3 Weeks and 2 days later...

Sorry it has taken me so long to post.  The last few weeks feel like a blur.  This post is a bit long...hang in there!

We arrived home at 2:00 AM on November 8th- after traveling/flying for over 30 hours.  Everyone adjusted well to EST except for me- it took me 10 days to get over the time zone change.

Zach is adjusting well.  He loves exploring the house and the neighborhood.  He loves playing with all of his new cars and trucks and legos. He loves trying to ride XiXi's big wheel.  He loves chasing XiXi around.  He loves scribbling on his art pad.  He loves to laugh and smile.

the verdict is still out on the dog!  he is slowly warming up to our furry canine friend- Xavier! :-)

XiXi is also adjusting to being a big sister and having to share the love and attention with someone else after being the sole recipient for the last 4.5 years.  She has grown up so much since we flew out of Reagan on October 20.  Much more confident, independent and nurturing.  It was so much fun seeing China through her eyes.  She just LOVED her time there!  She talks about it all the time!

I'm adjusting to being a mom of two.  We are so grateful to our wonderful friends at our amazing church who brought us meals the first few weeks we were back.  We continue to be amazed at the ways God provides for us and these meals were such a tangible measure of that!

We were able to go to South Carolina for a quick trip for Thanksgiving.  It was great seeing my parents  my sisters, brother-in-law, and niece.  Zach and Helen totally hit it off.  I loved watching them play together!

At one point during- Helen came up to Zach and took a toy from him and he just looked at her and yelled, "MEI MEI!" (little sister) and started laughing.  Mei Mei it is for Helen!

It was also fun to see Zach follow Ayi Jennie around again.  His face just lit up when he saw her.

He loved getting to know his Lao Lao and Pop Pop- he would just smile and laugh everytime he saw them!

According to the doctors- Zach is in great health!  50% height and weight- on target for gross and find motor skills.

We had our first visit to the Hopkins Cleft Clinic last week.  They are very optimistic about the palate repair and said they can do a great lip revision in the future as well.  We are waiting to get scheduled for his palate surgery- it will probably be sometime in late January/early February.

So- yeah- we have a lot of be thankful to God for...a smooth and safe trip to and from China, Zach is adjusting well to our family (especially to MaMa after not wanting much to do with me in China!), our family is adjusting well to Zach.

This will be my last post for a while to this blog.  Please continue to follow our family's journey at my other blog  www.theblauwkampbeat.blogspot.com

Matching Christmas outfits courtesy of Lao Lao!

Zach was not liking XiXi's cuddling at this point!

What a difference 5 weeks makes!

Belly laughing on the floor!

XiXi sure loves her DiDi!

Zach and his tractor! (this was Ross' when he was a kid!)

Cousins hanging out in their matching Oscar the Grouch shirts (in honor of Uncle Bo!)

Zach and Helen hitting it off!