A few pictures of Nicole's first year.....

Back on 10/27/04, we mailed our application to Chinese Children Adoption International in anticipation of adopting a baby from China. We anxiously waited to get started on our home study and our dossier. After months and months of weeding through paperwork, having home visits from a social worker, getting medical exams, fingerprints, background checks, etc., we were finally logged-in in China on 3/15/05. Meaning, China finally had our paperwork and the wait officially began. 10/04/05, We got the call. Congratulations... We have a beautiful healthy baby girl! Nicole Tong Shu, born 2/9/05. What an amazing moment in our lives. We were going to be parents. 11/22/05 was even more amazing than the day of our call. We actually held our precious daughter for the first time. What a blessing she is. Happy Birthday Nicole and Welcome Home.

Below are some pictures that many of you have not seen. These are the earliest pictures we have of our beautiful Nicole.


1 day old















2 months old













4 months old













4-5 months old













5 months old


















8 months old













8 months old


















Gotcha Day.... 11/22/05 (date on picture is U.S. date, not China date)

9 months old












Nicole's first Christmas!

10 months old