Piano-Playing Girl

Since I grew up playing the piano, I have always been curious about how Katie would react to the opportunity to play the piano. When she first sat down at the piano, she didn't seem to care much about it. Recently, however, she has enjoyed playing. She sits at the piano while Chloe goes outside and usually doesn't want to stop when it's time to leave.

The thing that shocked me was that she doesn't bang on the piano. She usually very carefully plays one note at a time - sometimes two. She's fun to watch!

One Year Ago Today

Exactly one year ago, my school was closed for a snow day.  I was just sitting at home, relaxing, watching the snow, and not expecting anything life-changing to happen.  In the afternoon, I decided to turn on my computer and check my email. I found an email that I had to read multiple times to really believe. I had received a referral from China after almost five years of waiting. I was told by my adoption agency that they had been very surprised to receive the referrals. They usually had a couple of days notice.  I was also told that I'd be receiving a phone call later that day to get more details.

As the news began to sink in, time moved slowly as I waited for my call. Eventually I got another email that my agency was having a difficult time reaching my phone. I re-sent my phone number and waited some more. In the meantime, I was able to share the news with my mom and my sister, Jennifer. We all continued to wait.

Finally the phone call came. I found out that the baby was named Fu Jing Tian, and she wasn't quite 6 months old and was one of the youngest referrals to the agency. I was told she was healthy, and I was taught how to say the name of her province, Jiangxi, and her orphanage, Fuzhou Social Welfare Instititute.  Lastly, I was told that I'd be emailed a copy of her pictures very soon.

My mom, sister, and I waited some more. Finally the email came. I opened the pictures, and found a beautiful baby girl. We continued to celebrate throughout the night. Later in the night, my mind that loves to play with numbers started to think…the date was 2/24. I added the digits 2+2+4 and realized that 8 was a lucky number in China.  It was a lucky number for me!

A few days later, I was sent further information about Katie. I was told a little about her personality.
* Active - still is
* Fond of music - still is
* Shy around strangers - still is
* Likes being clean - still does
* Likes colorful toys - still does but also likes less colorful ones
* Likes being held - not so much since she learned to crawl and walk, but does when she's tired
* Likes outdoor activity - still does

Referral Picture 

Referral Picture 

Referral Picture 

A Year Later 

Growing Up Fast

Sailor Girl

I went shopping with my mom the other day, and we found such a cute sailor dress. We had to get it in honor of Katie's favorite Navy Vets…Grandpa and Aunt Debby!

This is fun! 

Still At Attention 

Okay, I'm done with pictures! 

No, really, my tooth hurts! Let's put the camera away!

Happy Valentine's Day

Katie didn't do a whole lot for Valentine's Day this year, but she was very excited when I returned home from work with a heart-shaped balloon to share with her.  Her favorite part of the day, however, was her play time with Chloe.

Chloe, I found your toy! 

Chloe loves having scarves draped across her back! 

Finding a Seat on the Computer Cases

Laughter and Powder

The other night, Katie was sitting on the couch with my mom and playing with her blocks. She decided it was really funny to hold a block (or sometimes an imaginary block) on the back of the couch and wait for my mom to grab it.  The video is dark, and the quality isn't great, but the sound makes it all worth it!

Katie was hanging out at Garyldine's house one afternoon. After a diaper change, the powder was found and fun was in store.  I'm not so sure Garyldine's dog, Sammy, was impressed!

Keeping Busy

Last weekend, Katie re-discovered our dog dish full of water. She carefully watched Chloe get a drink of water. Then she dipped her hand in the bowl a few times, which got her pants a little wet. I took her pants off, so they would dry, and she went on to carry the pants through the house until she found herself sitting next to the dog bowl again. I wanted to take her picture sitting there, so I looked down to turn on my camera. When I looked back up, she had put her pants completely in the dog water. She had lots of fun splashing and completely soaking herself!

In They Go! 

SPLASH! 

Hey! I'm wet all over!

Other than learning to wash her own clothes in the dog bowl, Katie has been her busy self playing with her favorite toys, which include her pets!

Katie loves her wooden puzzle with farm animals! 

Who wants the dog food more? The dog or the cat? 

Katie with her Favorite Blocks 

Katie: Do you want to play?

Chloe: Isn't it bedtime yet?

Having Fun

It's always so much fun to watch Katie as she develops new behaviors. At Christmas, Santa gave her a bottle with her doll. It's one of those bottles that looks like it has milk in it until it turns over and disappears. Katie likes feeding her doll with it, feeding Chloe with it, trying to feed Bingle with it, and feeding the camera case with it. This week, she decided she was as worthy of the bottle as anyone else, and tried to drink from the bottle herself!

Happy Girl

Love My Camera Case

Feeding My Baby

Still Trying to Sit on the Shelf

Yum! This is the best milk I've ever tasted!

Taking Care of My Baby

Favorite Picture of the Week