Settled In

Well, it has been a couple of weeks now that we have been home and we are finally starting to feel settled. They say that it takes a day to adjust for every hour difference in time zone. So, with eastern China being 12 hours behind Georgia, 2 weeks is about right. And now that our sleep patterns are adjusted, it is time to mess them up again. School starts in a week and that means getting up a lot earlier. I was really getting used to sleeping in too. Oh well.

Canaan is doing beautifully. It is amazing how much she has changed in just a couple of weeks. She hardly looks like the same skinny little girl that we latched onto in Nanchang. There is some meat on those bones now, and there should be. She eats non-stop. As a matter of fact, last night she had dinner three times. I fed her some sweet potatos, carrots, and yogurt before Mindi and I took her to Third Day's Chronology Volume II DVD premier at Regal Cinemas last night. Then, during the viewing, she ate a half a bag of popcorn and an entire Chik-Filet chicken sandwich. Afterwards, Mindi and I went out for coffee and dessert, and Canaan drank a bottle of milk, ate a bread roll, and had some Ooh Lah Lah ice cream pie. Obviously, she loves to eat, but she is developing well also. Her personality is starting to come out. She smiles all of the time now and boy does she like to laugh. So, we can't help ourselves. We tickle her like crazy and all join in the laughter. She is also jibber-jabbering too. She wants to be a part of all of the conversation and fun at the Avery house. Best of all, in my opinion, Canaan loves music. She dances and sings along to the radio and moves her arms to the beat. She likes rock-n-roll, but yesterday in the car, she went crazy to TobyMac. So, she loves to feel the drums and bass.

If seems as if Canaan is really understanding now that she is part of a family. She lights up when her sisters come into the room, and she really enjoys hanging out together. Sometimes we will all sit on the floor and play with her and she looks around and just beams with excitement. She knows she is loved and she loves to be loved. At times, she has to put up with a lot....with all of us in her face with kisses, and hugging her to death. But, she is so content and easy going. Nothing seems to bother her much.

Canaan is getting stronger every day, and she has already taught herself to flip over on her own. It shouldn't be long before she is crawling and then it will be time to buy a pair a running shoes to keep up with her. We feel so blessed to have her in our lives and thank God for this experience. The pain of having to wait for so long to get her is nearly gone now. The joy of being with her has made it all worthwhile, and God's timing is proving itself perfect as always. Of course it is!

Comments

[Christy]

When you mentioned Canaan's eating habits it reminded me of the little adopted Chinese baby I kept in nursery that LOVED mandarin oranges! So happy to hear she is doing well.

[Leigh Ann]

I have been checking your blog periodically for the past few weeks, and was so excited to finally hear that you are settling in well. Glory to God!!

We have a gift for Canaan and regret that it has not yet been sent, but I will mail an explanation when we I finally get it in the mail.

A funny for you - Brooklyn has been really intrigued by this whole idea of having a new cousin who was born in a different country. As I said before, we have been reading books about China, etc.. Well, last week Grant and I had Chinese delivered to the house for our dinner and Brooklyn was surprised that the delivery driver didn't have 'dark' skin like Canaan and those we've seen in the books. I tried to explain, but clearly didn't get my point across as Brooklyn followed up with, "So they came all that way with the food?" I couldn't help but laugh. The whole conversation was hysterical.

Again, so glad to hear things are going well. We love you and sure wish we could spend time with you all. Give Canaan a hug from the 'Normal' Averys. Leigh Ann

[marg]

I too have been looking for updates. Today, it was so exciting to find one! So glad to hear that everything is falling into place for you - your girls are all such beauties!

[Robert]

Hi Brad, Mindi, and family,

It was wonderful getting to spend time together with all of you in China. I'm glad you've been posting updates. It's great to hear how well Canan is adjusting at home. As for us, Lily is also doing great. She is eating up a storm, sleeps 12 hours straight through the night, and is so joyful. I agree with you about the the pain of the long wait fading. Part of me can't believe we got her a month ago today, and part of me feels like she's been here forever. Julianne has been keeping up her blog about all that has been happening with us and Lily. Feel free to take a look. http://lookingforlily.blogspot.com

I hope all continues well for all of you. It'd be great to keep in touch. I have a few pictures and video footage of Canan I can send you from Gotcha Day.

