OUR CHINA JOY

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Island Beauty

With Aunt Becky and Uncle Tom in Key Largo.

Bongos and Bowling

Tessa attended a bowling party at the coolest bowling alley ever, Splitsville! Tessa had a ball!!

We were out to dinner at Gloria Estefan's Bongos Restaurant with Aunt Becky and Uncle Tom. Tessa just had to test these bongos out! She played every one of them (10).

Pumpkins and Kites

At the fantastic Kite Festival with Lia and Jia! First time loving cotton candy!!

Picking the best pumpkin, then giving it a smile and making it Happy!

Today is the 3 month anniversary of Tessa being home with us. I have found myself many times these past few weeks very emotional and in tears over Tessa being so special and wonderful! She is so smart, so kind and so loving. Everyday she says thank you for all of her new things. And she impresses everyone who meets her. In Chinese school, her teacher reports that all the kids are in awe of her Mandarin and her ability to remember the lessons so quickly; the teacher even permits Tessa to do some teaching! In piano, yes, we've started piano! Tessa's ability to recall notes is incredible. We are in a Yamaha parent/child group class and Tessa is the loudest "do-re-mi!" of them all.... And her teacher at her new school (Somerset) has only wonderful things to say about Tessa...(altho, at first Tessa was exhibiting some "pushy/bossy" behavior but she has overcome them now.)

We have also had an incredible time at home. Tessa is more and more affectionate and loving. She is less aggressive with the pets and is more playful. And she is talking more English everyday...and believe it or not, I understand her less now that she is talking more English!! Ha ha...I can't always get her pronunciations....she gets a little irritated with me...so I just agree, then I finally realize what she's trying to say. Today her new word, to my dismay, was "why?" And after several attempts of trying to explain myself, I finally just gave in and said "Because Mama said so!" oh dear.....

I, on the other hand, have been so exhausted! And my fatigue has impacted my patience which has caused some slight reactions from Tessa. I've noticed that Tessa is not moody, however, any changes in her moods are simply a reaction to my mood! I have to always remember that her moods bounce off of mine, so I need to always be positive and upbeat when I can.

We've been really, really busy, so I'll just post some photos and some short notes. I am so happy and sad at the same time, that we replaced my 15 year old Camry with a 2010 Nissan Rogue. My first SUV, well, a crossover, is what they call them now..... and my sister and her husband are here for a Bahamas cruise. Tessa did great meeting her new Aunt and Uncle!!

Today was also special day because I applied for Tessa's American Social Security Card. And our re-adoption court date has been scheduled! On December 10th, we will have our hearing, our celebration and finally will have documents so that I can get an American birth certificate and apply for her passport! Our attorney advised that I go ahead and apply for the SSN card, and change the name later. It is open season for the College Prepaid Plan, and we want to get that started (they need a SSN).

Things just seem to happen for Tessa. I've even surprised myself that I found a Mandarin speaking babysitter! She lives very close and I think they will get along superbly! Tessa met her tonight and we learned that she also plays piano, so this will be great! (Now I just have to find a piano! I think we'll start off with one of those digital keyboards for now.)

Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, Tessa will be Cinderella. She is so thrilled!! It is going to be a magical few days!!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

"Happy" Ni Hao Kai Lan Doll = Jing Huan

Tessa and I were so thrilled to find a "Happy" Ni Hao Kai Lan doll! Tessa said that the characters for "Happy" were the characters for her name: Huan! She was so happy to see her name on the Ni Hao Kai Lan doll! She still wears the necklace and loves the doll!!

First Sleepover with Yanni!

Tessa had a wonderful fun filled weekend with her SWI sister Yanni!
They swam, climbed the jungle gyms, played, and giggled all weekend!
Tessa had some minor issues with sharing, but it gave me an opportunity to work with her on this issue. The girls had some small arguments, mostly over toys,
playing just like sisters!! but they quickly made up.
They also had fun skyping with their SWI sister Jing Ju!

Playdate without Mama!

