How to eat Lo Mein

FIRST YOU FEEL THE TEXTURE OF THE NOODLES
THEN INSERT A MOUTHFUL WHILE WINGING A HANDFUL TOWARDS THE DOG

THEN ONE LOOKS AND OBSERVES THE FACIAL EXPRESSION OF PARENTAL UNITS
AND CONTINUES TO GIVE MORE NOODLES TO DOG

ALL THAT FUN HAS JUST TIRED ME OUT!

Antics and Musings

OKAY SO THIS IS KIRA...KINDA LAID BACK, BEMUSED WITH HER ACCOMPLISHED CLIMBING CAPABILITIES.
LOOK AT THIS, I DIDN'T POSE HER HONESTLY. SHE'S JUST HANGING OUT WAITING FOR DINNER!
SHE'S QUITE THE CLIMBER THESE DAYS! BUT MOMMY PUT ME HERE JUST TO TAKE PICTURES, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
MAAAAAA (MEANING MOM) WHAT ARE THESE?
YUMMY LOTS OF LYCHEE AND FISH COOKIES!

Fall Follies

It amazes me how Kira is still discovering the world around her. As I sit and watch her play, babbling, interjecting a word here and there, I often wonder if she remembers anything from her early days in the orphanage. Some say she doesn't, but I know she has changed from a shy little baby into a bubbly, happy toddler, who hugs my legs every chance she gets. Is her clinginess and need for only Mommy age appropriate or is it something common to being orphaned? I don't know, I don't even know if the experts know. It's so frustrating wanting to do everything for her...up until this week, when Kira realized she does have some control and insisted from now on she eats by herself, with her utensils, her fingers! Oh, the fun, as food went everywhere! It reminded me of some kind of food fight, only with one little person doing all the tossing. Well, she laughed, I grabbed the cleaner and paper towels and went to work.
So in the following pictures, there's a sockless chickie, who decided to put her shoes on and take off her leggings and do things her way. I should be excited that she's doing age appropriate tasks, but this month only reminds me of how fast time has gone by. Though she is still so babyish, she's truly changing, entering the toddler years, and trying very hard to be independent, maybe stubborn is the real word I'm searching for. Then again, aren't we all!



Another beautiful day that Kira and I enjoyed as we walked around gazing at the foliage. Nothing like fall on the east coast!

HERE I GO REALLY FAST TO CHECK OUT THE PRETTY LEAVES

NOVEMBER IS ADOPTION MONTH

This is so special because Kira's photo was chosen to represent our agency's Child of Promise Option during Adoption Awareness Month. I really can't believe it and feel honored that my photo of her was chosen. Funny, I can barely pose her and it takes hundreds of photos to capture one special pic. This photo will tell other waiting parents that children with special needs, are indeed special; they'll touch your heart, motivate and inspire and lovingly touch your soul like you never thought was possible.

Me and My Best Friend

COME ON DOG, I'M WAITING HERE!





I'M GONNA TRY AND OPEN THIS CAN WITH YOUR TAIL IF YOU DON'T MIND
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE WITH THESE ON YOUR HEAD. NOTICE HOW HE CLIMBED ONTO THE SOFA, NOT FOR COMFORT, BUT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A BUSY TODDLER!

Kira absolutely adores her dog. Where ever he is roaming in the house, she's close beside him. While this child is slow to talk, she knows what she wants, like to walk the dog. I find Kira with the heavy collar and leash lagging behind her as she tries to put it on him. Clever girl I say. Lately she's taking up a new hobby, re-decorating. She likes to pull anything and everything out of drawers, closets, you name it and stack them next to Recchi (that's our dog's name, yep, we're Philly Flyer's fans and Mark Recchi was my favorite). So here's some photos I caught of the two of them playing.

Not Me Monday

THIS PHOTO IS ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL, ALL THOSE COOKING MAGAZINES MY HUSBAND PUT ON ME AFTER I GOT TO THE HOTEL IN BEJING AND FELL ASLEEP. I DON'T COOK!
Did you ever have one of those days where you just don't feel like you are getting anything done? Yep, today was one of them. Maybe my brain shutdown from watching Elmo ten thousand times, but with so much to do, I couldn't get motivated to do anything. All I wanted to do was sit with Kira and watch her. Sounds silly but, I guess in a few days, it will be 2 years since we were initially logged in to the CCAA, so perhaps it's a combination of daydreaming and reality. Remembering how much I couldn't wait for a little daughter and now looking at her, pinching myself, realizing she's my dream come true.

Honestly the year has gone by so fast and it seems like a few months ago when we were hustling off to China to meet our baby. I try and keep those memories fresh, especially so I can tell Kira all about our journey to her. I also have chronicled every moment up until we actually met and she became our daughter, just in case I have another brain freeze moment, she'll have my journals to look through.

Maybe it's the weather too, a gray day, the brightness of the leaves now overcome by the gray afternoon skies. It's also one of those uninterrupted days, where I just want to spend time with Kira. So that's exactly what I did. I sit here and watch her as she naps in her pink pants and Elmo sweatshirt that's 3 times too big on her. Every now and then she picks her head up looking for me and then gently drifts back to sleep. She looks so sweet and innocent, so tiny in the room, but I have to laugh when I saw her pick up an 8 pound medicine ball yesterday. Yep, that's my girl, strong and feisty and nothing was going to stop her from picking it up.

So perhaps I'm entitled to this not me Monday, guess somedays, you just go with the flow and others are so structured that having no agenda today was kind of nice.

Today, I felt humble, fortunate and grateful that I AM THIS CHILD'S MOTHER!

Bohemian Baby

I just crack up watching Kira get dressed! It doesn't matter what she wears, always so cute. But last night I dressed her in this outfit. She won't take that Elmo shirt off, so I coordinated pants, skirt and hat to match! Reminded me of those "hippy days"!







LOOK CLOSELY, ELMO LOST HIS PANTS!
I just crack up watching Kira get dressed! It doesn't matter what she wears, always so cute. But last night I dressed her in this outfit. She won't take that Elmo shirt off, so I coordinated pants, skirt and hat to match! Reminded me of those "hippy days"!

Our Pumpkin Princess

These pictures are so funny. Of course I couldn't decide on a costume for Kira since I wanted her to be a little princess. Big brother Kenan and I went shopping and he picked this costume out. He told me that "she is already a princess so dress her up appropriately for Halloween". So Kira you can blame your funny brother for this post. Actually after I got her used to the hat I think she was having fun. We went to our neighbor's house for some really good treats. Kira got a book, some time with Elmo and sweet Aunt Mary, Uncle Rob and Stephanie. Danielle had to work! Then it was back home, an entire 25 feet, to give out candy to our neighbors. The children were all so adorable. But our favorites were of Kira's little friends.
HAPPY 1ST HALLOWEEN LITTLE PUMPKIN PRINCESS!

HURRY UP EVERYONE, I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY TREATS
NOW I'M HAVING FUN AT AUNT MARY'S HOUSE. SHE HAS A REAL TALKING ELMO THAT DANCES TOO.
COME ON DADDY LET'S KNOCK ON THIS DOOR
AH OH, NO ONE IS HERE.

MY FAVORITE PHOTO.


I DON'T NEED CANDY, A KISS FROM MY FAVORITE MOUSE WILL DO.

EVERY NOW AND THEN I CAN CATCH KIRA IN HER GRACEFUL GIRLY POSE, LIKE THIS. SO CUTE!
AWH, ANOTHER PUMPKIN PRINCESS, SIMPLY ADORABLE
AREN'T THEY SWEET! KIRA'S LITTLE PALS, ALL DRESSED UP AND SO PRETTY!