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!

Laurie Berkner

I recently asked for new kid's music recommendations and I got multiple recommendations for Laurie Berkner. I feel like my Mom-head must have been in a hole to have missed out on this kiddly awesomeness! Zoe LOVES her and we have been singing and dancing all weekend to new songs! In my defense, we don't have cable, so I don't have Noggin or Sprout to discover this sort of thing. We have simply been sticking with what we know, or with kind people have given us.

Here are some of our new favs.

Zoe quirks...

Just a few quick things I've been meaning to mention...

*Zoe laughs in her sleep. I've heard it three times and it is by far the sweetest sound I have ever heard.

* As part of Zoe's therapy, we are suppose to be giving her choices, choices, choices all day long. Milk or Juice? Red or Blue? Book or Ball? You would expect her to choose the one she wants, but in actuality, she takes the one she doesn't want and chucks it across the room.

*At night, when Jeff kisses her goodnight, she insists on about 5 more before she will let him go.

*If you hold her, she will very likely rub or pat your back.

Me and my "Hello Kitty" pajamas OWN this house!


"If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it."

Hi, Beautiful Girl. What did you do with my baby?

Backing up a bit..

So the weekend before last...

We went to vist my Grandmother-in-law, to wish her a happy 94th birthday. She lives midway between us and Jeff's parents, so it's always a good chance to visit them without the 7 hour car trip to Florida.

Pictures...finally

To summarize the past two months:
2 Zoos
1 Beach
a few friends
lots of family
Good times!

To summarize the present:
Good sleep!
Occupational and speech therapy
Veggies are no longer a winner
Beautiful Girl!
Happy Mommy!

Easter family photos

Oranges....yummy!!

While Zoe is sitting down to her very healthy dinner of lima beans, pasta, oranges, and dried berries (I'll slide her a little peanut butter sandwich later for protein), I have a few minutes to blog. The problem is I have more than a few minutes worth of blogging to do!! Waiting this long between posts will do that. Hopefully....eventually...I'll get around to back blogging and catch you up on the stuff you missed, but for now let me just go over today and one of my favorite topics....food!

Who knew feeding a toddler healthy stuff would be this easy. Eventually, she will figure out we're not eating the same stuff and that Mommy is just throwing together whatever she can think of from each food group, but for now, it's awesome! She hasn't met a food she doesn't like, but she does have a serious preference for fruit.

Here's a sampling of a typical menu over here:

Breakfast: mini pancakes, banana, and milk Okay, so pancakes probably aren't the best, but they sure are handy!

Lunch is handled at day care and usually involves canned veggies and some type of previously shaped and frozen meat product. Eh, well, nothing I can do about that part.

Snack: dehydrated berries

Dinner: Pasta, beans, and orange

We'll top of the night with a bit of chocolate.

Here's a little video of my little girl and her excitement for an orange. We're still working on the signing, so you'll see her "more" and a tiny glimpse of her "please". "Please" is suppose to be one hand rubbing her chest, but Zoe either rubs her hands together or rubs her belly. Sometimes she rubs her crossed arms, too. Close enough, I say.



The other night for a bit of my Creme Egg, she actually signed, "More, please" completely unprompted. Oh my gosh, I was so proud.

She already wants her own phone.

what a great weekend!

We ran errands. Visited with family. Planted a garden. Relaxed. And of course, played with Zoe. It was awesome! The only bummer is that Jeff has to go to work tonight, but other than that. Every weekend should be this great.

No Need for Words

Forever Family Day

Yesterday was our Forever Family Day, and here is a little clip of the moment that changed my life.

March 16, 2008
Jin Feng Hotel
Nanchang, China

My Gorgeous Girl in the Sunshine

We've been enjoying the wonderful weather lately. Zoe loves being outside!!

Zoe Points!!

Zoe has actually "pointed" for some time. She points at nearly every picture in a book and says, "deesh" We hear that word all the time. Deesh. Deesh. Deesh. I think at her school, they must point at pictures in books and say, "THIS is a ...." This = Deesh.

But today was the first time Jeff said, "Zoe, where's your milk?" and she pointed at her milk!

He said, "Zoe, where's the dog?? and she pointed at the dog.

Then she said, "Zoe, where's mama?? ... and she pointed at the dog again. Oh well!

She's getting it and thats what is important. Zoe's biggest delay has been speech, so I am beyond thrilled when she shows us she at least understands what we are saying.

A few other words we might be hearing are:

Uh-buh = up
dah = dog
Ah-dah = Da da

We meet with the Audiologist and ENT next week to evaluate her hearing again and make sure the tubes are fine.

The Zoe Catapult

I filmed this clip a while ago, but didn't post it because...
1. It's not that exciting.
2. I'm not sure I want everyone knowing how we entertain ourselves here.
3. I didn't want anyone calling DFCS.

In the end, I decided to put it up because...
1. I've been getting threatened for something new on the blog.
and
2. She kisses me at the end, and it's the sweetest thing ever. She was big on kisses for awhile, but seems too busy for them now. sniff...sniff.