Twenty-one Months

Since last month I tried to make Ellie 21 months old and she wasn't, I suppose I've got it right this month.

Apparently Ellie has had a growth spurt because all of a sudden her clothes are all too small. She's shot right through her 12 month clothes with barely a wear. I spent the morning taking out all the clothes that are too small for her now and several things she never got to wear. I suppose that will make for good consignment merchandise, but it makes me sad that she's growing so fast.

Of course, she's still a little peanut, but I'm noticing (as are others) that it's getting harder to hold her for long periods of time and that carrying her takes more energy these days. She's certainly gotten taller because it seems like all her pants are capri style now. In summer that would be fine -- not so much in the dead of winter. We have officially moved up to 18 months which are a little too big, but most of the 12 months are too small. I think this means she is doing her "catch-up" growth. Yay, Ellie!!

Developmentally, we are seeing a lot more words popping out at random. She tries to repeat everything we say -- unless she doesn't want to at which point she vehemently shakes her head, NO!! We continue working on her sign language and have pretty much mastered (I think) Baby Signing Time Volumes 1 and 2. We ordered 3 and 4 for Christmas and she's begun to watch those a lot. She randomly uses a sign or the word for something. The funniest thing she's just started doing is coming up to me and patting me on the leg while over and over (and over) going, "Mama, mama, mama". When I finally acknowledge her she either wants picked up or to pull my finger and lead me somewhere. Sweet!!! Love to hear her say, "Mama!"

She loves to color and paint. She likes to dance. She smiles and giggles most all the time. The Kyrgyz hissies have subsided a bit, but they still pop their head up now and again. She has started to take her clothes off and put them on. She has started taking her baby doll's clothes off, but can't seem to get them back on. She loves everything to do with her brother and I jokingly tell people she'd rather have a car to play with than a doll -- thing is, I'm not so sure it's a joke.

Dee'anna tells me that she and Addie are playing more together than just alongside one another. I took a slide over and she tells me they love to slide.

She's sleeping so much better than when she came home. Usually she's asleep between 8-9 and sleeps until around 7. She naps between 1/2 hour - two hours in the afternoon.

She's eating very well and hasn't gotten too picky yet. Her favorites are still bananas, broccoli and pasta. She's not hugely fond of meat, but will eat some.

Her favorite thing in the world right now is Dora -- all things Dora. She still likes "Belmo (Elmo)" and Mickey Mouse. She went to her first movie theatre movie on Christmas Day. We all went to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. Other than wanting to go back and forth between Kevin and I quite a few times, she was very good and watched a lot of the movie. She never made a noise during the movie, so we were pretty pleased that she was able to sit through it.

We just passed the three year mark on our dossier log in date in China and have been told by our agency that due to our paperwork expiring it is time to "make a decision." I feel certain we will pull our dossier, but we have to make it official. In a way I'm sad, but the reality is that we got what we started out for -- another child/a daughter -- so it doesn't seem to matter now so much about the dossier sitting in China. I think we are complete.

Pictures soon. The Princess awaits her nap -- and so do I!!

Post-Christmas Fun

One of my favorite parts of Christmas vacation used to be the week after Christmas when I could play with all the fun things I got for Christmas. The same seems to be true around here. Josh and Ellie have been playing and enjoying all their new toys.


Josh has put together his race car track, taking over the kitchen table, until I made him take it down on Sunday so we could eat at the table. I suspect it might take up residence out in the office soon. One of my favorite gifts I got for Christmas one year (and actually one of the very few I remember) was a racetrack. Me and my dad used to race and race those cars around the track. Josh's cars, however, light up. Mine didn't, but I can assure you there is no way he enjoys his track any more than I did mine.



Today he has started putting together his model cars. Fortunately, Ellie hasn't found his work area yet and he has been able to work undisturbed. He is so talented putting things together. He just gets it.


Ellie has really enjoyed her bath toys, refusing to get out of the tub. Her favorite tub toy seems to be her baby doll. She takes her diaper and shirt off, washes her and then wants us to put her diaper on and off over and over again. Afterwards, we also have to put the baby's shirt on and off over and over again too.


She's also been loving her Color Wonder markers, paint and crayons. Tonight Daddy helped her paint with her Color Wonder paint. That was pretty fun to watch. Kevin's such a good daddy!!

And THIS is what my bathroom has turned into. The joy of having a Princess!

While we LOVED all our gifts, there were a few that really were special to us this year. Ellie's babysitter, Dee'Anna, took pictures of Ellie's feet, face and hands in black and white and had them framed in a black three panel frame. It is so precious and I took it home and hung it up as soon as we got home.

