Wow! What a day Amy had today.
She started out by using a fork all by herself to eat her scrambled eggs and strawberries for breakfast. (No, not mixed together).
Then she went to a playground with her friend Emily. There she slid down a slide, many times, and enjoyed it every time. She also rode on the swing, which she wasn't crazy about at first, but the 2nd time around she seemed to enjoy it a lot more.
Then it got too hot, so we came home and Emily came over and played at our house for about an hour. They had fun playing together, while Emily's mom & I visited.
She then chowed down on her lunch - 2 slices of ham, an entire banana and about a dozen grapes. Had I given her more, I think she would have kept on eating.
She is enjoying sitting at her own little table and playing with her books and puzzle. If I had known she was going to enjoy it this much I would have gotten it sooner. She has a hard time still getting up in the chair by herself because it slides across the floor when she tries, but she is able to get down by herself. I have it on my Home Depot list to get little rubber feet for the legs of the chairs so they don't slide so much. That will be one of this weekends projects.
She also likes climbing up in the leather chair we have in the living room. She will usually climb up into that chair with one of her books and sit there and read. I guess we're going to have to get more bookcases soon if she keeps up this reading habit.
And to top off the entire day, Amy's Green Card arrived. This states that she is a permanent resident, even though she is legally a US citizen. But at least we have this until we can get her proof of citizenship paperwork finished. One more hurdle jumped over, on to the next.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Amy's new word for the day "whoa". She learned it from Emily, the little girl across the street. They have been playing together these past few days and seem to enjoy the time spent together.
Today in MMO it was "Wear Something Blue Day". When asked who had on something blue, Amy jumped up and tugged at her outfit - which you can see in today's pictures is a turquoise color blue. What amazed both Dean & me was that she remembered she was wearing something blue from us telling her this morning before we left.
She is really enjoying her time at MMO playing with all the other kids. She doesn't want to leave when it's time to go, but immediately falls asleep on the way home, and stays soundly asleep for 2 hours.
She's learning to play with new toys - mostly Emily's. But books still seem to be her favorite item. She got a couple of new books today. I'm still getting her the cardboard books so they don't get destroyed to quickly. Ripping paper is another favorite past time.
Other things she's doing - trying to walk in Dean's shoes. She actually managed to walk about 4 or 5 feet while wearing his tennis shoes. It was quite the sight to see. She is also trying to help me sweep. It got to the point this weekend that I gave her the whisk broom and she swept one spot while I used the regular broom to sweep the rest of the floor. She will also wipe off her highchair tray with a rag. The next Martha Stewart maybe?
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Amy has discovered yarn. She saw me crocheting and decided that she wanted to help. She picked up the skein of yarn and started pulling it around the house. At that point I decided it would be a good idea to give her a skein of her own to play with. Once I did that she entertained herself with it for most of the morning. She dragged it all around the house until it looked like a giant spider web.
Yesterday she wanted to help daddy paint the dining room. As you can see by the pictures she was trying to help with the drop cloth - unfolding it that is. That was about the extent of her help, since the painting was done during her nap time. But she still helps to unload the dishwasher and make the bed. She even helps me to pull weeds and put them in the weed bucket.
She is also playing more with the little Fisher Price camping set that the chiropractor gave her. I was hoping to get a picture of her in the little tent, but she came out before I could. She now goes in the tent and takes toys in with her and plays. It's the perfect size and place for her to hide - the only way I know she's in there is if I hear the lantern making it's frog and cricket noises.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Amy had her first Mother's Morning Out on Monday and she did great. She and one other little boy in her class were the only two that didn't cry when the mothers left. They said she played the entire time, ate all her lunch and was a joy to have in class. Before we even pulled out of the parking lot this afternoon she was asleep. She slept a little longer than usual, but not much.
We have Kindermusik orientation this Thursday evening and then her first class of that for the fall will be on Friday, August 31st. Story time at the library doesn't start back up until October, so we'll have Tuesday and Wednesday with no activities planned - so far.
She has mastered going up stairs. Going down still needs some work. But she is able to climb up the stairs on her own now. I'm waiting for when she figures out how to open the gate at the top of the stairs. I suspect that is not far off.
It's getting harder to take pictures of her. She is fascinated with the camera. When we take a picture she has to come look at the display so she can see what just happened. The picture today of her with her tongue out was a result of my trying to take a picture and her coming at me, determined to get the camera.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
What a busy week this has been. Between running errands (mostly to Wal-Mart), orientation for Amy at Mother's Morning Out and classes that I'm taking, we've just been going, going, going.
Amy met her teachers and the other kids that will be with her in Mothers Morning Out (MMO) Thursday evening. She had a great time it seemed and didn't want to leave when it was time to go. We start going on a regular basis next Monday and Thursday. I think it's going to be good for her to interact with other kids her own age. She seems to be reaching a point now where Mommy isn't entertaining enough and she needs that interaction and play time.
Two of her molars have finally broken through the gums. There are still more bulges and another one looks like it's ready to break through at any moment. But it doesn't seem to be bothering her too much. She has her occasional moments of crankiness, but nothing like I've seem some other kids experience.
