It has been almost a year since I have written in any of our blogs, and for the last two years, we have experienced two incredible loses and our new found realities. We look forward to our new normal... our newest beginnings as we prepare to bring home two unrelated baby girls from China very soon.
In the meantime, I am remembering a most incredible moment that happened late June 21, 2011. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. A vision at that time that was 18 years in the making, was about to be realized as the Lord supernaturally and quite miraculously led us to our second adopted daughter. I have heard the Lord's still small voice, recognized and acknowledged it, many, many times in my life. This was one of those times it was absolutely, positively only a God moment; a huge, gigantic God Wink in our life. You can read about the 4 posts starting here: http://sweetprincessamaris.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-found-our-promised-baby-but-first.html
Finding Amaris, our little one that "God has promised" (the meaning of her name) has been one of the highlights of my life. Surprisingly, the next three days would be full of peace amidst the adoption frenzy. You see, EVERYONE wanted our baby girl. Family after family inquired about her. Within waking hours of the post going viral, it had to be removed because the inquiries on her were overwhelming and non-stop. All the while, I KNEW that I KNEW that I KNEW with 1000% assuridty that this was our daughter we had waited for. This was the one that I had prayed thousands of prayers for and cried gallons of tears for over the years. I knew the Lord had ordained all the miracles He unveiled. This is that story... http://sweetprincessamaris.blogspot.com/2011/06/holy-spirit-goosebumps-and-sweaty-hands.html
There is also a purple video to the right of this blog that shares a bit about it as well.
Two days later, we were chosen as Amaris' family. It was a very special date for our family because just a year earlier, we received a phone call that my mom was on her way to Heaven. Though sad, we knew that this was the beginning of her forever and it is what she had longed for, for many years. So, we said goodbye to one that we loved with all our heart and added another one that we also would love with all our heart.
Through this journey, I have made a very special friend these last three years with Kathy Junk. She devotes her time and energy to placing orphans in the arms of loving families through Wasatch International Adoptions. They took great care of our family over that year as they helped us prepare our paperwork to bring home Amaris. Since then, I have had the privilege to help her find families for these kiddos... and, that has been yet another blessing.
We were chosen as Amaris' family on June 23, 2011 and got her on Father's Day a year later, June 18, 2012. She didn't know what an orphan was, she didn't know what a mama and baba or jie jie were. She didn't know that God had planned a special day for her, 16 years before she was ever born. She didn't know much... but, her life was about to change forever.
Two years later, Amaris is exceptionally smart. She is 4 years old, but the size of a 2 year old. She is healthy and happy. She is the star of our show. She can read, she can count AND identify every number up to 99. She can add. She can count money. She can give you the amount of money (under a $1) for an item, such as at a garage sale. She is exceptionally dramatic. She loves to sing, dance. and help. She LOVES mischief. She LOVES to do things differently than you. She would rather pick up her pencil with her toes, do her homework sitting in the "full splits" with her feet on the table, color on the outside of the newly painted house, jump on and off furniture (well... maybe we all would like to do that if no one was looking), and ride her bike with no hands and while looking backwards to see if you are watching. She is a handful... a delightful handful. I wouldn't change her for the world. She is full of life and animation. She makes our hearts smile. If your heart has never smiled... it may be because you haven't met Amaris. We love her to China and back and are so very grateful that the Lord has brought her into our family. The Chinese say that "She is lucky!" While that may be true... we are by far the luckier ones.
Amaris has been home from China 14 months. She came home at the end of June 2012.
I decided to follow her and her sister Gabriella around with a notepad of paper and document some of those cute words and phrases I hear each day. She does speak in sentences, and we do encourage her to repeat things the correct way... but, if I could bottle some of these words up, I would. In no particular order... these are some of the "cute" things she is saying right now...
"No, Zes!" (she doesn't want me to say No to her, she wants me to say Yes!... and she may repeat this 6-8 times)
"Fow-fer!!!" (I want a giant "flower" on my head, not a bow!)
"Nebermind" or "Nemermind" ("Nevermind"... one of my favorite Amarisms')
"Saw-wee!" ("Sorry")
Me swim soup! (This is my swim suit)
Whatsa more is? (She was looking for "5 hidden 'w' letters" in her homework and couldn't find the last one)
No find it! (She couldn't find the last hidden 'w')
No I see it! (I don't see the hidden 'w')
Mommy, I see it! Me see it! (I see the hidden 'w')
This it is! (She found the last hidden 'w')
There it is! I too made it! (She sees our church and squeals in delight that we made it.)
