First Day Home for little Cate

John David graduated from the 8th grade exactly a month ago and while planning his class dance I knew life was about to pick up speed, but I had no idea how things would be. There is immeasurable anxiety in the unknowns in in one's life, and I am so glad my partner, husband, best buddy of over 20 years was in agreement with me. Crazy as it sounds we decided to plan for nothing, other than we were pretty darn sure we had a toddler coming home. We both felt it would put undue pressure for her to fit in this box we had already started to create, something that existed before we even met her. To both of us it did not seem to honor her or to find the grace in our journey.  It felt so right, there just was not another way for us to us as team to welcome her,  and that was all that mattered. No preconceived notions of anything. Today some plans started cat doors are being placed so she does not have access to the basement, and we will need a little baby proofing in the kitchen so the Windex doesn't get mistaken for fun blue juice. She has an interest in the onion basket particularly the  sweet Vidallia onion and little shallots  (Vidalah as I like to say, but that a long standing T and David story not worth repeating here) so those will be moved or she will lose interest. I couldn't be happier that we did it this way, she does not have a room to call her own and we don't know yet where we will be placing her when the time comes. Right now she is in a crib in our room and sleeps through our talking, lights and other night sounds. She is a sleeper through and through. We guess that has something to do with living in one room your entire life, she sleeps like a champ.  We had one day with her in China where things were busy and it was just too late for a nap. Cate did not think so, she found a way and managed to crawl onto a king size bed and put herself to sleep while we were busy getting packed. Not a peep, not a sound, just a taking a nap while the crazy people put stuff in suitcases, that how we found her.


We have started this morning to call her Cate or Catherine fully from this point forward. she will slowly learn to react  to her new name and eventually form an attachment to it. No one in our family  regularly says her Chinese name correctly anyway, especially me, as Wyatt pointed out numerous times.  Wyatt being Wyatt came up with the new plan at an informal family meeting, after being home just one night.  Her American full name is a mouthful so she will have many variations to chose from.... Catherine ZiXuan Marie Mohr. A very long and beautiful name with every part pointing to something dear to our hearts.

There are pics from home coming to post and pics from todays wake up present party on the bed at 2 p.m. but hey who's watching the clock ?  I can only find the camera with pics from tonight so please forgive me that things will be out of order.

Cate got to meet her "Aunt" Colleen M. Kinsella. Unplanned, on the fly because Coll is headed to Hawaii at 10 a.m. but still she came by to see the little wee one. Usually Coll comes in  (she comes in often) with the boys doing their own thing, and stops to make a wager or chats sport with Wyatt for a few minutes. Wyatt has been missing his time with Colleen and tonight he pulled out a jersey to wear for her tha  he got in China, I guess his team won, honestly I can't keep track of what they are up to.  John David says hi and sometimes there is dinner, drinks or a walk somewhere, but tonight it was all about Cate. The settling up of past wagers came later, I think Coll lost.  Colleen got a big hello from Cate, we have been sending family photos albums and Colleen picture was included, so there was some recognition there I am sure. Colleen will be Cate's God Mother, tomorrow we will ask a very dear friend to be her God Father... hopefully he says yes. I am honored to have such a long standing friend in Colleen to  be a part of our lives as we have proceeded through this journey. She has always been there for me since the boys were little, so it's a lovely feeling to know she will be right by my side as Cate integrates into our family.

I have included a sweet pic of Cate from our last night in the hotel, we were busy packing and she was busy finding fun stuff.... also pics of David with her while we teach her to trust. Being outside for her was a big step and she did a great job. We can see when she is stressed, we push just a little and if she is willing we get the biggest giggles and wiggles of joy when she jumps a hurdle. Her victory dances beat any NFL player I have yet to see. She is doing a little victory dance in the last pic with David.