Then, Ellie got a present from her one of her BFF's, Josie. It is a board book that is filled with pictures of her with little phrases under each one, like "Ellie is happy." "Ellie is sad." and such. It is the most clever, wonderful gift and I was totally surprised and excited. Ellie sits around looking at it. I did have to put it up, though because she colored her face green on one of the pages while I wasn't looking. *sigh* Josie forgot to put in, "Ellie is artistic." HA!!

And, my parents framed a family portrait we had made and gave that for Christmas and I LOVE it. We hung it up as soon as we took our Christmas things down (and had room for it then). I love looking up and seeing it each day -- it's our first formal picture of our family since Ellie became part of our family.

Go Wildcats!!

It's become an annual tradition -- the Music City Bowl. For the last several years, Josh's team has received free tickets to the Music City Bowl because of their success during the football season. This year's match-up was Clemson vs Kentucky. Kevin and Josh went early to tailgate with Josh's coach and several team mates and their parents. It was a frigid 30-something degrees most of the afternon. The team members who were there got to go out on the field before the game and be recognized. Since I didn't go (and never do -- too cold!!), there are no pictures of it. Sadly, Kevin and Josh's favorite team, the UK Wildcats, lost to Clemson 13-21. Kevin, Josh and the rest of their comrades left at half-time (9:30) because they were all so cold. They came home and watched the rest of the game on tv -- my kind of sports!!



Ellie supported the Wildcats from home with mom!! We had fun coloring, playing with her Leapfrog Touch books, watching some television, tickling on the couch and reading some books. I think we got the best end of the deal!

Here's Daddy's Little Wildcat!

Go 'Cats!

Merry Christmas

From the absence of posts, one might be able to tell that I've been a bit crazy lately. I've battled some kind of funk for well over a month and at my mother's insistence, I went to the doctor on Tuesday where I got a SHOT (yuck) and a lot of medicine and am pleased to report that I am feeling better (sans a cough still).

We've been crazy busy getting ready for Christmas, making presents, cleaning the house and making sure "Santa" is covered.

Last night we went to my parent's house and opened presents. We had SUCH a good time. Of course, when I got there, I realized I had brought the camera battery and charger, but the WRONG charger. My mom took pictures and I'll post some of those later.

I made my dad the coolest video of his life. I think he liked it. It made me cry. It made my mama cry. It's a good year when people cry over a present. :-)

Our favorite gifts from mama/daddy, MeeMee/DeeDee were a Eden Pure Infrared Heater, guaranteed to lower our electric bill 10-25%. It is so safe is what sold me on it. It never reaches a temperature where it can start a fire. Kids and pets can touch it anywhere and never get burned. Pets actually can LAY on it and not be hurt. It heats evenly from floor to ceiling. It also does not reduce humidity or oxygen in your home like other heat sources can. Can't wait to see the results on the heating bill. I'm cutting the heat down to 65 and cutting up the heater and we'll see how it works!!

Josh's favorite gift was his race track and cars along with a Wii organizer. He is currently playing with it and has been most of the day! Ellie's favorite gift was her stacking rings and doctor's kit. The funny thing is she cannot STAND to have the doctor's equipment in the case. The case can be empty and she's happy, but if you put the things back in it, she gets mad and takes them all back out. It's funny.

Mom made the MOST AWESOME coconut cake for my birthday. In fact, just thinking about it makes me want to go get some of the leftovers in the fridge!! YUM!!

Josh helped us set up Ellie's dollhouse last night. He was so excited to get to help, and he was a great big help. He put it all together and put all the furniture in it. It's bigger than I thought it was.

Kevin and I got all things Christmas ready and then spent a few minutes on Facebook before going to bed. I've been so amazed at all the sweet birthday messages I've gotten from friends and family on Facebook. Very cool!!

I told Josh to set his alarm and that he could go downstairs at 6:00 a.m. Turns out Ellie woke up around then, but Kevin gave her a bottle and they fell back asleep on the couch. She never even saw the Santa stuff. Josh woke me up at 7:40 (whoo hooo!!!! certainly beats the 4 and am starts he used to have!!) and we went downstairs to see what "Santa" brought.

Josh did well getting a mini-laptop (that I'm currently using), a digital camera, multiple video games, lots of clothes from Aeropostale, cologne, spy gear, a couple of model cars, a Rummikube game (in honor of the Lajoys who make it seem like fun!!), an automatic airsoft gun, movies, books, some UnderArmour, winter Crocs, socks and underwear (yeah, he was really happy with those!!), a TON of mechanical pencils (he seems to go through a pack a week at school) and

couple of gift cards. He did well, ridiculously well.

