Sesame Street Live - Elmo Grows Up!

Sesame Street Live was a success this morning, even though Jim and I are sick as can be with a nasty cough/cold combination that's kicking our butts. Thankfully Helaina is over her runny nose and fever incident from earlier in the week. I say bring on Spring, germ-free fresh air and open windows - quickly!

Helaina has been very excited to see Elmo and company, but I was wondering how she'd react. In the past she hasn't been a fan of people dressed up as characters in costume and has shyed away from them. When the lights went off in the theater and Big Bird & Elmo came on stage, she had a hesitant look on her face. I said to Jim "uh oh" as she started to whine a bit and climb out of her seat onto my lap. The first 5 minutes were "iffy" with her half clapping and half concerned, but she got over it quickly. Before long she was dancing, singing, waving, clapping and having a blast.

On our front porch waiting to go see Elmo.

Look at that sweet face!

Standing in front of one of the Sesame Street trucks on the city street, and waiting for the show to begin.

Big Bird's grand entrance and one of Helaina's favorite characters - Abby Cadabby (who also happens to be on Helaina's new sneakers).

Here Helaina is singing and acting out the itsy bitsy spider with the whole gang. Of course we had to buy Helaina an $8 Elmo helium balloon. We let her pick out one item, and the balloon was her first choice.

Daddy is good to climb on.

On weekends when we have time for a leisurely breakfast together, Helaina always has to climb on her Daddy when she's done eating. She'll sit in his lap so they can finish their cocoa together, search the newspaper for interesting pictures and then look at the comics. She usually ends up slinging herself over his shoulder. I think it's so cute. Contentment.


We recently took Helaina to Friendly's for her first "conehead" sundae. She dove into it 1 second after the waitress set it in front of her. When the ice cream got soupy in the bottom of the cone, she slurped it up with a straw!

Helaina loves helping in the kitchen. We made chocolate chip banana bread last week. She was playing in the family room and I was in the kitchen. I said to her "Helaina, want to grab your step stool and come in the kitchen and help me.....". That was all I had to say. She came running, not caring what we were going to make. All she cares about is that she'll be able to mash, stir, beat or lick something during the process. I think the Easter Bunny should put an apron in her Easter basket this year!

101.1 and 2:15 - what do these numbers mean?

101.1 degree fever at 2:15am - what else? Yup, Helaina's runny nose finally turned into a nasty cough and fever. The crying started at 2:15am and when I lifted her up from her crib I could just feel the heat radiating through her jammies. Jim ran for the tylenol, glass of water and thermometer while I stripped her jammies off of her and tried to help her through the coughing spell. She couldn't clear her throat and I think it scared. What a night. At one point she was so adorable it made the whole ordeal bearable. While sitting on my lap she kept saying something to me over and over - 2 words then "Momma". I couldn't understand what she was saying so I lifted her sweaty little head off my chest and asked "What are you saying Helaina?" Through tears and moans she said "Luv you, Momma." Luv you more. I think she finally fell back to sleep about 4:00am. She's had a few good moments today after the tylenol kicked in, but a large part of the day has been spent being kind of "whiney" and somewhere between tears and exhaustion - for both of us!

Feed a cold, starve a fever? Who knows, but Helaina's favorite won ton soup and crackers did her good at lunch today.

And no mater how bad you feel, one must always have your nails done even when feverish!

One year ago today ... there's no place like HOME!

March 19, 2008, 7:00pm - TOUCHDOWN in our home town - what a glorious moment. To see friends and family waiting to greet us and meet Helaina was a sight we had waited 13 days to see. It had been another whirlwind of 3 flights totaling about 17 hours within a 24-hour time span, except this time Jim and I were both sick and had a 2-year old with us that we had just met 10 days before!



Our journey home - Guangzhou to Hong Kong, only a 50 minute flight - a breeze!


Ok, these 2 pics are good for a laugh - and bring back nightmare-ish memories! 13hr 52minute flight from Hong Kong to Chicago and our faces explain how we felt. Who knows where Helaina was (just kidding, probably a rare moment when she actually slept on the plane).

Touch down in Chicago when Helaina's 2 little feet touched American soil and she became a citizen. Even though it was the equivalent to 1:00am for our bodies, we celebrated in American style - McDonalds at O'Hare. Helaina took to fries and nuggets like a pro - and also demanded a bite of cheeseburger. The only thing I was interested in was a COLD beverage with lots of ICE. I think ice was the thing I missed most while in China!

Ahhh, blast off from Chicago and Helaina slept the entire 2-hour flight home.

Two thumbs up from Momma, and double-fisted drinking for Daddy.

THE END - or just the beginning??!!

One year ago ... St. Patrick's Day in China and our final full day!

Well, there was no green beer in China for us to drink on St. Patrick's Day (wait a minute, there probably was somewhere!), but with our consulate appointment over and just one more full day left before heading home, we had reason to celebrate. We were more than ready to "get out of Dodge", as Jim phrased it. On the 18th we took our official oath to take care of Helaina forever, were handed the infamous brown envelope, had dinner at a yummy restaurant near our hotel and prepared for departure the next day. With the thought of 3 flights to get home lingering in the back of my mind, I couldn't decide which was worse - packing everything up making sure everything was in order, or worrying about the flights!

Strolling the streets of Guangzhou on St. Patty's Day.

Some final sightseeing.

An impressive banyon tree and some bamboo.

Just one last nap in this hotel room, then home to your comfy crib!

Final dinner on the 18th with Edward and Jack, then back to the room to pack pack pack!

Helaina's St. Patrick's Day this year, wearing her "Kiss me, I'm Irish" t-shirt from Uncle Jack. She's holding up her bottle of green minty milk which she loved.

I guess this is her Kung Fu pose - she's been watching too much Kung Fu Panda!

One year ago ... medical exam, sight seeing & shopping

March 15 & 16 was a Saturday and Sunday last year. It was a busy weekend for us with Helaina's medical exam, shopping, sight seeing and getting final paperwork in order for our consulate appointment on the 17th. No rest for the weary, and man, we were weary!


Here's the entrance to the medical exam area. This is a sign that we'd seen a million times on other adoptive couples' blogs. It was a monumental moment to actually be standing there looking at it ourselves - to be at that point of the adoption was a major event! The doctor who examined Helaina was great. When he saw her sitting on the exam table he pinched her thighs, gave a big laugh, rattled off something in Chinese and then said something like "beefy"!

There was a small courtyard behind the medical exam building and we met a class of children that were learning English. Their teachers had Jim ask them questions (in English obviously!) so they could practice answering. After all the fun Jim signed their school books. I've got the entire "show" on video and it's very funny!

Some pretty flowers in a park we visited on a beautiful day.

Some of the signs we saw were funny.

Feeding the fish in a pond, and me standing in line for bottled water, what else!

A yummy lunch should always be followed by a nap!

Even though we aren't Pizza Hut fans, it was very good for a change. Jim drank the beer and I stuck with the soda!

Helaina thought the pizza tasted good, too - her first pizza, we assumed. Love the way she's got her little toes curled in the picture.

Shopping galore, and some "good luck" tea with our guide, Edward.

Shopping for squeaky shoes ... and diapers!