HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

This will be Tate's first family holiday.... we are just hanging out low-key-like... I cannot wait to see her reaction to the fireworks!!!

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY ....y'all!!!

FIRST PIGGIES....

Complements of Auntie Tiffany, who has given first piggies to so many of our China girls.

BLISS

This is total Bliss for Tate. Snuggled in her bed with her thumb in place ready for her afternoon nap.....

Picture is taken by my friend's mom.... check out her blog.... she is an amazing photographer.....
http://piccadillyphoto.blogspot.com/

Another favorite who's work I just love is Tara Whitney... http://tarawhitney.com/justbeblogged/

APPLESAUCE AND CEREAL, OH MY!!!

SHE WAS SQUEALING AND BEING SO CUTE.... UNTIL I PULLED OUT THE VIDEO CAMERA..... SHE DID BLOW KISSES, THOUGH.

SLEEPING BEAUTY

I look at my sleeping girl and just want to cry from how amazingly wonderful she is.... So so sweet!







I am doing all I can from not waking her... I crave her... She is the breath in my life.

LIFE WITH TATE ONE MONTH......

WOW.... Time with my girl is ticking by oh so quickly.

PERSONALITY.....

• blows kisses when saying bye-bye.
• Claps her two hands together ALL THE TIME. She will do it to initiate play, get attention and when I say YEAH!!!! Which is all the time since I say it EVERY TIME she does anything spectacular.... Which really is ALL THE TIME!
• Plays peek-a-boo. Will use anything to cover eyes to hide..... blanket, teething ring, stuffed animal, sheets on my bed.... Will use her hands to cover eyes but will usually not get the eyes mostly her ears....
• She is hilarious... a real comedian. Will make the funniest faces for reaction.
• Tate is getting over being a little sick... which includes a sweet cough. I guess I am reacting with "oh my" and "are you OK?" often. She is now faking coughs to get my reaction.
• Snuggles and kisses all the time. Sometimes she will be facing me and suddenly I have an open mouth planted on my face. She is all smiles when she is kissed on the neck and lips.
  
• Is fascinated by Baby Einstein DVDs.


• lays on back in the tub for hair washing. LOVES when I swish her around. Likes laying on her tummy in tub and is starting to put her face in the water.


• she is always happy.... Wakes up gooing and babbling.


• loves visitors, especially other children.
  

DAY TO DAY TATE.....

• For 18 days Tate has been home in the USA... her days consist of sleep, eat, nap, eat, nap, eat, bath, sleep. Or sooooooo it seems since I am wanting to spend time with my girl. I am letting her dictate her schedule right now for the first month. I feel she is processing all the changes in her mind while sleeping.
• Everyday we head out on an adventure.... it can be as simple as a walk, shopping, errand in car. OR as much fun as visiting friends and family, feeding ducks, zoo, swimming, farm.
• I try to give Tate at least one to two twenty minute session on her tummy for struggle time.
• We watch one Baby Einstein DVD a day.
• Needs to have a little musical serenade from me while eating.... Wheels on the bus is a HUGE hit around here.
• While driving in car will make a sweet sing-y sound which means "let's turn the radio on"... She also HATES Cher!
• Our bedtime ritual is this.... bottle, snuggling, chat about our day, read a book and then off to her crib. She will grab a taggy or blanket, stick her thumb in her mouth and turn to her side. She will occasionally whimper for 10 seconds. Then she will sleep for 12 hrs.

My concerns right now is her lack of MOBILITY.....

• During our tummy time, she is not motivated to do anything but lay and play on her tummy. No struggle to reach for a toy or flip onto her back.... I have been working on flipping from back to front and front to back. So far she just giggles and thinks it is all a game.


• She is not motivated to move on her own, but she has such strength now in sitting up and standing. If she reaches for something out of her reach, she topples over and whines for me.... Mamamama.... too cute.

Language

• Tate used to babble and squeal in China, A LOT. In the last two weeks she has stopped babbling constantly, but will listen intently to me talking to her. She studies my lips. I have a degree in Speech Pathology, I know that she is just taking it all in and processing this strange language. I know this is just temporary. I do miss all the sweet cute frequent chatter and squeals coming from my girl.
• The other day I was at a church gathering and was introducing Tate. Someone asked me if she speaks English.... My response, "as well as any 10 month old speaks English"... People can be so duhhhhhhhhh!