Tessa had her first playdate for a few hours after ballet without me! I think it was just as difficult for Tessa as it was for me. She told me she missed me and next time wanted me to go with her. But this was her time to be with a Chinese family and speak only Mandarin for a couple of hours. She had a great time with her friend from her old school; her family is from the same province and Tessa enjoyed Canton food!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

3 Month Anniversary Today!!

I just realized that today is our three month anniversary of meeting Tessa and becoming a family!!
Wow, it is so hard to believe, as it feels like we've been together at least a year! We are all so connected and she really is very much attached to us.

New School!

An incident happened at Tessa's old school that put a fire under me. She was poked with a pencil that broke skin by a boy who didn't know how to communicate "excuse me." Actually, that was the final incident; Tessa getting exposed to some aggressive behavior that was bothersome to me, she had been getting hit by boys and coming home with many negative phrases "stop it, don't do that..." She misses her old teacher and my eating breakfast with her every morning, but Tessa is now in an awesome Chinese Immersion charter school that just opened this fall and she is in a class that teaches Mandarin for an hour everyday! Next year, she will have 2 hours of Mandarin every day!!! I have to drive a little farther, get up a little earlier, but she loves the school, I love the school and it is so worth it!!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Moon Festival Fun with Lia

At a Moon Festival Gathering with several South Florida Asia Yahoo Group families at a B&B on Hollywood Beach. Tessa had a blast!!

Still Posing Pretty

At Hollywood Beach, just before the Moon Festival with more adoptive families. Today we went to a Dragon Boat Festival, flew a kite, and Tessa had an incredibly time on the beach with more Chinese American girls at Jean's place!

Flying a Lady Bug Kite at Haulover Beach!

Reading with Mocha!

Grrrrrrr! At the Girl Scout opening weekend! Tessa is a Daisy!!

2 months plus! The amazing journey continues!

Dressed for Disney on Ice! Tessa is proving to be a real Homebody; she loves being at home. She was ready to go home to be with Mocha, Molly and Baba before the intermission. But she enjoyed the rest of the show and we watched Cinderella when we got home. She is ready to be Cinderella for Halloween!

It is hard to believe that Tessa has been home with us only 2 months! Tessa is truly the most amazing child I have ever seen! So much has happened and we've done so much these past 2 weeks since my last post. Squeezing moments to upload the many pictures I have taken has been impossible as I am also trying to organize our home, donating many items & clothes of our life before Tessa...trying to make room for all the things having her here will need!!

She is speaking more and more English and is actually reading letters aloud now! She is in a new fantastic charter school where she is taught in Mandarin! She is also in a new Chinese Language School where she is taught in Mandarin how to write in Mandarin. I got Chinese TV: www.kylintv.com and it is great for cartoon in Mandarin. And Tessa is loving a Chinese Children's website with games and cartoons, all in Mandarin. Will Tessa lose her Mandarin?? Not if I can help it!!

Tessa had a great dental exam showing no cavities!! But lots of tartar that will be gone after a few trips. That gray tooth that I thought was a cavity is actually a trauma from a fall.

Tessa is eating very well, taking her vitamins and eager to grow taller!

Tessa has had a few play dates since the last post. I'll post their pictures. She also just had a great weekend with her SWI sister, Yanni. They both skyped with Jing ju and we're getting ready for all three of them to be together in NYC in December!

Tessa has had no issues with her behavior. She is more affectionate and responds very well now to a stern look. I've lost my cool with some minor defiance, but Tessa always learns quickly. I have learned a lot from this beautiful child and have never felt a deeper love.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Meeting Ye ye and Nai Nai in Cocoa Beach

Tessa with Baba, Nai Nai & Ye Ye Lozowicki at sunset.
She had a wonderful time with all the fun gifts and goodies! Xie Xie!! (Thank you!)

Nai Nai taught Tessa how to say "Go Tim Tebo, aka, Go Gators!"

BOO!

Tessa's first long road trip with the whole family, except the cats, which she DID miss and got kind of sad later in the evening, asking to go home to be with the cats. Tessa was awesome!