Our Family Four

My greatest Hero's

I know it may sound cliche but I was thinking about this the other day and came almost immediately to the conclusion that my girls are my greatest Hero's and inspirations to be a better person, a better mom and a stronger believer in my faith.  When I think about what my oldest has endured....we brought her home at three days old, she had been exposed to crack, cocaine and alcohol and went through three months of withdrawl.  She could not keep food down, she screamed constantly if she was awake and was inconsolable.  To hold her was like holding a log because she was stiff and rigid and could not relax due to the withdrawl symptoms.  There was no bonding going on only times of crying and not crying (sleeping). It took three months until we could count the hours of the day where she was not screaming and it slowly increased.  During this first year she began to develop rapidly and crawled at 5 months then walked at 9.  Today she is a active and thriving almost 7 year old and you would never know where she came from.  By the grace of God she has no long lasting effects with the exception of some mild emotional challenges that are few and far between.  She is amazing child who is an accomplished gymnast and dances on a local TV show. She is smart beyond her grade level and has the heart and compassion of a saint.   

My other little hero is the one we just were blessed with from China.  This sweet angel endured a cold night in early January 2007 with her umbilical cord still attached and uncut (yes, uncut) until someone found her outside of a building in the early morning hours.  She has been brought out of her home country and all that she had ever  known and in just three short months she has so sweetlyand perfectly fallen into the fabric of our family.  She is learning new words and baby signs everyday with just gusto and explores her environment daily.  Her smiles and laughter are more sweet than I could ever imagine and it is the small moments that make everyday special.  She hugs us and kisses us and plays with her sister and is more special than I could ever imagine.  Two years of waiting was worth every minute, every tear, every worry and every fear.  

These girls will always be my greatest inspirations and my hero's.  On my worst days they make me laugh and their laughter is so infectious!  I am blessed beyond measure and forever grateful to Him who has blessed me as a mother.

Happy Easter!!

What a wonderful day!  Since we were in China for Christmas , I was not expecting how much I wanted to be with the whole family this Easter.  The girls woke up early, especially Belle, and found all the eggs.  Hannah got the hang of it pretty fast and began getting the eggs too.  It was a fun morning and we will spend the afternoon at Nana and Papa's  house doing another egg hunt. 

Isabelle lost her first tooth this week and Hannah gained a tooth!  I guess it is a season for new beginings, even in their mouths!

We are very blessed this Easter morning and grateful to Him who rose from the dead t o give us new life!

Many blessing to you all!!!!!

As I was putting in the pictures I realized that Hannah looks like and easter egg too!

Celebrating these beauties!

How cute are these girls!!!!  We did our Celebrating Adoption photo shoot on Friday and these are just a few of the photos that were taken.  I am already in love with them and can't wait to see the rest. If you have recently adopted you can go to www.celebratingadoption.org and find a photographer in your area who participates in this program.  The other set of photos is the girls in matching Chinese dresses and Hannah is holding crackers in her hands in every photo. How cute! 

All is well in the Fierberg home. We are busy with gymnastics and creating new teeth.  Everyday is a gift!

Harmonicas and bubbles

What could be more fun than spending a beautiful afternoon on the deck listening to my 6 year old play the harmonica while I blow bubbles to my giggling one year old!  Really!  We have had some wonderful spring like weather here and we are all getting outside to enjoy it together.  Hannah is doing great and cutting teeth while drooling like old faithful.  She continue to learn new words everyday and her laugh is infectious.  Belle is a wonderful big sister and loves to play and dance for her baby sister.  I can't belive she will be seven in just a couple of months!  I think I still look at her like she is Hannah's age.

Motherhood is such a gift and everyday presents new blessings and challenges and I love each one.  Time passes much too quickly and as Hannah approached 14 months old I can hardly belive we have only been together for about three months but then again I can't believe she is already 14 months old!  I pray that I remember to enjoy every moment of every day because it won't be long before they hidden under headphones and not talking to me at all!

