4 years ago today in Beijing, China a precious little boy was born. Little did he know that through time and a very long journey, Finally on his 4th birthday he would be Home. Oh how thankful we are that this year we have him in our arms to snuggle and kiss on the cheek, to give him presents, to get him a BIG cake with candles that we help him blow out, to finally be able to make a wish, to feel the love on his birthday, to finally know that July 29 is not just any other day, it is a super special day. The day a precious miracle came into the world. The precious miracle that would be our son/brother.
4 years ago today we had no idea that the child I would call my little brother was born. 4 years ago today he had just been born and our precious Anna Grace was not yet born!
He had 3 years without a birthday. For 3 years this special boy did not know that he even had a birthday, and finally after 4 years of waiting for a birthday he finally has one! Today is going to be extra special just because he is our sweet little one! We cannot wait to share many more birthdays with you my sweet Prince.
Dear Andrew,
Today is your 4th birthday. Today you have went from a 3 year old to a 4 year old. How time flies. I can't believe you are now 4! It breaks my heart that this was your first birthday and I am not at home with you. It has torn me into pieces sweet boy. But please know, that I love you and I am sending you a big birthday kiss and hug. When I get home, we will do something special (: I can make up for missing this right? I am so sorry. I really am. But please know I will never miss your birthday again. ever. I will always be here. I love you with everything in me. I am now on the list for the worst big sister ever award, I know. But I am having a lot of fun in California and will not stop thinking about my sweet little one the entire day! I will buy you something special ;) I hope that today is the best day ever. I know Mommy, Daddy, Amie, Haynie, and Mei Mei will make your day so special! I can't wait to see my big 4 year old boy! I hope you know how special you are to everyone in our family sweet one. You made dreams come true, you make our life better, and your smile makes anyone feel better! I look forward to spending your 4th year of life with you! (:
Love you to pieces!
Jie Jie
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Happy Birthday Andrew!
Friday, July 23, 2010
You won't be hearing from me for a Week....
After today you probably won't hear anything from me for awhile...
Other than Andrew and My Mom's birthday.
Why you may ask?
Because I am going to see the precious Yingling Family,
 |
| Karen (mom), Katie, and Becky in China...Jan 2010 |
these people...Aren't they precious?!
I adore them!
Where will I be?
CALIFORNIA!!
I leave Sunday morning to fly to California {{alone...err. prayers there ;)}}
I am SO excited and cannot wait to see this sweet family after SIX LONG months!!
Woooo!
Hope you all have a Happy Last Week of July!
I know I will ;)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
6 months
Monday, July 19, 2010
Batman !
 |
| Andrew is now in LOVE with |
Here are some sweet conversations with Andrew that we have had recently....
Mom pointing out all the toy story* figurines we got him
Mom : Woody
Andrew : Woody
Mom : Buzz
Andrew : Bus
Mom : Bo Peep
Andrew : Bo Leap!
Mom : Ham
Andrew : No Mama! That's BACON! oink oink!
 |
| The smile to die for. Cutest little boy.ever. |
We have been home almost 6 months and he already knows what Chick-Fil-A has, Pizza Hut, McDonalds and the list continues
Andrew : OOH! Chikkkk IN mama Shick IN!
Mom : Yes buddy chicken
Andrew : Ooh yum. Bock Bock Bock
(Yes we enjoy using animal sounds, but hey at least he knows them)
 |
| Sweet Silly Face that melts my heart. |
When we were in China Andrew would say something that sounded like "Wada" (just use this so you know how to pronounce it-I have no idea how it is spelled) and until we got to Guangzhou we had no idea what he meant. (Wada (or however it is spelled) means Mine) He gets quite the laugh out of arguing with you over what is yours and what is his
Andrew : WADA!
Ashton : No it is wada!
Andrew : wada wada wada wada wada
Ashton : Nope, Wada.
Andrew : I says it moe (more). It wada. {insert the loud HA HA HA}. Sowwyy Jie Jie!
We are really working on closing eyes during the "blessing" with both of the little ones. This was at dinner one night
Andrew and Anna Grace : God is great, God is good...ya know...Amen.
Andrew : Mommyyyyy! Mei Mei no close eye!
Mom : Well if you saw her then you didn't close your eyes.
Andrew : Hmph. Yes, I did. I saw with one eyes.
 |
| "Show me your Muscles!" |
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Weekend with Sweet Friends!
