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.

Santa!

Ok so we heard that Santa would be at the Walgreens right by our house today and I thought we would test the waters and see how Makenna felt about him this year. We have been talking him up quite a bit in our house and she has been interested. Whenever anyone mentions what Santa is bringing her she says "dollhouse" about 5 times.

So we wander in to the store and they told us Santa was in the back. When we round the corner and spot Santa chatting with two employees I was not prepared for Makenna's reaction. She was so EXCITED!! She runs toward him shouting (over and over) DOLLHOUSE!.....DOLLHOUSE!

It was hysterical. She sat on his lap grinning from ear to ear (and repeating dollhouse here and there for good measure) and loved every minute.

Anyway, I think Santa understood what needs to be under the tree this year by the time we left:)

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treating in our new neighborhood was different this year. Not many people were into it but that didn't decrease Makenna's enthusiasm one bit! She loved knocking and saying "Triiii...treeee" the best she could.

Fall Fun

This place was really cool! The Great Pumpkin Farm. I wish I could get a picture with all three kids looking and smiling, but oh well. We are going to check out another pumpkin farm next weekend and get some pumpkins for our house.

The Shiner

Well it was only a matter of time with this little wild one, right? Makenna fell out of our bed yesterday and got a big black eye. She still sleeps about half the night in her bed and the other half in ours. She tosses and turns so much and in general is NO FUN to sleep with! I usually block the other side of the bed with pillows (if it is a work night for Drew) but somehow she fell out of the bottom of the bed by the footboard and hit her eye.

It looks really painful but she just rolls with it. At least something matches her shins now:)

Oh and the capsule in the picture is her fish oil that I poke a hole in and she sucks all the juice out! EEEWWWW I know, but she loves it.

Just for fun

No special reason or theme here. Just a few pictures of us having fun in our new city. The first two pictures are from a Peach Festival near here. And the third is silly Makenna walking in the park from Three Sisters Island near the Falls. We have been enjoying the nice weather as much as possible because I know the winter will be LOOOOONG, from what I hear!

Fashion- Makenna style

Usually Makenna could care less what I pick out for her to wear. One day last week I was busy and told her to go pick something to wear.

This is what she liked. Hey, who knows maybe she will be into fashion design someday:)

The big move

We moved on August 13th and things have been pretty busy since then. We are trying to settle into our new normal. Easier said than done for the kiddos. Especially Makenna. She has had a rough time adjusting. Every little thing just sets her off. Super whiny, super clingy, and very demanding of my time and attention. I know this change is very tough. Big changes in her life do not go over well. I know why and so I try to be understanding and patient. I am sure I don't succeed sometimes but I am making an effort.

On a brighter note we are exploring our new area and that is exciting. I am sad to leave my hometown and all that is familiar but finding new favorite things together as a family is fun.

Some current new favorites for us: beautiful blue skies and no humidity, Dicamillo's Bakery (yum), living close to water, Wegmans grocery store, Niagara Falls, and the Buffalo Zoo. I will keep everyone posted on getting settled. Here are a few pictures from the month.

Cousins and Grandparents

We had these pictures made with all the cousins on my side and my parents. Makenna is the youngest grandchild on this side but she did great! I just love these photos and these kids! I am going to miss them so much when we move. I hope for lots of visits with my parents, sisters, and all of these beautiful kiddos that are growing up way too fast.

Popsicles

Because I can't just tie Makenna up in order to get everything done for the move, we use lots of popsicles and other diversions. I know...I know. I should not bribe her with treats to get a few quiet minutes to make phone calls and such but hey...you do what you gotta do.

And how can you resist when she looks so cute eating it?

My summer sweetie!

Just stole a couple photos from my sister-in-law because I am still without the camera cord. And truthfully have been too busy to just take the card to Target or something. Thought these were cute of Makenna. My big kids avoid the camera now a little bit so I have to catch them when I can. Makenna is so silly and happy most of the time, I just love it!

This was taken from her speech-preschool's website! Makenna goes once a week for 2 hours (in addition to her weekly speech therapy) and she really loves it.

Playing in the sprinkler at Granny's house.



She really does know how to smile when she wants to!