Today she had her blood drawn.... she had to have a huge vial of blood drawn for all her tests. She was a real sweetheart and hardly cried. I on the other hand cried for the both of us. We are now collecting a urine sample (bag is in place during this nap time), and three more stool samples for giardia and parasites.... Oh the joy!

SPLISH SPLASH....

LOVES HER BATH!!!!











Burrito baby with Twinkle Toes

ONE MONTH A FAMILY!!!

I was reminded that today was exactly ONE MONTH or four weeks since Tate was placed in my arms and changed the world as I knew it!!! What a wonderful world it is with TATE!!! I have been working (in my mind) on a post on the update of life with Tate. I will get to putting it to blog tomorrow night. Just wanted to commemorate this spectacular occasion of the one month family day anniversary

TOO CUTE

Not to post on Tate's blog....

Just a little dress-up fun.... this was a clearance Halloween costume from Children's Place.... will be toooooo small by October so decided to have some fun today!





Tate has learned to blow raspberries (thank you Jason) and will do this "trick" at all times.... including while eating.... HAHAHA.



She is quite a little character... just look at those sweet soft feet and heels.

SWINGIN' GOOD TIME VIDEO

013
Originally uploaded by Lisa Mesa and Tate

SWINGIN'

Tate's first flight in a swing....

What is momma doing to me in this blue chair?



WHOAAAAAAAAAA NOW, not tooooo sure of this...



WOW!!! This is tummy tickling good time! How 'bout pushing me some more, momma!

DAY AT THE FARM

Momma and Tate had our first play date at Wheeler Farm!!!! We brought lunch, momma had a sandwich, Tate chopped on a biter biscott which she is wearing on her face. We joined Yvette, Charlee and Natalee and Tiffany, Eliza and Solomon. So so soooooo much fun! Tate watched the big girls run and play. I know she is wishing she could run with the big girls too! Soon my sweet Tate!

FIRST POPSICLE....

Got to love the baby friendly slow melts popsicle. This cold stuff is new to Tate. She loved it anyway.







Tate has many "aunties" but has one fairy godmother Judith, who gave her this meant for a princess activity center. When you are single and limited with hands to help, the activity center is a miracle. Thank you so much Tate's fairy godmother!

ONE WEEK HOME....

And all is amazingly well!!! I almost hated to post that because I know it is suppose to be hard... but really I have to give Tate her KOODOS for being such an amazing baby. Updates of the past week...

(sorry for the poor quality of pictures... I just grabbed the point and shoot and clicked)

TATE

• champion sleeper! She has quickly moved from the 14 hour time change from day to night. She has been sleeping in her crib 12 hours at night and wakes up gooing and HAPPY!!!
• sickie... Tate was the only baby in our travel group of 9 families who did not get sick. On the last two days of our trip to Hong Kong, my brother, mom and myself started wicked bad colds and coughs. Tate, still healthy as a panda. After getting home, she started spiking fevers... her peds decided to start her on Tamiflu as a precautionary measure. She still has a fever of 99.0 and a cough. I will say the CUTEST feminine COUGH you have ever heard with some raspiness. I am heading into the peds again this afternooe just in case it is something more.
• Loves MESA!!! At first she was a little freaked at this HUGE fur ball of a dog. Her curiosity won over and soon she was observing the antics of the dog. I would refer to Mesa as "puppy", now Tate makes the "p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p" sound for Mesa. Mesa took to Tate immediately. She did sense Tate's hesitation and let Tate just touch and grab at will. Mesa now is close at hand whenever Tate is up, and is learning to enjoy space around the highchair for displaced Puffs.
• tummy time... I want to hold my gal constantly. After reading and hearing about the importance of tummy time, I now force myself for twenty minutes a day twice a day to let Tate be out of my arms and on her tummy. We have been working on rolling over from front to back and back to front. She just thinks this is fun.
• growth.... two days after we arrived home, Tate had her well baby check up. I was able to postpone the bloodwork and the vaccinations for a few weeks. She is 18.6 lbs (37%on the US charts) and 29 inches (83% on the US charts). Because her orphanage used the tainted formula, I will have her renal function test checked. I know she was born after the formula was taken off the market, but wanted to make sure she did not receive any, just in case.
• Kisser.... she is such an affectionate baby! She loves to be stroked and touched. Loves the massage when lotion is applied. LOVES me to kiss her on her face, neck and lips. She now will initiate kisses and hugs.
• MUSIC freak! She loves anything with music.... wind up stuffed animals, radio, ME singing. Loves everything. She will eat best when I am singing the wheels on the bus. It is amazing all the verses you can make up about the bus when you are singing this several times a day!