Here's Josh in his Snuggly checking out his laptop.

Agent 007 Latham and his SpyGear.

Ellie was so funny when she woke up and saw the dollhouse. She just stared, pointed and went, "Ohhhh". Then she saw other stuff and started pointing at those as well. She got her Loving Family dollhouse with furniture, two or three baby dolls, including one to play in the tub with, several musical books, lots of artsy type toys (coloring books, crayons, stickers, color wonder sets, etc.), a Dora guitar (one of the favs for her), Dora pajamas (which she made us take off her other pjs and put these on immediately), Elmo house shoes and socks, a Mrs. Potato Head, bath toys, a leap frog touch learning system, a leap frog Violet bear, a tea set, a Dora toothbrush set, some Signing Time DVDs, lip gloss (another favorite for her!!) -- and a bunch of other stuff I can't even think of right off. I know it looked like a toy store exploded by the time we got all the boxes opened and toys were everywhere.

Look --> "oooohhhh" Barely awake.

Checking out her dollhouse with help from Josh.

Overwhelmed -- both of them.

Putting on her lip balm...

And then she found the "cangi". Uggg... we had to hide it all as she just poked it all in her mouth. She certainly has a sweet tooth.

Kevin connects with his inner Hannah Montana with some of Ellie's "hair". That's my man!!

Playing puzzle.

With her Dora toothbrush set.

With her Dora guitar -- the hit of the day!

Ellie is off now to take a nap -- an idea I think is sounding really good right about now. I see large chunks of snowflakes falling and the blowing outside, but not sticking. Josh is playing one of his video games. Kevin is probably about to fall asleep upstairs with Ellie. It's been a good Christmas and a good birthday. We are very blessed!

And somewhere, on the other side of the world, God has put together another family as the LaJoy's celebrate Christmas. God is truly good.

Merry Christmas, but mostly importantly -- Happy Birthday, Jesus; I'm so glad you came.

Fun at MeeMee and DeeDee's

As promised, pictures from MeeMee and DeeDee's house today.

This first one is NOT of Ellie (obviously), but was Josh's first Halloween. He was almost a year old and was wearing his Mickey Mouse costume. He loved the dolphin swing just as much as Ellie does and had to swing in it everytime he came over too. I think it's sweet to see both of them in it!!

This is Bouncy -- the cat that Ellie is determined to befriend.

This is Ellie watching as DeeDee comes home from work. She immediately took his hand and took him to the fish pond and then led him to the food so she could feed the fish.

Look at the look on her face!!

Wonder why she didn't want to leave DeeDee????

Ramblings

I never knew my dad's parents' anniversary was December 23. How is it that I didn't know that? I was looking through old pictures and saw pictures from their 50th anniversary and a newspaper clipping that said they celebrated their 50th anniversary on December 23. I looked to be about a middle schooler when they celebrated it, judging from the pictures. I guess I was too wrapped up in myself. Sadly, they have both passed away and I haven't had them around for many, many years. Honestly, I still miss spending Christmas Eve at their house with all my aunts, uncles and cousins.

All those years as a child, we went to Granny and Grandaddy's house on Christmas Eve. I never remember anyone mentioning they'd just celebrated an anniversary. Was it just that I was so wrapped up in the excitement of Christmas that I didn't hear?

I remember being there and the 6 o'clock news coming on and they'd have the radar screen tracking Santa Claus and I literally would come unglued telling my parents we had to go home and I had to get in the bed before he came. When the grandfather clock chimed 7 p.m. there, I'm sure I was nearing stroke stage every year.

I remember laying in the backseat on the way home and seriously, I remember years when I'd fall asleep on the way home. I certainly didn't want to be the cause of him not stopping at my house.

Christmas was magic then. Absolute, undiluted "make-my-stomach-have-butterflies," I feel giddy magic. I remember waking up every year on Christmas to something resembling an FAO Schwartz toy store having landed right in our living room. I remember being so excited I would just run from one thing to another without staying long at any one thing.

After presents, we'd head to my Grandmother and Grandpa's and eat lunch and open some more presents. I remember the coconut cake -- OH, I remember the coconut cake. Grandmother made thin layers and colored them pink and green and left one yellow. The coconut was fresh grated by my Grandpa. It was heaven in a cake. If I remember nothing else about Grandmother's house (although there is a lot I do remember), it's the coconut cake.

