Quick recap of 2015

While I'm waiting for my pictures to load, I thought I would share a couple of highlights from the past year.

1. We started the process of international adoption in June and tonight learned that our dossier is currently being translated into Bulgarian. Once that process is completed it will be sent off to the Ministry of Justice and we will formally be on the waiting list!
2. James and I were blessed to go on a DTS mission trip to Indonesia in June. We were on the island of Java for about two weeks. It was an experience like no other I've ever had; it was exciting to share our faith and encourage others on the other side of the world.
3. Our little girl turned 2 this summer and we were able to celebrate with tons of family who were in town for a wedding.
4. We went on a family vacation to North Carolina over fall break. The views were breathtaking (both of the Smoky Mts. and the Vanderbilt Mansion) and many wonderful family memories were made.
5. James and I were able to travel to Cancun to celebrate another wedding with quite a few family members. It was a much needed vacation!

Just a couple of pictures from the past year (in no particular order).

3 little girls

Its been awhile since my last update, and I'm a bit embarrassed by my lack of posting. So for the few of you who check in every now and then - "Hello!"

The biggest change we've had is that our little girl is growing like a weed and currently going through a language explosion. Yesterday she sang both "Jesus loves me" and "twinkle, twinkle, little star" without prompting, and is trying out new words and phrases everyday. Some are considerably easier to understand than others. One that we haven't figured out yet is something that sounds a bit like "Billy!" (or "Bill-whee!") which she shouts when extremely excited and wound up. She loves story time and has even started to "read" us stories. One of her current favorites came from Great Aunt Janet - "My Car."

(Story time with Ethel and Gus)

She's quickly approaching a second birthday this summer, and we're hoping that family from out of town will be able to attend the bash. So if you're coming to a wedding in July, we'd like to formally invite you to a birthday gathering the afternoon of Sunday, July 19th. We're hoping for beautiful weather for outdoor games, cake, and ice cream!

Same old, same old

 
Time keeps marching on for our family. (Not a whole lot is new, but we're just fine with that.) However, its easy to become complacent with life, so I'm making a concerted effort to recognize and enjoy the little things this holiday season.

As the Thanksgiving holiday is almost upon us its always nice to engage in the old exercise of reflecting on one's blessings. Among my top items are family (and not just this cute little one), friends, economic security, health, and a whole host of other large categories that are normally mentioned around the table at dinner time come T-Day. Yet when I break each down (even at a surface level) its amazing to reflect on the different components that are encompassed by the categories of family, health, etc. Its a great exercise to actually sit down and "count your blessings" by "nam[ing] them one-by-one" as the old Sunday School song goes. In completing this exercise, I'm betting that I'll have a much better understanding about how my "same old, same old" life is not one that I should take for granted.

Won't you join me in being thankful?

1+

She's over a year and unstoppable! 

Walking, running, smiling, and laughing are her regular activities. (Though she has figured out how to throw a tantrum.) She loves riding in her wagon, "Wolfgang" (her stuffed coyote), and reading books.  She's learned how to say "Hi!", show her muscles, and can find a few items when asked where they are in the room. She's evening learning to negotiate the dog-eat-dog world of the toddler class at day-care. (She even has battle scars to prove it - it took 6+ hours for today's bite marks to disappear.)  

Baby Dedication

Our little "dandelion" was dedicated at church a couple of Sundays ago, and we were blessed to have most of her extended family with us to celebrate (including one aunt from Georgia and an uncle from Oklahoma).  It is incredibly humbling to know that friends, family, and our church community are lifting us up and walking along side of us. Our "village" was present and that meant the world to us!

9 months

Its amazing to think this sweet girl is 9 months old.

The stats:

1. Limited rolling - just a contortionist worthy stretch is all that's needed to get her toys.

2. Crawling/scooching has started, though only backwards.

3. Pulling herself up on laundry baskets and people seems to be a favorite activity.

4. Finger foods are being mashed by two tiny teeth.

5. Attending a new day care with the large red stroller and many more kids her age.

6. Eleanor the elephant and McNally the monkey are the two favorite toys to date.

7. Month 9 clothes and size 3 diapers need frequent changing due to the most disgusting poo I've ever witnessed.

8. High fives and waving aren't frequent, but we're working on it. 

9.  Crazy hair, full smiles, and squeals of delight!

Mr. Seal

At the six month check up, things were looking good. Our gal is currently in the 75% of height and 50% for weight. She's wearing 6 month clothes, but has graduated on to a few 6-9 month outfits. She's sitting on her own for extended periods, but is not interested in rolling at all (which we've only witnessed a handful of times since the first roll at Thanksgiving). Within the last month she has started on rice cereal, formula (for daycare), and has recently tried mashed carrots which were a huge hit. She loves playing "peek-a-boo," dancing to ABBA with mommy, pinching lips/tugging hair, and sucking on squishy blocks. Her current favorite toy by far is Mr. Seal. She loves chewing on and conversing at great lengths with this toy. (I've tried to upload a video of this. I hope it works!)