"My head is no working"

Hi Everyone,

Quick post to share that my daughter says the most adorable things!! I was really late picking her up from school today because my battery died and I was working in Casa Grande. So, by the time I did pick her up, it was actually freezing outside but there is my daughter in her jumper, NO sweater, swinging away on the swings laughing and having a great time. When she runs up to me to say hello, her hands and nose are freezing and I ask her where is her sweater? She says "Oh no, I don't know". I asked her if she left it inside and she says yes, "My head is no working". Hmmm, I might just have to remember that line the next time I forget to do something! :) Ella really is doing just great and she gets to dress up as an Angel on Friday for All Saints day which she is sooo excited to do. I am still working on figuring out how to make her hair look like snow whites for Halloween but have the lipstick and bow set. Pics of Ella tonight being silly, her favorite princess pumpkin and her annoyed puppy!

Another Week Down....

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all have had a great week. Ella and I had our usual busy week of school and work but happily had a three day week-end due to teachers conferences at Ella's school. We took advantage of the extra day and headed to Phoenix to visit with our Uncle Chuck and Aunt Kristi and cousin's Charlie and Liam for the day. We had a great time playing at this amazing park in Chandler and Ella was able to swing to her hearts content. The only thing that made the day more fun was that we were headed to Aunt Marianne's house for the night. Ella of course was besides herself to see her Aunt Marianne and happily ran and gave her a huge hug! What a great gift and it was really amazing to see her spontaneous physical show of affection. In fact, Ella started calling me Mommy this week. At first, I couldn't figure out what she was saying, and then once I did, I wondered if she was just trying it out because it is a term I have never used with her. I figure she must have learned this from school from the other kids and has decided that this is the name she will use for me. (Works for me since ungh and hey are beyond annoying at this point!) At lunch today she announced that she had two Mommies and I am so happy that she has finally begun to feel that safety and security that I have been trying so hard to instill in my little one. Ella had another first this week-end when she lost her first tooth!! She was so excited since she loves all things fairy and knew that since she had lost her tooth, the tooth fairy would come and visit. Unfortunately, when nighttime came, the excitement and anticipation turned quickly to fear and Ella didn't want anything to do with the tooth fairy. After waking up three times crying, Mom finally told her that the fairy had already came and left her a silver dollar. Much happier and one silver dollar richer, Ella fell asleep and slept through the night. Today we carved our first pumpkin and Ella insisted that we make a princess face on her pumpkin. She was very happy when it was done, and was amazed when I put the candle inside. I am not sure Ella has ever blown out a candle, because she had no idea what to do and wanted to try it again and again! Our week-end ended with a lovely dinner at her Grandma and Grandpa's house where Ella was able to meet my Aunt T., Aunt Alice and Uncle Bob. Ella was very excited to show off her missing tooth and also demonstrate her new jumping rope talent. She is up to 21 jumps! Pics of our week-end...

"Where is Snow White?"

Hi Everyone,

Hope you all have had a great week! Ella and I have been very busy this week with the usual school and work schedule, but we had a FANTASTIC week-end with our Aunt Marianne! On Friday Ella discovered the fun of making mud pies and how to plant flowers. Actually, the flowers she wanted to plant were weeds that had grown in the yard, but I figure they had already done their damage so might as well stick them in a pot-(first pic). Saturday we officially started with our tumble and ballet class (2nd pic) and Ella was so happy she can't wait for next Saturday. Our fun day continued when Aunt Marianne came to visit and all of us including Grandma went to see Disney on Ice. Unfortunately, I thought it was Princesses on Ice that had come to town and after telling Ella about the Princesses she would see including Snow White she was over the moon with excitement! As the show began, I noticed the banner had no princesses on it and I knew we were in trouble! :) Ella still had a great time even if she asked for Snow White every 15 minutes!! After the show we all headed out for a nice girls only dinner. Today Aunt Marianne offered to take Ella to Grandma and Grandpa's house to make her famous pumpkin cookies and I thankfully took her up on the offer as I desperately needed to clean out the garage. Five hours later and one full recycle can and garbage can along with one SUV full of donations the garage was done. Ella had so much fun with Aunt Marianne and her Grandparents that she didn't want the day to end. We are gearing up for our first birthday celebration on November 7th and am happy to say that all my sisters will be here to help!! Ella has asked to invite all of her class so with her cousins and neighborhood friends we are going to have one busy day. Wishing you all a great week!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

