The Many Faces of Karis

Karis is an amazing joy in our lives!! She is even sleeping through the night minus one bottle at 2am. Thank you Jesus for such a fun loving, laid back little girl.

Sisters...and God's Faithfulness

It couldn't have gone better...I met Paul and Karis at the airport (I couldn't believe how nervous I was) and after Karis hadn't slept for 30 some hours she giggled when she saw me. She melted my heart. It was 10pm when we got home, so I gave her the bottle and she fell asleep in my arms...yeah, I was hooked. She slept through the night (except one dirty diaper), we couldn't believe it! The next morning Paul got Elli out of bed and she was absolutely ecstatic that Daddy was home! After they played for a while we asked if she wanted to meet Karis? She came into her room and watched her sleep then we woke her up. We sat the two beside each other and Elli told Karis all she knew like all of Karis' body parts and Karis thought this girl was amazing. We also noticed they both like sucking on their left thumbs:) Karis was a sweetie all day, laughing and cooing. It couldn't have been a better first day.
Then night came...Karis didn't get the memo that her new world is on a different time zone. At 11pm she woke up and laughed and smiled at Grandma until 4 or 6 am. Then it was time to sleep. Well, we got her up and she wasn't too excited about that and tried to keep her awake a lot of the day and she didn't like that either. By evening there was no way we could keep her awake and put her down at 7:30pm. But 10 pm was her party time and she thought it was so fun to see Grandma again. Paul was on major jet lag and I am still in first trimester ickyness, and night time is the worse for nausea. So poor Grandma. Finally at 3 am, Paul took Karis and went for a walk and tried it all. She went to sleep close to 6am again. Elli had woken up, too, at 3, so Grandma ended up with Elli, and everyone was so nice to me, but I couldn't sleep through the commotion, so I woke up this morning pretty sick. Needless to say, our household was a mess. I had to be out the door at 8:30 for a doc appt. with Karis. I laid on my bed this morning crying out to God..."We can't do today...I can't do today...I NEED you!!!" After a while, I started feeling better, it even felt good to get out of the house and see the pediatrician. She was so helpful and got Karis signed up for Early Childhood Intervention because Karis is pretty delayed and helped out with other things, too. Karis, of course, was a total trooper and still cooed and smiled for everyone, though she had a few hours of sleep. I felt so encouraged and knew that at my worst hour God had provision.

Red Couch Pics

It's tradition that every Chinese adoptive family has to get a "red couch" picture at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. I think Paul did an awesome job picking out Karis' Chinese outfit...even a bow! The last pic is of Karis and her Chinese sister, Maddie, who shared their first 9 months together at the Laibin City Orphanage.

Karis Cuteness!!

Here are the latest and greatest of Karis!! Today was their big embassy appointment and it sounds like it went well...she will be coming home soon! Each morning we get on the computer and all sit on the couch and get so excited for the pics of the Paul's day. As soon as we sit down Elli excitedly says, "Karis Paul Papa on puter!" I cannot wait to see them each morning in person:)

In Guangzhou

They arrived in Guangzhou, the last stop before home. They will be working with the embassy to finalize paperwork to bring her into the US. Paul said they are staying on a beautiful island and the hotel is amazing. Karis has a pretty nasty cold as some of the other babies do, too. But Paul said Karis' personality reminds him of Elli's. She constantly laughs and smiles and is a little comedian. By looking at the pictures, she's pretty attached to her grandpa.

Meanwhile in Texas....

Elli is having a blast with Grandma!! Sprinklers and making "chocolate cake" were highlights today.

Visiting Karis' Orphanage

Paul, his dad and Karis with Maddie's family (her playmate in the orphanage) had the opportunity to visit the girls' orphanage (3 hours away from where they are staying). What I have heard is that the nannies really loved them and the movies Paul sent of Karis and her nanny...she won't take her eyes off of her nanny. What a blessing that Karis has been in such a loving environment. The last pic is of the rail station where Karis was left on one of the chairs the day she was born. What a redeeming pic...Karis with Daddy and Grandpa at that rail station!