Buttercup Bloom in China...

Hi all. This is Annie, friend of Wend....she doesn't have Blogspot access, but she wanted you all to know that the 3 Zasts are doing well. I don't regularly blog here, so I'm unfamiliar with posting photos...I'll have to leave that to WZ when she returns.

Annie

Wendy says "It is a trip being so far away for such an experience as this. CCAI has been great & our travel group has been so supportive!

Vera has 4 teeth! And, she is cutting a 5th - so feeding has been a bit difficult for that reason plus she hasn't quite developed her "tongue thrust" skills. Each day gets better, though & we had our first poo (actually 3!) yesterday! WoooT! Her personality is so fun and happy - I can tell that we are in for a lot of action, Johnny and I!"

Rainbow Garden

We've been working so hard on the nursery, wrapping up work stuff, getting over virus bugs and gathering steam for this next big adventure!

Finally the closet remodel was complete! And, what an improvement - not only is it pretty enough to leave the door off, but there is just a load of storage for our girl now!


Thanks to Ikea, we found a shelf that looks a lot like rick-rack. Perfect spot to showcase special treasures!


The ABC Art is courtesy of Melissa Sweet & something I purchased years ago. It is so wonderful to finally see it in place.

A Rainbow Corner...


And the most perfect Kelly Green rug that was ever created. I love it.


And, so does Peyton. Hopefully our garden-girl will, too!

xo

Details

Oh its been more than a little nutty around my home and my head these few weeks. House guests, recovery from a stomach bug and then a chest cold, wrapping up everything at work, gathering medications, choosing packing lists and organizing documents....

And we are finally getting down to the last little details.

For anyone who has been following my blog over the years - you know that I usually have a sewing project in progress. Remember this one?


The girl on the left (who was later named "Pixie" was sewn and delivered to my niece in July of 2007. Her partner in crime, on the right, has sat for all of these years patiently waiting her own unique expression.


Guess I just needed the right inspiration.

Insert Baby

One step closer....

Cascading Love

I know that traditionally it is called a Baby Shower, but it felt a lot more like a Waterfall for me.

This gathering of friends and family was an incredible washing upon my life this past Sunday. It was an incredible wave of expectation. A cavalcade. It was a drenching abundance of expectation and as overwhelming as I'd imagine a surfer facing the Mavericks may feel...it was that for me. This little Sunday party was amazing and wonderful and overwhelming and absolutely what I needed at this point in time. All my nearest and dearest in one place at one time and....celebrating buttercup. Our dear buttercup.

Borrowing words from my dear Suzanne Vega...It was "Love Made Real".

My dearest AK47 whipped up some amazing finger sandwiches and cosmos meant to be sipped from teacups.



She was the hostest with the mostest and made everyone feel welcome and ready to par-tay! She created a beautiful red wave of fabric where guests could share their hopes and dreams for baby Z!


So many hopes and dreams!

There was Rainbow Bunting...


A Rainbow Group Craft Project:


A Rainbow Cake:


A Rainbow Group Gift:

(I refuse to take this amazing jeweled treasure off of my neck!)


And a Rainbow Collection of Family and Friends!

So many presents for buttercup, so many hopeful wishes for myself and jzboy....so many promises of support, love, dim sum and congee. Thank goodness. Thank. Goodness. Thank you.


Feels so great to be so happy.

I love you all! Thankfulness. xoxoxoxo

Sealed with a Kiss

I had a bit of help...


putting together a care package for our buttercup.

I cut and I pasted...I researched and I shopped.

It was so much fun choosing and sewing for a girl that now has a face and a name. Here is what I enclosed in a crimson red box Guangdong bound, to our cupcake girl:


Three hand-adorned onesies, a pair of yoga pants to match, a tiny all-American photo album with photos of our nearest & dearest for buttercup, California-made candies for her caretakers, a brilliant teether toy, a mama-made buttercup yellow "tiny wee hoot" and a lightweight waffle weave blanket - perfect for the hot weather in the area where our girl is currently living.

And, Rainbow Socks!


Everything is wrapped up for the mail tomorrow.


And, totally Sealed with a Kiss.

Many kisses.

buttercupcake

Such a sweet wee face.

We are so excited to introduce our daughter!

Song Xiao (Dawn) Yuan (garden)

Born on January 26, 2010 - she's a tiny, young nugget of love!

Someday soon we will travel to the province of Guang Dong where she sleeps "deeply" at the YangXi SWI!

She is a healthy girl who loves playing with adults, has 2 teeth, can hold her head up & roll over - at 6 months!

She's as big as our chubby cat, Peyton: 14.5 pounds!!


Immediately I feel that she is smart, somewhat fearless, very likely quite sassy, wants to be involved and needs her mama (& baba) to hold her tightly and feel all the love cascading upon her little life.

Such an amazing day.

Such an amazing time.

So many feelings.

Thankfulness. xoxoxoxoxo