New Play Toy

Last summer I got Lauren a jumpy house and it has been a hit with her and her friends. It is a great thing to set up in the back yard and let them just play. However when summer comes it is just too hot to play with it.



I have been looking at the blow up water slides and really wanted to get one for Lauren but they are usually too big for our little back yard. However, I came across one that I thought might fit. We got it a few weeks ago but with so much going on today was the first day we were able to set it up. It did fit in the backyard but not much room to spare.





Lauren played on it this afternoon and had a great time. She now can't wait to invite a few friends over to join it.

Summertime fun!!

Happy Birthday Lauren

Happy 5th Birthday Lauren!!!!

5 years ago today a little girl was left on the steps of a medical center in Leizhou China. She was found to be a newborn, healthy, baby girl and was later placed at the Leizhou SWI. She was named Lei Qing Rong at that time. She lived and was cared for at the SWI for about 13 months when she was placed in my arms. I wish I could let Lauren's birth family know that Lauren is doing great and that she is deeply loved.

Dear Lauren:

You are 5 years old today. I can’t believe how big you have gotten over the past 4 years since we became a family. I look at you in awe. You are such a strong, beautiful, smart and caring young lady. I am so proud to be your mom.

I love everything about you. I love that you are not afraid to try new things. I love that you like to make new friends and that others like to be your friend. I love that you have a thirst for knowledge. I love how you ask me all types of questions and really listen for the answer. I love when you explain things to me. I love that you sing all the time and always want music playing. I love the songs you make up. I love the way you tell me about your day. I love that you make me laugh with your little jokes. I love that you like to make art projects. I love that you love to write and read. I love that you like to tell me stories about your friends or school or other important things. I love that you come to me when you need help or for a hug when you are hurt. I love the kisses and hugs you give to me. I love that you are strong and don’t let people take advantage of you. I love that you try to follow the rules and that you don’t think it is right when others don’t. I love that you are at times a girly girl and at other times a tomboy. I love when teachers or coaches talk about you and it is always that you are such a good kid. But most of all I love that you are my daughter and I am your mom.

I often think about your birth mother and wonder if she is thinking about you today. I wonder if she is hurting because she misses you. I wish I could tell her how remarkable of a child you are.

Lauren, remember you can be anything you want to be. You are a wonderful little girl with so much ahead of you. I can’t wait to see what you will be when you grown up but I am so happy that I get to enjoy the ride while you get there. This is going to be a fun and exciting year. I am looking forward to seeing what will happen while you are 5. Happy Birthday my wonderful child!

I Love You,

Mommy.

To celebrate Lauren's 5th birthday we spent the afternoon and evening together. I left work early and went home to spend the day with Lauren. We got ready and then we went out to dinner. After dinner we walked around and played in the water. We then went to High School Musical Live. It was a fun day. Lauren seemed to enjoy it but it was late and she fell asleep during the last part of the play. I think that she has a great 5th birthday.

5 year old pictures

This afternoon I took Lauren to get her 5 year old pictures taken. Getting her pictures taken is a trying time for me (and I am sure for her too.)



Lauren is not a natural with smiling or with posing. She always looks a bit stiff and most times her smile is a bit strange looking. I keep trying to tell her to just smile like when you are laughing. She does not get it and it is a painful time to get pictures done. Usually I am hopeful that one will turn out nice.



Today was no different. I think I promised her everything under the sun if she would just smile and try. It took a while but we got a few nice ones.



I like top one the best. I got this one in an 8 x 10. Of course I did not notice until I got the pictures back that she has glitter on her arm from her morning Sunday School class. Right before we left for pictures I was busy trying to get blue fingernail polish off from yesterday's dance recital that I did not even notice the glitter on her arm. Anyway I think she is smiling so nice in this picture.


I can't believe how big she looks in this picture. She looks so grown up. She also looks really tall. She really is not that tall but for some reason she looks tall and lean in this picture.

I kept telling her to sit up straight. I think this is as straight as she can get. It is not my favorite but it is cute.

