Happy New Year!

Eliza also had to get a taste of the Reindeer's carrot and Santa's milk. After all cookies, carrots and milk was Eliza approved... we will have to see if Santa showed up....

She set cookies out for Santa and proceeded to eat them. She is too stinkin' cute.

Reading "Night Before Christmas" on Eliza's first Christmas.

Winter Fest in Ocean City 2010

Eliza at her first Middle School formal dance wearing a black dress with silver piping at the empire waist line and her bracelet that her Grammie got her to acessorize.

I have been feeling really guilty about not posting but we have been so busy. I am so VERY blessed this year.

Christmas was AMAZING! It was fun to see her every night get excited about the lights turning on and the tree lighting up. Candy Canes pretty much sums up Eliza's first Christmas. She is in love with them. She loves em'. She loves the minty taste, she loves the shape. She craves them so much that her mouth started to bleed. We had to take them down and get rid of them. She does not have mollers and the dentist does not like hard candy.

Thank you to her Aunt Cathy and Uncle Allen for the clothes and sit n' spin. I love the personalized Carters saying. She is my granted wish. You are such AWESOME god parents.

Can you say that her grandparents spoiled her rotten. And, shucks... lets not talk about her dad. Let's just say that we opened presents for three days because of her dad and grandparents. Can you say her dad spoils her!!!! She loves him so very much and I kind of think he can be a pretty neat guy too.

I know I had a two week "vacation" from work but between me getting pink eye, Eliza getting sick, our washing machine getting "fixed", getting a new washer, and doctor's appointments and the holidays. I think I need a real vacation from my "vacation."

Oh... and the other thing is the Mommy guilt is starting in. I am getting major anxiety over going back to work. Not because of my job. Heavens NO, I love my job but leaving my sweet little girl. I am so.... hooked.

So, on this New Years Eve night.... I looking back at the MOST AMAZING year in my life and looking forward to a fantastic 2011. Happy New Year! The most exciting year and I. AM. SO. BLESSED!

Thanksgiving

Click here to view these pictures larger

Thanksgiving

Richard and I have a lot to be Thankful for this year....Eliza, our parents and their health, the health and happiness of my brothers and each other. Eliza Hayden-Li we are Thankful for all that you have showed us over the last few months... in exactly two days to the day last year we saw your beautiful face and found out that you would be our daughter. We love you little ladybug!

Pumpkin Patch

The cutest little Frog of 2010!

Almost nine months as a family of 3!

I do not normally like purple or dress her in purple but it was the second game of the season for the Ravens and so...

Eliza is a bit confused because her Opa likes the Ravens while her Daddy, Granddad and YiYi like the Redskins, so we have a workout outfit for the Ravens and a cheerleading outfit for the Skins. More pics to come of her in those outfits.

Today was her 15 month check up at the doctos and she weighs pounds and 10 ounces. She is getting to be a big girl. She is now saying "Utt O" because up unitl now all we got was the "Utt."

Working with Daddy on her sick day....

Summer '10 Boating!

Loves the boat, hates the life jacket!

Eliza loves to read!

Before the "End of Summer" boat ride, yet, already gearing up for Santa!

Tomorrow is Green and Pink Day for a beautiful caring woman who has earned her ANGEL wings!

'Nough SAID!!

6 months together as of the 18th of July and today Eliza is 13 months old!

She is still the light and the LOVE of OUR lives!

What a difference six months makes!

Seeing Sister Nicole, Aunt Cindy and Uncle Andy in San Diego

Aunt Cindy with Baby Eliza and Uncle Andy with Baby Nicole

Our extended Chinese family reunited six months after traveling to China.

We were the Marching Pandas so it was only appropriate that we take Nicole and Eliza to see the pandas. Of course, like all babies they slept through the Pandas but the parents are PROUD MARCHING PANDAS.

My beautiful butterfly and her caterpillar.

Cindy, Andy and Nicole

Nicole was alittle afraid of Eliza in the beginning but we right back to their old selves once comfortable.

Andy and Nicole on the roof top were they were only allowed for breakfast because of baby Nicole. Boy, have times changed! Before, my guess is Andy and Cindy would have been the party on the roof top, now they are only allowed in during the AM. Hee! :)

Our first 4th of July with our baby.

There first fourth of July with their baby.

Sisters of the heart!

A loving family forever!

Our "Cinderella" carriage ride with our Cinderellas.

AMAZING JOY! They have learned so much in the six months they have been home! Nicole is too cute and even uses the words for "Bye Bye."

The SUPER PROUD Daddies!

and their lovin' Mama's.

Sleeping baby Nicole

Pure sweetness!

Finally, I can finally post about Eliza being about to see one of her Hunan Sisters. They are definately sisters of the heart and we are forever grateful for all of the lasting friendships that we made during that "emotional" (Cindy's words and I like it! :)) trip to unite our families. We hope over the duration of the years, we are able to meet up with all of our travel group mates that we spent some of the best and emotional days of our lives with.

So, we have now many aunts and uncles and many sisters. We got to see Aunt Cindy, Uncle Andy and sister Nicole during our recent vacation to San Diego. It was AMAZING to see them. Nicole is flourishing so well. She looks so healthy and well adjusted. Andy and Cindy, as always, are lookin' good and stylin'. We were able to spend the fourth of July with them on the beautiful coastal waters of San Diego. The following day we adventured to the beautiful San Diego Zoo. We got to talk about parenting and raising an adoptive child, our experiences in the short six months that we have been home, post adoption homestudies and readoption here in our beautiful country. We also discussed, someday, returning to China, future vacations and get togethers with other of our travel mates. It was a fun-filled action packed two days but...oh, so worth it for the girls' souls and for us.

So without further to do, here are the pictures Andy and Cindy took of our time together. Watch out because Nicole is a beauty inside and out, her cuteness is going to pop off the page.