It's A Girl!!! Well another girl that is!

We found out this week that my niece K is having a GIRL!!! This is great news as we were all waiting on pins and needles know what she was having. She was supposed to find out while we were in China (many weeks ago) but for some reason it kept getting delayed. So now we know! I say ANOTHER girl as it seems that's all this family can produce. Mike's mum had two girls and Mike's sister, K's mum, had three girls, we have two and now the next generation is having girls too....Hey I'm now a great aunt, I mean I always knew I was GREAT but, ugh how OLD does that sound???? lol, Congrats K!! Can't wait to see the pictures.

Citizenship

Well I have all the documents required for citizenship and we received Sophia's pictures and are sending it all out tomorrow, to wait 12-15 months, lol!!! Oh well at least it will be in the mail and one last thing we need to finalize everything. I can't get over the difference a few short months make in a child. See the pictures below. The one in the yellow was taken in February in Liuzhou, China the other in the pink, of course, was taken today in NB, Canada. It's hard to believe it's the same girl!

These boots are made for walking!!!

Sophia decided to try out Jenna's cowboy boots...It took a while but she figured out how to walk without bending her knees!!!

Whoa this is harder than it looks!!

HA, HA, I can do it!!!

WHOOPS!!! Not as easy as I thought

There I go....

Whoo Hoo These boots ARE made for walking!!

My little sister is CRAZY!!!Awww, a goodbye hug for Marielle and Austin

Jenna's First real Haircut!!

Ever have one of those moments when you think "Oh Gawd, what have I done??" Well had me one of those moments today! I took Jenna for her 1st "big girl" haircut complete with a Tim Horton's to boot. When the 1st cut was made I couldn't believe that I actually was cutting her hair. It turned out really cute and will be a lot easier and I swore I would NEVER give her bangs again and I did and I guess the only real problem is that she aged about 5 years, *sigh* the woes of motherhood, lol!! The best thing of it all is that we had a GREAT day just the two of us and she REALLY loves it and PREENED in front of the mirror all night (truly her mothers daughter, lol) Her beaming face in the after pohotos tells the whole story and I am so glad she had it done!! Imagine that....

BEFORE

AFTER

Photos!!!

Just a few photos that we have taken of the girls since we have arrived home...It will be almost a month since we left China...Miss you Group 253!!! Jenna knows the drill now, she said the other day, "Hey mum get the camera quick this is really cute!" This is because I always say " That's so cute, don't move I going to get the camera quick!" Funny how quickly they learn. All is well here the girls are settling into a great routine, Sophia is a very happy baby who is a great sleeper, is really eating well and is just a real sweetie. We received her permanent resident and provincial health card and the EI has come in and well, life is good! We have started her application for citizenship and once we have the pictures taken will send it later this week, and that, as they say is all folks!

Happy to be home!

It's hard to explain how much you miss certain things while you are in a different part of the world. It goes far beyond your bed, your home, your family and your things. In China they use "squat" toilets when you are out in public areas and have NO toilet paper in them so you don't want to forget your Kleenex, lol!! The food is VERY different, smells, language and even something as simple as your morning coffee is not the same. That being said it is truly an amazing country and we have been fortunate to see it not once but twice. The wall, the culture it is just so much to take in. We had an amazing time and a group of travel mates that were like no other, well except 177/178, lol!!! We made some very near and dear friends and Sophia really took to several of the babies. We spent a lot of time with Lacey, Santana and Meghan and Sophia even met a new friend, Renee and Olivia late in the trip. She became so comfortable with Lacey that she started to even mock her by times. Needless to say the parents all got a big laugh at this!

We would like to take this time to say thanks to everyone who followed our journey. We know that many people had difficulty posting but were there with us every step of the way!! And to Nanny, Grampie, Austin and Marielle for keeping Jenna busy the first leg of our trip and to Grammie and Grampie for coming home from Florida to be with Jenna the second leg!! Auntie M and Uncle M for coming up early and pitching in....AND for the Cinderella sleep over!!! And to all those who braved the storm to come and meet us at the airport and those who visited at the house over the weekend. We are truly surrounded by wonderful people and Sophia and Jenna are VERY lucky to have each of you in their lives. I have MANY pictures to post but have to transfer them from my Dad's camera onto my computer so I will do a picture marathon as soon as I get them :)

We would lastly like to thank the members of Group 253, especially our "hall mates" for a great trip and to Children;s Bridge and Chia, you were awesome!!

The Sweeney's