Happy Birthday Audrey!

Today was Audrey's 1st birthday which was bittersweet for us. We wish we could have been with her and hope that she had a special day. We know that God is watching over her even though we can't yet.

Aaron, Alex, and I celebrated by going out for Chinese food tonight and then came home for some birthday cake, presents and a few family pictures. The three of us sang happy birthday to her, blew out the candle, and prayed for her. My mom bought the birthday cake which was really sweet - pink & white with balloons. She also got her a soft Winnie-the-Pooh blanket/rattle. Aaron and I bought her a Winnie-the-Pooh outfit and My First Elmo which we will take to China to give her. We wanted to do something small but special to mark the occasion, and we will be able to show her the pictures when she is a little older.





Here is a little more of what we know about her from the report we were sent from our adoption agency. The report was done when she was about 7 months old, so I'm sure she has grown and is doing much more now.

• She was born in Fengcheng City in the Jiangxi Province of China on August 26, 2007. We have little information on how she was found, but we do know she was brought to the Social Welfare Institute on August 27th and the doctors determined that she was born just the day before. They named her Feng Jingjing (Jingjing being like a first name to us). She weighed 6 lbs and 13 ounces and was 18.9 inches long. She was placed in a foster home on August 28th and has lived there since then. She was born with a cleft lip and a congenital heart defect.


• At 7 months old, she was 24.5 inches long and 14 pounds. If she has continued growing at this same rate, she should be about 28 inches and 17 or 18 pounds when we get her (size 9 - 12 months).


• She is a light sleeper, quiet, sometimes impatient (what baby isn't?), fond of listening to music and playing with brightly colored toys, quick in reaction, has a ready smile, laughs aloud, and is closest to her foster mother.


• She can sit alone steadily, roll back and forth, grasp toys, follow objects and people with eyes and by moving head from side to side, makes sounds (baby babble), responds to facial expressions, knows her name, and can stand for a moment with arms supported.


• She primarily eats formula and rice cereal. She also eats some congee (mushy rice - sort of like grits), pureed vegetables, and baby biscuits.

Here are a few quotes from the report we have about her:

• "Sometimes when foster mother gazed at her angrily, her eyes would turn away and be full of tears." ~ Sensitive like me


• "She would refuse strangers, did not like strangers to interact with her and was jealous when foster mother was holding children in other families." ~ UH-OH!!


• "At age 6-7 months she liked watching TV. Hearing the music on TV, especially cartoons, she would wave her hands happily. When animals like dogs and cats appeared on TV, she would tilt her body forward and reach for them." ~ An animal, TV & music lover. Just like us.


• "She likes foster mother to hold her and go to play in the street, extremely likes to play with kids in the neighborhood." ~ Is something lost in translation here? A 7 month old that likes to play in the street?! At any rate, it sounds like she will fit right in at camp.


• "When she takes a bath she is happy and can clap the water for fun." ~ So sweet!


• "She defecates twice per day respectively in the morning and evening and has normal urination." ~ Aaron wanted me to put that one on here (he would).

She sounds so sweet and perfect for us, although she may give us a run for our money. Doesn't like strangers - we are in for it! We know there will be an adjustment period, and we pray that it will go as smoothly as possible for her. We can't wait to meet her and bring her home. Please continue to pray for her and for speedy referral and travel approvals so that we can bring her home very soon.

Happy Birthday baby girl ~ We love you!