More "Firsts" for all!

Even though the summer is nearing it's end, here at the Ryle house, there are so many "firsts" happening every day! Lets start with Emsley...she sits on her own, and she has her first tooth! She is also laughing out loud, and mimicking sounds that are made to her...

As for Olyvia, she is almost speaking small sentences...For instance, here are some new phrases she says...

"Hello Mamma, Hello Dadda, Hello Emma"
"Good morning Mamma"
"I love you Mamma"

"Emma crying, Mamma"..
"It's O.K..Emma"
"Come on, let's go"...
"I'm ready guys"
"Ariel's coming"

"Whats wrong, Emma?"

And there are so many more! She has become our little chatterbox!

Where does the time fly?

My dear Friend....

Just a few short days ago my dear friend was murdered in Chicago..Robert Soto was a Chicago Police Officer and a dear, dear friend of mine...I remain in disbelief..and grieve for his wife Jen, who is also a dear friend...This tradgedy comes with the loss of a caring husband, devoted brother and loyal friend...I close my eyes and I can recall so many substantial and humorous conversations I have had with Robert. For five years we worked together in the same office. One memory I am left with is Roberts cravings for SALT!! At lunch time we would all migrate to Kevin's office and day after day Robert would open salt packets covering his food until it was white...Yes, disgusting..even more disturbing was when he would open the salt packets and down them in his mouth...Seriously, this grossed me out...I recently found the meaning behind this madness...Robert believed salt helped him with his food cravings and used salt as a diet...cute huh?? I remember Robert and Jens wedding day, a luah...she was stunning, and he...he was dressed in white and could not have looked happier...so many memories...but mostly I remember his smile, and his laugh..really that is what Robert did most of the day...he smiled, he laughed....he loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved his job....

I was able to say good-bye to Robert before his passing...this only encouraged me to tell those I love just how much I love them and why......I spoke to Robert the day he passed away....In the afternoon we joked about tacos at his luah....that evening he was taken from us....how important it is to make TIME for those you love, and let them hear you say, "I love you"

R.I.P. Robert...you memory will never be forgotten! I love you...............

Gotcha Day Anniversary

What a fabulous day.....

The Red Thread.....

The Chinese have an ancient belief that an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place and circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.
When a child is born, these invisible red threads reach out from the child's spirit to all the important people who will enter her life. As she grows, the thread shortens, drawing her closer to the people who love her....

One year ago today, from around a corner in the Chinese Welfare Institute in Guangzhou China, we saw our daughter for the first time....Her tiny frame, big brown eyes and spiked black hair grabbed our attention....our eyes began to swell with tears...I held my hands over my mouth gasping for air as Jim held onto my shoulders.... there he was, the Director from the Jiang Cheng Orphanage...with a loving smile, he placed Jiang Cheng Qi into my arms....

Dear Olyvia,

As I type this letter, my eyes are filling with tears...
One year has past since the day you were placed in my arms, and that beautiful spirit of yours captured the heart of your father and I...In my mind I try and relive that moment over and over...but nothing can ever replace, the feelings, anxiousness, nervousness, and joy I felt at that very moment, August 6th, 2007....I remember the look on your face when you were placed in my arms...you touched my eyes, one by one...I asked for a kiss, and you kissed me...You knew what that meant! Pictures captured the first kiss between you and I....I danced with you, and sang..."Oh Mamma...Oh Mamma..." and you attempted to sing back...it gave us all a chuckle on the bus ride back to our Hotel. As I looked over the Scrap Book I made you capturing our entire journey into China...so many memories came back...One particular memory that stands out is the first night we had you....You fell asleep so easily...I think you really liked that Heavenly Bed at the Westin!! Your Ahi, Grandpa, Father and I all watched as you slept...we could not get over what a gift you were...All night I could not sleep a wink...I was nervous that you would awake and be frightened, I was nervous I would forget this day and I did not want it to end...I did however become excited at all the "firsts" we were about to encounter with you....I fell in love that very night....

The memories of this journey will always be played in mind every time I look at that innocent, sweet face of yours...
from the first smile we witnessed which was actually with your Grandpa, to the first time we changed your diaper...to your sisters in the orphanage....the Aunties who clearly loved you and cried when they let you go....but more importantly, the memory of leaving China...your birth place...the land where your birth parents live...this particular memory still saddens me...but I know we took you to a place where you would be loved so much more...I now understand, that your home was always meant to be with us...

I will sit down one day when you are older and attempt to take you back to that special time in our lives...it is on this day my dear, that we became a family......

God brought you to us, and the long path to becoming parents ended...

Happy "Gotcha Day" Olyvia....and thank you for showing me the most un-selfish form of love...the love between a mother and a daughter....I love you baby girl.............

In the air............

That is right...One year ago today, at this very moment, we were in the air on our way to China...Finally...we were off to kiss and hug our daughter!
Emsley was just a pea at the time...but I can remember fondly the impact she had on me(morning sickness...nausea..the whole bit!)
As we played in the back yard today all I thought about was the packing, planning, organizing and ensuring we had all of our paperwork and those crisp-fresh one hundred dollar bills...Now look...Here we all are...TWO girls in one year! Could life have been any kinder to me this past year?

Olyvia is now 21 months, Emsley 6 months...they are growing before my eyes. They are so different, but their sweetness is just the same.

Thank you God.....