"Brie, watch!" ("Gabriella, watch me!")
"Baba, what IS that?" (doesn't matter what he is doing... she just wants to know about everything!)
"Ut-oh!"
"Me no like it!" or "No me like it!" ("I don't like it!"... she is generally referring to her smoothie in the morning)
"OKAY MOM!" (this is used for LOTS of things... and both words are generally emphasized!)
"Otto-cado" (Look at the "helicopter" in the air)
"Me ready to go" (I am ready to go!)
"jwah-meez" (jammies/pajamas)
Me good helper! (I'm a good helper! She generally says this after carrying a plate to the counter, getting something for someone, or doing something nice)
"Mama, me true loves kiss!" (Mama is my true loves kiss, Baba is your true loves kiss Brie; this phrase comes from one of our favorite movies: Enchanted)
"Oh yeah!" (Like in, "Amaris... what are you supposed to be doing right now?"... she is EASILY distracted).
just scroll below THIS post to see what is new in Amaris' life!
I post often...
Wanting to Be a Big Girl!
This is a monthly running update on our little one... with the most recent post listed first. Amaris wants to grow up quickly!
Age 40 months: (June 2013) Amaris has been home 12 months now... an ENTIRE YEAR... wow! She is 3 years and 4 months old.
The first week we got her, we had no idea the excitement this little bundle would bring us.
All we knew was that she was our "grace and favor" that we had believed for, for the last 18 years.
I prayed for this child,
and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.
I Samuel 1:27
June 2012: a couple days after "Gotcha Day" June 2013 with her Jie Jie Gabriella
Obviously her hair has grown and she acquired a beautiful smile. She has grown taller, but hasn't gained much weight. I am attributing it to her non-stop personality. In China, she was said to be on their growth chart at 0% (actually NOT on the Chinese growth chart for either height or weight at her age). She is now on the Southern Chinese girl chart for 25% in the weight category. She is still the size of a 2 year old and many times even acts like one.
For example... see the photo below...
She broke WOOD puzzle pieces to her favorite Disney Princess puzzles, she ripped off the paper to number zero on her number puzzle, cut her "homework" book up when I run upstairs for a couple minutes (which means she also scaled chairs and counters to get the hidden scissors), she ripped paper puzzles, broke the orange juice cup, broke her pink necklace, ripped her coloring book in half, drew in several of my books I use to tutor children in reading, broke Cinderella's arm off, bit her pacifier OFF, drew on countless things... including the new piano Santa brought for Christmas. She is faster than lighting... I hardly take my eyes of this little blessing unless she is sleeping.
She loves her "homework" and wants to do multiple pages every day.
She still intentionally breaks her crayons daily... into little tiny pieces.
She likes to do things SILLY.
She likes to do things different... especially if there is a challenge.
it is much more of a challenge to ride a car with no hands
carrying her shoes back to the shoe tub.
She likes to do MESSY. Case in point... within 15 minutes (or less), she had out the ladybug counting game that is currently under the trampoline, the Leap Frog Letter game on top of the trampoline, the blocks, her Y bike,
all her princess toys, and some princess books.
Violating the rule: you need to put away one toy before you get out another.
She loves to do things "All by myself!" ...even if it is not quite right.
She did this intentionally.
Baba can make the girls laugh about anything.
This month is the first month the girls are sleeping without the same jammies on.
She loves to play in the "dirt"... our pinto beans we haul out each afternoon after nap.
I actually felt guilty she hadn't played in real dirt, that we took her to the beach.
Her toes didn't leave her new princess towel for quite some time.
She loves water... She loves gymnastics... and she loves to entertain.
She also loves the zoo. Her favorite animal is the elephant.
For Father's Day, the girls spelled "BABA"...
Baba hasn't even seen his special picture frame yet.
Each year we want to update it...
maybe with a couple new sisters in the photo, maybe not.
Amaris prefers to be the STAR of the show... and, she is!
Though sometimes this breaks my heart...
EVERYWHERE we go... whether with family, friends, acquaintances or strangers, whether shopping at Costco or some other store, AMARIS always gets the attention... while her Jie Jie is often ignored.
She gets the hugs, she gets carried, she gets the high-fives, she is asked the questions...
while her Jie Jie (who once owned the show) now watches and wonders why no one pays attention to her anymore.
The most common comment Amaris gets: "She is SOOOO pretty!" or "She is GORGEOUS!"