Again she looks so tall and grown up. Somewhere I read that you should not wear white for pictures. But I love this dress and I thought that since she has a summer birthday it would look nice. I think it looks fine since she is has such pretty dark coloring.

I love her little toes in this picture.

Over all it turned out ok. It always gives me stress to be there trying to get a few nice pictures and I am glad it is over. It is something I just don't look forward to at all. I keep thinking it will get easier but it never does.

The pictures I got were better centered and etc. They give you this CD that you can use to print out pictures from home or e-mail or put on the web. I think that is pretty nice.

Learning to Swim

My goal this summer is to get Lauren to swim on her own. No floatie or noodle. She has been taking lessons for the last two weeks. She really has improved but the main difference is this year she really wants to learn how to swim.

Tonight she came running in the house and told me she needed to show me something outside. She then proceeded to swim across the pool. It was a bit scary looking but Elaine was right by her and she did it. She was so proud of herself and I was so proud of her also. I think a few more weeks of practice and it won't look soooo scary.

You could tell she was trying so hard to swim.
Elaine is a good teacher and so good with her. Lauren just loves her. I can't believe that Elaine will be in High School next year. She is such a good and kind young lady. Lauren is lucky to have a cousin like her.

Birthday Party (number 2)

After the recital we went to Aunt Janine's house to celebrate Lauren's 5th birthday. This was her family birthday party. I thought that since the family would be all together already for the recital and Lauren's birthday is at the end of next week it seemed like a good time schedule the party.



I thought we could swim and have a cookout. Well, I decided against cooking out since it was about 113 today and no one wants to grill in that kinda heat. But the kids did all go swimming.



After swimming we had Lauren open her gifts.

Lauren loves to make cards and she wanted this little cutter. So Aunt Diane and Uncle Brian (and Sammie) got it for her. She did a bunch of them later that night.

Lauren and her cousins love to play with the Littlest Pet Shop toys. She has a few but Aunt Janine and Uncle Don and the kids got her a bunch more. Now she will be able to play with Elaine and Blaire a lot more.

She told me she wanted a doll house. I was not sure she really would play with this or that she really wanted it. But she kept asking for it and I really could not figure out what else to get her. So I got her the Fisher Price Loving Family doll house. It is a really cute doll house. We will see if she really plays with it.

Janine's girls had this doll house when they were Lauren's age. Janine could not believe how much they have changed and how nice they are now.

Birthday cake time. Lauren still likes princesses so we had a princess cake.

Blowing out the candles. At her last party Sammie helped her blow out the candles. Lauren asked Aunt Diane if she could keep Sammie from doing that this time. I didn't think it bothered her that much but I guess it did. So tonight she got to do it herself.

I am not sure why Uncle Brian thought he needed this big of knife to cut the cake.

Blaire, Sammie and Lauren playing with the new doll house. It was fun day but a very long day and Lauren was very tired at the end of the night.

I can't believe that in a few days Lauren will be 5. We will be going to the High School Musical Live on her birthday. That should be a fun mommy and Lauren day.

Dance Recital (number 2)

Lauren has been attending a dance studio since August and today was the end of the season dance recital. Lauren was in three dances and was pretty excited about it.



We started the day at the mall getting Lauren's hair and make-up done. She didn't enjoy that as much as she did the last time. I think she was a bit tired and hungry. So, after she was finished we went and had an early lunch.


Here she is getting her make-up done.

Hair style time.

The finished product. She looked so cute, however, this time she was not that careful with the make - up and by the time we got to the recital the make - up was pretty much gone.

The back view of the hair.

We got to the recital and she had to be dressed in her first outfit. She was excited. I tried to get a few pictures but she told me she wanted to go with her friends. It was a bit sad. The other sad thing is that you drop them off and then you don't see them again until after the show. Their are people that are getting them dressed and ready in the dressing rooms. It is strange to think that she is old enough to go by herself and do this.

This is the tap outfit. This picture was taken a few weeks ago at the studio.

The tap performance was the first dance she did. These pictures are from the dress rehearsal. We were allowed to use flash during the dress rehearsal but not during the performance so the ones I took during the performance did not turn out.

