HAPPY HALLOWEEN

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Janie would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween! 

Watch out for those cute little goblins out there!! 

TRICK-OR-TREAT!!

More Janie Cuteness

Janie was sporting her pigtails again today so we decided a little photo shoot in the yard would be a good idea....

She was happy (for a while)....check out the unhappy face after mommy had taken a few too many pictures....

First Pigtails!

JANIE'S FIRST PIGTAILS! 

She was kind of wiggly while I was doing this new hairdo! Maybe next time it will look a little better! She doesn't mind me messing with her hair--she just kept wiggling away to play! What a cutie!!!

Almost crawling!

Janie is soooo close to crawling. She has been doing the "comando" style crawl and lots of scooting for several weeks now...but look what she did last night before bed! I'm so happy that she is developing so well, but kind of sad that she's growing so fast.....my little baby is going to really be on the go soon! And, I can tell I will be chasing her all around-she is going to be exploring EVERYTHING now! And what made her crawl you ask.....well it was the laptop! She loves, loves, loves to watch cheerleading competitions on the computer. She also loves to see videos of herself!

My little cheerleader!

Janie has been to 3 cheerleading competitions now....she loves it! She really likes to people-watch and she gets really excited when teams are performing!! Too cute!

Blowing Bubbles!

When Janie is really silly she likes to blow bubbles and stick her out her tongue. Here are a few times I caught it on camera!!

What a gift!

Look at my girl! There are no words to describe the joy I have in my heart! She is such a blessing and my love for her is never-ending.

I honestly cannot find a word strong enough to describe my love for her! She is so amazing!  Sometimes I just look at her and still cannot believe she is my daughter! She is an absolute dream come true! A true gift from God!

Today as she was napping I was thinking about all the long days of waiting and thinking this journey would never bring me to my child. Wow! Everyone who adopts before you tells you how once you meet your child you realize what all the waiting was for--they are 100% correct! I can barely remember those days. 

At one point I recently thanked God for the broken path that led me to Janie--but then it hit me that the path was not broken at all. It was God's plan and journey for me. If anything had gone the way I had expected it to, then I would not have met my daughter! Wow! Every moment of every day of those almost 3 years were meant to bring me and Janie together! Simply amazing!

Just chillin!

Not much really happening in Janie's life right now. We are just chilling at home enjoying each other. Of course, we do our regular outings (shopping, meeting people, visiting family, cheer activities)....but we mostly like our quiet time at home playing and bonding. Janie is also babbling a lot more each and every day! I keep trying to get it on video but every time I turn on the camera she stops. It sounds so cute! I just love to listen to her! Some "b" sounds and tons of "m" sounds--and she loves to hum!

Each day we grow closer and closer......I don't think I could love her anymore than I do right now..but tomorrow I will love her even more, and then more the next day, and so on...

My love for her just grows and grows everyday! What a blessing she is!

My new favorite picture!

Here is my new favorite picture of Janie! We had just gotten back from church and her grandma and grandpa had come over to visit! I just wish she had her bow in her hair--she had taken it out before the picture was taken--but check out that smile!! 

We planned to go to the Fall Festival and then to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday but it rained all day--so I guess we will go to the pumpkin patch next weekend--and the fall festival next year! 

Janie experienced 2 restaurants this weekend and did wonderful! The only problem is she doesn't fit in the high chairs--she's still too small. She can sit up but slides thru...so we pretty much have to hold her...but she did really well!

Janie and I are are excited about Halloween coming up-then Thanksgiving and Christmas! This year the holidays are going to be so special!! 

Then, Valentines Day (Janie's first birthday)---oh time is flying by too fast!

I'm 8 months today!!

Today Janie turns 8 months! Oh my baby is growing so fast...The pictures of her show her sitting and playing the past 2 nights before bed time....

Here are some things about Janie right now....

Janie's size:

• At my last doctor visit this week I weighed in at 12 pounds 4 ounces. I'm small but fiesty and strong!
  
• I am wearing 3 month clothes, but I like my sleepers in 3-6 months b/c I'm kind of long and like to have more room to kick my legs!
  
• All of my cute bloomers that match my dresses won't stay on--they fall off. Mommy says I don't have much of a bottom!
  

Janie's personality:

• I love to play! I have so many toys and love them all!
  
• I can sit up now for a longer time before falling over. Last night mommy played with me sitting up for almost 15 minutes before I leaned over! 
  
• I can't crawl yet but I am trying really hard. I get frustrated and fussy when I don't get anywhere.
  
• I can scoot and "comando crawl" or roll over to get where I want. 
  
• I love it when mommy puts all my toys in a circle and me in the middle. I lay on my stomach and spin around playing with each of them (like a clock)!
  
• I am getting more used to my car seat, but I still don't like it at night.
  
• I only like my stroller if we are in a big space like a park or walking thru the neighborhood. In stores, I prefer to be held or in the carrier-I can't see in the stroller and I get fussy.
  
• I get bored easily. I still like to go, go, go!
  
• I love music!
  
• I am ticklish (especially under the chin and belly).
  
• I am beginning to laugh out loud at mommy! She likes it!
  
• I like to stick my tongue out at people.
  
• I like to imitate a "pop" sound with my lips after my mommy!
  
• I am very interested in a dog named Bailey that lives with me but mommy won't let us play together. I like to watch Bailey when she is walking down the hallway or outside.
  
• I love visiting my grandma and grandpa.
  
