Vacation pics

Our plane trip was wonderfully uneventful. Kylie watched a DVD for approx 1 hr of the 2hr flight on our way to St. Louis. She didn't care to be buckled in and I didn't want to push the issue. I knew she wouldn't go for the car seat and I'm glad I did not bring one. I had visions of being escorted off the plane if we attempted to keep Kylie in a car seat. I decided to let her skip the nap time on the way back which was a huge risk. She would either fall asleep on the flight home or tip the scale on the crank o' meter. I'm happy to report that she slept on the 2hr flight back home. We were prepared with lots of activities to keep her occupied and ended up not needing half of the items we brought. I hope the next time around is just as smooth. I can hope right?

We had a blast visiting my in-laws. I was very sad to leave. Kylie loves her grandpa (pop pop) and grandma (emma) as she called them:-) Lots of milestones too, she used the potty the first night we were there! There were no repeat performances but it was a milestone either way. She learned lots of new words and got along great with her cousin Abby. Grandma taught Kylie how to ride a tricycle, bake cookies and blow bubbles. We all had a great time at the St. Louis Zoo. My in-laws invited the rest of the family i.e. aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids one afternoon to come hang out with us and meet Kylie. It was definitely a much needed and wonderful vacation. I can't wait to do it again.

Leaving on a jet plane...

The count down is on for our first vacation as a family of three:-) This will be the first time on an airplane since we've been home with Kylie for almost a year now. I'm really surprised at myself for not being the list bit worried about how Kylie will handle the flight. This is unusual for me not to worry but I feel a sense of calm. Although we didn't have to, we've purchased a seat for her and I know we can keep her plenty occupied and comfortable during the 3 hr flight. After all she was a trooper on her longest airplane ride of 13 hours last September. Of course, my next post could be how this feeling of tranquility hit me in the face with a dose of reality. Wish me luck!

In the meantime enjoy these happy pics with our baby girl!

Oh happy summer!

We are having such a wonderful summer with Kylie. On Father's Day, Sean received this wonderful little keepsake from Kylie. I love what it says so much that I wanted to make sure to document it. It reads:

"Sometimes you get discouraged because I'm so small and always leave my fingerprints on furniture and walls." (Not true at all...) "But everyday I'm growing, I'll be grown some day and all those tiny hand prints will surely fade away. So here's a little hand print just so you can recall Exactly how my fingers looked when I was very small." Love Kylie.

Kylie is so lucky to have Sean as her dad. He is the most, patient, loving, caring and giving person I have ever known. I have so many wonderful pics of them together and yet there are still so many more wonderful moments that although I did not capture in a photo I will always cherish. Daddy can be so silly when he is trying to make you smile baby girl! I look forward to sharing stories with Kylie about just how happy and excited she made us every day. I knew Sean was going to be a great Dad and so far he has exceeded any expectation. Happy Father's day, Honey!

On June 16th, I celebrated my birthday with great family and friends. Happy 40th to me!!! Best birthday ever complete with smooches from my sunshine!
Hanging out by the pool...
Daddy's home made popsicles are m-m-good!

Scrunchy face

Pucker up! Here comes a yummy smooch!

M-m-u-a-h!

and of course another scrunchy face...

Kylie & Katie meet!

Last weekend we had the pleasure of meeting a fantastic family who's daughter is from the Wuwei province like Kylie. Lori, Marc & Katie came to Orlando for a May DTC reunion and it was wonderful to be able to join them. I have been following their blog for almost a year now. I originally met Lori thru the Wuwei Yahoo group and she was always helpful once us crazy women who finally received their referrals started posting with a million questions. I've met so many wonderful people thru the adoption process and I believe this is the beginning of another wonderful friendship! Lori - I wished we lived closer to each other! Our girls got along great and they had a blast. I have a favorite video that I will post from this past weekend as soon as I can figure it out. In the meantime enjoy some random pics.

Kylie and Katie Starr. It was really tough trying to get these two to look at the camera at the same time.

