End of June Already? Quick Update

ZZZZZzzzzz...
Fooled ya, mommy! I was only pretending!



Ellie had her 18 month checkup last Thursday. She bravely endured more poking and prodding and was declared in fine health to run her mommy ragged! She's up to 21 lbs. and 13 oz. and sprouted another half inch. These days she prefers to eat tomatoes, oranges and french fries. Not so fond of milk; she loves water. Everything is "pa" verbally in the sweeeeeetest little voice! We've been working on talking but I will admit Ellie is the most stubborn speech student I have ever worked with! =) Her receptive language is within normal limits. And the way my daughter throws, she'll be recruited by the major leagues before she's three! All in all, not bad for just 6 months home. We are both loving summer vacation. Mommy's bedtime comes verrrrry soon after Ellie is asleep! Ellie has latched on to that pacifier and uses it to chew on with all those teeth erupting. She starts chewing on her thumb when she doesn't have it. I have a mini potty chair out for her to explore and sit on when she wants. The other day when I was running her bath she took the cup part of the potty out and sat naked in the chair. When she got up she had peed right down the hole onto the floor! My little girl, using her own squatty potty already! haha I only hope when we really start into potty training I can convince her to leave the cup part alone! Ellie *loves* our dogs. Bernie avoids Ellie whenever possible (that was predicted) and Gracie tolerates Ellie's constant admiration very well. Gracie knows she gets her payback at mealtimes! We've had more playtime and pooltime with the cousins since school let out. Ellie adores them! K. can make her laugh in a snap and D. gives her the most squeeziest of hugs. Well, It's bedtime for me finally. Busy week ahead with Khalil's 1st birthday party, identification cards at the DMV, and leaving for Ohio for a couple of days. How was packing for China so easy and packing for three days in a very close state so difficult?! Maybe Giorgia's mom Stephe has a list... =)
UPDATE: Stephe has a list!!!!!!!!!!!
Wondering if any of you AP's have sent the orphanage directors updates or pictures of your kiddos?

Father's Day 2009

Ellie and I spent Father's Day afternoon at Giggy & Papa's house.
Nap is over with and we're dressed and on our way!
A little swimming with the cousins.

Posing for a picture turned into tickle time with Papa and K.

Happy Father's Day to my dad, my brother and all the dads and waiting dads out there.
Referrals started arriving on Friday -finally. It's been two months since the last group. Ellie and I have local friends who are finally included in this batch. I'm sure they've never wanted a weekend to end so quickly before! =)

Playtime aka Couldn't Decide Which Pics Were the Cutest...

Anyone for a cuppa?

Makin' some tea and singin' better than that ol' Mrs. POTTz!

















OMG! I can't believe Mommy is pretending to slurp that horrid make-believe tea!
No, REALLY, Mommy, there's NOTHING in that teacup!!
Seriously, can we get this lady some help?
No, I'm not sleeping...as angelic as I look...I'm having a tantrum where I THROW MYSELF ON THE FLOOR! Then I'm not quite sure what to do so I just stay like that. OR I spin around with my legs! That *really* shows Mommy I mean business!
Feeding baby is easy! First you test out the bottle yourself. Or use it as an impromptu microphone.
Grrr..that juice STILL isn't coming out! Where does it go??
Feed the baby quickly by hitting the bottle repeatedly on her head.
Then you pound hard on the baby's back. Like this.
Finally you make the baby dance til she drops.
Then you get to drink the rest! AAAHH! The End.
But don't forget to head over to Sugar & Spice & a Little Rice for wonderful news on their new little girl!

Panda Quilt Love

Giggy's friend Nancy sent Ellie some cute t-shirts and this beautiful Panda quilt!
Thank you, Nancy! The shirts are perfect for end of summer/fall here (new shirts = no stains!!)and Ellie loves pandas!
Hey! I know this one!
Kisses for you, Panda!

Showing the panda's nose.


Thank you for your thoughtfulness and creativity, Nancy!

School's Out for Summer!

YUP! It's summer vacation! Just in time, too! What a school year it's been. I heartily recommend a 2 week trip to China and a month of maternity leave, along with getting used to a one year old to make the year fly by! =)
The end of the year party had an 80's theme. Made you realize how young most of the teachers are at our school! I graduated from high school 20 years ago this year....

