Four years ago this evening I was frantically trying to prepare for my daughter to arrive.  I had just learned a couple of hours earlier that while I had been preparing for years to bring home a toddler, I would in fact, be bringing home a baby - a 5 1/2 month old little peanut who barely weighed 12 pounds and would in no way fit any of the clothes, diapers or sleepers I had brought with me.  So off I go with my sister and one of the other dads (a second timer who was much cooler headed than the rest of us!) to seek out a Wal-Mart (yes, they have Wal-Marts in China) to buy diapers and anything else I could find to fit this tiny little girl who was to be my daughter.  There was a long involved back and forth with the saleslady in the diaper department - we did not speak the same language so it was more like charades - and she finally got me to understand that the smaller bags of Pampers were a better deal because they were on special:)  And if there were any infant clothes that didn't involve split pants, I couldn't find them so we came home with very little other than diapers. Then came the long peaceful but rather sleepless night waiting for the 8:00 am meeting at the office of Civil Affairs. 

To say that I haven't kept up with this blog is a major understatement.  Charis is 4 now - where have the last 3 1/2 years gone???  We had a ladybug themed birthday party and her best friends, Anna, Sasha, Jude, Gianna and Addison, all came to play.  Of course, no matter what the theme it seems like when preschool girls get together it always turns into a princess party:)

Since last fall she has gone to Gahanna Early Experience Center for preschool two mornings a week.  She lovers her school and it's giving her good "group" experience.  Here she is with her preschool teachers, Mrs. Strapp and Mrs. Fortney picking apples at Lynd's Fruit Farm last fall.