They may not be smiling but you wouldn't either if you were constantly interrupted to pose for a pic:-) Note to self...take candid shots...

I had the pleasure of babysitting Ellie on Sat. Ellie's mommy has been a wonderful, caring and supportive friend to me from day one. Here are our precious daughters and new friends Katie, Ellie & Kylie

I just love Kylie's sweet, innocent face!

Kylie and Ellie

Watching TV has turned into some serious business around here...

She finally noticed her momma!

Another scrunchy face. Silly girl!

My big little girl...

Two weeks ago my DH and I woke up to a frightening sound outside of our bedroom at 3am. Kylie is a very good sleeper...knock on wood;-) We have had the occasional wake up call in the middle of the night but they are far and few in between. There were even nights where Kylie had such a good night sleep that she was ready to play and start her day at 2 AM but it has been several months since then thank goodness. Well, two weeks ago at approx 2am Kylie woke up crying and I tried to comfort her and stayed with her for approx 45min. When I attempted to put her limp little body back in the crib, she fought screamed and cried. After a few minutes of that mess, I decided that it was okay to see if she can comfort herself back to sleep. I walked away a little broken hearted at hearing her sobs and waited a few minutes. By the time I got back to my bedroom and checked the monitor all was good again. Until...at approx 3ish am when I woke up to a crying Kylie that sounded awfully close to our bedroom. Too close...was I dreaming? My DH who sleeps like a log, also woke up and he said he thought he heard a thump. Alarmed, we both jumped out of bed, turned on the lights and rush out of our room. There she was, our little girl blanket in hand making her way over to our bedroom. I was careful not to scare her and acted pretty normal immediately offering to pick her up and love her. I glanced her over to make sure she wasn't limping or injured by her fall from the crib and immediately brought her to bed with us with my heart racing and thankful that she was ok. We had a pediatrician appt scheduled that morning and while in the waiting room I noticed a bruise, lump and raspberry on the right hand side of her forehead. The Dr. said it was ok. I wasted no time getting info on bed rails and purchased one during my lunch hour that very same day. I no longer felt that it was safe for Kylie to be in her crib combined with about 4 other people including the Dr. that said "you know what that means mommy...it's time for a big girl bed". I waited patiently (or not so patiently) for DH to get home to convert the crib.

I thought the next mommy and daddy challenge was going to be keeping Kylie in bed now that she has a new found freedom. I am happy to report that Kylie LOVES her converted crib. The first morning after installing the bed rail, I observed Kylie on the monitor getting down from the crib, stretching her arms to get her blanket and making it over to our bedroom where I waited with a big hug. Since then, she decided on her own to call me every morning to come get her which I prefer. Well, the crib tent that I had high hopes would keep Kylie in a crib for a long time did not work out. We could not zip it up or else she would go into hysterics. I thought it would be a while before we needed to shop for her "big girl" furniture. Kylie continues to amaze us everyday with her strong willed, independent, can do/will do attitude. She is happy and healthy. Her favorite words are "no" and she no longer cares for baths, brushing her teeth or putting her toys away. Well she never did care to put her toys away:-) I guess from what I can gather from other parents, Kylie is developmentally doing well. She is right along the same lines as any toddler approaching their two's. So all is well in our household and we couldn't be happier. We are so in love with our wonderful, fun and adorable little girl!

Kylie happily possing with her converted crib right before 'night night'

Mommy's helper. It took much longer to wash my car this day:-) I love this pic! She is no taller than the tires on my car!

I love that kissable face. This pic was taken yesterday she was happy to pose with "boo boo" (Bruiser). She still has a love/hate relationship with our furry pal.

Gymnastics

Happy Mother's Day

I started this post a week ago and never got around to completing it. We've all been SICK around the house. It seems to go back and forth between Kylie, Sean and I. Thank goodness I'm finally starting to feel a bit better. Sean had bronchitis, Kylie has had a sinus infection for about a month now and I now have a sinus infection too. Hmmm not at all contagious, huh? Sean and I have been sick this year more than we have been in the past 4 yrs combined. I guess we are starting to build up our immune system now...whatever.

