A Week Full of Firsts

....and it's only Tuesday. :)  I continue to Praise the Lord!!!  Hannah is truly fitting right in as a member of the McDuffie clan.  We lead a rather busy life and she is keeping the pace. :)

We have really been enjoying sharing in a lot of Hannah's "firsts" (or firsts with us :)  Like.....

first trip to the strawberry patch

(she LOVED the ice cream)

first Sunday at church

 first time going to Daddy's ballgame

she even ran the bases with Daddy and Deacon ;)

 and first trip to our Dr.

We are BLESSED!!

We're Home :)

Well, thank you Lord we made it home.  We were greeted at the airport by both sets of Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and cousins........but best of all MK and Deacon.  It was great.  Hannah really took to everyone easily. Of course there are kinks that we are working through (mainly going to sleep and sleeping in general :), but all in all we could not ask for things to be better.

 It is so evident that our's is the family that God intended for her to be in when she was wonderfully made!!!

All of my babies together....finally :)

(notice the big ol' grin on my face)

This is what was going on at my house at about 2:30 am Sunday morning.

Hannah loves........

swinging,

riding in the wagon,

jumping on the trampoline,  

and just playing and being silly with her big brother and big sister.

She even had fun today playing with her cousin Brooklyn.

But, I would have to say, so far her favorite thing to play with is the toy kitchen.

Who knows, my baby may be on the Food Network one day ;)

We can't say enough how much we appreciate all the prayers that were sent up on our behalf.  They were truly felt.  Please continue to pray for our family as we transition into our new normal.

Our Last Post From China

This morning we went to the botanical gardens here in Guangzhou.  

I know I seem to say this about everything, but it really was beautiful.  

We just walked around and took it all in.

 

and Hannah had her one more good time just scooting around :)

This post is kind of bitter sweet.  It is the last post we will be making from China.  Coming into this, I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this trip has been beyond anything I could have imagined.  Everyone has seemed to go out of their way to make sure we were taken care of.  I have really felt the presence of the Lord (cause I have really been praying :), and because I know it was HIS will for Stephen and me to be in this very spot at this very time.  We are blessed beyond belief to be able to have come to China and bring our daughter home with us.

That being said...........I can't wait to get home and get my hands on my other two babies!!!!!!  I promised myself I would not dwell on it or post on here everyday how much I missed them every second, but this is our last day so, oh well :)  It has been really hard.  Even though we have been having lots of fun and doing all kinds of cool things, they weren't with us, and that was always in the back of my mind.  I am soooooo ready to hug my babies, see my dirt road :), eat some good ol' south GA cooking, drink some sweet tea, watch MK dance, and Deacon play ball.....Home, here we come (with Hannah!)

LOVE Y'ALL

Consulate Appointment and Dinner Cruse

We had to be up really early this morning, and meet in the hotel lobby at 7:45.  We left headed for the US Consulate.  Our appointment was at 8:30 sharp. Wellllll, the bus broke down about half way there.  We were stuck in the middle of the road (literally) for about 30 minutes.  They sent a new bus and we were on our way....just a little late.  We took our oath and submitted all of our paperwork. Sorry, no cameras were allowed :( Hannah's VISA should be ready tomorrow afternoon!!!! (one big step closer to going home, yay)

All of the adoption families met in the lobby for a group pic.  

We dressed the kids in traditional Chinese dress.  

They were all precious.

My China Doll playing with her China Doll :)

(P.S.  Kaka, I bought you a dress just like Hannah's :)

Deacon, you even have a Chinese outfit too.

This is sooo a "Hannah look"

.....like ok Mama, that's enough :)

Tonight we went for a Dinner Cruse.  It was so beautiful to see the city at night.

 

 We went up on the top deck to take in the sights.  

Hannah thought it was hilarious with the wind blowing on her face. :)

LOVE Y'ALL!!

Shopping at Shamian Island

Today we went on another shopping spree :)  The bus left at 10:00 this morning headed for Shamian Island.  This is where adoption families would traditionally stay, at the White Swan Hotel.  The hotel is closed for renovations right now, but there are plenty of small shops to spend half a day just walking and shopping.

It is a beautiful place!

 

Reminded me a lot of Savannah

We went in several shops and bought all kinds of neat stuff.  

Hannah picked out two things of her very own today......a baby doll and sunglasses.  

Can you say Diva :)

 We grabbed some lunch at Lucy's and had some good ol' sweet tea.

 

I'm telling you this child is something else!!!!  

She loved her glasses so much, she ate most of her meal wearing them. :)

 

Tonight we went out to the Mexican restaurant with most all of the other adoption families here with us.

Cuteness of the Day......

LOVE Y'ALL!

A Trip to the Zoo

This morning we went to the Guangzhou Zoo.  We all really enjoyed our trip.  

(just wished MK and Deacon could have been here with us)

 

This Zoo actually had more animals than I was expecting.  

Here are just a few.

 

 

I got some really cute pics of Hannah with her Daddy today. 

(or "Gaga", as she has stared calling him :)

  

 

Tonight we went to eat at an Irish Pub.  It was GREAT!

Please don't judge me for this next pic, 

but Stephen and I laughed and laughed so I just had to post.

We ordered apple juice for Hannah to drink and this is how it came........

(don't worry, we tasted it first :)

Favorite pic of the day....

An Orphan No More :) :)

LOVE Y'ALL!