Birthday Pictures

It has been a month now but I wanted to go ahead and post some pictures anyway. We had a small birthday party for Miah on my birthday. She really got into opening gifts and was not at all bothered by the attention showered on her. Some of my favorite moments are when she kissed her bunny from her Nene.... SO sweet. I also loved watching her tear into her birthday cake and then scream when I took it away. Heaven forbid I wipe the remaining icing off her tiny hands, she went into melt down mode when this happened. I also love that she was actually int rested in the toys. Most babies her age just want the box, but she had a blast playing especially with her gift from big brother. The Disney Princess Blocks were and are a big hit in our house.


Please note if you are reading this that I plan on going Password protected in the beginning of May. If you would like to follow along in this next phase of our journey please feel free to email me with a little information on who you are and why you like to read this blog. More details to come. hisgirlre@yahoo.com

Miah Makes a splash and a word on Mongolian Spots

As I was snapping pictures and taking video yesterday to put on this blog I suddenly I realized that some people might wonder if Miah has had a fall or been hurt. Please rest assured she has not. Miah has Mongolian spots, and she has them extensively on her back, arms, legs and bottom. They are not in any way physically harmful and are suppose to fade in time. They are purple in color and look like bruises and in fact are a sort of birth mark.It is common to find Mongolian spots with Children in cultures with darker pigmentation and if you are adopting from China you should read up on them. In the video I make a comment that Miah's spots are beautiful to me and they are but I must tell you when I first saw them I was a little shocked. You see I had only really heard very little about them and to my understanding they would only be two to three inches in size and maybe two or three on the baby. Now when I changed Miah it took me a moment to realize that her shoulders and back and almost her entire bottom are covered with purple Mongolian spots... not bruises. In the time that we have been home her spots have raised many questions among children and the bold and many raised eyebrows among others especially now that summer is almost here and she is wearing sleeveless shirts. If you adopt a child with Mongolian spots please make sure your pediatrician notes them in his/her medical file. Also if possible let any one such as Family, Friend or caretakers know about the spots before you leave your child with them or even change their clothes or Diaper in front of them. This will save you a lot of time explaining later and may save you from a call to a social worker. I have a couple of really good friends who I had not told about Miah's spots and I went to change her and they gasped... Loudly and then looked horrified. I felt really bad and kind of out like I needed to reassure them that Miah had not been beaten, not that they would ever think I or my DH would hurt her. To me Miah's Mongolian Spots are beautiful, they are a part of her that makes her who she is. Now when I see them I smile, but I also know that it is important to make sure others who may not understand become aware. Please Enjoy the clip and if you have any questions feel free to let me know... Oh and I will be putting a photo up of Miah with a better view of her back but not until I get this password protected ... Which is coming soon...

Love

What is the sweetest most wonderful thing in all the world.... Love. Love without boundaries or strings, without expectation or need. Just pure because you are you Love.I love you my Miah, Oh a baby kisses are pretty great too!

Life in our house

There is so much life at our house! It is a wonderful, joyful, stressed out, busy never slowing down life but I love it. Miah is growing and going, James too is changing and seems to be such a big boy now. I can hardly believe that we have been home for over a month now. Here is what has been going on with Miss Miah since we have been home....

* Miah has gone from hardly rolling over to taking her first steps

* Miah is saying a few words like Mama(be still my heart) and Dada bye and bite

* Miah is so loving, she will reach up and kiss me when I ask but the best is when she crawls up in my lap and kisses me with no provocation

* Miah gives wonderful little hugs and pats my back as if to say "love you"

* Miah love music and will dance and clap her hands...SOOO CUTE

* Miah will try and make me laugh by shaking her head in a cute little way and if she gets a laugh she will keep going.

* She has a fake cry... I swear it is the funniest thing ever and is heard mostly when she sees you are making a bottle for her ( I will try and capture in on film)

* She has a temper.... and knows how to use it, but does not really need to all that often

* She is possessive... of mommy, she has pushed a few hands away at church if they touch me to long and she will come rushing over to my lap at the hint of another child getting near me ... even James

* She will let me pretty much fix her hair however I please... SO FUN... and will wear hats too!