I know she is, but so is her severely delayed sister.
Only the adoptive families with a developmentally delayed child OR disabled child can ever truly understand this feeling as a parent watching this or delayed child experiencing it.
I was once guilty of this same behavior, but in the last year, I hope that I have changed.
I hope that I have become more aware of children and adults with special needs.
I pray that I will be able to shelter Gabriella from the pain I see in her eyes each time she watches her sister get all the attention and praise... while everyone else is oblivious.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,is God in His holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families.
Psalm 68: 5-6a
Age 39 months: (May 2013)
Amaris has been home 11 months now. She is 3 years and 3 months old. She is a smart little princesss... very daring, very messy, and quite determined.
Here's what she has been up to this last month, which has caused me to believe that life with Amaris is never going to be dull. Ever!
Her favorite new phrase this month. plus some others:
"Me first, Brie second!"
"Where is me baba is?
"All by myself!"
"My hair so long!"
This month she re-designed her princess bed during a nap time.
She looks for ways to do things differently...
such as shut drawers while balancing on one foot.
She balances on the stools at the 7 foot kitchen island... using no hands to help her.
She poured (this hopefully won't be present tense for a long time) grape juice for her sister.
That's a definite violation! Obviously no one was around.
We have never allowed the girls to pour juice...
in fact, we have never even given grape juice to Amaris until this month... and,
if we allowed her to pour it in the future, it would be water or apple juice only,
from a small pitcher that holds maybe a cup of liquid.
We certainly wouldn't have given her a large container... and, especially not clothed. Geesh!
She pulls Gabriella's car around... or, she races it at lightening speeds doing
"big wheel" spin outs all through the kitchen... jolting hearts everywhere.
She paints her own fingernails (when no one is around),
having climbed up onto high places, to get forbidden things, such as fingernail polish.
She tries to read big words...
While she does eat "normally"... at times,
she also squats, or eats while doing the "splits" on the bench or with her feet on the table.
This month I even found her on top of the table... though that was doing her "homework".
Here she had just pushed her plate over to Gabriella... but I can't remember why.
Gabriella gives it back to her.
She STILL loves "homework"... but, I can't seem to find any photos this month... I do have one photo I will share in June though... it's a photo of one of her monthly masterpieces... she had found the scissors (after climbing for them) and cut up the front of her homework book. I grounded her from her homework for 3 days. She was absolutely furious with me.
She has started swimming lessons. She is a little fishy in the water.
Ready for their first swim... posing for the camera... notice her feet...
she found another way to stand for the moment... to get a decent photo of the girls each day...
it takes about 10-15 shots because Amaris wants to "star" in her own show.
Other than those things that make life interesting, she is rather cute, a bundle of love, and we couldn't imagine our lives without her. Amaris and her jie jie Gabriella.
Some of her siblings with Mama on Mother's Day 2013... Jordan is not pictured.
She is still very much a Mama's girl and will still choose Mama over anyone.
She loves to snuggle at nap time and bed time... and all the time in between.
She LOVES to play with Gabriella, to hang out with jie jie Tyanna for short periods of time, and
is just beginning to do lots and lots of fun things with Baba... especially outside.
Baba loves this new attention... one of their new favorite things this month is for the girls to pretend to be "asleep" as he carries them upside down over his shoulders to their rooms.
They giggle all the way up stairs.
This month we also had Amaris' one year post-placement report done for China... this is our third.
We decided this was one of our favorite photos.
It's days from "summer" and we still have the fire on...
June 2013 will be our last monthly update on Amaris... I think!
Age 38 months: (April 2013)
Amaris has been home 10 months now. This month she earned her own personal timeout spot on the kitchen floor. I wrote a letter "A" on a piece of packing tape and then placed the tape on the floor. I placed a second piece of tape of her letter so it didn't rub on her clothes. Amaris has decided that timeout really isn't a big deal. It starts when she is quiet and goes for three quiet minutes. Well, sometimes that is a bit longer than she is expecting because she has a difficult time deciding if it is better getting out of timeout or choosing to be a drama queen and seeing what she can think of. Her favorite timeout results from removing her shoes while in the vehicle. She knows she will need to sit a certain number of quiet minutes if she takes her boots off. Each day, at the same time, she takes her boots off... and happily reminds us of her timeout. Her timeout the other day was hysterical. She started by standing on her head with her feet leaning against the wall. I wanted so desperately to take her photo, but I knew her drama would continue if I did. When I gently placed her back on her little bum, she proceeded to take off her shirt, socks, pants, and eventually her underwear. She had her underwear on as a shirt and later as a hat. When I wasn't looking, she would sneak out of timeout and grab something to throw to the dog. It was always something. Sigh! She always makes us laugh.
