Pictures!

Look at this picture!! Everyone is smiling! I am giddy with happiness- I never thought this was possible. (I may have issued death threats to the older ones before we arrived at the shoot, but the two little ones- that was completely up in the air!)

We have had our precious daughter Mairéad with us for a little over two months. And Maeve, who brings endless energy into the mix, has been with our family for over two years.

We have been adjusting well as a family and have been enjoying all the antics that two little girls bring into our lives. Never having children this close in age before, it's been a real eye opener at times!

The older kids are so protective and loving toward the little ones. John and I are enjoying our front row seats to the daily rhythms of our family. It's quite chaotic, but we are so happy listening to little giggles and baby babbling mixed in with discussions about trigonometry, what dish was made at school in FCS, and noises made from constant  interaction with the whoopee cushion!

We are tired, but we wouldn't have it any other way. 

Last Day! Coming Home Tomorrow!

It's our last day in Guangzhou! This afternoon we are taking a van to Hong Kong and then flying home tomorrow. We are so excited to come home! Please pray for a safe flight and for a sleepy baby!

 When it's 95 degrees in the shade, you need a milk shake!

 Another trip to the tea shop!

 Daddy's girl!

 the iPad is our friend!

 I think we might have a redhead!!

 the toy room at our hotel

 toesies!

stretch! someone is a lot more flexible :)

 Ella has been rocking a bun every day- I'm so jealous!

 We went to a toy market and Ella made out like a bandit!

Our Bethany group

Two Days Left

We have just two days left and then we will be heading home. We've been looking forward to this trip and adopting Mairéad for so long and it's hard to believe it's almost over. It's been a good trip, but we are excited to come home and see the kids and get into a routine with Mairéad. She has really suffered with sickness and pain these past few days, but the medication seems to be helping and we see glimpses of a really fun and curious personality. It will be very interesting to see how she does with all the kids when we get home! 

Dinner last night... Ella has become a chopstick ninja.

Exploring in our room...

 Stacking cups... what is it about these cups that seem to fascinate kids?!

Tea Shopping

We're coming home with lots of tea!

 Shamian Island

Janeen and I modeling the silk dresses!

 We met this family two years ago when we visited their shop!

 It was such an awesome surprise to meet another adoptive family that I know through an albinism Facebook group! What a small world!

 Many couples come to Shamian Island for their wedding photos... this couple was so cute!

Silk Market

We made it back this time and were able to find it pretty easily. Our taxi driver dropped us off in the neighborhood and we were able to find it much quicker than last time! We bought fabric so John's mom can create another beautiful quilt. The colors we chose for Mairéad are completely different than Maeve's!

 Ella and her boyfriend, "Chad."

Look who's wearing her sunglasses and dipping her toes in the pool!

Just Pics :)

Morning Time..

Folk Art Museum

 We had one made for each of the girls to hang in their room

Pearl Market

(6 floors of overwhelming craziness)

 We got lost in the market... missed the bus going back to the hotel....had to take a taxi!

Medical Appointment

We made it to Guangzhou yesterday and today was Mairéad's medical appointment. We were so relieved to find out that she has a pretty significant throat infection, which explains why she has been so miserable and won't eat anything. The doctor gave us an antibiotic and we are hoping that she will feel much better by tomorrow! We're anxious to see her personality once she's herself again.

She is 20 lbs and 28 inches... kind of long and skinny! We've also noticed that she is not nearly as sensitive to light as Maeve is. She doesn't squint outside at all, which is so different than Maeve.

Tomorrow we will do a little sightseeing at the Folk Art Museum if Mairéad is feeling better. We would also like to visit the Canton Tower, which will give us an amazing view of the city. We saw this in the Amazing Race and we knew that we wanted to see it when we came to China!

 Mairéad was fascinated with the sparkly Santa decorations at the medical facility!

 A little bit of walking as we wait for our turn.

This plastic lid from a McDonald's cup has been the toy of choice this entire trip. 

She clutches it at all times!

A quick bath has left her very tired!