OMG I forgot to post about MARCH 6th!!!

I kept thinking of doing this, but of course never got around to it and then JUST remembered I wanted to post on this day because it's been one year since we first saw pictures of our baby girl. I will never forget the day. I was taking my girl to dance. Got the call, dropped her off and asked friend to bring her home, run home and get on the computer. Of course I called Jeff in the mean time and tell him to stay by his computer. I prayed for lots of hair, silly I know. But she had some hair! So now that she is home with us I can finally post her referral pictures! She's everything we dreamed she'd be and more.

Below is Zoe from New Zealand that volunteered at Paisleys orphanage. She checked in on her for me.

Lori graciously took a ton of pictures and video which I will always treasure while she was there with her girls.

Her Miss America Wave

That's her new thing, waving to everyone. And it's that back and forth wave, so yes she has princess written all over her! And she'll say Byyyy, or HIIIIII. She's so funny though because if we're just walking into a store the first person she she's she'll wave and say hi to. They ignore her! How rude! I'm so excited though because she JUST started saying words consistantly. Meaning, more than just once and can't get her to say it again. She will say nighty-night now every time she goes to bed, she'll say CHEEEEEEESE, (that's her favorite food), when she sees a picture of a baby or dog she'll say bay-ba. And then she'll do the doggy bark sound which is a really high pitched yelp, yelp. So she has finally found her voice. Just between you and me, as a Mom I was getting a little worried. Her sister started talking soooo young, but took forever to walk. This one walked a little after her birthday and then full blown walking across the floor action when she was 11 mo. old. She still has her little mark between her eyes. I still have to post those pictures. And the funniest thing is that 2 other girls that were also from her Danang orphange recently got a boo-boo in the same spot! Little miss Mia http://www.little-miss-mia.blogspot.com/ and little Miss D. (i give up on these links. Since I switch formats it comes out like this instead of putting in names!)

Her first big cut

I came home from working last night and Ryker and Jeff are laughing their head off in the bedroom. I walk in there and my little miss Paisley had a long elmo bandaide from the top of her forehead down her nose! Poor thing! I should have taken a picture. It made her smile with them laughing their heads off but when I took the bandaide off to look at it, I was sad that she had a huge welt with a cut right between her eyes. We tried to put on a smaller round bandaide but they just would not stick! So we cut down an elmo bandaide to fit better. When I was feeding her dinner I could tell she was in pain from it so I gave her a bit of medicine. Today it is starting to bruise up and she has a big red cut. Jeff calls her bruiser!
And my poor Raven has had fever off and on since Friday night. And she is so high maintenance so imagine that! When she woke me up in the middle of the night saying she didn't feel good I walked her to the bathroom and felt her head, she was burning up. I told her she was hot and had a fever and tears started coming and she said she was scared! She is so dramatic. So she's been feeling bad off and on all weekend but better with tylonel. Today Ryker said he doesn't feel good! I do not want to be home with sick kid tomorrow so I pray they are all better. I wish I could have been there on Saturday for Raven but she was doing good when I left and I really wanted a busy day at the store. It is a nice and fun getaway for me. And I had a great day! BUT Raven called me like 8 times on my cell phone. She left a message saying I needed to bring her home a mint fudgie, "COME ON!" she says. Then she called crying a couple of times saying she didn't feel good. I am at her beck and call when she's sick. Her Dad isn't quite so sympathetic. She also called Grandma Bette all day too. Mom called me at work to tell me to go home and take care of my child! And we didn't give her our numbers. One day she asked Ryker what my cell phone number was and memorized it since. Same with Grandma's. So if you don't want her calling you whenever, don't give her your number! I don't know where she gets her phone obsession from! lol!

She's starting to RUN!

She's looking at the wax lips she got for Valentine's Day, like "What the heck is this?"
Then she put it in her mouth like this...
She loves using pencils and crayons now.


Her crazy sister put on this silly outfit and hairbows

When I get out the camera she instantly gives me the cheesy grin! She's just like her older sister with the camera!

My little pumpkin has been walking for awhile and now takes off in a little mini jog! It is so cute to watch her. She's not really saying any more words, she's too busy moving! I need to teach her more sign language. She does so well with what she knows. And I shouldn't be saying this...She's been sleeping so well. Goes to bed around 7:30-8:00 pm and then gets up between 6:30-7:00. Occassionally she gets up at 4 or 5 and I comfort her, give her her pacifier and she goes back to sleep. Love getting my sleep!

so sick of this weather!

this is the back yard view, but you can't see the big snow flakes that were coming down
Looking out the speakeasy
The picture below was after getting 15" of snow in ONE DAY! I tried to snow plow and could barely move the thing!

Today on our local tv station reports:



Story Updated: Feb 17, 2008
Blizzard Warnings and Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for portions of Eastern Iowa for Sunday and Sunday evening. The concern is for a winter storm tracking through the Midwest dropping significant amounts of freezing rain and snow. Eastern Iowa has the possibility of both significant ice accumlations, and significant snow accumulations of over 6 inches.
This is a potentially dangerous situation as 6-8" of snow will be possible northwest of a Cedar Rapids-Dubuque line with isolated higher amounts. In addition, a significant amount of freezing rain in excess of 0.25"-0.40" may be possible as well which may cause scattered power outages. Strong winds will be likely, causing blizzard conditions.



It's been non-ending with this weather since early December! So sick of it! I'm so ready for spring!