the way. She and I originally met in January of 2005 and in November of 2009 we stood together with God's precious miracle between us! Thank you, thank you, thank you Deborah!!! My heart cannot begin to express my gratefulness to you!!

Also at the party was Angus who had presented Hannah's referral to me and showed me her pictures for the first time on August 29th. Here we are on that day

and then now!

What a treat to be able to introduce Hannah to these people who have played such an important part in she and I becoming a family. My agency, Open Arms to International Adoption, is the greatest!! So happy that that is where God opened the singles slot for me!

And, since posts are just better with video, here's one I took of Hannah playing after we returned home from the party.