New words every day

Life with a toddler is never boring! Now add to that a cross-cultural toddler!  She is learning new words everyday and it always surprises us when she comes up with a new word.  The one word she has yet to say is MAMA!!!  She has no problem with Baba or Dada but Mama has not come through yet.  She will call the dog, tell me when her sock is too loose, yell for Belle and say juju for juice but Mama has yet to fall into the repitoir!!!!!  She is amaizing and cute and every minute is such a blessing.  I think she thinks, why do I have to say Mama, you are always in my face!!! Here are lots of cute pictures from the last couple of weeks.  We are so blessed with both girls!

Prayers for China

As I giggle and grin with my precious China angel my mind worries about all the effected orphanges in China struggling right now with the winter weather.  Hannah's region was one hardest hit but we have not been able to get any info on the conditions of the are or the orphange.  I wonder with the hundreds and hundreds of orphanges in China now in desperate need of supplies, heaters, diapers, blankets etc why no one is talking about this human crisis on the news.  I guess Hillary and Obama are more important in their warm beds tonight than the thousands of freezing children and staff in those orphanages.  If you want more detailed information on how to help  go to http://www.halfthesky.org/work/littlemouse.php  This is a wonderful organization focusing on helping the orphans of China. 

Referrals are in and I love to celebrate with my cyber friends who all just became mommies!!! Congrats!!!!!  It is an amazing moment to get that call and see her face for the first time.  God speed those TA's!!!

Hannah is doing great and is starting to learn more words everyday.  It snowed here today and she watched from the window and when we ventured out for diapers she smiled as the snowflakes landed on her face and hair. It was a precious moment.  As I was buckling her into her carseat she was trying to brush the white flakes from my black coat.  She is always too cute for words!  Here are some pictures to prove it!

A new name for a new day

We have changed the name of the site since the initial journey is over and continues in a new way.  We wanted a name to reflects the whole family so that our loved ones can keep in touch with us and check in on all our happenings.  We also wanted Belle to feel included as much as Hannah is in this blog and she is such a wonderful big sister that she will often be spoken of here.

The web address will remain the same because that would be just too much work!

A million miles away

All the pictures are developed and put into albums, the souviners are almost all mailed.  Tales of the journey have been told countless times and her lifebook has begun. I am amazed at how getting home, starting a routine and just living life can make the whole journey to China feel a million miles away.  I often look at Hannah and wonder if she remembers any part of her life there or if certain things will trigger memories.  Does she wake up and wonder where the heck she is?  She is so full of smiles and laughter and is such a blessed daughter in our family that it is hard to imagine life without her.  Her toothy grin that wrinkles her nose and makes her eyes disappear would make anyone smile! Her favorite new word (of sorts) is "da" and she points to our dog.  We then  say "dog."  I must say that word 50 times per day.  It has become a Pavlovian response but it always fun for her!  I love learning her nuances and signals for food, nap, diaper etc and if you ask her if she is poopy she always shakes her head no even if the neighbors cab smell it.  Motherhood and the army ARE the toughest jobs you will ever love and I LOVE being a Mom. My sweet 6 year old is giving me a run for my  money lately but as all moms know "this too shall pass!"

Daddy's Perspecitve: That's my girl!

This morning I witnessed a proud moment in fatherhood.  Isabelle, Hannah and I were at the breakfast table, enjoying our meal.  Belle was intensely watching her morning cartoons and I was busy feeding Hannah her fill of scrambled eggs and toast.  Without warning, Hannah shifts in her highchair, onto one "cheek" and rips out a huge fart.  She promptly looked at me and pointed toward the dog's kennel and said "Dog".  Way to blame the animal for your air-biscuit.  Excuted as perfectly as I would have done.  I am tearing up as I write this.  A proud day, a really proud day.

What a cupcake!

We had a wonderful first birthday with cupcakes!  She mashed it, smashed it, fed it to her sister and ate it like it was going to be taken away! Nana and Poppa came over and brought gifts as well as some very special neighbors. Fun and sugar highs were had by all!

She is adorable, fun and full of laughter.  We are having the time of our lives watching her walk and scream at the dog so she will go away.  She loves to play in the toy kitchen we have in our actual kitchen and likes to walk and scream then slam into my body.  I love every  minute of it!

Thank you all for your prayers and love!

I love Daddy's way of cleaning the table after a cherrio fest!