The next dance she did was her ballet dance. She really does not like ballet that much and does not want to take that class next year. The class did so bad during the dress rehearsal but they did much better during the actual performance. Again this picture is from a few weeks ago.

They all look a bit lost during the dress rehearsal. It was kinda funny. One of the girls even fall on her bum. Then one of the other girls yelled at the girls to move. It was funny.

The last dance was her jazz dance. She loved that dance and outfit the most. She liked this outfit because it showed her tummy. They did a great job on this dance.

They were really good during the performance and they all did a great job.

At one part of the dance they shake their hips. That is what Lauren is doing here. Lauren is very cute during the dances but (I hate to say this) she is not a dancer. She usually is going the wrong direction or she not with the others. She tries really hard and I am so proud of her. As long as she is having fun then she is great in my eyes.

Aunt Janine, Elaine, Blaire, Aunt Diane, Uncle Brian and Sammie all came to the recital. Sammie gave Lauren some flowers after the recital was done.

Elaine and Blaire also gave Lauren some flowers. It was a fun day.

At first Lauren did not want to take dance any more, but now she wants to take just tap and jazz. I think I can handle one class a week.











Janine asked me after the show if it was worth the $500 plus that you have to spend for the recital. It was really cute but I still think they could do the recital for a little less money. Next year we will only have to buy two outfits so it will be a bit less.

Summer Camp

This summer Lauren is attending a few summer day camps. One of the camps she is going to is at a gymnastics's center. She went all last week from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. They did swimming, soccer, arts and crafts, dance, karate, and of course gymnastics. She seemed to love going. On Friday afternoon they had an open house to let us see what they did all week. It was fun to see her with her little class.

She is going to be attending this camp a few more weeks this summer. Next.

time she will be with one of her good friends.

Because they do so many things and keep the kids really busy, I have one every tired girl at the end of the day. However, that is not the end of our day. We still have swimming lessons every night. By Friday I have a girl that just passes out when her head hits the pillow.

I am trying to keep her busy this summer but also give her the change to try some new things.

Beautiful Hair

This past week I have been thinking about my first feelings and thoughts of Lauren. I always have these thought around this time and around the time I received her.

One of the things I wondered about was what would her hair be like. Would it be fine? Would it be the slick, straight hair that many Asians have. Would it be thick? In her referral picture it was hard to tell since she had very little of it. The SWI kept it shaved.

I had heard that the SWI's were to stop shaving the head once the child had a family ready to adopt her. But that was not what happened with Lauren. Her hair was very short when I got her. In fact, Grant, who was 4 at that time, thought she was a boy because of her hair. He was convinced that we were wrong and she was a boy. When we asked him why he always talked about her hair being boy hair. I would agree with him, it did look like boy's hair.


There was another little girl in our referral group that had longer hair and we all thought that she was a cutie. When I look back on that I realize it was because of the hair. Her hair lmade her lo oked more like a girl.

When Lauren's hair started to grow out I realized that she would not have that slick hair but that her hair would have a lot of texture to it. It is straight but it is very thick.

It can hold a curl really well. I can curl her hair with a curling iron and it will stay curled for the whole day and longer. I like how it looks curled but it does look very pretty just straight. She is one lucky girl. I get comments all the time on her hair. They are amazed at how thick it is.

I love to watch her dance and run when her hair is down. It really does look very pretty.

The problems with this kind of hair is that we get knots. Mornings can be tough. Most days Lauren's hair is in a ponytail or pigtails or something like that. Otherwise it will be in her face and probably get very knotty. But some days I let her wear it down or with a headband and I know she just loves that.

The other great thing about this type of hair is that I get to do so much with it. We have so many bows, headbands, ponytail holders, and etc. It is fun to try to match her outfits everyday.

Lauren told me once she wants her hair to go down to her butt. I am not sure it would grow that long or I would want it that long. I think it could be a bit longer but then that is it. Who knows, next week Lauren might want to cut it all off. (That would make me sad!!) She did try to get me to let her get bangs again. I did put my foot down on that. Growing out bangs is a pain and I don't want to do that again.

My beautiful girl!!!