Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Updated Pics!

I ordered a care package for Mia on Sunday night from Ann at Red Thread China. A lot of people in my June RQ family had done the same thing and received updated pics and measurements. So I really hoped I would, too. Sure enough... Ann delivered! I woke up this morning to find these in my email. What a surprise! I didn't expect anything so soon. Ann rocks!!! I can't recommend her enough. 
Look at my little chunky monkey! Her referral medical dated 3-1-11 said she weighed 18 lbs and was 61 cm. These new measurements from yesterday claim she's 22 lbs and 65 cm. Is that even possible? A 4 lb and 4 cm gain in just 6 weeks? I'm a first time clueless mom. I have no idea. Is that even a normal size for a 6 mth old?

She looks healthy. Those chubby cheeks and pudgy little hands show that. Someone is definitely feeding her well. But those layers can be deceiving.
I was also blessed to receive a photo of Mia with her foster father. This photo is priceless to me. Such an important part of her history. I can see that he loves her. She's too roly poly not to be loved. That just fills my heart. I know you can read a lot into a photo...especially when you're still floating on the bliss of a referral...but I like his face. His eyes seem kind and soft. And I like that he's smiling as he holds our daughter.
I hope to one day be able to express to him how grateful I am. And it makes me sad to know that my happiness... will cause his family heartache when they have to let her go.

41 comments:

Amy @ TheCottageDiaries.com said...

If those measurements are right, she's definitely a big baby! 22 pounds is the 97th percentile for weight on the American growth charts for a 6 month old. 65 centimeters is roughly 25.5 inches, which is 30th percentile for height. So short and chubby! LOL! My daughter weighed about 24 pounds when I got her at age 18 months and she was one of the biggest babies in my travel group.

~Kristen said...

She is just so darn cute!!! You can really see how tiny she is in the picture with her Foster Dad... even with the pudge, she's a little bitty thing!

What a great treasure to receive today!!

AandAsMama said...

My son was 25 pounds at his check up when he was 22 months. I wonder if they weighed her with all those layers? That could account for a couple pounds at least :)

Mia is just beautiful. And her foster father does look like a very kind and loving man who loves Mia very much. And I hope that his family will find comfort knowing that she is going to a loving home where she will be given so many opportunities.

So so happy for you!
-Jen-

k1 said...

I was wondering the same thing about if she was weighed with all the layers on.

Speaking of layers, have you noticed that she in all of the photos, except her "official" mugshot, that she has been wearing at least one of your favorite colors, if not both? She has on a lime green sweater under the outer layers, and a pink jacket.

Pink and green and penguins too. She is most definitely your little girl!

Hope you saw the link with the flying penguin background.

Lao Lao said...

Krista, read your sister's blog and check out Tess' stats. She weighed 18 lbs when she was a year old. I think they have to be weighing her with the layers. There is no way her foster father is holding a baby that is bigger than Tess!

dawn said...

Oh what a fantastic gift. Oh my gosh she gets even more beautiful by the day.
Lily looked just as chunky, if not more so, in her referral photos and she was tiny under all her clothes. Just had Butterball cheeks.

Are you missing anything or do you have a registry? Throw me a bone would ya?

Shari U said...

She is absolutely precious and I'm sure much worth the endless wait! She definitely looks like a chunk! 22 pounds at 6 months? HAHA!! I hope you have a good strong back! One of my sons was monster size as a baby (10+ pounds at birth), he was so chunky he could wear only overalls until he started kindergarten and now, at age 21, he's thin as a rail?? Congratulations on this absolutely perfect little girl and what a thrill she's only 6 months old. I'm sure you'll be floating all the way to China!

Anonymous said...

My baby girl is 20 pounds at 19 and a half months...

Traci

Lynne said...

I'm betting someone was leaning on the scale! Our daughter was 9 months old and just barely 18 lbs when went her. She's just 28 pounds now, 2.5 years later. Our son had (has) a big round face and always looked hefty in his photos but he was actually a tiny thing.
I think you'll be surprised at how small she really is. She's adorable - can't wait to hear when you'll be traveling!

