One month pediatrician exam

She's grown an inch in length and about 2 pounds since our first medical exam, immediately upon return from China. The MD says she is right on target and looks great. She is daycare-ready, as far as immunizations and health status. We had a pee sample, which tested fine too. Anybody know how they collect pee from a 15 month old? No, you don't wring out a used diaper.

Went to Target today, like 90% of all the other new moms in town, and stocked up on disposable landfill polluting objects.

Tonight is our wedding anniversary, and we are taking Amy out for (an earlier than previous) dinner celebration.

Thanks for your interest in our blog.

Tanta Linda, Kvit mit the pressure to use de bucket ond de shuvel. Are you suggesting I'm mashugana? Oh vot de hyeck, I guess I'll take de bucket ond shuvel next time. Oy vey.

Karli, if you are Alicia's friend, then you are my friend.

Don't ever think I'm mad at you unless you do something mean. Please keep watching the blog and leaving comments. If you have a picture of Alicia and you that is digital, I'll post it.

Does Amy know how lucky she is to live at the beach?

Thanks Alicia, Karli, Michael, Chris, Amy and Todd etc. for the comments. Hope I'm not leaving anyone out. Don't forget you can click on the photos to enlarge them and see the full expressions. What a hoot this chick is.

Amy had a special t-shirt on today, from brilliant, athletic and beautiful niece Becca. Becca graduates from Harvard this year! The t-shirt fits Amy perfectly, and she looks cool in Ivy League-wear. Thanks Becca!

We started the outing today with the usual stop at Starbucks for coffee and a bottle.




















Then we moved on to sand eating!

































Then strolling....



































Then running!

Newspaper articles

New York times article:

I have received this article five times through my contacts in the adoption community. It is interesting because it highlights the first wave of adoptees from China. The link is at the bottom of the link list, upper right of this blog, under "Oooh Ahhh". You can click under "three families...." in the article to hear the reporter narrate and see a slide show. You probably can't access this with dial-up. Mom, don't forget to call Verizon to arrange DSL. Let me know when you get through to them.

Recent Washington Post article:

I don't have the link, but if you are interested I'll put it there. Just wanted to take a second to say that if you saw the recent, sensational article on China adoption scandals, there were a lot of inaccurate pieces. I can link you to a well-written, balanced response to the disturbing article, if you like.

Thanks for checking in to this blog. Love, Janet

These pictures make up for the temporary lull

First of all, Linda is the only person who has asked me about my sign-on "handle", "shochikubailover". Can anyone figure out why I chose that?

Secondly, Hilary, my talented and gorgeous sister-in-law, shared these WONDERFUL photos with me. Now, you may think they are beautiful, and they are. What you don't know is that Hilary is a stellar, professional photographer, and that these photos aren't a reflection of her talent. She is an artist. She happened to have a very challenging day, and only had minimal battery power. So these were shot in a matter of minutes. Imagine what Hilary can do with batteries and time. Amy met her cousins, Alison and Melanie. They were so nice to her. Amy can't wait for their upcoming Bat Mitzvah.

Please have faith, I'll post pictures soon

Quick update. Amy has been at Grandma's in Rockville and Grandma has dial-up, so this text is a real chore. Photos? Not going there.

Thanks Carla! Alicia, I love you. I haven't forgotten about you but thanks for the reminder.

Michael, Amy loved meeting you.

Linda and Mike, Amy loved seeing you and has started verbalizing. She's saying, "Where's my boyfriend?".

Back on high speed tomorrow thankfully.....

Love,
Janet

Baby Yoga

Mom came with me to baby yoga today and took pictures.

































































Every yoga class ends with Shivasana (corpse pose). Here's Shivasana-head:





















Here's the lower half.

Amy is such a goooooood baby!

Mom and I took her to the IMAX theatre in Hampton to see the China Panda movie. It was a risky endeavour, but I guess I'm a risk-taker. Well, she got into it! No crying or acting up. She stared at the screen and didn't even sleep! The only thing that was a little challenging, but funny and cute, was that she insisted on hopping from my lap to mom's and back throughout. It was very sentimental for me to be almost one month back from China, on my new daughter's 15 month birthday, sitting next to my mother, with my little angel on my lap, watching an IMAX movie on beautiful China.

Our pictures for today don't truly capture what we saw. Kathy, Cliff and Mom are our witnesses. When we play the DVD, "Dance and Learn Chinese with Mei Mei", Amy turns into a mesmerized, silly dancing machine. We tried to capture it, and here's the best we can do.

Another day

Amy has been so fascinated with remote controls, cordless and cell phones. Mom and I set out to find a toy cell phone, since we knew it would be a hit. At Burlington Coat Factory, we found numerous models and chose the clamshell design. It was absolutely hilarious watching her respond to this silly toy. Also, how do you like the darling barette I found in China? I would have bought a million of these if they were available.

Beautiful pictures from the Shamrock 8K

Thanks Tia Maggie for capturing the day in photos.

Amy's First 8K!!!!

Amy rode in the chariot today while Tia Maggie and I walk/jogged. Linda ran in the race, and Linda ran in the race (inside joke). Don flew in the race. Amy slept and gave raspberries through the race. Uncle Mike and Grandma raced in the Saturn to breakfast to meet us, as well as Tio Ben, Tia Maggie, Liz and Terri. A good time was had by all.


































Notice Tommy in line for petting. Linda is first.




















q1 (sorry, that was Amy)











Uncle Mike inverting Amy.

































































Tao Porchon Lynch: The most amazing 87 year old woman I have ever had the luxury to meet. She taught a yoga seminar last night. Very inspirational.

Amy met her first Leprechaun

Amy and I went to the Shamrock Sportsfest Expo today, to pick up the race packets for Linda, Linda (inside joke!), Don and myself. As we were leaving, Amy got to meet her first Leprechaun. This gentle man is Bob. Everyone who runs in this community knows Bob. He is a beloved coach. I see him in the park and he never fails to say "Hi Janet", with a big, kind grin. I've seen him every year at the Disney Half Marathon, and he coaches and runs with silly wigs. I read that after his last coachee finishes the marathon, or maybe it is after the race is over, he runs the course in a leprechaun costume. It is slightly modified from this for running. He is running to raise money for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.

Today's outing: It doesn't get much better

The sun was shining bright, all the tubes of blood have been successfully drawn (for labs), and we are off to the beach for today's stroll. Amy logged 4 miles today in preparation for her 8K this Saturday!





















I had the best time watching Amy discover the simple joys of running sand through her hands, walking on unlevel sand, and looking at the waves.