She still only weighs 26 pounds, but she is strong. Baba and Mama both caught her balancing her entire body off the edge of Baba's desk... hands on the top of the desk, her two feet on the 1/2 inch ledge just 3 inches below the top of the desk... holding the weight of her entire body. I would share a photo but it scares me to pieces just to try to take it... despite the fact that her fall is only 2 feet to the carpet. She's like a gymnastics monkey. Speaking of monkey, she has decided that our laundry hamper on wheels needs to be wheeled around the house so she can do flips off of it. Geesh... what next?
She knows her letters, sound, and numbers 1-10 and counts to 20 something... skipping just a couple of the teen numbers. So, I gave her, her own preschool/kindergarten workbook. She is doing amazing in it. One day she was being silly though, so I took it away and told her we could do it later. She threw a fit. I got a piece of that fit on video. Hope she likes homework this much in ten years. Just today she was trying to read a sign at the zoo: "Sloth bear exhibit". Gabriella's first word that she sounded out without coercion was "organic apples". Honestly, I do give them simple words like "cat, rat and mat". Nap time... Amaris generally takes a really good nap... while it takes her a few minutes to fall asleep, she is in her room for 3 hours... I almost always have to wake her up. This month she has been finding things to do in the room before she falls asleep. So, I often find different items in and around her bed including my books, tv changers, miscellaneous items, and weights. Yikes! I removed those from the room. She may get a spot in the castle room sooner than we thought... just for her safety. But, we will have to install video monitoring equipment first because she has climbed to the top of the castle.
In the last 3 months or so, she has been telling me where different places are as we drive though the neighboring cities. She can direct you to Costco, Starbucks, the Starbucks with the drive-thru 4 miles away, school, Corban's school, gymnastics, church, the eye doctors, Trader Joes, Babies R Us, even my hair appointment... five different neighboring cities. She also can remember what we talk about... even hours later... though she can't remember the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." And finally, we discovered that Amaris is a budding artist. Her work takes seconds and a small purple crayon... or, in the case of our first family photo... a black permanent marker. I eventually found the evil purple crayon... after it had colored my oven, kitchen cabinet cupboard, media cabinet, the floor, the kids table, the trampoline, some books, and a few things I am forgetting right now. I used to call her my "grace and favor" because that is what I prayed for as we looked for her... and, ironically her English and Chinese name both mean: "grace and favor." But, this month, I have learned this is what I need to pray each day... "Lord, give me your grace and favor in responding to Amaris"... she has me going all day long... when not sleeping. She brings us lots of laughter and stories to share in our home. One final special moment about this month: Amaris no longer wears diapers during nap time. And, I had hoped to post about bedtime as well. But, just two days ago, she wet the bed two nights in a row. The only two nights I didn't put her in her diaper. She woke up 28 days with a dry diaper. I must have said something to her.
Age 37 months: (March 2013)
Amaris turned three last month, and in part of her celebration of turning 3 was that we were going to retire the pull-ups that she wore for me so that I didn't have to worry about changing outfits all day. After all, she had been dry for a couple months now. Of course, as soon as I published this in her February update, she began peeing her pants multiple times a day. She was sick, but that was a bit ridiculous. I hadn't even read her post to her so that she would have known to do just the opposite of what I said. Little stinker!
One day this month, while she was supposed to be napping, she was discovering things under her bed, under my bed, and in drawers. She found 3 pacifiers that had been lost for months... she decided she wanted to suck on her pacifiers again... and that she did... a good deal of the day and night... this entire month. I let her... she's the baby. She really didn't get to play the part of a "baby" in the orphanage...
I am sure the pacifier will be another quick phase... but when she tried to read with her pacifier in her mouth, I told her she had to put it on the table. Sigh. She makes me smile every day.
This month she began growing again... I think we have had 4 different growing spurts with her home... her legs cramp or something. Not sure. "Mama, leg hurt." One night the cramps were so bad that she kicked all night... I was constantly massaging her... we each got 1 1/2 hours of sleep when we finally hit sheer exhaustion sometime after 6AM. This was also the day she decided she didn't want to nap... so in more than 24 hours, she had only slept an hour and a half... let's just say, that wasn't my favorite day of the month.
