I'm learning...

Okay, last year the Halloween plans bombed. I purchased what I thought was the cutest Halloween costume, and it scared her silly. This year, on a simple trip to Target, she picked out the princess costume. We have gotten a lot of play out of it, and it made for a successful Halloween 2007. We'll need to go to the adjacent neighborhood next year, as this neighborhood must have been evacuated unbeknownst to us. Not the best demographic for trick or treating. Ahh, but we had fun. And Amy is dreaming about chocolate in a sub-clinical state of hyperglycemia.

Look at how much she has grown!

Here is what Amy looked like in the first weeks of being home from China. My how she has grown. Don and I love seeing her experience things and hearing her vocabulary develop. We are so lucky.

Stokke Trip Trap, Buddy Hayes and comments

I just purchased a remarkable chair for little Miss Amy. She is over the high chair, and especially the tray attachment. She wants to sit like Mommy and Daddy, but has to contort herself to reach the table. My favorite product in the universe right now, is the totally cool Stokke Trip Trap, formerly the Stokke Kinderseat. This chair is completely adjustable and allows for an ergonomically correct tableside chair from age baby to adult. Amy was thoroughly excited to have her new Stokke Trip Trap. (No I'm not selling this chair - but I wish I was).

Don was bummed that I didn't highlight Buddy Hayes and her dog Elle in the last post. He thinks it looks like we just included a random photo. Buddy is a former patient of Don's practice, and she lives a rich life. She is Miss Wheelchair Virginia (athletic award), and is an invited participant this week in the National Para-
Olympic Games in California. I actually felt her arm muscle!

Thanks to everyone commenting. We love it. I've heard from many, and experienced myself via other people's blogs, that commenting can be cumbersome or difficult. I find if you choose anonymous, it works most of the time - and then just sign your name if you don't want to be anonymous.

Lovely Louise and a Lovely, Busy Day

Amy had so much fun yesterday. All throughout the day she kept saying, "Mommy, no go home". We started the day with the Susan Komen event at the beach. This year they moved the venue to the 31st St. Park, and some 2,000 more people participated. Maybe next year it will rival the crowd at the same event in DC (not!). We had the joy of Louise's company, and it made the event personal. I never personally knew any of the ladies with the special pink race numbers. We not only know Louise, we share a special bond. Louise and John brought Michelle home from China a short while after we brought Amy home. Here's when you know someone has physical beauty: they are pretty when they have no hair. Here's when you know someone has inner beauty: they can smile and dance when they have no hair!

Amy was such a cool kid for me during the 5k. She whined a little, sang a little and snacked a little, while I was able to thoroughly enjoy the jog. Later we went to the zoo, for the HRFCC Moon Festival. She was in her glory with face painting, arts and crafts projects and a first visit to see the animals. She cried when we left.

Dim Sum and India Fest

Ahhh, she's my girl. She's starting to express herself now, so she's not just a passive companion. She expressed great joy at Dim Sum with Jaedyn, Naomi and Keri on Saturday and at the India Fest today. For the first time at Dim Sum, she picked her selections off of the cart. For the first time, she loved my favorite, the sesame rice balls.


At the India Fest, she was crazy-glued to the front center of the stage to see the dancing. At the last India fest, she was primarily moved by the mango lassi. At this one, she would not even leave the stage so we could get a mango lassi. At the end of every dance performance, she would say, "I wanna see it again". She cried when we left, and said she wanted to go to India Fest again. We also were lucky this weekend to also have a surprise visit by her school-mate Victoria.

I finished the book China Ghosts. It was intensely moving and meaningful to me. I did not want to finish it. It is a must read for anyone involved with China adoption, anyone considering adoption, or any male who is not sure about his parenting desire. Not only did Jeff Gammage's experience parallel ours, but his writing is fabulous. I wish he would write another book, this one touched me so much.

Wonderful weekend

School called to say Amy wasn't well, although she had no fever, late Friday afternoon. She would cry every time she tried to eat, and had not eaten all day. One kid went home with Strep. Well, we certainly saw a different Amy. She was whiney as all get out, and very miserable. Luckily a little elimination eliminated the problem. She was so happy Friday night after that, it set the tone for a great weekend. We went to the special kiddy haircut place, went shopping at Kane Marie Art Gallery, grocery shopping and to One Fish Two Fish on Saturday. We had a 4 mile family walk on Sunday, and ran into Uncle Ben in the park. Amy loved running, and Daddy is in heaven with that.