ME????

• jet lag has been good to me. Tate sleeps, I wake up at about 2 a.m. wanting to wake her just to hold and kiss on her. Most of the nights I will resist.
• trying to get used to the EXPLOSION of baby paraphernalia..... it seem to be multiplying overnight.
• I'm just a tad bored. If it Tate was well, I would be flying to Northern California to see the Salsa Gang and Cafrin (visiting from Canada) this week. I hope there will be a next time.
  

Tate's whole immediate family feels so freakishly in love with our baby!

TEN MONTHS OLD

Today Tate is 10 months old!!! This picture is for Tess and Julie... they gave me this most adorable Etsy bought t-shirt.

FIRST SWIM....

In Hong Kong!

I think we have a little fish in Tate. She loves the water! To China I brought three swimming suits, thinking there would be a lot of down time with swimming in the picture. Not a realistic picture because the weather in Nanchang was rainy at times, busy hanging with baby napping and shopping and touring when in GZ. On the last day before heading back home, I got to see my little bikini clad fish take to the water. And boy did she take! Nothing was sweeter than seeing her little feet and stretched legs move the water as if she were a frog. How instinctual. How adorable. How sad to have to get out.







Finally we are home.... with thoughts and dreams of pool time with my gal. Sadly, it is cold and rainy here. Soon, I hope my little fish and I will be splashing around in a body of water.

WHAT A FEELING!!!

After having a little 1 hrs party in the middle of the night, Tate went back to sleep for another 6 hrs. I on the other hand could not sleep. It was ME who rocked my screaming baby. It was ME who knew what to do and how to comfort her. It was ME, Tate's momma who is getting to know what makes her gal happy and sad, read her different cries, know how to comfort her. What a feeling to have such a precious little sweetheart be part of such a large part of my heart. What a feeling to be that special person, Tate's momma.

IT'S 12:34 A.M.

In the morning, so what are YOU doing???

Us???? Well, here's a clue....

Pulling off socks, chewing on stuff and doing my stacking cups!

Got to love a little 14 hr change in a baby's schedule!

CITIZEN TATE

I am playing catch-up so some of the postings will be out of order for a few days.....

Today all nine new families boarded the bus heading out for our final step in the adoption process. Nine families stood with babes in arms and made a plead. As I spoke these words, I totally teared up knowing that my Tate will have the privildge of being a US citizen.

I come from an immigrant family. Both of my parents lived through WWII in Norway and have experienced the joy of becoming a US Citizen. In my mind as I gave the plead, I thought of Tate. She will not have to experience the lack of freedom that was dictated by her biological roots. She not longer will have no choice of family size, religion or speech.

Let Freedom reign....

WE ARE HOME AT LAST!!!!

After 15.5 hours from Hong Kong to NYC, 3.5 hrs from NYC to Houston, and 3.0 hrs from Houston to SLC.... WE ARE HOME. I am too tired to post but wanted to share a picture of little Miss Tate in her bed for her first sleep... Not sure if it is going to be a nap OR all night. She is a trooper, that is for sure!

LAST NIGHT IN GZ‏

Planes.. Trains.... and Automobiles...this is the last night in GZ.... Tomorrow not too early, mind you, we will be all packed up, delivered to the US Consulate, take the quick citizenship oath, and board the two hour train ride to Hong Kong. We are on our final leg of our almost three weeks of traveling to pick up Tate. Three weeks living out of a hotel room. A bit toooooo long, I think.

Tonight as I was rocking and singing to Tate, emotions started rushing over me. I see my and her future on the horizon. Here I have this sweet untouched spirit that looks at me for love, nurture and guidance. What are my wishes for this sweet thing? What will her talents be and how will I develop them.