She has also discovered magnets. I have a few that were on the refrigerator that she is able to play with, but I guess now it's time to get the alphabet magnets so she can play with those a little easier than these flat ones. She also likes to chew on them. I wonder if she's getting pain relief from them too.
She is also figuring out how to blow her nose. She's seen her mommy & daddy do it enough that now she is trying to imitate the behavior. What she hasn't figured out yet is that tissues are disposable and should be thrown away, not carried around everywhere afterwards.
We also finally got a picture of her in the little frog bathing suit coverup that she received a few weeks ago. You can see below how cute she looks. We haven't had much opportunity to swim lately. Either we've been too busy or the weather hasn't been cooperating.
Speaking of which, Amy had her first "thunder & lightning" scare. She didn't cry or scream, but just stopped dead in her tracks. We had a great thunderstorm the other day while we were inside playing in the livingroom. She started to go towards the kitchen just went lightning flashed and thunder followed right behind, very loud, louder than we've had all summer. She stopped immediately and just stared at me - wide eyed, not moving. She must have stayed that way for a minute or two and then realized it was okay to go back to doing what she was doing. The rest of the thunder and lightning didn't seem to phase her after that.
New words that she's using - trash (sounds like shash), new things she can identify - ear, chin, eyes, wrist, elbow, and knee. Belly button and nose are still her favorite body parts to point out, but she's learning more every day.
Enjoy today's "pictures of the day".
Amy had a busy Saturday, so much so, that she actually slept in Sunday morning. Well, until 7:45, but for her that's sleeping in.
We went to the Chinese Culture Day in the morning. It wasn't what we were expecting it to be and the activities they had planned for the kids Amy's age were a little beyond her capabilities right now.
We also went to the homeowners association picnic in the evening which was a lot of fun until it started to rain. All the families brought things to grill and then some families brought desserts while the rest brought salads and other side dishes. A lot of good food and a nice time meeting our neighbors, and of course Amy charmed them all.
Amy got her first wagon Saturday afternoon. She enjoys being pulled around in it, at least when it's dry. When we were on our way back from the picnic (in the rain) she wasn't liking it too much. She kept looking up at me, with the rain running down her face, with a look like "Can you please make this stop. The rain is getting in my eyes and now I'm all wet."
Prompted by a letter we received from Martha, one of the other adoptive mothers in our travel group, Amy is now learning the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" song. In one of today's pictures you can see her trying to do the hand motions. She tries to sing along too, but doesn't quite have that figured out yet.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Well you've all read what I've written about it being hot and humid here in Georgia - well here is proof. Today's first picture of the day. Yet another bad hair day.
The other two pictures are Amy's imitation of a Russian Cossack (not sure that's spelled right? but you get the idea). But anyway, she looks as cute as ever.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Amy has figured out how to climb up on the ottoman and chair we have in the living room by herself. She can also climb up on to the couch, but she still needs a little assistance with that feat.
We think we may have almost broken her of the habit of sucking her thumbs. Every time she puts her thumb in her mouth we tell her "you don't need that thumb" and she pulls her thumb back out. Sometimes she'll look at it, other times she'll just forget and do something else. She still sucks it when she sleeps, but at least now the calluses are diminishing on her thumbs.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Amy is now imitating Dean rubbing my feet. The other night while we were sitting on the floor, Dean was rubbing my feet, so Amy decided to try too. First she went to Dean's feet and wiggled his toes, then she came over to my feet and wiggled my toes and kept going back and forth between the two of us. Now whenever she can get to our feet she'll do this.
She said what sounded like "Hello" this evening and is also saying "knock knock". Knock knock comes out sounding like naw naw, but she also knows how to knock on a door - usually when one of us is in the bathroom. But today was even more amusing when she knocked on her head and said knock knock.
Below are updated "red couch" photos. In the adoption groups the term "red couch photo" refers to the picture taken at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou of all the babies together on a red couch. In most cases one or more of the kids are crying or not paying attention, so it makes it difficult to get a good shot. This evening however, Amy was hamming it up for the camera, and made it easy to get a good, updated red couch photo.
Here are today's "pictures of the day".
Sorry it's been a few days. We've been busy around here with all sorts of activities (both Amy activities and my activities).
Amy has been very expressive, more so than usual lately. Both facially and vocally. A few new words pop out every now and then as well. Tonight she said red, nigh nigh (for good night), and fish. She has even figured out to hold her toy phone up to her ear and try to talk. I guess she's seen me on the phone enough now she knows what its for. She just doesn't want to talk though when someone is on the other end.
She is still enjoying playing with the Tupperware and pots and pans - as you can see in one of today's pictures. Although they seem to be less fascinating now than they first were. Balls are still the biggest hit.
She keeps trying to put on her socks and shoes. She's managed to get her sock on her toes, but then can't figure out how to get it any further.
Mealtimes are becoming more interesting too. They seem to be taking longer these days, partly due to learning how to use a fork and spoon. But she also seems to be chewing her food more now too. She is able to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich now without smashing it into pulp in her hand. Blueberries and raspberries have become big hits in the fruit department as well.
Next Saturday we are attending a Chinese Culture Day, sponsored by the Atlanta chapter of Families with Children from China. It will be nice to meet some other families in the area and their little Chinese firecrackers.
Since it's been a while, here are extra pictures today.
