Fairy house festival

Makenna and I went to the cutest festival recently. It was based on a book called The Fairy House (I admit I have not read the book) and Makenna LOVED it! She got to dress up and get her face painted, chase bubbles, and see tiny houses made for fairies. What's not to love for a three year old? You should check out www.fairyhouses.com  to see if they are having one near you.

Imagination

We are loving Makenna's big imagination around here lately! Although she still struggles with speech issues her language is really growing. And when she is around us (her family) we mostly know what she is saying. What is so great is that she has a wonderful sense of humor and cracks us up all the time. She is also ramping up the imaginary play lately. She is always making up some scenario for us to particiapte in here. After 10 or 30 times it has lost it's charm for her big brother and sister sometimes but oh well that is what being 3 is all about, right?

This is a picture of Makenna after she put on the hat, grabbed a rope, and said she was going to catch a horse.

Five years

On 2/28/2006 our paperwork was logged in with the CCAA in China.
Five years ago. Today.
For years I lived and breathed that date. Cursed that date. Cried about that date.
Olivia was 8, five years ago. Jackson was 5.
And now five years later it is just a memory.
In a couple of months we will be home with Makenna for two years. So long and really it has flown by. The thing is, some people with log in dates just a few months after ours are. still. waiting. Unimaginable.
I was just thinking how lucky we are to have Makenna in all of our lives today. Each of my children add such a unique piece to our family puzzle. We all fit together.
My thoughts are with all the families in the world hoping, praying, waiting, and dreaming of their future. I hope you find some peace and joy in each day and that soon you can look back at this time and feel thankful that it brought you where you are now.

My baby is 3!

Today Makenna turns 3 years old. Hard to believe she is not a baby anymore. She has been so excited about this day! We had a little party with just our family of five. Cake, ice cream, and presents that came in the mail from her family in KY. She got a Dora guitar (from us), a baby doll w/ a little pig (Nana & Papa), handmade doll blanket/pillow, hopper ball (Nana &Papa), big doll and finger paints (Granny), cards and money (Grandpa). Pretty great day all around.

My wish today is that I could somehow let her birthfamily in China know what an amazing little person she is. How full of love and giggles she can be. How much she is loved. How thankful we are every day that we get to be her family. It is so hard to reconcile the fact that their horrible loss brings our family so much joy. So on this day, even though I can't be sure they are thinking of her, I am thinking of them.

Favorites

Things change around here so often I thought I would take a minute to write down some of Makenna's current favorite things for me to remember later.

*She still LOVES Dora but a few new favorite shows are Team UmiZoomi, Bubble Guppies, and Busytown

*She used to respond to "I love you" with "Too Mom (or Dad, or whoever)" but now she can say "I luh you Mom" and we all can't get enough

*She started going to toddler storytime at the library and thinks it is the greatest thing

*She had her second haircut yesterday and did a great job....no crying!

*She is starting to get an opinion about what she wears (and she is very stubborn)

* She started wearing underwear in October but she refused to go #2 in the potty for a long time. She is doing better now and only wears a diaper at bedtime!

*Favorite foods: pizza, bananas, apples, peanut butter, cereal ( she also has a big sweet tooth and will do almost anything for chocolate or candy)

*She now has speech therapy 2x per week and she is crazy about her therapist

*Even though it is difficult for her she works really hard to get her words out and she has made great progress.....she is no where near age appropriate for expressive language but I know she will get there!

*She is so happy, funny, silly, stubborn, smart,cute, and she laughs all the time......we love her to pieces!!!

Makenna 2010 (part 2)

June 2010 July 2010- Granny's wedding, lots of playing with cousins


August 2010- the big move! Just being silly with her morning cereal.

September- at a parade in some beautiful weather! October 2010- with Jack at a pumpkin farm

November 2010- playing in the chilly weather at a waterfront park

December 2010- Merry Christmas (our second as a family of five!) Well it was a good year with lots of change and lots of fun. We are excited to see what 2011 has in store!

Makenna 2010

OK I am a little late but I loved the idea from Kerry Lu's blog to show a picture of Makenna from each month last year. So here we go!

January

February- She turned two!March- Having fun at her big sister's 13th birthday partyApril- All three kids at a horse farmMay- Posing for our one year post placement report photo.

Well I will have finish in another post. It won't let me add more pictures.