My Room was finally clean and cleared out. Seems like just yesterday it was October 10, 2008 when my brother and Giggy brought my just arrived referral and pictures of Ellie to me in this room at my new school. Sigh...
Anyway, I checked out and headed home for a celebratory lunch with Ellie and Giggy!


Lunch, a lovely nap (for both mommy and Ellie) and then out to play with (in) the water table (bath). The girl does not get that it's a table! But she sure looks cute!

Yes, for her safety I do make her sit in the water. And I will get to the lawn...tomorrow. =)

Tomorrow we have our adoption agency picnic and hope to meet up with Jennifer and her daughters. They were part of our travel group. It will be six months since Ellie Day on Sunday. She is my heart and I'm so lucky to have all summer to devote to her...and catching up on laundry. =)

99 Luftballoons..er, I mean 99 things about me =)

Saw this over at Sandy's Waiting for Chloe blog and since things are slowing down at work and Ellie is asleep, I thought I'd try it! Please play along and let us know if you post. That is, if anyone is still reading! No pictures today-sorry!
Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii – ONE DAY!!!!!
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain-Or was it a really big hill? =)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped-no thank you. Tried zipling in Utah once.
12. Visited Paris By myself and then a week later with, Jennifer, a friend who was also an exchange student at Hull University in England (and from UC Irvine) with me.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea-is this safe?!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch –HAHAHA Yeah, right!
15. Adopted a child –She’s home!
16. Had food poisoning-The worst!!
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-Not the torch. Has it opened up again?
18. Grown your own vegetables –Another haha on this one. Sad.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France-Not as impressive as one might think.
20. Slept on an overnight train. Through Europe in college
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked – No way
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – It’s called a mental health day!
24. Built a snow fort- In Norway
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping- Under the age of 6-yes!
27. Run a Marathon – Does a half-marathon count? 3 times then!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice-We stayed in a convent there over New Years. Didn’t ride in a gondola though-can’t remember why not…lack of money?
29. Seen a total eclipse- "of the heeaaaart! haha
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run-hmmm??
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person-in person on TV? Yes!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language-I’m learning from Dance and Sing with Mei-Mei. Not going well… =)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person- Had pizza in Pisa. Sent a postcard to my brother.
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David- Yeah, it must’ve been lack of money. $15 bucks or the food for a whole day I remember! Stood outside though!
41. Sung karaoke!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. My mom has though. Well done, Mom.
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance-scary
47. Had your portrait painted- baby picture
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- Found out Idon’t like heights! Spent my money here and at the Sistine Chapel and not on David! =)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling-My Mom went snorkeling -in HAWAII no less- when she was pregnant with me. Does that count? =)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie- does an extra in a terrible Kickboxer film count?
56. Visited the Great Wall of China –Sadly, no. My agency…well…I have Ellie and that’s all I’ll say about that!
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies-Gosh, hasn't eveybody?
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason =)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- Only to myself- again, does that count? I can’t as I lived in England during Mad Cow…65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp- Closed on the day we were in Munich, January 6th. Rode the train from Munich to Innsbruck and left that night for Paris again as everything was closed.
67. Bounced a check -who uses checks?
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. I have several boxes full. Thanks to my Mom & Dad who lugged them around for me til now!
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt –Badly. My Mom finished up my one and only!
73. Stood in Times Square-Lived in Manhattan for a time. Worked at Phantom of the Opera.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London-Lived here for a time, too.
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican-Walked around the whole compound, too! Christmastime
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-Worked at various theatres and performance venues.
92. Joined a book club-The now non-existent speech-therapy book club!!?!
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby- meaning given birth??
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Finally June!

Congratulations to Pug Mama and Family and Our Beautiful Moon (Ava's Family) -they just met their daughters! I've kept up with these ladies and their families since early, early on (and many blogsite changes and hiatuses!) So glad they have finally been united with their children.

Here is E. hanging with the cousins after playing in the plastic backyard pool.



At the zoo looking at the snakes and lizards with cousin K. Let me see!

It's too darn hot, Mama!
Much better!


Maybe not! These fountains are kinda big!

My serious girl.
Elbow to elbow with Cousin K.
Love to splash!
Ellie and I have our six month (almost) homestudy coming up at the end of the week. Wow, we've been home that long? Plus school ends this Friday! Woo-hoo!