Honestly, sadly, though, the magic has left for me. Each year, I find it waning a bit more. I hope it's still present for my kids and that we can make those same kinds of magical memories for them. My magic, however, has been replaced, I suppose by true understanding of the meaning of Christmas -- the celebration of Jesus' birth. And, not that that is not magical or worth celebration, for it surely is. I saw a sign tonight that said, "Where your treasures are, there also is your heart." I've heard that so many times, but each year, it becomes more true. I've stored up a few treasures in heaven. Not nearly as many as I could have or should have, but I continue to try to make whatever difference I can. I've become a bit jaded by the world, by the needs I see in the world and how predominant they seem to become at Christmas. It's hard to feel magic about getting a $300 gaming system when you know that that same amount of money would feed a family in a third world country for a long time, would buy 30 blankets to keep them warm, would buy coal to warm their homes, would buy shoes for their feet, would buy animals for them to have eggs or milk, would buy presents for a child in an inner city who just might not have Christmas. The more I see the world like Jesus wants me to, the more the magic just seems to fade.

Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I love the lights, the energy, the music, the love, the kids' excitement, love giving and getting presents, love finding just the right present -- so I'm not Grinchesce, I'm just having some trouble this year finding the spirit. Maybe, if you find it, you could send it over to my house. :-)

A Full Day of Fun!!

I snapped a few pictures of Ellie after I got her ready to go see Santa. We had several errands to run today and she was certainly a hit in her Santa outfit. She was particularly personable today, waving at everybody, chattering up a storm and smiling and laughing.

Her newest thing is to slap her hands over her mouth and go, "Uh Oh". It's funny.
Here she is giggling. She is such a happy little girl most of the time!!

I am HAPPY to report that all Christmas cards have [finally] been mailed with the exception of my brother-sister-in-law because Josh spilled soda on their's and we haven't fixed a new one. After the trip to the post office, we went by to visit MeeMee and DeeDee and Ellie tried hard to make friends with the cat, Bouncy, who is starting to come around, but only because she was sharing her McNuggets with him. She also helped DeeDee feed the koi in the pond and decided she didn't want to leave with me, but wanted to stay there. Sadly, we had to go to pick up "brother". She was out right after we left there. I'm supposed to get pictures of time at MeeMee and DeeDee's from my mom. Will post soon.

After having their pictures made with Santa, Josh wanted to walk through the mall. We finally ended up at a play area. Why is it that you can come up and no one is there and three seconds later it is full? So, Ellie warmed up to the other kids pretty quickly and played with them. Josh is SUCH an overprotective brother. One little girl was sliding with her and Josh didn't like it so he just took Ellie away to another part. The little girl came over and said, "I wanted to play with her but your son won't let me." I told her that he just wanted to play with her for a while. She said, "No, she wants to play with me." HA! I asked the little girl where her mom was -- she was "next door" at the bungee jump place. Oh, well. Then, when I told Josh and Ellie it was time to go, another little boy took Ellie's toy from her stroller and wouldn't give it back. I asked him for it, and he said, "No, I want to play with it." His mom came over and took it from him and gave it back. He threw a little fit, and while I was getting all our things together, Ellie ran back over to the little slide to slide. I was walking that way to get her when I saw the little boy, grab her, pulled her back off the back of the slide and start to hit her. My blood started to boil right there and I said, "NO! You can't do that. Stop!" His mom couldn't see from where she was, but she did finally see him drawing his hand back and yelled at him to stop. That little boy was a pistol. HOWEVER, Josh was FURIOUS with the little boy for "hitting his sister!!" He was trying to teach her how to make a fist to punch someone if they picked on her. MAN, I wouldn't want to be her boyfriend later on. I did the math -- when she's old enough to date (you know, at 30 - ha!), Josh will be 27. I CERTAINLY wouldn't want to have to pass inspection with him then. *smile* Here are some of the sweet pictures of play time.

Oh.My.Goodness. She has started to "flit" around. :-)

Visit with Santa

There are some advantages to having more than one child. After having gone through all the stages (up to twelve, at least), I can pretty much know what to expect in any given situation, and our visit to Santa was no exception.


I was prepared that nearing age two causes some serious stranger anxieties, and, let's face it, a big guy in a fully red suit with white fake fur trim, a big wide belt and beard, topped with a red hat -- pretty overwhelming for any kid, particularly a two year old.


So I planned well and was prepared for the outcome. We planned to go right after school and right after the nap. I choose this time because there would be less of a line. We walked straight up and had no wait. A BLESSING, I assure you. I was prepared that she wasn't going to "take" to Santa, so we planned a picture with her and Josh and then one with just her -- in that order so that she wouldn't start out being a wreck. She did well in the picture with her and Josh. I told the lady taking the picture that I was aware she was going to cry and go crazy when I handed her off to Santa, but to just take the picture and it would be fine. No stress on my part, eh? She did set off in full form, but the photo was made so quickly, it didn't matter. She even waved at Santa as she was leaving. Had this been my first go-round (as in with Josh), I would have been distraught that his pictures were bad. Now, I consider it part of her development and move on. Poor Josh -- my "parent teacher".


