Jul 27, 2009

Happy 2nd Birthday Chloe!

We celebrated Chloe's 2nd Birthday with family this past weekend.
She got to open her presents tonight from our family - a talking baby and a car of her very own.


One of Chloe's new found foods is corn on the cob.
As I reflect back on all this past year has held, there has been much learning on Chloe's part and ours as her parents. We are so grateful to God for all He has taught us through her. Now we look forward to what this next year will bring. Next week we begin intensive attachment and bonding therapy for Chloe. We pray that this will bring about a new trust and bonding for her that she has yet to experience. The independence that we now come to expect from Chloe is only a symptom of her troubled heart and inability to allow someone to care for her. As you think of Chloe in the weeks to come, please pray for a deep healing that only God can bring. He created her and only He knows what will heal her heart. If you would like more information on attachment and bonding, please see the link to ABC of Ohio on the right.

Jul 13, 2009

A Visit with Florida Friends

We had a great opportunity to visit some other adoptive families in our travel group on our vacation in Florida. Emma and her brother Josh at the pool with Chloe. Emma is from Chloe's orphanage.
Roselyn is from a neighboring orphanage in Chongqing.

The 3 girls together for supper at Macaroni Grill. Our reservation was for 12, 5 adults and 7 kids. I think the waiters were drawing straws to see who had to serve us.


The Hannemann Family

Rosie and her mom Retta

We caught up with the Kaplin family in Jacksonville and had a great time while the kids played on the playground at Chick-fil-A.

We also got to spend some time with family in Sarasota. Chloe loved her first beach visit at Siesta Key.

We got reacquainted with a Chinese shop owner that Greg had spoken with a few months before we adopted Chloe. She remembered him and was very excited to meet Chloe.

Chloe is an all-American, donut loving kid. In this case, it was much easier to let her eat it without any clothes.

We braved the 100 deg. temperatures and spent a day Disney World. As it turns out, Chloe's favorite ride was the bus, first thing in the morning.

Chloe on the Mad Hatter tea cup ride.

Chloe loved exploring at Minnie Mouse's house. She wanted to climb on everything.

On a side note - We are scheduled to begin attachment and bonding therapy the first week of Aug. with Chloe. Please be praying that our funding goes through. Right now it looks like it will not be available due to State budget cuts. We will move forward anyway, even if we have to pay ourselves.