I looked in her almond shaped eyes hoping that I will be able to make her proud of who she is and where she comes from. Will I be able to adequately answer the questions of why she was abandoned? Address her needs as she come to terms with her history.

At this time I have a relatively blank canvas. Soon we will add colors and dimensions, textures and depth.

RED COUCH, RED CHAIR.....

Today we did the traditional RED COUCH picture. There was way too many parents crowding the babies so I did not get to snap a photo of all eight babies. THE COUCH WAS A ZOO of snapping, crying, and falling over. I will snatch a picture of the whole group from someone who was in the middle of it all. Tate is not a crier. Just three times has she really cried... tears. She had a full blown cry after she realized her caregivers had left her, an overly tired cry last night and then the requisite cry because all the babies were crying.



Tate was one of four babies from the Poyang SWI. Brooke-lin, Tate, Hannah, Zelan... We lined them up in the order of their cribs.



The red chair photos are of the three Poyang or Bo babies. Brooke-lin is missing in the photos because was unhappy getting changed for the photos. I just love the expressions on Tate's face. First is Tate, then Zelan who lives close to us, and Hannah.... Tate's special buddy in the SWI.

Chill-axing In China

HOT Hot HOT GZ

There is so much rain in the clouds above us causing the humidity to be HORRID. I look like a dripping mess.... sweaty, YUCK! We have had a few storms but nothing that would alleviate the HORRID HUMIDITY.

Tate is such a trooper.... She is always happy. VERY active always, exuberant, but ALL WAYS HAPPY. The poor sweetie is dripping hot too. I found some water and wet her burp clothe (which she does not need) and wiped her sweet little sweaty body. The whole time she is smiling and babbling.

Today's adventure in bullets....

• Today was the very laughable "medicals".... and happily she passed! Tate is 19 lbs and 27.5 inches tall. The whole time she is babbling and laughing. The poor lady who was checking her hearing was not liking that Tate was grabbing all the squeaky toys causing havoc to her very high tech testing.
• The last forms are filled out and will be submitted to the Consulate tomorrow. We will be banished to our rooms for 2 hrs before we will be let loose on "the Island" to shop. I kind of like the banishment for 2 hours, maybe I will be able to get some rest while the little one sleeps....
• One of the things I really wanted for Tate while here in China was a Buddhist blessing. Today we were brought to a beautiful temple and I knelt with Tate and were blessed. I feel this is important because more than likely, Tate's birth family would have been Buddhist. I wanted this blessing so as she leave her birth land, she would take with her a blessing for her future.
• During our outing to Guangzhou, we went to the pearl market. Even though I had bought a strand of pearls for Tate in Nanchang and a small pair of earrings for when she first gets her ears pierced at 8 years old from Beijing. I decided that even though I have gotten the best gift and memory from China in Tate, I wanted a pearl that would always remind me of this time here in China. I bought a tear drop pearl pendant for me.
• I have not bought a whole lot of "stuff" here on the Island. I figure tomorrow I will hit the markets. I am not a shopper and everything starts looking the same to me from shop to shop. I think I will head to ONE shop and get everything on my list there.
• We wandered the White Swan (we chose to stay at the Victory Hotel) and ate at Lucy's Place. Good old American Cheese burger and fries never tasted so good.
• While we were in Lucy's the clouds decided to release warm soaking rain. Tate LOVED the rain and was excited for each wet drop. She is such a delightful baby.
• All this rain was way too much excitement for one little baby, so after a warm bath and bottle, she was off to bed. I had on my hands one cranky, overtired baby who did not want to miss out on anything and would not sleep. She cried... I felt so inadequate that I did not know what how she wants to be comforted. It is all a guessing game. Trying to read the signs, know what she wants, and giving it to her. She wanted me to hold her, rock her, yet she cried such tired sounding tears. I know when we are in our own space just the two of us, I will learn to know how to comfort my baby. Right now all I can do is try.
• I am so ready to come home.

This is the last full day in Nanchang China. I opted to stay in back at the hotel so Tate could stay on her routine of morning and afternoon naps. We are traveling with a total of 8 babies.... Tate is the only one who has not gotten sick with the cold crap. I am hoping if I keep her well rested, she will be able to avoid getting sick.

She is growing and learning so many things each day.

