Pizza is my new favorite food . . . ice cream isn't!

Little Miss crawled over to the oven, pulled herself up, peered into the window, identified that frozen blob as pizza, then turned to me and signed "eat"! This girl is crazy over her pizza.

Ice cream, not so much. Too cold!!

Feb"burrrr"ary

Little Miss frequently tells me now that she wants to go out. She does this by looking at the front door or at our coats and waving bye-bye. Where she wants to go exactly I don't know, but she clearly wants to go. Since it's been so cold and snowy, we've had to find some indoor fun.

"Please let me out there!"

Just wait until spring baby girl, a whole new world will open up to you! Until then, it's trips to the mall play area and the library.

Sweet ride



Finally big enough to go into the play area

"I can get on this plane I know I can!"

"Bookshelves are great for helping you walk."

"Books and puzzles at the library are wonderful, but nothing compares to the velcro on my sneakers."

From Timkat to Chinese New Year

We have had so much fun recently in celebrating the multicultural holidays of our family. We are fortunate to live in an area where we have access to Ethiopian and Chinese people, culture, and many adoptive families.

Here's a little background info on the holidays:

TIMKAT

Timkat is an Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany. It is celebrated on January 19 and commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. During Timkat ceremonies in Ethiopia the Tabot, a model of the Ark of the Covenant, is taken from each church and is wrapped in rich cloth (to protect it from the gaze of the crowds) and carried on the head of the priests in a grand procession through the streets. The priests wear ceremonial robes of velvet and satin and are shaded by elaborately sequined velvet umbrellas. The procession arrives at a water source and culminates at 2:00am when the priests say mass. Crowds of people camp out, dressed in white praying, eating, and drinking by the fire light. Toward dawn, the water is blessed by the priests and is sprinkled on the participants to commemorate the Baptism of Jesus Christ. After the baptism, the Tabots are carried back to their respective churches while singing, dancing and feasting continue. Timkat is a very important festival in the Ethiopian calendar.

Here is a link to an interesting video about Timkat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m83UAO2ThGM&feature=user

CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year is the most important of the Chinese traditional holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th which is known as the Lantern Festival. The festivities typically involve visits to relatives and friends. New clothes are usually worn to represent the new year, and the color red (which is believed to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune) is used liberally in all decorations. Red envelopes containing monetary gifts are frequently given to children by the elders. Lion dances are often performed as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Lunar New Year and to ward off bad spirits. Fireworks are also a popular part of the festivities as a way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new year. 2009 is the year of the ox.

A few more pics from the events

From Ethiopian princess

To Chinese Chic

Walking with my cousin

10 months today!

Happy 10 month birthday Baby Girl!

Month 9 to 10 was a big month in terms of development for my Little Miss. Here are some of the highlights of the recently acquired skills:

1. understanding 40+ words or phrases (evidenced by a physical response to the word/phrase - i.e. where is Mommy, say bye-bye, get your kitty blankie, etc.) - I know, kind of scary that I actually counted, but being a pediatric occupational therapist will do that do you.
2. pointing to a couple named pictures in books (cat and dog)
3. signing "more", "eat", "quack quack", and almost "all done"
4. repeating all kinds of letter sounds and weird noises demonstrated for her
5. waving "hi", "bye", and "night night" (I know most people don't wave night night, but my girl does) with the adorable opening and closing of her tiny hand
6. crawling on hands and knees after almost 3 months of belly crawling
7. pulling to stand on anything and everything she can get her hands on (including her crib)
   
8. cruising along the furniture, walls, people's legs, anything really, in order to get from here to there - this girl wants to move
9. standing independently without support for about 15 seconds
10. feeding herself all kinds of finger foods independently

I'm sure there are more, but those are some of the biggies. Little Miss was busy this month. It is crazy for me to think about the fact that I brought home this tiny baby in August and now I have this curious, independent explorer! Time flies when you're having fun . . . and that we are!!

The Break Out - yes, she busted out of her safe little play area and she was pleased as punch to have done so.

Free standing

It's a new year - look out Mommy!

New Year's day I woke up to the sweet cooing and babbling of my Little Miss, the sounds I am so often blessed with in the morning. It was not the sounds that surprised me that morning, it was the sight of Little Missy STANDING proudly in her crib and waving to me as I entered the room! Well, it's a new day and a new year and it's time to lower the crib mattress again!

Christmas was an absolute joy! Every tradition, every moment, every detail was even sweeter this year because of this little girl.

I figured the gift part for Little Miss this year would really be about eating wrapping paper and playing with the boxes, but she surprised me. She got the hang of ripping the paper off for the purpose of seeing what was inside. She was very intrigued by each of the gifts she received. Here are a few pics from the Christmas days.

Christmas time with my little Elf!

This Christmas season is one of the sweetest yet, since it is the first Christmas for my Little Miss and our first Christmas together. I'm savoring every moment - decorating the house, making Christmas cookies, enjoying the first real snowfall, and celebrating with friends and family.

I hope everyone has a joyous, peaceful, and healthy Christmas season and New Year!

December days

Little Miss's first snow experience

"You expect me to touch that?"

"What exactly is it?"

Helping Mommy make cookies

"I love Christmas already!"

"I can't move a muscle in here,

but I am toasty warm."

Ringing in the new year

The wonder of Christmas

"Cheeeeeessse!"

Signs of the FIRST TOOTH!

My mom has been telling my Little Miss that she wants a tooth for Christmas, and as of December 9, 2008 it seems Grammie will be getting her wish!! There is just a tiny hint of white in the front, bottom left area visible only if I torture my poor girl by flipping her head backwards and holding her tongue up to the roof of her mouth. But there's no mistaking the presence of a budding tooth when you stick your finger in there. I tried to get a picture, but absolutely no luck. Seriously, the tooth is barely visible to the naked eye. Can't blame a girl for trying!

My little baby is growing up!