Don't you love the Papparazi in the background of the first picture ? (:
This weekend our sweet friends, Bobbi, Jake, Maddie, and Lillie came over. We see them a good bit. You can see that in posts {here} {here} {here} just to give you an idea.(we have met up many more times, but these are just a few favorites) We LOVE spending time with them! They are such fun people. Anna Grace loves to play with Maddie and Lillie and Andrew fits right in (: Just throws in a few P0wer Rangers with the Princesses ;) too cute.
They came to our house Saturday afternoon, we let the girls (and Andrew) play and then had a delicious Ribs and etc. dinner fixed by my father on his beloved Smoker. It was great. Then the littles went back to playing and the Mommies went shopping.
On Sunday the Daddies went and got breakfast at B0jangles and then we just sat around and talked. They left at about 1:00. We had a wonderful weekend with our Sweet Friends!
Friday, July 16, 2010
What A Blog.
Tonight as I go through the posts on this blog from the last 3 years it amazes me. I started this blog when I was 11. Now I am 14 (almost 15). I was not yet in Middle school when this blog started but most thought I was much older, some even assumed I was the Mom! I became quite popular (not so much anymore..but ;)) and pretty well known. I have met life long friends through this blog, and have learned so much. We have adopted again. I have grown up a lot. I have advanced through middle school and soon I will be in High School. What a crazy thought? Am I ready? No, I don't think I am. Anna Grace has transformed from the little bitty baby just home from China. To the fun, talkative, 3 almost 4 year old who just celebrated 3 years with her family. Wow. Then a precious little boy gracefully appears into our life. He has now been home 6 months. How life has changed. The best part? I have it ALL down. Everything through the last 3 years that has happened, I have written about. Almost daily when I started the blog. Now not daily but I do update quite a lot. (:
I want to get back to the posts where everyone gets a full update (not just a here and there snippet) I want to get back to knowing people actually read my blog...Because it isn't just plain boring! I just want to make this blog into what everyone used to know it as Ashton's Mei Mei. No I won't change the name. Just the way I do things. From now on I plan to do it the way I want. To journal everything that happens so 3 years from now I can look back and realize what I have done and admire it ;) Like I am doing tonight...
Thanks to everyone for 3 years of Ashtons Mei Mei!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Andrew's 6 month Post-Placement
Looking back on the past 6 months with our sweet Prince!
Today we had our 6 month post-placement...It went WONDERFULLY! (:
6 months ago we had no idea the joy this sweet little boy would bring us. His smile we had no seen. Oh that SMILE. It will steal your heart. He has transformed from a very scared timed little boy into a wild, fun-loving, laughing, smiling, happy, boy. He is ALL boy. With a love for Buzz Lightyear and Woody, Power Rangers, Car, Jumping off of tall things, running around the house in his underwear, and just being a little boy! Some have asked how his speech and language is coming...Wonderfully! In the last month his English has just exploded! He has started understanding more, communicating more, and we are understanding him more! It is wonderful! For 3 1/2 years this precious boy did not have the Mama and Baba he so desperately wanted. He did not have that love that EVERY child deserves. Now he has it all and so much more! He has 3 big siblings who love him more than words, a Mei Mei (little sister) who is smitten with her "protector" Have I mentioned how much he LOVES her?! When we first got him they had a few arguments and "fights" but Anna Grace was just learning how to share her beloved spotlight. But now they are truly best friends. With only 5 short weeks between them you would never know they were not twins! They love to talk to each other and Anna Grace understands our little man better than anyone! It is truly wonderful. In the past 6 months she has had to change her life completely and it has been flipped upside down but she has done it with the marvelous Grace that we all love about her! She is truly a sweet heart and we are all crazy in love with her too! Andrew has had a few rough spots but overall we are so blessed. God truly blessed us with this PRECIOUS treasure by allowing him to be a part of our family. We will be forever grateful for the miracle of Andrew Hudson JianHui!
Meeting his Mama!
