Well, I got here last year....exactly one week and one day before Christmas. One of the first dresses my mama bought for me was a fancy red dress. She took a bunch of pictures of me in it. I posed next to the Christmas tree, in front of the Christmas tree and near the Christmas tree. Then mama sat me on the bay window bench for more shots.

Cute, huh?

Now fast forward to Christmas 2010...and she puts me in the SAME red dress! Can you believe it? And then she takes MORE pictures. Thankfully she isn't showing you all of the pictures she took.

Same dress, different me! First off, I have hair! Whoo whoo!

I am 6 inches taller.

I speak English.

I can count to ten in both English and Chinese.

I know my numbers and colors.

It has been a busy year for me.

You, know...I make this red dress look good!

Christmas now and then

Well, I got here last year....exactly one week and one day before Christmas. One of the first dresses my mama bought for me was a fancy red dress. She took a bunch of pictures of me in it. I posed next to the Christmas tree and in front of the Christmas tree. Then mama sat me on the bay window bench for more shots.

Cute, huh?

Now fast forward to Christmas 2010...and she puts me in the SAME red dress! Same dress, different me! first off, I have hair! Whoo whoo!

I am also 6 inches taller and I understand English.....I can even speak words in English! It has been a busy year for me.

For some reason, my mama cannot upload my new pics.....she will try again later.

sfz

Me and My Dog

I have a dog. His name is Gibson. Gibson is a black, standard poodle.




I wasn't too sure about him when I first got home, but I gradually got used to him. I think he started getting used to me too.









Maybe Gibson started liking me because he figured out that I would give him bits of food when Mama wasn't looking!














Or maybe it was because he liked my toys. That dog is always trying to steal my stuffies!













Gibson likes to play ball. Well, he likes to steal the ball from me.























Gibson is getting really good at eating off of my fork. Who knew that doggies liked veggies?











I do love my doggie!



Inside or outside, we have a great time.

May 2010

I have been home for almost five months. I understand pretty much everything my Mama and my Papa say to me. I am not ready to tell them anything yet, but they don't seem to mind. I manage to get what I want when I want it.

Life is getting VERY interesting. It is also much warmer outside and I have been exploring my yard, even in the rain. There are tulips in the garden and dandelions in the grass. The best thing about dandelions is when the yellow flower turns white and I can blow it!

There is lots of music going on in our house. My Mama teaches kids how to play the violin. Sometimes I get to watch their lessons...if I don't make too much noise. My Mama made me a violin out of a little box. I know how to balance my violin on my shoulder and do the A E A song/dance. My Mama has a real violin for me to play when I get bigger. Not sure why she won't let me play it now...she keeps it up really high on a shelf where I can't reach. Oh well, I will have to make do with my box for now!

My Papa plays in a Classic Rock band with some of his friends. They practice in my house every week. Mike, the keyboard player always says something to me to make me smile when he walks in the door. Brian, one of the guitar players gives me a high five when he comes up from practice. Jason, the bass player gives me a knuckle bump and John, the drummer, lets me sit on the throne and whack the drums! My Papa has let me talk into the mic and hear my voice come out of the speakers REALLY loud! Fun! Most of the time though, I just dance to their tunes!

I have to say that life is good.

sfz

April 2010

Mama was very excited when I started stacking blocks. Not sure why...but I do enjoy stacking things. I also love making music! Mama bought me a harmonica in April.

The weather got warmer and we were able to play outside more. I love playing with my Papa! He is tons of fun!

I got better at my dance class. I especially enjoy tap. Those tap shoes make lovely loud sounds! Did I mention how much I like music? I am the one in blue. My friend, Karen is in the red dress.

March 2010

I started school in March. I go to a school just down the street from my Mama's school. My class is called Little Lambs and my teachers are Miss Stacy and Miss Ceresa. I wasn't too sure about my Mama leaving me at first, but now I am okay with it.

I also learned about Easter eggs. I invited three friends to color eggs and then have a egg hunt on Saturday. Mama took lots of pictures of the hunt, but forgot to turn on her camera for the egg coloring. I think she was trying to keep us from coloring each other!

Mama made an egg hunt for me on Easter Sunday. I love my Easter dress!

I've Been Home Nine Months!

As of 9 days ago, I have been home nine months! I am doing great, but have been very busy!

I have so much to tell you since my last post in February. I think I will write a bit about each month....complete with pics. Just to get you caught up!

sfz

February 2010

February started off with parties! Lots of parties. First, my whole family, Mama, Papa, Gibson (the dog) and I went to our friend's house for a Superbowl Party. We ate hamburgers, (didn't like them), macaroni salad (loved that), beans (yummy) and chips (I ate a few). After dinner, the boys (the dads and the dogs) went in to watch the Superbowl. I watched for a few minutes, but was more interested in exploring the Witz' house.

The next day I went to a birthday party for my friend Maddee. Now that was a fun party! I ate birthday cake for the first time. I discovered that I like cake! I also jumped in this jumping house thingy.

My Mama forgot the camera, so no photos. Here is a photo of me and Maddee playing the piano together!

Then, the next weekend was the biggest party of all, Chinese New Year! I had a ball! I played games, ate as much Chinese food as my little tummy could hold and watched a program. The rest of the photos are of the party....oh, the little boy in one of the pics was my first kiss! He kept grabbing me to kiss me. Mama was very slow on the camera and could not get her finger to push the little button fast enough to get him in action!

Mama went back to work on February 22 and I had to go to child care. I wasn't too happy the first week, but, now I am fine with it.

January 2010

I have been home six weeks! There have been so many "firsts" this month, I don't really know where to start.....

First friend

I have a friend named Karen. She lives on my street. I play with her several times each week. Her grandparents watch her while her mama goes to work. They only speak Chinese. I understand more of what they say than Mama does. Karen and I have fun sliding, playing ball and running around her house.

First trip to the Public Library

I played with puzzles, looked at books and climbed up to the reading nook. I have since been back to the library to check out books.

First time dancing with my Papa

My Mama signed me up for a dance class on Saturday mornings. My teacher is a good friend of my parents. We dance in ballet slippers and tap shoes. My favorite dance is the scarf dance. Our teacher gives us all scarves and we wave them around in time to the music. My friend, Karen joined my dance class with me. Her mama dances with her!



First trip to the Children's Museum

Mama and I went to the museum with some friends from church. I shopped at the kid's grocery store, played with computers and knocked down block towers.

First ride on a merry-go-round

I wasn't sure that sitting atop a wooden horse was such a good idea. Then everything began to move and I realized that this ride had it all! I can't wait to ride again.

First swim

Mama & Papa took me to the YMCA to try out swimming. What were they thinking? Me, in water???? I let them know right away what I thought by hanging onto Mama's neck with my famous death grip and yelling really loud. But my crazy parents persisted and in a few minutes I let go and splashed water. I went to the pool the other day. I liked floating in the pool with Mama. Now I can't wait to go again.

I had a great January. So did Mama. She took more than 200 pictures of me. I hope you enjoyed the few she posted.

Now on with February!

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

Today is my brother's birthday. Happy Birthday Dave! Today he is 23. Dave came home for a few days over Christmas. He is a great brother! I really miss him. I can't wait to see him again. Yesterday I found a picture of him in the study and it made me very happy! Mama says we will go visit him soon.

Today is also my half-birthday.
Today I am 18 months old. Hooray!

I'm Home!

Well, I have been home almost one week and I am getting used to my new life. I met my papa (who is very cool) and try to spend as much time as I can playing with him.

I found out, to my great surprise, that I have a dog. His name is Gibson. Even though he bigger than me, I have no trouble pushing him around. I am learning to pet him gently and he is learning to let me pet him.

We cut down our Christmas tree the other day and I had a ride on my sled. It was very cold that day!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!