Anonymous said...

Hmm seems big for her age but with all the layers who know. I guess you have to just go get her so we all know forsure!!! Have you heard when this will happen yet?

Bobbie in Canada

Anonymous said...

She could have been weighed on a different scale or something. I agree: she may not be as big as you think. It looks like she has on a lot of clothes! She doesn't appear as big in the photo with her foster father, where she's "stretched out", as she does in the photos where she is sitting.

Here's a growth percentile calculator: http://www.babycenter.com/baby-child-growth-percentile-calculator

Shannon said...

Oh, she's just the cutest thing ever! I agree, her foster father looks so kind and caring. Her foster family will be sad to give her up, it's a sadness they were prepared for when they took her in - I know their sadness will be outweighed by their happiness that she finally has her forever home!

Debbie said...

She's perfect!! Be grateful for the large measurements!! Even if they are a little inflated. Someone is providing much-needed nourishment. She looks healthy and fabulous. Enjoy this special time ... I'll bet you can't wait to meet her and hold her and just squeeze her!!

Sarah in MT said...

She just gets cuter and cuter with each picture! I am so happy for you, Krista!

Liene said...

Thanks for sharing the photos. She is stinking cute. My guess is they are overestimating her weight or weighing her with all those layers. Emi was estimated at a heavier weight than what she actually was. At 17 months old they said she was about 21lbs or so and she was actually only 16lbs!!! She's still a skinny little girl at about 26lbs at 3yrs and 2 months old and she eats like a horse so I have no idea why she isn't gaining a whole lot of weight.

Anonymous said...

Okay I just for the hell of it looked in my baby book at myself and at 7 months I weighed 24 pounds and 10 oz sooooo ya it could be right she looks like I did!!!

Bobbie From Canada

Kim said...

I think she is smaller then what they say.. she will be little.
LOVE the photos..
I can't wait to see her in your arms..
Hugz.

Anonymous said...

Krista... My sisters measurements were really screwy. They weren't really accurate. And they usually weigh them with all their layers on. Mia is adorable!

Anonymous said...

Those photos are always so precious, happy for you!

Lindsay said...

I'm guessing her clothes must weigh a lot! I can't see how a baby her age weighs so much - though I guess all things are possible. And it always comes down to: "as long as she is healthy". Lovely photos - what a gift to have a picture with her foster dad. I hope you have the chance to meet them when you travel.

K said...

I'm glad you found Ann. Be sure to hire her to take you shopping, too. Get lots of pearl necklaces!!! You can get a little pink pearl bracelet on elastic for when Mia is a preschooler and a set of white pearls for her graduation or wedding.

I think Mia's weight might not be accurate. She doesn't look that heavy even with the cheeks and layers. I thought my daughter's info was accurate, but it was WAAAY off. The report on Nov. 1 said she was 103cm and 33 pounds and the update in March said she was now 106cm and 35 pounds. Well, the weight was about on, but she was only 102.5cm tall. The only thing I can think that happened was big shoes???

No matter what, she's your baby, and that's what matters!

Melanie said...

So cute! You're right her foster's dad face shows so much love!

I think they weighed her with all these layers she has on. I looked up and she would be 97 percentile in the scale (Spanish one). I'm guessing it's wrong.

But that first picture is ADORABLE!

Gail said...

I was told that my dgt. weighed 20 lbs. at 6 mos and when I was in China (approx 4 weeks later) she weighed 20 lbs at her physical!
So they may weigh with clothes that gives them a couple of lbs. extra.

Mia is precious! What a sweet Love Bug! She is going to feel so good in your arms!

Kelli said...

She looks like a peanut in the picture with her foster father. And you also need to consider that he is probably smaller in stature too. I towered over the orphanage director in Vietnam and I am 5' 5". Aiden was 16 pounds when he came home at 6 months. It took him 2 years to gain 10 pounds so I think it's safe to say the layers weigh at least 3-4 pounds!