In China
2 months home
3 months home
4 months home
5 months home
6 months home
Andrew with his Forever Family
Dear JianHui, I don't think you will ever know the love that I have for you sweet boy. For 3 years I prayed for you. I begged God to bring us the perfect child for our family, he did. I knew you were waiting for us way before you ever knew about us, before anyone knew who you are. I knew that one day...My prayer would be answered. You, sweet boy, answered my prayer. The last 6 months with you have been wonderful. I love the way you always have a ready smile, you love the camera (almost as much as I do!), the sweet way you say "Jie Jie" , the way you always want to be held, how you suck your thumb (Your mei mei does too!), I honestly love every little thing about you! This time last year Mama and Baba were going crazy to get you home! Doing everything in paperwork torture they possibly could. We were so excited. Now a year later, you have been home SIX months! It is amazing the difference a year can make. You are my Roo, little monkey, Andy, Buzz, Woody, Silly, and baby. I will forever love you and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life watching you grow and change! I love you to the moon and back,
Jie Jie
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Black and White Wednesday
Well I have not done one of these in...forever. So here is to trying to do it more often!
I had quite the photoshoot with the Princess today. She loves the camera and it clearly loves her!
Sassy. This is the first picture I have taken that I think captures her sweet personality perfectly!
"No Pictures, No Autographs PLEASE!"
Go over to The Long Road to China for more awesome Black and White Wednesday photos!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Cowboy Up!
A few weeks ago we bought Toy Story and Toy Story 2.
Andrew has fallen in love with all of them! He has sat for hours and watched over and over and over the movies! So what could we possibly do for his 4th Birthday. The first birthday with a family? In America? Well of course, Toy Story! SO today my Mom and I went outside and got some SUPER cute pictures of Mr. Andrew JianHui himself! Isn't he the cutest Woody you have ever seen!?
Also here is the invitation I designed...Please let me know what you think! I am trying to decide about it so any input is appreciated!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Breath Taking Beauty
This beautiful Princess is becoming quite the child...she is preparing to leave the "Toddler Stage" and is becoming a precious Big Girl. Today I was looking through the beach pictures and this picture just took my breath...How can she be growing up SO fast?! I wish I had a "pause" button in life so she would get to be my baby forever. and ever. Oh how I love her!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Beach!
cutest little boy in the world
My Mei Mei
Woh.
I am back. Here is a beach update!!! We had an amazing time with everyone and I am so sad we had to leave but happy to be home (: The internet was horribly slow and to upload pictures was a near impossible feat. If you are friends with me on facebook. You got little updates but not much.
Let me start with one of the best days of the year.
July 2, 2007.
In Chongqing China. The civil affairs office a BEAUTIFUL little girl forever came in to our lives. What a magical day that was! I love my sweet girl!
Happy 3 years Baby! (Pictures from her 3 year photoshoot to come)
The beach was an amazing time. We had SO much fun. On Thursday Holly came to visit. She was so much fun. The girls loved each other and I adored finally spending time with Holly (see post below for pictures (: My Nana and Papa also came down on Tuesday! Fun! We love spending time with them! (:
On Friday we celebrated THREE years of blessings with our princess and went to Build-A-Bear* at her request (: She was SO sweet. She got a cute pink and blue ice cream bear and it is her new "Best friend" SO sweet. Andrew JianHui got a Tiger. It was his FIRST time at Build-A-Bear. It was wonderful to have him at the beach with us this year. We rejoiced in the fact that he was the one building his bear (: well, tiger.
On Saturday we just hung out at the hotel and went shopping later that night. It was a GREAT day of relaxing. Our friends Jodi, Max, Kamden, MeeMee, and Pappy came! Let the fun begin!!
Sunday was another relaxing day and Mema and Papa Walter came! Now Everyone was there.
Monday we went to the Dix*e Stampede. Andrew JianHui LOVED it. He was mesmerised by the horses and couldn't wait to pet them! Anna Grace LOVED it too. She loved the girls in pretty dresses. At the end of the show when they do the Red, White, and Blue tribute Anna Grace was thrilled to find out she matched the riders! They all noticed her and talked to her after the show. sweet girl (:
Tuesday-Thursday was just hanging by the pool, beach, relaxing, playing in the sand, and for Andrew getting a little darker (he is SO dark.)
Friday we went to the Pavillion with Max, Cole, Kamden, Jodi, MeeMee, Pappy, Mema, and Papa Walter. We all got taken in with an iPod game. We played about 3 times and Max on his 3rd try won they 8GB iPod Touch. He was SO excited. We all were too. Jumping and Screaming...Good times (: At 10:30 we decided we should probably go get dinner (yes, that late) so off to AppleBees for Appetizers .
Then at 6am Saturday we headed home!
Overall we had an AMAZING time at the beach!
Enjoy the Pictures (:
