I feel very torn about the Olympics being over. Most of me is very happy they have finally past - I pray that the theory of the Olympics slowing down referrals is true and we will see a speed up of the pace finally. But a small part of me is kind of sad. First off, I love sports and I love to see the athletes, especially the ones that are not going home to a pro career, that have spent their lives for the dream of the Olympics, lay it all out there for a once in a lifetime experience. It is all very moving to me. I loved watching all the sports and learning about the athletes. But also, I felt closer to China in a weird way watching every night. I so look forward to going to China; of course to meet our daughter but also to see her birth country. I have fallen in love with China over the last couple of years and want to be a part of it. I have loved the coverage of the Olympics as they also showed the country, the people and places around Beijing. I am proud of the great Olympics that the Chinese people put on. But now come on referrals!
Mike, Zane and I headed to the zoo again (the first trip was when Zane was 4 months old) and it was so much fun! Zane is getting old enough to see the animals and enjoy them. Mike and Zane feed a giraffe, which was very cool, but the winner was brushing the goats. Of all the wild beautiful animals, the goats made him laugh the most. Of course it was the one thing he could touch. What a great family day!
Zane got his first haircut last week. He never lost all his newborn hair and it was beginning to look like a Donald Trump comb over! It looks much better now but he looks so much older - like a little boy instead of a baby! How fast it goes. I can't believe he's already 9 months. Anyway, it was another fun 'first'.
Our weekend of firsts continued with Zane's first boating trip. My parents have a great boat (named Kelly Girl!) and it has created years of wonderful memories for me. I'm so excited to share that fun and joy for the water and boating with Zane. He did great - sleeping the entire trip out to our favorite spot, playing non-stop at the beach where we hung out and sleeping the entire way back...just like I did as a baby! Above is Zane and me just hanging out - it's got to be my favorite picture of the two of us. Below he is with my mom on the ride back - out cold!
I LOVE the 4th of July. Partly because it's summer, a lot to do with my patiotism for our wonderful country and of course I love fireworks. A year ago we were in the Keys, our normal 4th vacation spot but this year we stayed home. Some of that has to do with gas prices (gas for the car is one thing but gas for my dad's boat to go 20 miles offshore to go fishing is another) but also it would be hard to do a lot of our normal "Key's activities", fishing, scuba diving, skiing, with Zane at his age. I think we'll go next year though. But I bring it up because one year ago we were in the Keys and drove by Zane Gray Lounge at World Wide Sports, one of our favorite spots, and I said if we would have ever had a son, I really like the name Zane. Little did we know Zane would enter our lives only 3 1/2 months later! I still am amazed at how his adoption worked. God works in amazing ways when it's His timing! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!
Zane recently completed an infant survival class through Infant Swimming Resource; you may have seen them featured on the "Today Show" a few weeks ago. I was so impressed by Zane's ability to learn to turn over and float no matter how he "fell" into the water. My parents have a pool just a few steps out their back door and I feel very strongly about protecting Zane not only by standard pool protections but by making sure he can float until help arrived. Many friends asked 'how could you do that to him' - actually Zane didn't seem too upset about it but also I feel it's the same as giving him vaccinations - protecting him against danger. Drowning is the NUMBER ONE cause of accidental death of 1-4 year olds. If you interested, their website is http://www.infantswim.com. On their website you can enter your zip code to search for an instructor near you. I encourage you to consider it, especially if you have water nearby.
One of my favorite places in the world is the beach. We are so lucky to be able to live just a few blocks away, in walking distance. At half tide, our beach has tidal pools, perfect for a 7 month old to splash about in. I just love this photo that my mom took. It's mid-splash and Zane has learned quickly to close his eyes and mouth. I am still so amazed that this beautiful child is in our lives - heck, IS our life - and playing in the same tidal pools that I played in at his age. He brings so much joy to the smallest discoveries.
What a wonderful day!! Zane was baptized today - a moment I have dreamed about. So long I have prayed about this day and this beautiful event. I pray I will be a good example in his faith life. 
My mom scored a great buy at a recent garage sale - a child bike trailer for only $10. Zane loves getting out on the road and I love an alternative to walking the stroller. We have been touring the neighborhood the last few days and they have been beautiful days here in northeast Florida! Here he is earlier in the week as he was preparing for his first ride. I though a trial run around the block would be enough but it turned out to be a hour-plus bike ride. Since then everyday we have been out on the bike. A born biker!
Our local FCC group had our CNY celebration this weekend and it was a great event. It would be so easy to feel down about the wait and not attend but it's such a great shot in the arm of why we are doing this. The beautiful girls and boys with their families is truly a celebration. Many of the children where celebrating CNY with their "forever families" for the first time this year. It was great to see them all! Oh yeah, I sure liked showing off Zane as well! He was SO cute in his chinese outfit. 
We took advantage of this beautiful Florida day and went to the zoo. I must say Zane didn't seem too impressed but still it was a wonderful family outing. We went to the zoo a year ago for Valinetine's Day so that's part of the reason we decided to go today - an early Valinetine's Day since we'll be working on Thursday. But it was also a day of reflecting that a year ago we knew nothing about Zane entering our lives! It was such a wonderful day to share the zoo with our son!