Happy belated Mother's day to all the momma's and momma's to be! We didn't do much on Mother's day except for going out to breakfast which was lovely. I was gleaming and happy to finally spend my first Mother's day with the sweetest little girl of mine...oh and it was nice to have my sick hubby along too. I received a nice card and gift from Kylie and a sweet card and gift from hubby. Sorry I have no pictures to show. I received an 80gb hardrive. If you think that doesn't sound romantic or personal, let me explain. A while back I made a comment thinking that hubby completely ignored me about how I would go into total depression mode that would last a long time if I lost pics from China to current. We've lost data and pics before due to our PC crashing and I was just thinking how awful it would be to loose any pics since Kylie. I guess he WAS listening:-) Second, my car did not come equiped with a DVD player. Although I have a 15 min drive from daycare to our home, that trip can seem like a lifetime when Ms. Kylie is not in a good mood. Thanks to our DVD player I no longer have to fetch thrown sippy cups, crackers, toys etc to avoid a meltdown which ultimately happens anyway. I know, I'm waiting for my mother of the year award any day now.

I received this from Kylie/school prior to Mother's day and it made my heart melt. My eyes immediately swelled up with tears as I pulled it out of the bag it came in. Are you as impressed as I am with Kylie's handwriting?

Kylie and mommy having fun in the pool

Learning basic motor skills in gymnastics. We love this class! Thanks Jeanne for recommending it! We have alot of friends attending and we are trying to get Kylie's friend Lily to join us too.

Notice the glassy eyed, zombied look on Kylie's expression as she is watching whatever is playing on the DVD player. Priceless.

This was after breakfast on Mother's day. There is a pond next to the restaurant we went to. Kylie had fun hiding behind daddy's leg when the ducks started to come her way. She was getting a kick out of pretending the ducks where chasing her. Too cute!

Uncle Don & Aunt Nora sent Kylie her favorite gift - books!

Hanging out in our backyard earlier this year.

I've seen similar pics on other blogs and I thought that would never happen in my house because I keep the bathroom doors closed. I was shocked at first and then I had to run to get the camera.

Very proud of herself.

Having a blast with her cousin Cole.

Wuwei Sista!

This past weekend one of the families we traveled with in China where in Orlando for a visit from Maine. It was so wonderful to see our girls interacting once again! I took so many pictures (approx 200+) that it was difficult narrowing it down to just a few for the blog. We enjoyed our time so much with Tammy, Doug and Caris that we are planning to venture out to Maine and visit with them sometime in September. We continue to meet so many wonderful friends in the adoption community and it almost feels like an extended family. We will always share a common bond. The wonderful support I've received during the referral waiting period and now thru the rollercoaster ride of toddler hood is priceless.

The month of April was pretty hectic and busy for us which is why I have not posted as often as I would have liked. My wonderful hubby and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary and 11 years of togetherness in total. Every year is pure bliss. Thank you honey for being such a wonderful, caring, giving, thoughtful and loving guy. Thanks for always supporting and encouraging me to do whatever it is that I set out to do. I won the lottery the day that I met you!! :-) Additionally, this month we enrolled Kylie in a gymnastics class thanks to our good friend Jeanne who raved about it. She is right! It is a wonderful program and not only does it give Kylie and I the opportunity to interact with other kids and their parents but it also teaches Kylie some basic motor skills while having alot of fun doing it.

I barely have time anymore to sit down and jot down my thoughts. I'm sure you much rather see the pics anyway. So here you go!

Kylie at the Liki Tiki Village toddler pool

Kylie & her Wuwei sista, Caris

Forever buddies

I love that face!

Priceless!

Hugs!

Buds

CHEERS!

We took the girls to Universal to see the Barney show. The girls think Barney is pretty cool!

The gang