The Brevard County Zoo

Every time we visit Jeff's family, I will try to get to this zoo. Its perfect for a morning or afternoon with little ones. The best part is feeding the giraffes.


You can also feed birds, which is cool.

But also a little scary.

And then sitting on a giant turtle is always fun.

CHRISTMAS!!.... finally

This past Christmas the stars were aligned and we were, for the first time in our seven years together, able to spend Christmas in Florida with Jeff's family. We made a full-on vacation of it.

There was the Christmas day celebration with everyone.

And Zoe finally got the whole "unwrapping" thing, so that was fun.

We also made the trip to Orlando for the theme parks. We made it to Sea World, but Zoe was REALLY not feeling it, so we scrapped the Disney plans for the following day. Turns out she had an ear infection, poor thing.


We did get to visit with good friends and travel buddies. Here's me and Dawn with our beautiful Heng Feng babies.

And of course one of the advantages of having Christmas in Florida is that you can go to the beach in December. We weren't about to get more than our feet in the water, but there were others in the swimsuits. Canadians, I'm sure of it.

Abby and the hair

Zoe's cousin Abby is a bundle of personality, definite opinions, and oh, the HAIR!

Wild hair
"Mommy fix!"
Mommy fixing.
Fixed!
Ahhhhh.

And all without losing the sippy.

Pictures for Deanna

Great pictures of Georgia

Way back to Halloween.

I know I put up pictures from Halloween, but I finally looked at the video from the day.

I love how Zoe's still all over the place when she runs. I'm convinced she's going to fall, but she never does. And in this clip, I especially love how Zoe's cousin Abby calls after her. So sweet!

Wow! I have so much catching up to do.

Okay...over the next few days, I'm going to put some serious effort into catching up the blog. Really...I am.

So much stuff is going on right now, but I haven't even posted about Christmas yet. CHRISTMAS!!! Yikers, I've got some work to do.

First...I'm off to download (upload?) pictures from the cameras. Stay tuned....for real!

I probably shouldn't show us eating like barbarians, but these make me laugh!

A most amazing message

Jeff got a message on Facebook from a stranger last weekend. He said he had been to China on a heritage tour with his daughter and while in Beijing, he toured the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs). He said in the "qualifications" room, the staff showed him a file they were working on and it was ours! He thought we might like a picture of our file while being worked on.

All I can say is..."WOW"

If I forgot to mention...

Zoe has always been an affectionate child. She loves hugs, kisses, and cuddling. She rubs or pats your back when you hold her. It's always been awesome.

But lately, its even more so. She kisses all the time....your arm, leg, shoulder, hip, whatever she can reach. She will put her hands on the sides of your face and pull you to her for a kiss. Its by far the sweetest thing in the world.

And she has started hugging with intensity. One day she was hugging me and I happened to have a camera in my hand, so I reached back to see if i could get a picture. This was the best I could do, but it will always be a sweet picture to me.

to sum up November...

Well, it looks like I have adopted monthly blogging.

November was a pretty bland month overall. Lots of work, and a couple of lazy weekends.

In day care, Zoe was moved up from younger 2 year olds, to older 2 year olds, and she's doing really well. At drop off she now takes off on her own into her classroom. Before, there was many a morning that she required handing off, and that was no fun for anyone. I don't even get a backward glance anymore and I couldn't be happier.

We finally had the definitive hearing test with a sleeping child and little electrodes on her head, and we're happy to say she is a perfectly hearing child. No hearing aids....yeah! Her receptive language is making huge leaps even though the speech still isn't there. With finally a confirmation on her hearing, we can petition the insurance to provide speech therapy, so we may be doubling up on that for awhile. She already receives ST and OT from the state's early intervention. Also, we just found out about the state's special needs preschool which Zoe will probably qualify for. I am over the moon excited for her to have more specialized care during the day. She can attend that preschool and still receive additional speech therapy at her day care after school. And if she was hearing impaired she would actually have been entitled to visits from another specialist. I don't get it....my state ranks...what...49th in the country?...but my first encounter with the public school system has been nothing but postive. Of course, we haven't actually started yet, but it seems promising so far.

As for the rest of November....the big event was obviously Thanksgiving. I hosted my first dinner this year. I made the turkey and planned on doing most of everything else, but big sister came along and handled it. Thank goodness, too, because it seems easier in the planning stages. It's more overwhelming when all the ingredients are scattered around your kitchen and you have to do something with them. After dinner, Sis came through again and watched Zoe for us, so Jeff and I could have a little movie date. Our first without the girl since coming home with her.

And of course...the pictures!

One More for Good Measure

Zoe's Halloween

Before and After

I said I'd never cut her bangs, because then you just have to keep doing it. But today, I couldn't take it anymore, and I chopped them off. As soon as I did it, I regretted it. They looked like she had done it herself.

Then....I saw these pictures back to back and realized it was the right thing to do. She looks like such a big girl.

Bunch o'pictures

LOVES to bounce!

How we do breakfast during the week. (notice the plate on the sofa)

Signing "eat"

New "Queen Bee" shirt with Queen Bee attitude.

Pretty

Is Thursday too late to post about the last weekend?

Eh, well!

We had a great weekend! We're normally such homebodies, but last weekend was go,go,go, and it was great.

Saturday we met other adoptive families at Vogel State Park where Zoe LOVED playing in the lake. We rented a pedal boat, and then enjoyed dinner with our friends. It was good to see everyone again! The only down side was that we decided not to rent a cabin and had to head back home that night just as the music was getting started. Next time, we stay for the weekend, too!



On Sunday, we visited my sister and met friends of hers who are also an adoptive family. Ukraine, though. I always find it interesting why other families choose the path they do, and yet we all end up with the child we were meant to have. Its fascinating. Miraculous, really.

And then on the way home we were able to quickly meet up with dear friends Mick, and (not such a baby anymore) Olivia. We gave them our Ergo to pass along to friends of theirs who will be going to China soon for their little miracle. This will be our Ergo's fourth trip to China!

Happy to see me!

I get this every day when I pick her up from school. If she's holding something, she usually throws it down on the way to me. It truly, truly is the best moment of my day.

yesterday and today

Zoe in the Mornings

I once followed the blog of this woman who photographed her child every morning before they left the house and then posted it that evening. I liked that blog, but of course, I didn't know her or her kid, so when time got tight, and my bloglines had to be paired down, she was one who didn't make the cut. Either way, I liked the idea of the blog. It was perfect for grandparents and friends, and since that is about all who are following us now (and rightfully, so!) may I present the past few mornings of Zoe-ness.









You can tell a few things from these pictures:
1. Zoe is out growing her clothes, but I keep stuffing her into the ones I really like. Its time to retire the green floral outfit.
2. We eat breakfast "on the fly" around here.
3. And Zoe is the cutest dumpling there every was!....so says her Mommy!