* When we first got her, she could say dadada. She has now added mamamama, mmmmmm, babababa and squeals.
* She will echo these sounds back to you.
* Patty Cake is now one of her favorite games. She claps now on her own.
* Her food includes besides the formula and rice cereal. Peas, carrots, squash, apple and pear fruit juices... diluted.
* She still is a champion sleeper and pooper.









This is the last night we have in Nanchang... tomorrow we will be boarding a plane to GZ for the last part of this journey

Feel free to e-mail unsolicited advice to newblog2009@yahoo.com. Please reserve the comments section of this blog for uplifting and encouraging words for Lisa and Tate.

Thanks,

Management

Today we drove the 2.5 hours each direction to the Poyang orphanage. What an experience was had during the drive as well as the visit to the orphanage. I am still trying to process my feelings and thoughts and will share at a later date.

Tate was a trooper and slept in her diaper on the bus seat for at least an hour and a half....



A few funnies that has happened along the way.

The first outing as a momma, we went to a park, walked around and got back on the bus. We have been strolling Tate most places because it is HOT and she is a little HOTTIE. She loves to look out and is interested in everything. After our walk around this lake area, we loaded onto the bus. I sat down next to my mom- NO BABY. It was like I had forgotten that I was the mom and was acting like the aunt as my brother and SIL got the baby out of the stroller, collapsed the stroller and boarded the bus, baby in arms. I am so use to going places with these two as the aunt and not having the work of the kids, I kind of forgot that Tate was now my responsibility..... I am being much more conscientious about not leaving Tate behind.



As Nanny gifts, I hand picked 1/2 lb boxes of Sees chocolates and placed a picture of Tate on the box as well as made a postcard with her picture for a remembrance to take. Today we went to the orphanage with three boxes of Sees chocolate.... only two made it to the nannies. We could not help ourselves and ended up enjoying it instead. Hey that's just how I roll.

Tate Video

Tidbits...

BUDDIES FOR LIFE......

It is so strange how you can live a whole lifetime in the same area and not meet someone until you decide to adopt from China. This is the case when it comes to Tate's buddy for life. I was contacted by another China adopt friend in our area about a couple who was same LID and traveling with the China in country group. After several emails and chats, we realized we went to the same high school and graduated together. We both knew of each other but were not part of the same friend groups. The illustrious day arrived when we received our referrals... we could not believe both our new Chinese daughters were from the same SWI with only a month apart from each other. Tate is older by about 4 weeks and is so much bigger than Zelan. We think that Zelan was a preemie and was brought to the orphanage at 4 lbs. She is so beautiful.

TATE TIDBITES.....

I cannot believe that I have been a mother to Tate for only 4 days. She is so much a part of me. My body craves holding and rocking her. I am frustrated that she has to sleep. I just want to gaze and play with her non-stop. She is amazing. I really think she was fed and loved when she needed it and not on a schedule. Food is not so emergent to her as I expected. She eats well when she is hungry but will often refuse food and bottles if not in the mood. She reaches for me when she wants closeness, and coos oh so sweet. Today I was rocking her getting her ready for nap time and humming. If I stopped for a few moments to think of another song, she would start this singing like cooing to remind me to start again and would stop her cooing when I started mine.

CHINA TID BITS...

Today in China is Friday. Friday and Saturday are the weekend days for the workers. It is also the Dragon boat festival. We walked to a local park with my brother, SIL, Mom, Tate and myself. There was so much going on in this park. People come there to do Tei Chi, ballroom dance, sword fight, sing, and play instruments.

I watched two men playing the most interesting stringed instrument. I know someone out there will know the name of it. It was a small round base with a few long strings going up the long neck. It was played with a bow. Such beautiful sounds this was making. While we watched the happenings in the park, we became the HAPPENING in the park for the park goers. If we stopped for a second we were surrounded by people. They were gazing at us. I decided to give them what they wanted and held Tate up close to my face for everyone to see. I did that so that Tate felt safe in my arms and no one would attempt to pick her up like they did the other day in the over crowded department store. Thankfully our guides provided a card for us to show explaining who we were and why we had the most beautiful baby they had ever seen. Ok, OK. That part really was not written on the card, but I know what these people were thinking while gazing at Tate. How can you not?