Laura said...

Oh my word! She is simply gorgeous! She does look like a chunky monkey but you never know until you actually get her. My daughter was 20 pounds when we got her at 18 months. She's now 24 pounds at 2 years old but still wears 12-18 month clothes, especially bottoms. Most of the clothes we took to China were too big so we had to buy her clothes there which was kind of fun. Love the picture of her and her foster father - what a gift for you to have. Can't wait for you to have her in your arms!!!

Catherine said...

Cuter and cuter every single day!! Congratulations Mommy!

Anonymous said...

I haven't be on in over a week and so much has happened in your life. CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!!!! She's amazing. WELCOME TO MOMMYHOOD!!!!

Melanie (from California)
I've been following you anxiously for several years!!!

Anonymous said...

I've been following your blog for a few months. I'm a single mother of a daughter from Anhui who is nearly 15. I would never believe that your daughter weighs 22 pounds at 6 months. Just seeing her with her foster father, makes me think she is likely above average on the Chinese charts for weight but not that much. I can't imagine she'd wear anything bigger than 12 months clothes. She is utterly adorable and you are going on the ride of your life! Have fun.
Carolyn (in Las Vegas)

KBussell said...

Oh how ealthy she is... looks like Gina's baby Mia :) You are both very blessed to have such precious children! Enjoy your free time while you still have it. Read Gina's blog.. she doesn't have any! Kerri, her EMS partner
PS pack 2 pacifiers :)

Anonymous said...

She is so beautiful! I like the way she looks out curiously with complacent safety from his arms, so I agree she is taken care of with love.
Take care, Lin

Angela@the crazyness that is me said...

Oh my she is so cute. And love those chubby cheeks!

Mark said...

She is adorable!!!! I don't know how accurate they are..my tiny boy is only 28 lbs and he is 3 years old LOL Congrats again and happy packing!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Krista,

I am SO VERY EXCITED for you. She is the cutest little thing....oh these pictures just melt my heart! CONGRATULAIONS!! I still cannot believe you are just a few weeks away from finally meeting your baby girl!!

xoxo,

Lisa

Alyson and Ford said...

So excited for you!! (to put your baby's weight into perspective, AA weighed 19 lbs when we got her in China, at 24 month old).
The wait is so much better with new pictures!
Wishing you much happiness!

Alyzabeth's Mommy

Brenda said...

Beautiful, lyrical name, Krista. In China - be sure you get her some pearl stud earrings - maybe 6 mm. cultured pearls - not freshwater. You can get the freshwater ones here a dime a dozen -you want real cultured pearls she can keep a lifetime. I have black (actually a deep gray) and white I bought in Hong Kong years ago. Still exquisite.

tripntwinmom said...

You have such a soft heart. Just remember that her foster Dad is doing what he is doing for YOU. :) They know that they will be losing her and do that for the children and the future parents. Such gifted/gracious people those foster parents....

She is gorgeous. I agree that she was probably weighed with all of those clothes on... :) Anyways, still just the cutest little China doll... :)

Miche said...

Oh she is SO cute!! And I agree, her foster father looks so kind and loving. I am SO SO excited for you; I know you must be floating on clouds right now :) Hugs!!

Football and Fried Rice said...

Mia is such a cutie!! Yes, she looks like a sweet, chubby baby - but I doubt she's 22#!?! Thats the size of an average one year old :-)

I'll bet you cant wait to get your hands on that doll!!

Kayce said...

Goodness you girl is adorable! That last picture is just beautiful and a treasure! Love those cheeks she has! LOVE them!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh you have to take a look at my chunky monkey! Yep she was just the same! I couldn't believe how heavy she was but she was just perfect and really changed when she was able to get some exercise. Your daughter is perfect and reminds me so much of my daughter. Have safe travels and enjoy every precious minute of that beautiful little baby!!

www.babygirlbennett.blogspot.com

foodiechickie said...

Just wanted to say I am really happy for you. I don't think I have posted or very often but your update made me weep. Best of luck to you and Mia.