* She likes pretties... she has a toy with rings and she puts the rings on as bracelets and when you tell her she looks pretty she will get a sheepish grin and then a full blown smile... DARLING

* She likes clothes... Yeah... I think I may have a girly girl

* She does not like being sick and I do not like her being sick.... can we say MOODY

* She will come to me when I ask her to, knows what no means, and overall minds pretty well

* She is starting to learn sign language... She sings bite really well

* She does not know when enough food is enough so when she has had enough I haft to hide any sight of "her" food and heaven forbid you eat when she can not

* She is still taking a bottle but only one of formula a day and two of milk

* She is eating table food like a pro, but still eats baby food too just to make sure she is getting the proper nutrition

I am sure I could write several more quirks, every day things , and accomplishments but this is a great start. Miah is our darling and we are so blessed to call her ours, but she keeps us on our toes and gives James a real run for his money.

Bluebonnets

Today was a beautiful spring day and what better way to spend it than in a field of Texas Bluebonnets. James was the same age when I took his pictures in a field just like this one and it was a wonderful thing seeing Miah so pretty in the flowers. I plan on going back for more before they are gone, but I think we got a few good shots today so I thought I would share.

BlueBonnets

Happy Easter

Easter has come and gone. It was such a joy to celebrate our first holiday together with Miah, she was such a little doll in her Easter dress and watching her get into the Easter basket and even get a few eggs was priceless. We started the morning off with church and it was a great service, then off to my parents home. I saw family I have not seen in years and most of them had never seen James let alone Miah. I felt like one proud mama with my two beautiful children!! James was as handsome as ever and allowed me to dress him up for Easter too as long as he could wear his shoes from China... not a perfect match but well worth giving in for. He had a blast playing with his 3rd cousins and the rock pile they found in the back yard... Yes in his nice clothes, thank you for spray and wash. Both kids were on their best behavior, totally showing off the essence that is them. Finally we made it back home in time for James to hunt eggs in our own back yard and Miah even got a few, however she was much more delighted in shaking said eggs making music, than hunting them. I am so grateful that our wait has come to an end and days like yesterday are just the icing on the cake!

Saying Goodbye

I warn you now this post is sad.

We are still in shock and it really has not had time to hit home, but the time has come to say goodbye to Randy's dad. He left this world unexpectedly last week and we are all so very sad to see him go.


We love you dad with all our hearts and will always keep you close in our memory. You gave so much to those who knew and loved you. Your mark was made on many lives and all are the better for it, and it seems impossible to name all of your good deeds and many accomplishments in life for you were a man of integrity and committed to loyalty and the love of your family. Thank you for bringing such light to our lives and teaching us what true honor and a heart felt compassion for life really is all about. We will miss you dad... your loving daughter in law, Stacey


Rodger was only 64 years young. He left this world early due to complications with lung cancer and chronic emphysema. He is a retired military officer and a Vietnam Vet with two purple hearts and many other awards. He is survived by his wife Linda, Daughter Sarah, Sons Allen, Randy, and Robert , 16 grandchildren and one great grandchild.


Please if you smoke.....Stop.

Miah's First steps

I am not really sure if I am ready for this or not but Miah is starting to do a few steps here and there. She has just grown leaps and bounds since that first moment together one month ago yesterday. Miah is so beautiful in so many ways and I am so blessed to call her my own, she is loving and has a winning personality. Enjoy the clip....

Portraits

Today we had portraits done. James was a real pill and would not under any circumstances smile for the camera... That is until sister was not around. I wanted to scream as fake smile after fake smile for the camera followed by whining and down right insolence. How ever as you can see below the moment the camera was on him and him alone all was right in the world and this shot only took two... yes two trys.... HMMMMMM not sibling rivalry here. HUMPH!!! I will try again latter to get a good shot of the both of them until then this will haft to do. Miah did very well, in fact she did much better than I expected. Especially after the week we have had (details to come next post) I really thought she would refuse to smile, but I could not keep putting off getting her pictures done as time seems to be flying already. Tomorrow marks one month from Gothcha Day for us and I am so in unbelief that we have been there and back and moved on in life. Enjoy the pictures and look for a few more posts in the next day or so I have a lot to blog about.