This was so sweet.... there was a grandmother with a grandson who had two balloons. I guess she wanted to give Tate one of there balloons. She asked which balloon he wanted to give her and she received the blue balloon. She had the crowd enthralled with her joy of that balloon. The little boy was quick to fix the stick back on the balloon or fetch the wayward balloon.

What a insightful experience to have to be the minority, the one to be looked at, the one to feel some what a little uncomfortable. I do love the Chinese people. The seem so full of love and friendship towards us. I actually had someone in speak in English and thanked me for taking this "orphaned child". I kind of cringed when it is put this way. She is the jewel that China has provided for me. A priceless treasure beyond measure.

TATE'S FIRST TASTE OF FRIES!‏

Touring good ole Nanchang today.... Most things were closed because of the three day DRAGON BOAT festival. We went to the porcelain factory but could only see and shop in the shops. I wanted to get Tate a little tiny tea set as a future Family day present.... I found one I really liked, and TRIED to negotiate it down. As my "tactic", I decided to walk away hoping they would call after me and meet my price. No such luck. I left there empty handed. Now I cannot keep my mind off of this sweet tea set for Tate.... I think I just might take a taxi to the porcelain shop and buy it.... it was only $22USD. What was I thinking????

Every day Tate gets to experience many firsts. Today bubbles, boat rides and McDonald's. She only has two teeth, but WOW can she gum things.

Here are a few pictures from today...

Hanging in the room

She loves her Aunt Michelle and Uncle John..... I could not have done this trip so pleasantly without them...

As said before, she is a champion pooper. She is in need of me right now.

Things I have discovered about Tate so far…

Discovering Tate First Impressions

• She is a show stopper…. I get comments from government officials to teens on the street.
• She has two small bottom teeth.
• She is a champion sleeper and pooper.
• Her hair needs some taming.
• She is curious and investigative.
• There is no question about her hearing. She can hear congee boiling from miles away.
• She eats well, but does not seem like it is a novelty to be fed.
• She is eating congee, bananas, eggs, noodles, rice cereal and formula. She had her first tiny taste of ice cream.
• She was so loved by care givers and director. She is so on target with most everything, her skin is good condition, she has rolls on her thighs.
• She has a perfectly formed belly button, a little “outtie”
• She has the most beautiful long slender neck.
• She is tall, with long legs.
• She has the cutest way of sucking her thumb! She sticks her left thumb in her mouth with fanned out fingers palm facing out.
• Last night she sang her sweet sounds to me as I rocked her to sleep.
• People in our travel group think that Tate and I are a lot alike in personality. My mom, who knew me when, totally agrees!

Tate’s learning curve

• Tate is a fast learner. I clicked my tongue at her a few times. Suddenly she is clicking her tongue. She will initiate play with the tongue trick, loves it when we laugh at her doing this trick.
• She loves the stacking cups… not a surprise to me. I showed her how to clap two together. She made two concentrated attempts and was successful the third time with a soft clap.
• We are working on clapping. I am sure it is just a matter of days before this will be on her skill resume.

Tate’s bonding

• She did cry so hard on the bus when she discovered that she was not near her caregivers. She cried HARD with a whimpering wind down, then fast asleep. Ever since then she seems to be fine. Good eye contact, tracks me with her eyes. Wants me for comfort and snuggling.
• We are so lucky to be traveling with eight amazing families… Four of these families have babies from Poyang. One baby, Hannah was her “special” friend. We have photos taken of these two together. Tate is usually reaching out touching her in the pictures. Yesterday they got to see each other. The both lite up with excitement. Tate reached over and grabbed Hannah. I let Tate go over and hug and touch Hannah, taking my hands off of her for a second. Tate let off a huge wail, which stopped instantly when I held her.
• On the way to breakfast today, we stopped and talked to our China guide. Tate was in the stroller. She seemed kind of serious and concerned until I left him. She instantly became her happy sweet self.
• Same thing happened later. I was carrying her and she was getting a lot of attention from the staff on our floor. We were on out way to the China guide’s room. The whole time we are in his room, she is snuggle in my arms with this serious don’t mess with me face. This look went away when she no longer felt that threat.

First Bath

I cannot believe that I have had my gal for only 48 hrs. She seems like she has been in my arms always….. Oh man, my heart burns with love for her.