YEAH! It's Christmas Time

This year's tree decor...a little different from last year

Our Ian Angel ornament
(experimenting with the camera)

So far, this year's tree is my favorite of the 11 years of decorating our Christmas Tree. I told DH I've always wanted my tree to look like what I see in the stores...beautiful. Last year I felt like I was very close, but this year, I feel like maybe I've "arrived". Anyways...I love getting it set up and enjoy it throughout the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving as a family.

What are we thankful for...well, just look at the scowling bundle in pink in the photo.
(I don't know why she was scowling...oh wait, we had already taken one photo, that's likely what it was from! Silly Megan.)

Blog Award

I'm so honored! I've been awarded the uber amazing blog award by Tracey. (Okay, so I got it last week, I'm a bit behind!) I'm so excited! Tracey & I "met" by being each other's Secret Blog Pal this fall.

Here is a little bit about the award: The "uber" (synonym for super) is a blog award given to sites who:
- inspire you
- make you smile and laugh
- or maybe give you amazing information
- a great read
- has an amazing design
- and any other reason you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of the award are:

1-Put the logo on your blog or post.
2- Nominate at least five blogs (can be more) that for you are uber amazing
3- Let them know that they have received this uber amazing award by commenting on their blog
4-Share the love by linking to this post and the person you received the award from.

So, here are my award recipients:

1. Wendy at Adoption & Fire. I've gotten to know Wendy when we were both waiting for our girls. She was logged in 7 days after us and we got referrals at the same time! She traveled before us so had Catherine just days before we got Megan. Wendy always has such a great information on her blog. She's a Fire Chaplain and is always so inspiring! And I love seeing new photos of Catherine!

2. Debbie over at Family Reunion. Debbie always has such great information! Besides Izzy is an absolute doll!

3. Christy over at To Mia with Love. I found her blog because of a "fluke" when she was skipped and didn't receive her referral when she was supposed to. Later she found out her daughter was "running late"...and she was matched to Mia. Mia is also a Hunan princess. Christy is the one who recommended the lady who I found all Megan's hair clips from (Love to Sparkle)...and for that, I cannot be grateful enough! (DH might not agree! haha!)

4. D & A over at Around the World and 2 Kids. D & A just returned from Ethiopia with their precious Ella. They are waiting for their child from China as well. Yes, I know them in the real world, but I love their humor and honesty about the waiting, waiting, waiting. Besides Ella is absolutely PRECIOUS!

5. Tracey. I don't know if I can actually do that...but I'm going to! I am so glad that I was her Secret Blog Pal and have gotten to know her! I regularly check her blog to see her posts which range from inspirational to humorous. Can't wait until little Sam is born!!!

18 months Old

She's has always loved to throw the balls onto the shelf...
but now she's found a new "purpose" for it!
(oh man, that's dusty, ugh.)

She's "snuggling" blankey...while playing music, of course.

Okay, so I'm a few days late...but Megan has officially moved in the "difficult" age (I recently read an article that said when kids hit their 1/2 birthday they test their independence and become more "difficult" to parent). Some highlights....

• She has 12 teeth (currently working on the next 4)
  
• She is running
• She weighs 24.2 lbs (50th percentile) and is 30.5 inches tall (25th percentile)
• She's FINALLY out of size 6-9 mo (mostly anyways)
• She's "talking" more
• She loves to make EVERYTHING a phone (including a small piece of paper)
  
• She says "hi" ALL THE TIME!!! (Especially in stores...and will get increasingly louder if people don't acknowledge her.)
• She knows what a cow, sheep, horse, duck and dog say
• She knows 9 body parts
• She loves to blow kisses
• She loves to snuggle--even snuggling with the dogs (aka resting her head on them)
• She is sleeping so much better...some nights better than others, but overall getting at least 11 hours of sleep, but does get 12 occasionally.
  

There are many more things she does, but I can't think of them right at this moment. She's growing up so fast. Even at her most difficult, she's still SO SWEET! We are definitely blessed.

Down Right Scary

Okay...I am going to interrupt this "Megan blog" for just a moment. I saw this in an article and it is disturbing, yet confirms what I suspected.



Well, you can see the source at the end of the video. One other thing, a documentary is coming out with more information. There is more information on the website at the end.

NOTE: I'M MORE FRUSTRATED WITH THE MEDIA FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOB: report the facts on both candidates.

Okay, returning to regular "programming" (aka Megan!).

