Random Cuteness and trying to WALK!!

Here are some random pictures of my sweet girl! Too cute!!!

Chillin in her polka dot pj's before bed

Having a good time in her pack-n-play

Crawling around the living room before heading out for the day

Notice those long bangs....she is scheduled for another hair cut this weekend! 11 months old and about to have her 2nd haircut!

And now some video: Janie is trying really hard to start walking. Here is a video of her "walking" down the length of the couch--going for the remote!! She can cruise around furniture and her "stand up" toys....she can't let go though. She can let go with one hand, but once she lets go with both-watch out. She falls to her bottom and gets MAD, MAD, MAD! 

Oh little sweetie--don't grow up too fast!! My little baby girl is changing so quickly right before my eyes!! Love you bunches baby!!

PS: She also has a new "game" I like to call telephone. It is too funny! I'll try to get video of it!

Hurricane Janie!

Ok...So my sweet little girl just brings so much happiness and joy to the world. She ALWAYS makes me smile and whenever we go places, she makes strangers smile too! I can't make it thru any store without someone commenting on how adorable she is. And of course she loves it! She just smiles and flirts with everyone she meets! What a happy girl! I am so blessed and honored to be her mommy!

But, this morning we were playing in the living room. It is MLK Holiday so I have the day off--I love it because Janie and I get to spend the whole day together!! Well, anyways onto the title of this post--Hurricane Janie! 

Here she is beginning to play this morning.....then she decided to pull ALL of her toys out of her baskets and take over the entire living room area!

The results of Hurricane Janie!!!

Here is one view:

And here is another (more destructive) view:

Guess it is time to get a bigger toy box!! Ha-Ha!!

The funny thing is my social worker is coming tomorrow for my second post-adoption visit!!! 

PEEK-A-BOO & 11 months old!!

I can't believe Janie is 11 months old! It's so hard to believe my baby girl will be 1 in just a month (sigh). 

She is doing so well....babbling like crazy! She "talks" all the time at home but clams up when we go out--she just observes everything so quietly when we are out.  

She is trying to walk so bad..she holds onto furniture and "walks" holding on. She can almost do it with just one hand...but when she tries to let go with both hands she can only stay up for a second and then drops to her bottom!  

She eats like crazy!! Big appetite! Still no teeth yet. But I swear it will happen anyday. She drools like a water faucet and her little gums are so swollen (poor thing).

And she is a climber!! She is always trying to get as high as she can go...she will climb ANYTHING!!

One of Janie's new favorite games is Peek-a-boo. She loves, loves, loves to play it. We started playing it a few months ago...it took a few weeks for her to catch on, but when she did she went wild for it. 

Now, she loves to "control" peek-a-boo. She doesn't want you to do it to her, instead she wants to do it. She'll hold up a blanket over her head and wait for you to say "Where's Janie" then she will drop the blanket smile and wait for you to say "There she is" or "Peek-a-boo".

During Christmas, she would bend down behind her toy and do peek-a-boo. We caught some of it on video but she was not playing it as well while it was recording--oh well, still so cute.

Here are some more Christmas pictures of Janie and a Peek-a-boo video!!

I just thank God everyday for bringing us together. She is such a joy and blessing. There really are no words!!

Janie's kiss

Hi Everyone,

Janie here.....

So mommy has really been trying to teach me a few new things lately! I think she is kind of obsessed with 2 things:

1. Giving kisses

2. Waving bye-bye

Well, I can pretty much wave bye-bye....but I don't do it on command. Only when I really feel like it! That drives mommy crazy! Ha Ha.

And kissing! Well, mommy kisses me ALL THE TIME and keeps asking me to give her a kiss. I finally starting kissing but I will only kiss one thing--my singing Christmas dog! Mommy is pretty jealous-she wants the kisses, but I only give them to the singing dog right now!!! Mommy got it on video! Check it out!

Love to you all,

Janie

HAPPY 2010

Janie and I would like to wish everyone a very happy new year! I cannot believe that 2010 is here. I am so thankful for all that 2009 brought me. I will always remember the joy of 2009--the birth of my daughter, traveling to Taiwan to bring her home, and all the "firsts" I was able to watch her experience in 2009. I look forward to what 2010 will bring!!!!!

I was talking with my mom yesterday about the adoption journey (as we often do) and we both agreed that it is definetly something I would like to do again. I would love for Janie to have a sibling--and preferably from Taiwan again. But, it's just not the right time right now (its way too soon and I'm not financially ready)....for now, my 100% focus is Janie! 

Going thru the process of international adoption was sooooo difficult. It was a true test of faith. So many days I would cry, worry, wonder, etc....but I knew that one day it would happen. It is a huge leap of faith-but completely worth it. 

Reflecting back on my state of mind during the wait, I remember thinking and often saying "If I only knew when it would happen". I love to be in control of all aspects of my life--and with adoption, you definetly have no control--and the unknown is grueling!! I remember thinking "if only I knew more info-when would it happen, how old would my child be, boy/girl?". 

All that wondering made for some VERY LONG days during that almost 3 year wait......I remember thinking that if I only could see the future and know the answers then the wait would be more tolerable.

BUT, what mom and I were discussing is this: I would do it all over again knowing what I know now! Janie is God's perfectly chosen child for me and she was worth every second of the wait. I would do it all over again--and hopefully will one day.

In the meantime, I pray that each of you have all your dreams come true in 2010!!!

Below are a few random pictures of Janie!!

Janie being silly playing with some of her Christmas presents!

Janie and Wylie had another playdate! He is only 4 days yonger than Janie--they had fun together!

Janie really liked Wylie's scooter! Her aunt Barbara gave her one similiar but we haven't put it together yet--guess I better get busy with that soon!

Janie at Tricia's house right before Christmas!

Funny Girl!

So back in September after we got home from Taiwan, Janie's MiMi bought her this really neat bouncy seat. Janie was much smaller and couldn't really crawl or stand yet so we thought she would love to bounce in it and watch the lights, music, snow-globe. Well, she proved us wrong! She liked it for about a minute but then unfortunately, she didn't like it so much--she does not like to be "confinded". (She's not very into her pack-n-play, car seat, etc...she likes to MOVE!!)

Well, fast-foward to present day....Janie has re-discovered it and LOVES it now!! Of course, she is using it in all the wrong ways...so mommy has to stay right beside her--but she loves to stand up at it, crawl all over it, climb on it, bounce backwards--funny girl!!!

Christmas through my daughter's eyes!

This is my absolute FAVORITE picture from this season. Her sweet little face looks so peaceful in this picture. She is such a perfect gift--God's perfect love!

Obviously this Christmas was special for one very important reason--JANIE! God has blessed me with the most amazing daughter. I am beyond thankful.

 

Of course, we took TONS of pictures of all the new traditions, family visits, new outfits, toys, baking cookies for Santa, finding our Elf on the shelf each morning, presents, and more presents!

But my favorite photos are the ones of Janie experiencing the Christmas season for the first time. Seeing her looking in awe at the sights just warms my heart. Seeing Christmas thru the eyes of my daughter is incredible! I am so blessed.

Here are a few pictures of Janie "discovering" Christmas!