Monday, May 14, 2007
CLUBB FAMILY UPDATE

David and Ainsley have now been home from China for one month! It seems more like one year! So much has happened in that short time!

The first week was filled with many highs and lows. Nothing could have prepared us for the extreme emotions that go along with becoming an instant family of four. Our heightened feelings for our newborn son, Griffin, made the additional emotions of bringing Ainsley home more interesting and challenging by having these two major life events practically overlap each other. We especially had some real challenges initially learning the best way to make Ainsley feel secure and safe in her new home. Luckily, after the third night of very little sleep, we had a great appointment with a pediatrician and behavioral specialist who focus on adopted children – and we were given many helpful tips from them. So, while that week went by in a blur, we were certain of this: we started to settle into the reality that we now had TWO children, that parenting a toddler is quite different and much more exhausting in many ways than parenting a newborn, that jetlag is not fun, and that life as we know it was changing before our eyes.

IMPORTANT DATES IN MAY

May 3, 2007 – One month since Ainsley was placed in David’s arms in China (see the April 3 update for more details)

May 4, 2007 – One month since the adoption on the China side was officially registered and completed (NOTE: Usually this adoption process in China is all that is necessary, but since David had to travel to China without Shannon, we are now in the process of working with a local attorney to go through the court system in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to complete what is called a “re-adoption.” It is kind of complicated, but essentially this process must take place in order to have the documentation we need for Ainsley to apply and become a US citizen. If Shannon had traveled with David, Ainsley would have become a US citizen automatically upon entry to the US.)

May 7, 2007 – One month since Ainsley’s first poop after being placed with David (see “Firsts for the Day” on the April 7 update HA!)

May 9, 2007 – Griffin turned 2 months old

May 13, 2007 – We celebrated Shannon’s first Mother’s Day

May 14, 2007 – One month since David, Ainsley, and the “traveling grandmas” returned from China

May 16, 2007 – Daddy is back to work (or gets to escape from the real work of being with the kids all day – however you want to look at it! :)

Since that first week, we are starting to settle in more as a family of four. Ainsley is a very curious and adventurous little girl. She is also very vocal as she is happy to babble away and play contentedly. But watch out for those moments she is not happy! She has some temper tantrums and is quite loud! She loves to clap her hands and does so at least once every minute of the day it seems – in the midst of eating, meeting new friends, playing, and even in the middle of her tantrums! She also loves to “pretend talk” on the phone, bark at Bosco, eat Cheerios, and is getting more and more curious every day about her baby brother, Griffin. We’ve been able to go out for several meals as a family (both kids currently love to get out and about and are great local travelers)! And Ainsley has quite the diverse palate – any type of chicken and rice, curry samosas, pasta, guacamole, egg rolls, or you name it! We love experimenting with her to see what she’ll surprise us with next!

Griffin continues to be a laid back baby and has been so good as his sister continually tries to touch him (including hitting him over the head with a suntan lotion bottle)! He had his first ear infection this month which has thankfully cleared up. He also turned two months old, which is hard to believe! Mommy is so sad at how fast he is growing and yet Daddy can’t wait for him to be out on the mountain bike trails with him! Griffin smiles a lot as we interact with him and he loves to coo and experiment with his voice. He has discovered he enjoys not only his bouncy seat but also loves his swing now too! We’re thankful he loves being on the go and has slept through many of our meals and journeys around Pittsburgh.

We still are planning for that first Clubb family vacation somewhere in the Caribbean or maybe Mexico sometime in the fall! Can’t wait! Anyone want to come along? We are thinking about the Beaches resort in Turks & Caicos where we have been once before (without kids)! It would be interesting to go back with kids since it is a family resort, designed with kids and families in mind!

We will continue to post monthly updates each month on or about the 14th until at least the end of the year so STAYED TUNED for more of the “Clubb Family of Four” journey!!