WOW - Time flies!

Isabella, May 9, 2006.


Isabella, May, 2007.


Look at her now.

Today marks the 2 year anniversary since Isabella Ruby Xian Yan was placed in our arms. She is an amazing, beautiful, smart little girl. She has changed so much since we first met her two years ago. She is funny, loves to make you laugh, has absolutely no fear, and can be as stubborn as they come. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Below is the entry I made the day she was placed in our arms and most often it feels like a lifetime ago.

So today, I will secretly say prayers all day long thanking the good Lord above for all the happiness he has brought in our house, and some how send out thanks and gratitude to her birth givers letting them know what a beautiful gift they have blessed us with. We will spend the evening with our family and friends out to dinner; and of course Chinese will be the cuisine of choice.

May 9, 2006

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away…

Our breath has been taken away! Today, May 9, 2006 Isabella Ruby Xiao Yan was placed in our arms forever. Jacob we have your little sister! She is perfect.

Today we said goodbye to Beijing and continued on this journey to Isabella, heading to central China… Chongqing, China. We arrived to our hotel in Chongqing China around 3:30 PM (2:30 AM CST) on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 and that is where it hit me, it’s not tomorrow anymore. We went to our rooms to gather supplies, freshen up, and make any last minute notes. At 5:00 PM we went to our Coordinator’s (Lina) room (all 6 families). This is where the babies were being brought to us.

The room was filled with nerves, excitement, and just pure energy. At 5:20 PM we heard some bustling in the hall and in walks the Director and five nannies holding beautiful baby girls all dressed a like. I noticed right off that the director had Isabella in his arms. Then one by one they called out each child’s name and the babies were placed in our arms.

It was pandemonium. Pictures flashing, everyone filming, babies and parents began to cry, and then finally they called Xiao Yan. We walked over the Director and he handed us Isabella. I can’t possibly put into words the emotions we had at that moment (one of the best feelings I have ever had).

We just looked and ohhhhddd, and ahhhhed. It was an indescribable moment that only the heart knows and we are so happy to have it on video to review later. She is perfect. We passed her back and forth, taping each other, taking pictures of each other, hugging, kissing, as if we were the only ones in the room.

We signed a bit of paper work, and then I went off to our room with Isabella. Robb stayed behind and had a chance to talk with the Director and nannies and trying to arrange a visit to the orphanage. We had a list of questions beforehand and they stayed until each family had all their questions answered. It was wonderful. Meanwhile, I was back in the room just staring at her – I couldn’t think of what else to do at that moment. I sat her on the bed with some toys and we just talked. She appears to be healthy. She can sit up, grasp toys, and moves her head to noises. I gave her a picture of Jacob to hold and she has yet to let it go.

Once Robb returned we undressed her, she had four layers of clothing on and it was 85degrees out. We changed her, looked her over (she is a girl), washed her up, and put on her PJ’s. Then we attempted to feed her a bottle. Even tough both of us have done this before; it was a pretty amazing site….followed by a pretty big mess.

It’s now 10:00 PM China time, we have Isabella down, ordered some room service, and then we are out for the night. Tomorrow we have to do some official paperwork, and then Isabella is legally ours according to China.

I will post more as we learn more and have more photos.

Jacob, help take care of grandma and we are telling Isabella all about her wonderful big brother. We love and miss you much.

Thank you so much to each and everyone of you who is following this most amazing journey, sending us e-mails, praying for us and thinking of us. We feel your love and your prayers as well as ours have been answered. Thank you.