It's been 2 years!

Two years ago on Wednesday (March 31), we held Megan for the first time. Boy has time flown by. I had planned on doing a post showing pics of when we were in China and today, but I couldn't get it to work! Then I got wrapped up in teaching, dissertation, Megan's school...well, life and I completely lost track of time! That has been happening a lot lately. Anyways...I don't even have pictures on this computer to upload. I'll have to do it tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. I also just recorded some cute video tonight with Megan reciting the story of David & Goliath. One of her all-time favorite stories. I plan on uploading that tomorrow and will post it.

Megan has gotten so verbal. In fact, last night as she was supposed to be going to sleep she said "I told you...stop...barking." Oh my gosh. I almost burst out laughing! One day earlier this week she was in a very tired mood and was upset by a choice she had made. She said to me "All done choosing!" She's also been known to say "All done listening!" in the midst of a fit, of course. She is just too funny!

And Now it's June

(to quote Everyone Loves Raymond) "holy crap!" Where has the year gone?

So, let's see...I've not been the best at posting lately. Every day Megan does something and I think "I need to blog that"...but then the day goes by and I don't get it done. I guess probably because I want to put photos up and I can only do that on the desktop. If I go back in the office to do that, she thinks she needs to help me on the computer. So, here's a list of some new things to note:

• She LOVES to help...empty the dishwasher, carry laundry, push the laundry into the dryer, etc. You have to catch the silverware she's taking out of the DW fast enough, or she puts them in her mouth on the way to you, though.
  
• She has started bringing things to me when she finds things she's not supposed to have. For example, if she finds a TV remote, she brings it to me rather than try to run and hide with it or frantically push a million buttons before I get it.
• She has started saying "GO" while signing go...she does it a lot when we stop in the store to look at something and she doesn't want to.
• She makes frustration noises when we are stopped in the car (as in "go, darn it! I hate to stop!")
• She's drinking from a "big girl" cup now. Of course, she lets a lot of the water go down her shirt, but she'll get it. We keep practicing (especially when she hasn't drank very much).
• She's using her fork all the time now.
• She identifies every letter of the alphabet (as in we ask her to find a letter and she always does).
  
• When she is identifying letters, she says A, D, E, I, O, S, X. She doesn't say "G", but she says "Go" or makes the G sound. She makes the sound for "H" as well and sometimes "Z". (This is a game that helps us get through the grocery store after the snacks are gone!)
  
• She loves puzzles, coloring and writing.
  
• She's still sleeping with one of us right now for part of the night. Some nights are better than others, but I think she likes sleeping with us (at least for the time being, that might change soon).
• She gives the sweetest kisses! She loves to give kisses to dolly with a loud smack. It's so darn cute!
• She's gotten into hats. Late last week, I found a hat and put it on her head--she liked it, so I got others out and she actually keeps them on!
  
• Oh, and before I forget to mention, one of her teachers at school commented that she noticed Megan likes it if she would comment on her shoes. Oh boy, takes after Auntie Katie--a shoe girl at age 2!!! I guess that just goes with her being a little fashionesta, uh?
• And lest I forget...this weekend she started trying to put her leg on the side of the tub and wanting to put lotion on...just like me. HOW FUNNY! (Of course, she can BARELY reach, but too cute!)
  

The other day we were getting ready for supper and DH called her into the kitchen. She was barefoot (it's been in the high 80s, low 90s) and he said "Don't you love the sound of that pitter-patter? Um, Y-E-S! She is so sweet, loving and absolutely adorable. We couldn't be more in love! We are SSSOOOOOO blessed with our little princess! (Today marks her being with us 14 months--boy does time fly!)

One year ago today...

We received "the call" at 2:12 pm from our SW, Rachael!!!! I was carrying my cell phone with me everywhere so I wouldn't miss that long awaited call. When it finally came, just hearing Rachael say "Kris?" made me break into tears, get all shaky and make my mind go blank! I couldn't believe it was FINALLY the day! We got so few details...but did find out that she was very little just 24 inches tall and weighed a whopping 12.5 lbs! A few hours later, we opened our email to see these precious photos.



And today she's doubled her weight and grown about 7 inches! Who would have known that her hair would grow in curly...that she's have so much personality...that we could be SO IN LOVE!

She is our "Sweets", our "Meg-alicious", our "Meg-pie". In every way a perfect fit for our family. I am still overwhelmed by the awesomeness of how she joined our family. We are so blessed and eternally grateful.

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!

6 Month Anniversary

April 1, 2008

May 2008

June 2008

July 2008

August 2008


September 2008

October 2008

She has changed so much over these 6 months...it's amazing!

Five Months

On bus from the civil affairs office

My big girl, this week

On the one hand I can't believe we were in China only 5 months ago...on the other hand, it was F-I-V-E months ago? Seems like she's always been with us. She's changed so much!

Things Megan can now do:

• Knows that a cow says "mmmmm" (which means moo, of course!)
• Stands without holding onto anything
• Can walk with holding only one hand
• She walks along furniture, around her FrogLeap table, the kitchen cabinets, etc.
  
• Loves to "tickle" everyone (especially mommy!)
• Says "e-i-e-i-e-i" (leaving off the "o")
• She loves books, balls, phones and remotes
• She loves music and loves to dance to music
• She loves Signing Time DVD (she signs fish, dog, eat, mama, dada, baby, milk, bye-bye, ball, shoes, more, all-done and car). Her favorites are dog, ball, milk and, of course, shoes (she is named after her auntie Katie after all!). We're working on some additional ones from another DVD as well.
  

I know there's more...but that's all I can think of right now!!!

Re-Adoption

Today we had Megan's re-adoption. What is a re-adoption? It's basically a recognition of the adoption completed in China. We have to complete a re-adoption so Megan will have a US birth certificate and so that she will be considered the same as any US born child we bring into our family. (Some states do not recognize international adoptions and have been known to not give them "child" status in estate doings. Yes, it's horrible.) We had several family and friends join us for the special occasion. And we had several take photos for us...we're so grateful!


What made it being today extra special was that 4 months ago today, Megan was handed to us! And to not break with tradition, Megan slept through the ENTIRE thing! It was right at nap time, but she slept through every appointment in China too, so why not the final step in the process? That girl.

Tomorrow marks 4 months of her being our daughter. We are "celebrating" it with a road trip to visit family. It should be an interesting trip, we've not traveled this far with Megan in the car before.

It's been 2 months...

Sitting in a lawn chair on the patio...
she loves sitting in that chair.

Two months....it seems like a lot longer than that ago that we brought this cute little squirt home! But, two months ago today she became our daughter. Wow. We've made such huge advancements...I thought she was getting so big, until I met a friend yesterday with her niece who is the same age as Megan. Hmm, yeah. Megan is small...very small in comparison! Not that that is a surprise...I think she's always going to be small. I just wonder when she'll peak in her extremely fast growth that's been experiencing lately. Doctor appointment in a few weeks...guess we'll find out how much she's gained in a month!

One Month Ago

April 1

On April 1st, Megan officially and legally became our daughter! On the one hand, it seems like yesterday...but really, it feels like she's always been with us!

April 30

Things she does now...rolls over...stands....LOVES to jump...talks like crazy (well, in baby language anyways!)