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Hi Everyone,

What a crazy busy week-end we all had here with our cousins Hanna and Connor coming to visit. Our Saturday started with our first tumble and ballet class and after a very rough start Ella warmed up and had a great time. I figured it would be a no brainer given her love of dance and her flexibility, but when we first arrived and Ella realized it was a gymnasium, she went into shut down mode but after hanging out with Mom for a little while and realizing that all the girls were just having fun she eventually joined in and during the ballet portion she really shined and had a great time. Later in the day on Saturday, after Ella's cousins arrived, we played at our favorite park and showed our cousins all the fun things we love to do. Today we headed to Amado to visit Augua Linda Farm for pumpkin picking, tracker hay rides and pony riding. Ella really enjoys playing with her cousins and they can't believe how much English that Ella can speak. The farm was wonderful minus the bees! Pics of our fun day including the car ride home with some tired little ones! :)

I Love Grandma

Hi Everyone,

Well we have had a roller coaster of emotions at our house the last few days! Ella had a rough Sunday missing her "China Mommy" and wanting to go home. We had been playing a game of who are you going to visit as I cleaned the kitchen, and after Ella pretended to visit her cousins Nina and Claire and her Aunt Julie and Aunt Marianne, she decided she was going to go visit her China Mom and then the next thing I know, Ella is standing in the kitchen telling me she wanted to be able to wear her sandals back to China and the dress and jewelry she was wearing. I knew we had suddenly turned from fantasy to reality and poor little miss Ella quickly went downhill. We were able to talk about her China Mom and living here and I will say, it was the first time we were able to talk about her emotions and she was able to tell me how she was feeling. Thankfully, Ella was able to draw on her resiliency and pulled her self out of her sadness to end the day on a happy note at the park. As heartbroken as I was for my little one, I was amazed that in only two month's time, we were able to communicate enough to help her find a happy space.
Fast forward to two days later, and my daughter tells me as I am cooking dinner that she "loves Grandma". I asked her if she said "You love Grandma" and she says "Yes, she is fun". I told her that is so great because Grandma loves her too and then asked who else she loves, and she says "I love Aunt Marianne she is so silly". Ha, love that adjective for Aunt Marianne! We are trying to stay healthy here and hope you are all doing well!

The little steps to bonding!

Hi Everyone,

What a fun night Ella and I just shared! We "booed" two of our neighbors since we had thoughtfully been "booed" last night. Booing is putting together a Halloween treat basket with a cute note saying you have been booed and anonymously ringing the doorbell and leaving. At our first neighbors house Ella wanted nothing to do with the ringing and ditching idea, however, after Mom ran like a crazy lady after ringing the doorbell Ella was on board and took over for the next house. It was really fun and Ella laughed the whole time as we ran away like thieves in the night! My beautiful daughter told me she loved me tonight. At least that is what I thought she said as she was trying to read the words on one of our Halloween decorations. The word started with an I and the next thing she said was "I love you". Not wanting to react like a slobbering fool, I said "I love you too" and little miss Ella just smiled and went on eating her watermelon. Although it was not what she had intended, the little smile and acceptance of my saying I love her will keep me going for at least another week or so!! :) I will say that we are moving in the right direction for bonding as Ella will clarify her stories about her Mommy in China now by saying "My China Mommy" instead of just "My Mommy". I am hoping this is the next step in her beginning to say "My American Mommy" or "My Mom" or "Mom Rosey" really anything but "Eh" would be great. All good things in time!! We had our first post adoption visit by our social worker this Friday and everything went fine. Fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa were over for dinner and were willing to stay and occupy Ella's time while I spoke with the social worker. We have to complete two more visits over the next 18 months.
Tonight, little Miss Ella told me about the baby in her house in China and that she used to have to carry the baby all around on her back and said the baby was soooo heavy to carry in the front. Considering Ella only weighed 32lbs when we met, I cannot imagine her lugging a baby around but she definitely remembers having to do this and wanted me to know how strong she was. Ella is just so amazing and I have to laugh since she will occasionally ask me to carry her like a baby cradled in my arms. She thinks this is so funny and just loves it.
We had a rather hectic health week with four vaccine shots, a raging night fever and then a fever blister. We also had an episode of choking on our sea weed, and trauma nurse Mom acted like an incompetent boob for at least five seconds until thankfully my training kicked in and I was able to help her. I think this must be why they say you should not work on your own family in health care!! Poor baby, put she is such a champ! Ella continues to do well at school and for the first time completed the phonics page all by herself and got 22 out of 24 on the assignment. Not bad for four weeks in school!!
Hope you are all doing well!
ps- Cousin Laurie, Ella just adored your thoughtfulness!!