Our Journey to our Angel, Sakura

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Spending time with family

Miscellaneous pictures from our week with family.

Sitting outside in the grass...Sakura wasn't real fond of the feel of grass until she found a leaf that she could eat!

Touching the grass and quickly pulling her hand back

Sakura caught another cold while we were there...runny yucky nose that wouldn't stop!

Unfortunately Jichan got VERY sick on Thursday and Friday!

If this picture will enlarge, you can see her tooth!

Not feeling good baby girl!

I'm sick Jichan...

Happy girl with Uncle Mark

Auntie Linda

Happy Cousins - Jessamine, Stephanie and Peyton Sakura

Jichan and with all of his Granddaughters!

Monday, September 21, 2009

ATWA video day

These pictures we took by the pond after we were done with the video for ATWA.

Back several months ago, Lesley the agency director asked if we would be willing to do a short video describing our experience with ATWA, that she would use on the adoption website.

I felt honored to be asked and we agreed to do the video - if it wasn't for Sakura's Bio Mom, Taz, Okada San and ATWA we wouldn't have our daughter.

We owe all of them so much.

Sakura looked so cute I wanted to always remember this special day.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

We were also able to sneak in a little visit with our friends that live in Oakland. Since we were headed back to the ATWA office Sunday morning for a video shoot for the agency we wanted to stay in the area and not have to do all the driving again. Alex and Iris are close friends and it seems like we never get enough time when we visit Northern California to visit them. They have the best kids - Neeki and Arya are great hosts and Sakura enjoyed playing with the big kids!

Arya, Iris, Neeki and Sakura

Visiting with Arya and Alex

Arya really wanted to hold Sakura....she wasn't too sure about it though.

Saying Goodbye to Arya and Neeki

Saturday, September 19, 2009

ATWA Picnic Day

Ready for the picnic in Pleasant Hill

One of our reasons for heading to California was to attend the annual Across the World Adoption agency's annual picnic which was held on Saturday. We really enjoyed the company of everyone, loved getting to spend more time with Misty and Kumiko, Eryn, Gregor, Miya and Emi, and getting to meet the Handshoe family with their precious baby girl Ivy.

Sakura was also able to meet Lesley the director of ATWA for the first time.

Hi Sakura....Hi Kumi and Auntie Misty

Misty and Kumiko, Me and Sakura, Margaret and Ivy

Meeting the ATWA director Lesley for the first time

Auntie Misty and Sakura

Me and sweet Kumiko

Auntie Eryn and Sakura

Sweet Miya showing Sakura her kitty cat balloon

The Handshoe family

Miya and her kitty balloon

I had so much fun at the picnic....I'm exhausted (sound asleep on Daddy)!

Auntie Misty's sister Tina with Sakura

Friday, September 18, 2009

Visiting and 1st Tooth! (updated)

Let's go.....Leaving on a Jet Plane, first plane ride since coming home from Narita Airport!

We flew to California on Thursday and Friday we got together with The Cech and DeMetris families, which is always a highlight of our trips to California.

This trip was even more special, since we finally got to meet Misty and Kumiko Clark in person, unfortunately Daddy Shane wasn't able to make it - they flew all the way from Virginia to attend the Across the World Adoptions picnic on Saturday, and spend time with Nancy and Eryn. We feel like they are part of our extended family as we have been communicating with them since Kumi came home from Japan last year - it was just very special to be able to hold and hug sweet Kumi, she is SO cute and has the biggest smile, we can see where she gets it, Kumi is a clone of her Mommy!

Auntie Eryn fixed a delicious lunch for all of us, despite being extremely busy right now, and having a broken foot on top of that! We don't quite know how Auntie Eryn does all that she does for everyone - she is always so giving of herself! Auntie Nancy too...despite running Tim to the hospital for surgery, she was able to manage visiting too! These two are amazing! Peyton Sakura was showered with sweet gifts from everyone - thank you ALL!

Auntie Misty and Sweet Kumiko

Kumi and her little friend that she was toting around in her mouth - SO cute...I think she has taught Sakura this mode of transportation....as you'll see in another post!

All of this excitement makes a baby tired....sound asleep on Daddy

Sweet Kira and Auntie Eryn - Auntie Nancy had to pick up Uncle Tim from his surgery and Kira had a little Mommy gone melt-down, but settled down after several minutes.

L - R Kira, Tripp, Sakura, Kumiko and Miya all cuties from Japan!

Another bit thing happened Friday September 18th!

Yes it's true, the little tiny tooth (lower right) has begun to emerge....you can feel it and see it but it's not ALL the way out yet!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

I can't believe it!

Just an ordinary day here....

What's on TV Dad?

Until I put little Sakura chan in the laundry basket beside Daddy who had just finished exercising and she STOOD UP!

Getting ready.........

Such a big brave girl

I couldn't believe it, but it was all captured on "digital media"...LOL, this is the first time she's ever stood up.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

A little road trip

Some pictures from the weekend. Still on the laptop so I'll be short and sweet.

We were at my Mom's for a few days and here are the pictures from our time there, the order is all mixed up, but since I'm using the laptop, I don't have the energy to move them into chronological order....bear with the 'back and forth'.

It's always nice to catch up with the Galakatos family when we head to Phoenix. They were the first family we met once we signed up with ATWA, when Sinclair was only 7 months old - which Sakura is now :) It's amazing how much Sinclair has grown and changed since we first met - she is now 18 months old, and Amy says that she says about 50 words, it is truly amazing to listen to her talk. She can repeat anything - and boy can she eat! Sinclair is a beautiful little girl, we just love her! Thanks so much Galakatos family for always catching up with us, and thank you for the Big Bird visits Japan DVD, we can't wait to watch it!

Sakura LOVES Grandma's pool - she kicks her feet when we tell her "kick, kick, kick", and moves across the pool, Dean commented that she could probably go the entire length! The water was COLD - I was shocked that she liked it in there, but she didn't let cold water slow her down - I don't take her in the heat of the day, it probably would have felt better much earlier in the day! While we were at Grandma and Papa's - Sakura tried her first baked (smashed) potato, there is a picture with her expression - she did not like it one bit! I'm hoping that she changes that though, as I would eat a potato for every single meal if I could!