We are home!

Got home Friday evening, and we've all had a good night's sleep.  Lily seems pretty content in her new home, slept all night without a peep and is happily playing on the living room floor.  She seems to like, and is interested in, the cat and the cat seems to tolerate her.

Lily doesn't crawl or walk yet, but she can sit up on her own and roll over.  No words yet either, other than a mmmmaaaaahhhhhh when's she hungry.  She seems to love watching Rose, and I can see her learning from Rose already.

We developed the disposable camera we had sent ahead of time to the orphanage, and we got some nice photos of her foster mother.  Her foster mother is older, perhaps a grandma.  We now know where Lily gets her generous and charming smile, and that would be from her foster mother's beautiful smile.  There are also some younger boys in the photos, but we have no idea if they were with the foster mother or from the orphanage.  We cherish the photo's, as there is so little that Lily comes to us with.

Rose seems much happier to be home (despite telling us she wanted to stay and live in China).  We had some rough and sad moments while in China having to do with our family changing, but extra love and attention seems to be helping.  I slept with her in her bed last night, I think we both needed some time with each other.

Can't wait for everyone to meet Lily.  She's fighting a cold right now, so we'll have to see how she's feeling before venturing out.  Rose has a birthday party to attend this afternoon, we are hoping to be not too jet-lagged to take her to it.  I think it would be good for her to spend some time with her friends.

Rose goes back to school on Monday.  She only got to attend one day of 2nd grade before we left for China.  Here's hoping she can make the transition ok, and not feel too far behind or left out.

I'm almost embarrassed to say that when we returned home last night we had to actually turn the furnace on to take the chill off.  We left China in 90+ degrees and vert high humidity, and came home to 60 degrees and dry air.  You'd think we would have relished the cooler temp, but for some reason we all felt COLD!!

Our return home was made so special by family, friends and neighbors.  My brother and his wife picked us up from the airport and provided some baby food, fruit and milk.  They also gave us a beautiful bouquet of lilies and roses :)

There were balloons decorating our front light post, and a hand made Welcome Home poster on our front door.  Our fridge was stocked with fresh food and beverages, and our house was cleaned professionally (Thank you Vicki for the thoughtful shower gift of food and cleaning!).

The cat was well cared for, and even gained a few extra pounds, and there was a gift waiting for Lily on the counter (not from the cat...from a neighbor hee hee).

Now we are just waiting for our held mail to be delivered so we can catch up with the real world.

Home Sweet Home!