My princess, Jia, turned six years old yesterday. As hard as I tried to make it a great day for her, I succeeded!!! She said that it was her best birthday EVER! That’s really saying something when you’re as old as she is!

The day started out in Breckenridge with just Kitty, William, Jia, and me since Carson is still in school, and Rowland had to work. After opening her gifts, a new DS, Dora and the Mermaid DS game from Nana and Pop, a carrying case for her DS, and money from her GG, she helped William and Kitty decorate a gingerbread house. A couple of hours later, we drove into Silverthorne, and she shopped with her birthday money buying a Barbie with cooking show and some Moon Sand.

Sissy, William, and Jia Ready for the Day

Gingerbread House

Once shopping was over, we went to eat her favorite food, Chinese, of course! What a great time we had! Won Ton soup and Chicken Low Mein are her favorites, along with rice and soy sauce. (She originally wanted to have her birthday party with a bunch of little girls at Mark Pi’s, but I tried to explain to her that most little girls don’t get as excited about Chinese food as she does.)

Jia, Cool William, and KeKe at the Chinese Restaurant

Back at the cabin, I made a birthday cake, and Jia and KeKe decorated it. Rowland and Carson surprised us shortly after the cake was done and joined us for the opening of her birthday cards from the family. Jia, KeKe, and William played with the Moon Sand (a HUGE mess), and Jia and KeKe played with the Barbies for a while. After the rest of the kids were in bed, I found Carson sitting on the couch playing Dora and the Mermaid! Oops!!!

The Girls’ Decorating the Cake

Making a Wish

Daddy and His Other Special Princess

Carson and Dora!!

What a truly special and fun day! Throughout the day, I thought about Jiang Xiao Shen’s birth mother. I wondered if the day we celebrate is her actual birth date. I wondered if her birth mother thought about and wondered about her baby girl abandoned outside of a wood mill in Guigang, China in early January 2003. I prayed for her, that God would give her a peace that her daughter is well-loved and also that somehow He would be able to show Himself to her in such a faraway place.

As I’ve said so many times before, I didn’t feel her kick inside of me, but I have definitely felt her feet and legs kick me all through the night. I didn’t hear her first cry, but I am the one she runs to with her cries now, and I am able to hear her goofy and extremely contagious laughter. Thank you, God, for leading me to my beautiful daughter living halfway around the world!! Happy Birthday, Shen!! Wo ai ni, my princess!!! Mom-mom loves you!!

Mom-Mom and Her Princess

Jia’s birthday is December 10th so we’ve been talking about having her party the following Saturday. Trouble is that I haven’t been able to get much information out of her as far as what she wants to do. I’ve offered Pump It Up, and she didn’t want to do that. I’ve offered a manicure party at the nail salon, and she didn’t want to do that. She did want to have a party at Mark Pi’s, but I just couldn’t see inviting a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds to a Chinese restaurant for a birthday party. She may be Chinese, but the rest of them aren’t! Finally, we settled on a party at the house.

Last night, I was trying to get her to help me choose three little girls who could come over and play since she just wants balloons, cookies, and playing. I offered name after name after name after name but only came up with one option. (And I think she finally just got tired of my asking her!) After struggling through the party situation for literally all day, she told me last night that she just wants a family party with balloons and cookies. Being the good mommy that I am, I asked, “Don’t you want to have some friends come over to play?”

Jia’s response was, “No. I really don’t want a bunch of girls making a big mess in my room!” Flesh of my flesh!!! (Obviously, Jia’s right; I must be Chinese, too.) OCD is definitely genetic!!!

Jia Posing with Her Skunk Webkinz

And Strike Another Pose