• I love play dates and have already had several friends come over to play!
  
• I love to coo and babble-not really talking yet, I do say "Eeeh" a lot.
  
• I don't really like restaurants too much-I get bored.
  
• I love my Gerber baby cereal--I dive towards the spoon.
  
• I prefer my formula though and love to eat, eat, eat!
  
• I love to dance. Mommy holds my hands and I stand up and dance and bounce up and down.
  
• I like to visit mommy's school. All the teachers enjoy seeing me.
  
• I love cheerleading routines. I like them at competitions but I love watching the videos on the tv or computer. I like the fast music!
  
• When I am sleepy I hum--mommy calls it my "sleepy song"
  
• I will only go to sleep if mommy rocks me first.
  
• I have 4 distinct cries (one for hunger, one for sleepy, one for frustration, and the final one is my temper-and watch out when that one happens). Luckily mommy knows all 4 of these cries now.
  
• I love the people at my church and I will stay upstairs for part of the service before I get fussy and go downstairs to the nursery--but there is a toy down there that is loud and boy I get mad if I hear it!
• I am thankful that God brought me to my forever family. I love my life, my family, and all my new friends. 
  

Lots to tell!

Hi Everyone,

Janie here...

Mommy has really been keeping me busy. I haven't had time to update you all and show you pictures. 

Many of you have told me you miss my posts--but like I said, mommy keeps me so busy!

Let's see what all have I done recently?? Well, I went to Grandma's office and had lunch with the girls. It was fun. I got to meet many of the nice people who work with my grandma. They all have been praying for me to come home soon--it was fun meeting all of them.

I went to another cheerleading competition and met many of mommy's coaching friends. They were all very happy to meet me! And I got to meet Lorenzo and Patrick. That was fun!  They are special people in mommy's life and they are adopting a little girl real soon too!! I can't wait to meet her...I think we will be good friends!

I got to celebrate grandma's birthday with her! That was fun. I even got to pick out a present and card. I think Grandma was really happy to have me home for her birthday!

I heard great news about my former Taiwan roomie, Harrison. His family got their first ruling! YAY! Harrison will be meeting his mommy and daddy soon! I am so happy for him. Once he gets home and gets settled, I may ask mommy if we can take a road trip to Tennessee to visit him. You can follow his journey on his mommy's site:

www.livingtolove.com

Today I went to the Pediatric Cardiologist. He was really nice and said everything looked great. You may not remember, but when I was still in the hospital in Taiwan they had to do a small heart procedure. The doctor here in America said everything looked really good and that the Taiwan doctors took GREAT care of me! I knew that already!! The doctor said I have no restrictions and look perfect!! Of course I showed the doctor and nurses that my lungs work well! I didn't really like laying on the table for the tests and I let everyone within a 20 mile radius know--I was mad, mad, mad!

But I do like to stay home and just play with mommy! She is pretty silly. I am beginning to laugh at her and she really seems to like it! I also like to stick my tongue out at her-it makes her laugh. She is trying to get a picture of me doing it!!

I'll talk to you all soon!! I love you all!!

Janie

Janie's Weekend of Fun

Janie had a big weekend. It all started on Friday at the football game (see previous post) then she experienced her first cheerleading competition on Saturday. The picture shows her in the stands with all the OCHS fans! She did pretty well..it was a little loud for her, but as long as a team was performing, she was happy. She just didn't like the wait time between teams! 

She attended church again on Sunday and let Pastor Hoard hold her this time! So sweet!

Then after church she went to Grandma/Grandpas! She just laughs and laughs at her grandpa. It is quite funny. He just looks at her and she smiles from ear to ear! So cute!!!

And just for fun, here is a picture of her not smiling! Janie does have a little temper too--proof is in the picture! Too funny!!

Janie's Big Day

Hi Everyone,

Janie here.....

Wow! I had a big day yesterday. I went to mommy's classroom to visit with her students, then to the board office to meet some more new people! Everybody was nice to me and seemed so happy to finally meet me! There are so many people who love me!

Then, I had my first play-date. Mommy's friend, Bethany, brought her baby boy Wylie over to visit. Wylie is only 4 days younger than me---so we had lots of fun! I think he's pretty darn cute!

And finally, mommy took me to a really loud, strange place. She called it a high school football game. I don't remember anything like this in Taiwan. There were people EVERYWHERE and they all wanted to meet me. I was a little scared and overwhelmed at all the noise and attention, but as long as mommy held me close I felt safe and OK. Usually I let others hold me and love on me, but not tonight--I only wanted my mommy!

But it sure was fun! I showed my Warrior Pride by wearing my blue & white! I met many of mommy's former cheerleaders. It was the Homecoming game so many girls came back to visit. And, I took my picture with the cheerleading team. Mommy put the picture on here. It is hard to see me in all those girls, but look close...I'm there!

Whew, I was TIRED when we finally got home! I had tons of fun and can't wait for the next game. Mommy told me that our next big adventure is going to be a cheerleading competition. I don't know what that is, but I'm ready to find out!!!

I love you all!

Janie

A PARADE!

Janie is having such a great time learning about her new home and experiencing lots of new "firsts". Today was our local high school's Homecoming Parade. Of course we had to go! In fact, since mommy is one of the cheer coaches, Janie was actually in the parade! She loved it! She saw so many people, balloons, and other kids! She met so many new friends! 

Check out our newest little Oconee Warrior!!!!