Our future Cook

This weekend we decided it was time to move the treadmill out of the office and move in Megan's play kitchen. She got it as a shower gift from DH's work, and now that she is walking around almost all the time, we figured it was a good time to get it out. She doesn't ENTIRELY get the concept, but I figure if we consistently show her what to do, she'll get it. (Besides, she is a little young for imagination play.)

Don't I have a cute hat???

What's in here????

Photos & Stuff

SUPER Wild hair from this morning.
I think the bananas, turkey and pasta sauce all helped!

Okay, so may not the best photo, but doesn't she look AMAZING
in the color of these pjs?

She was being so snuggly on this morning
(probably one we were up at 330!)
She had never done this before.

Every day I am amazed at how blessed I am to be Megan's mommy. She is the most precious, adorable little girl. I am moved to tears to think about our life with her. Of course, we could sleep past 4am, but what's a little sleep! She's more than worth missing sleep for a few months!

A funny...

This morning Megan wanted to get on her scooter...she stood there for a few minutes looking at me yelling "aaahhhh". I asked her "do you want on your scooter?"--she just yelled some more. I said "sign please" (as I'm illustrating the sign). She looks at me, signs "share" then "my turn". Now, some background...in her favorite movie they have "please", "share", "your turn" and "my turn" in a song. So, whether she was simply doing what the song does...or she was telling me I needed to share and it was her turn to get on the scooter, who knows. But, it sure was funny!

Check up

Finding the dog bones for...

Making what I call "Bone art"
She loves to arrange them on the floor.
(well, actually, just throw them on the floor!)

On Monday we went to a new doctor (one closer to home) and got Megan's flu shot. While we were there we were able to get her 18 month check up out of the way, too. She weighs 24 lbs 2 oz and is 30.5 inches tall! That means since her medical exam in China, she's gained 11lbs and grown 7.5 inches! That's INCREDIBLE for about 7 months! It's no wonder she eats like an adult! Seriously, she does. The other night she ate almost an entire chicken leg and thigh. Needless to say, that was when we decided we now need to make a full piece of chicken just for her! She does love chicken--she is my girl!

The face is healing nicely...the scab has fallen off and the mark is barely visible. It's supposed to be REALLY cold (okay, cold by Texas standards!) and windy on Saturday when we are doing pictures. Go figure (it's been in the 70s!). So, I'm having to think about back ups for keeping Megan warm. I had planned on having her wear a cute dress shirt/onesie with a lacy collar and cuffs from Children's Place (that I now cannot find online to link here), and she still will. But, I'll have an undershirt on her as well as thick tights. It's a good thing her pants are too big! That's a lot of extra around the booty (tights with 2 onesies!)!!! Guess she'll have an extra warm tush! haha. I'm also planning on bringing a warm blanket that we can wrap her in between shots. Grandma V is coming to ensure Megan will smile (she has the magical touch!) so she can hold the blanket & jackets while we're taking photos.

Okay, nap time as started, I need to get some research done!

Cheek Vs. Dishwasher

Yep, you guessed it. The dishwasher won. The door just doesn't give. Poor baby...she was tottling around the kitchen as I was loading the DW. I saw her go down, but I just wasn't fast enough. And boy did she cry (not that I blame her!). I just felt HORRIBLE!

We are taking fancy family photos (the kind with the hour long photo session!!!) next Saturday, I sure hope it's healed up by then!

First walking boo-boo

I would have thought it would have happened before now. We've been pretty fortunate. It happened Sunday...very early morning...she lost her balance and hit the corner of the toy basket (I tried to grab her, but I wasn't fast enough). For the record, wicker doesn't give--much. Dear old dad grabbed the camera while Mom grabbed the crying kid. Poor thing. She did cut her lip a little, she probably bit it. Thank goodness it wasn't too bad. We're waiting for the bad one that gives the black eye or cut face, you know the one.

Ella's with her Parents

Another Buckner family has their daughter, Ella! Drop by and and tell D & A congrats and see their precious Ella! They are currently in Ethiopia preparing to bring her home. We met them at various agency events. They are also waiting to travel to China to bring their child home. They started with China, but with the extended wait, they decided to go to Ethiopia while waiting for their Chinese child.

Ella is absolutely precious! Congrats D & A!

7 Months!

It's hard to believe, but 7 months ago today our little Megan became....Megan!

April 1, 2008 in China
(doesn't that rice look yummy? But she loved it.)

October 31, 2008
(with her puppy--one of her favorites right now!)

Boy has she changed!!! And how time has flown!