Now, I WILL say that this Santa was lacking a whole lot in the personality department, practically dropping her the first time I handed her off and then not even talking to them at all -- nothing, I had to tell Josh to tell him what he'd like for Christmas. You can see his winning personality in the picture of the three of them. He's not even making positive body language. Oh well. Can't have it all.


So, here you go: Christmas pictures with Santa 2009.

Adoption Fundraiser

When we moved our adoption to Adoption Options and began our quest to adopt from Kyrgyzstan, we became good friends with Jeanne, who was next in line for a referral for a boy from K'stan. When the country shut down, she and her husband planned to move their adoption efforts to Russia, but now hae decided that a domestic adoption might be the avenue they will pursue.

In order to fund their adoption, Jeanne has started a store on Ebay. I've checked it out and she has some of the cutest clothes and things. Please go check out her Ebay site and see if there are some things there that you (like me!) can't live without. You can help bring her sweet baby home.

What's That? A Hat?

We like watching Wizards of Waverly Place. If you watch, you know the song, "What's that? A hat. A funky, monkey, junky hat. Overslept, hair unsightly. Trying to look like Kiera Knightly. We've been there; we've done that; we see right through your funky hat."

Well, Ellie now has the cutest little "funky" hat, courtesy of Becky over at the Etsy store: Just Plain Becky. Her sweet friend, Hotdog has the matching, but reverse colors, hat (shhhh!! don't tell her in case she hasn't gotten it yet). I can't WAIT to see them wearing their hats together!! Check out Becky's store where you can get one customized for your sweetie. Your purchase helps bring home the little girl they want to adopt!!

So, here are some pix of Ellie in her "Funky Hat" You can't really see the cool pink flowers on the side -- we were lucky to get pictures at all!! Miss Ellie is developing a real mind of her own about things!!

I've Been Outsmarted by a 12-year-old

I figured one day it might happen, but I didn't know it would be when Josh was only twelve. I've been outsmarted.

I work hard to keep things a secret when I'm getting presents, surprises, etc. Well, you'll remember that somehow Kitty got lost. I ordered another one -- on MY computer at Amazon.com. Now, apparently, I paid for said Kitty using Kevin's gift certificate balance and his Paypal account. Who knows? I was just in a hurry to get it done.

So, imagine my surprise when Josh casually says to me on Sunday, "We should consider seeing if we could buy another kitty online." Huh?? My smooth (or so I think at the time) reply? "Well, Josh, those were retired ten years ago. I don't think we could find one."

And then, he dropped the bomb. "Well, while I was online looking for things I might want for Christmas, I saw where Daddy ordered me a new Kitty and it has been shipped and should be here Monday."

Uhhhhh.

So, I've been outsmarted. He knew that Kitty was coming and my whole plan of saying Kitty had been off getting re-fluffed and stuffed at the animal hospital was blown to pieces.

Kitty came today. Josh said he's a little sad that it's not "the real" Kitty, but he loves this one too, already. He said if he finds "the real" Kitty, he can use this one in the car. Right.

I'm going to have to up my game to stay ahead of this one.

Girl's Night Out -- Christmas Gathering

The girls got together (sans Dawn who blew us off for a Titans game which we will rag her about for years to come) Sunday afternoon to celebrate Christmas. Josh and Ellie attended with me as we had a church function right afterwards. Josh deemed the girls "scary" and "freaky". Not sure why -- maybe the photos will give us a clue??

These two are Twilight freaks -- um, fans, so it seemed only fair that they get Twilight chocolates.

The plate says, "Girls like girls night out." Perfect (if I did buy it myself - ha!).

Another "freaky" Twilight photo. Not the fan, just the photo. :-)

You'll remember "Aunty Jennifer" who travelled to K'stan to pick up Ellie with me. Here's a sweet reunion some fourteen months later.

I think Josh probably thinks his mom is the "freakiest" of all. He did a sweet job of taking pictures for me though!!

As always, there was a whole lot of laughter.

Ellie spent a lot of time "talking" to Casey the dog and wanting someone to take her outside to play with Percy and Casey (the dogs). See Casey in the bottom left part of the picture?

And the one who called us "freaky" and "scary" -- this was his pose most of the night. :0