A Blessed Christmas!

Well, it certainly has been a blessed year! We have so much to be thankful and grateful for - our family has been healthy, we both have maintained our employment in this economy, and certainly the fact that we added our daughter to the family this year! Time has gone so fast when we stop and think that we met her about 8 months ago. She has transitioned so well into the family that it really seems like she has been with us since birth:) Her language is flourishing and she is starting to show signs of potty training! I will have to talk to daycare after the holidays to see how they want to approach this with us. She continues to pull down her pants and tell us "potty" or "poo-poo" - which is amazing since she is only 17 months old. We did buy her a potty chair and she actually went potty in it already!

We are simply amazed every day! She has a way of saying each of the boy's names and it is so cute! She loves the boys and they love her! We love to see them all play and interact - Christmas was especially fun! All of the new toys to play with; the boys were so patient with her opening her gifts.

Unfortunately, we had to miss her first Christmas program due to the weather - it was snowing so bad. I still put her special Christmas dress on, a gift from the owners of the daycare, and tried to get a picture. I know that the little ones had been practicing for the program because when Christmas songs came on the radio, she would start swinging her arms and jabbering something - again so cute! We would have loved to have seen it played out.

Anyway, on to the pictures as I know that is what you are waiting for. We look forward to the new year and all of the joy and surprises it has in store for us!

All dressed up and no where to go (the night of her Christmas program):



Watching a Christmas special with a couple of her brothers:



She likes to get dressed for outdoor playtime:



Sporting her brother Colin's hat:



Some special pictures since we missed the Christmas cards yet again:)











Jadyn and Grandma:)



Christmas morning:)



Here she is playing a game with her brothers:



Sweet Colin:



Jadyn opening her big present from Mom and Dad (a play kitchen):





Ryan enjoying his present from Mom and Dad:



Brandon opening his big gift from Mom and Dad:



Justin protecting his Best Buy gift card (from Mom and Dad) - he wants a new car stereo:)



Enjoying one of her Christmas presents:



Getting ready to shop with Mom and Dad:

Catching Up... :-)

Well, it has been a long time since I have posted and for that I apologize. I know many of you look to see updated pictures of our sweet little one - it has just been a very busy couple of months.

Jadyn continues to grow very well and is saying so many words! Her latest is "Santa" and she says it ever so cute! She has also added "shoes", "cup", and "five" to her list of words. She is getting to be so much fun - it's funny because I think that I have that same thought month after month!

She was in amazement over the Christmas lights that went up during her nap last Friday afternoon - it was wonderful to watch her walk around and look at everything with such amazement! This Christmas will certainly be special!

We are all getting over the dreaded stomach flu, but hopefully, are over that for the year and soon to be recovered. Needless to say, our Thanksgiving was a holiday to remember :)

In October, we had a great time attending a baby shower for my cousin Dan and his wife Julianna. It was so much fun to see all of our family and to finally get to meet Ava - my cousin's little girl also adopted from China. Jadyn and Ava hit it off, as well, as you can see by the picture below.



Jadyn, with Justin, trying to tell everyone that "Mom Rocks!"



Our very own Sleeping Beauty!



So excited to go shopping!



Still trying to figure out this winter jacket idea!



So BIG!!!



Posing in her Halloween costume;)



Watching The Princess and the Frog with her new little doll...

Together 6 Months!

Today I Kissed an Angel

Today I kissed an angel.
I knew it from the start.
The first time my angel smiled at me;
I gave away my heart.

Today I kissed an angel;
This angel child of mine
Though not of my creation,
My child by God's design.

Today I kissed an angel.
My heart is dancing wild;
Our family, by a miracle;
Blessed by our angel child.

Isn't She Lovely?

That is all that went through my mind when I got Jadyn dressed on Sunday to head over for my nephew's confirmation. I dressed her in an outfit that I received from one of my closest friends at my baby shower in February and we had not had an occasion to wear it until now. She looked adorable! (if I do say so myself:)

We had a wonderful weekend...the weather was absolutely beautiful, my Mom came down to visit on Saturday and spent the night for Kyle's confirmation. Sunday we headed over to Church and then to my sister and brother-in-law's house; my brother's family came down for the day as well so it was a nice get-together!

Here are some pics of the event -

I wish I knew what she was thinking...



Posing for the camera:)



I love that little face!



Here with her BIG brother, Justin -



At the church with her Auntie Kathy -



Lovin' the Veggie Tales:)



Colin, Ryan, and their cousin, Zach (in the middle) -



Her favorite chair of the day; just her size...



Checkin' out the pumpkins -



Getting a balloon from the Confirmant - Kyle:)



Colin with his little sis -



Auntie Carrie getting some Jadyn time:)



Looking lovely:)



And last but not least...two of Jadyn's older brothers, Brandon and Justin (they almost never let me get their picture:)

Finally, Feeling a Little Better...

Well, Jadyn has had two rounds of antibiotics and we think she is finally feeling a little better. Though, she is still sneezing and has somewhat of a runny nose and cough. I just hope that it will clear up fully over the next few days. She sure was one sick little girl!

She has been doing fairly well otherwise; although, I think that some days the transition to daycare has brought out some issues with her needing to be reassured by Mom and Dad that we are here for her...always! It is so difficult to sort out what is the typical 14-month old behavior, from the ill-feeling little girl, to the adoption-related behaviors. I ordered 3 more books to help me try to sort through some of that:) I do enjoy reading and research, so the more I can do on that end, the better prepared/armed I feel. Anyway - we continue to love on her like there is no tomorrow and she soaks up every minute of it!

Jadyn and I took a brief overnight trip with my sister to visit my Mom who just had a minor sinus surgery. My Mom didn't know that Jadyn and I were coming so she was so surprised and overjoyed to be able to spend some time with her newest little granddaughter! We stopped on the way to rent two movies (Valentine's Day and Letters to Juliet) and we ordered in pizza - it was a great girl's night! We stayed for breakfast (Mom's famous French toast) and then headed back home around noon. It was a good visit and gave me a chance to see her new house - very cute!

Daddy missed his little girl terribly; and the boys missed Jadyn as well - it was kind of cute to see them crowd around her after we got home:) Anyway, here are some pictures from that visit and the last week or two. Enjoy!

She looks so grown up!



Chillin' with a snack...life's good!



All ready to go to school:)



She is doing the "Itsy Bitsy Spider..."



Playin' ball with her brothers...



Ready to rake:)



Enjoying time with Grandma:)



Enjoying some time with Auntie Kathy :)



My happy little girl:)



My Little Drummer Girl...



Checking out Grandma's new house...



Loves those animal crackers!



Getting ready for bed (after Mom brushed her teeth:) )