Robert
thoughtsofafather@adelphia.net

[Richard]

A friend passed on to me the link.

Your journey took me back 3.5 yrs ago to when we adopted Gracie from Hunan Province. Thanks for posting! What a blessing.

As someone pointed to us, "you are being Jesus" to Canaan.
But the joy is ours. She will bless your family. Im sure your older kids will love her as ours dote on Gracie.

[Joan Young/Godgrl Gomer]

Oh God bless you Brad, and all of the Averys!
I am THRILLED that you have so much joy in your life. God certainly is good and He is smiling upon you.
I have been keeping you all in prayer and will continue to do so. Do know that this little family in Australia love you all very much.
By the way, Caleb took his first steps last week!

[Nell May Morgan from Red Bluff,CA 96080]

Hello Brad, Mindi and Girl's! I hope that you all liked the Baby Blanket I made for Canaan! I was so excited when I heard of her arrival in America! She is Beautiful and what a Blessing to your Family! I bet the Girl's are just as excited as you and Mindi are about her too! I had hoped to give you the Blanket to you personally Brad! But I heard that you were not going to be at your SWC concert but I was able to give the Blanket to David and he was so Gracious when I gave it to him! Say! When is Canaan's Birthday? And would it be possible to know your three Daughter's name and when are their Birthday's and Mindi's Birthday too! As I would love to send them cards when their Birthday comes up again? Please be watching the mail as I am sending to you Brad two more Birthday cards and a Congratulations card too! I hope that you like them all! Happy Birthday Brad! It's Only 5 more days until our Birthday is here!

[Hannah]

Praise the Lord that little Canaan is doing well! How old is she?? Thanks for posting,Brad!! may God continue to bless you and your family! ~Hannah

[Anne]

I long to hear more updates. I just got your Christmas offerings CD and was touched to hear your song about waiting for your daughter from China. Our family feels God leading us (tugging and pulling us)to foreign adoption. It's to the point where we know she is out there, somewhere but we don't know where and we don't know how and we don't know when she will get to us or we will get to her. How did your process begin? And how is it going after 6 months? I appreciated Mindi's honest and real approach in her blog form China. I want to know more!

[Stacy Richards]

Hello, I was thinking about you guys today as I was listening to the Christmas album and wondering if your daughter was home yet. Last year, I wept as I heard that song because we, too, were anticipating that our daughter would be home by Christmas. She wasn't and we continued to wait like everyone else...longer than expected.

I am sooo excited to see that she in now home. I have to share something every-so cool. We met our precious daughter, Cana, one day before you guys met your sweet Canaan. I had to laugh when I saw the date you got your daughter and then I realized how close their names were (totally different biblical cities but how cool is that). Cana is from Kunming, Yunnan and turned 14months old while we were in China.

Congratulations on your precious baby...to think we were in China together and probably passed each other in Guangzhou is awesome! Blessings and Merry Christmas...truly a precious Christmas indeed! ~stacy http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ck4APPgOzFg

[Stacy Richards]

It's me, again. I was re-reading your post and we actually got our girls the same day. Too funny. I hope sweet Canaan is adjusting well. These little ones are amazing troopers! No doubt God prepared them for their new family. Anyways, I pray you have a blessed Christmas. God Bless!!! ~stacy

[Pamela]

Welcome to adoptive parenthood! Isn't it amazing how the love of a parent is the same whether it is biological or adoptive?!?! We have 2 biological sons. Eight years ago, when our eldest child was in sixth grade, on Good Friday, he said, "Mom, there are a lot of kids out there who could use a home like ours. Would you and Dad just consider adopting a child?" God opened the doors for us to adopt a 9 year old American girl. Misty has been a delightful addition to our family! It seems as though she has always been a member of our family. The funny addition is that neither of my boys look like me. They both look like their daddy. Misty and I are always getting comments about how much we look alike. We just smile and enjoy it! God is good!!!

[AMy]

SO glad I found your blog. Im not sure you will ever get this but I met you guys at a First Friday in Atlanta over a year ago and have been praying for you

Email if you would like to keep in touch! What a wonderful blog!@ Thanks for the encouragement