She has been feeding the dog for at least 5 months now, but it was last month that I finally didn't have to check up on her... over and under-feeding. Yeah! This month I caught her in the act of challenging herself on a feed... she decided to drive the food, while the food rested on the steering wheel of Gabriella's pink car... with no one holding the food (of course). She makes EVERYTHING a challenge. I have been capturing the crazy things she does on my camera because I think it will make another great running post.
On the girl's birthdays, I take a photo of them in my wedding dress. I started this with Tyanna when she was just Amaris' age... Tyanna will be celebrating her 19th birthday shortly... the dress fits her.
Amaris is waiting for her prince to come!
Jie Jie came home from college for a couple days this month as well. It was fun to have her visit with us.
We got our carrots ready for the Easter Bunny; but, totally forgot them as we walked out the door to get our picture with Wendell.
Gabriella was not at all happy sitting next to Wendell, so Jie Jie helped me out another year by being the "bunny buffer". This was our best photo of 15... 12 of which the photographer grumpily took. I chose coming as soon as Wendell woke up because I knew we would be the only family... and, we were for several minutes. But, with Gabriella so terrified, it took a while to get a photo of any kind... and then one kid after another had closed eyes, wasn't looking, or covered their names on their dress. Ugh... can't even imagine what next year will be like. But, I do hope we also have a more understanding photographer.
I found Amaris jumping... she felt it necessary to read while jumping... much like what Baba does when he is on the elliptical trainer each morning.
Amaris opened up her own pizza shop. Here is a little clip of what it was like... unfortunately I didn't keep recording once she REALLY started creating the pizzas, but it was lots of fun. In fact, we play this "game" often now.
I "order" a pizza (3 to 4 shapes) and she creates and delivers it to me. We were being pretty silly... but even walking the pizza over to me took some skill balancing the puzzle pieces.
We celebrated her first Easter. It's been 9 months since she came home from China, but it seems like she has been with us forever. She loved waking up Easter morning and finding an Easter basket. She had no idea what to do with it, but was the professional egg hunter within a couple minutes... even looking in purses and bags for eggs. This was her very first Easter egg she ever found. More Easter photos are posted within it's own post.
Age 36 months: (February 2013)
It's been 8 months since Gotcha Day in June 2012. How time flies!
This photo was taken a couple days later at her orphanage.
It seems like I just wrote an update and I can't think of ANYTHING to write about... perhaps because it is minutes before midnight.
Amaris is now 3. We celebrated her birthday today... and Gabriella's just 3 weeks ago... so, there are lots of new toys in the home. Not because of their birthdays really, but more because I am homeschooling them now. They have a new tunnel to crawl through, a trampoline to jump on (she LOVES to jump), several learning games and activities, and some Fisher Price Little People toys sets: Noah's Ark, the Zoo, and many Disney Princess Little People. They are enjoying all the new-to-them toys. I refuse to buy this stuff new... because I can find it for at least half the original price and many times for under $10. So, I have had fun "shopping" on line. Still trying to find the Fisher Price Little People airplane so they can fly their princesses and animals to China and back.
This month I am noticing Amaris having an obsession with shoes. Maybe because I make her wear her black boots from Nordstrom every day and she is rebelling. Baba lets her wear her little pink Nikes. He LOVES her in tennis shoes and I despise it. Amaris doesn't need any help finding shoes though. She climbs the castle bed for the Chinese princess shoes that are on display... I find her putting them on her... or one of the Build-A-Bear dogs. She also has a way of finding all the sandals that have been "hidden" since summer. I think this will be a life-long battle... so, I may have to give up this issue soon.
Her job these last couple months has been to feed the dog. She likes that job... now that Gabriella is home schooled, the girls work together to do this job. Somewhere I have a photo of 2/3 of her body in the dog food container. I can't seem to find the photo as I publish this tonight.
Until earlier this month, she was taking 3 hour naps... this isn't the case anymore... she is generally ready to get up about 2 1/2 hours after I have laid her down. But, she still lays down without a fuss.
She typically wakes at midnight, 3AM and 6AM to go potty. So, I am up often... especially if someone else isn't on her schedule. She has decidedly told me she doesn't want to wear her pull-ups anymore... she was only wet this last month the week she was sick. Other than that, she has been dry every day and night until this morning... her 3rd birthday. Tomorrow she will no longer wear pull-ups... I think! One of her new phrases is: "Oh shoot! Mama kiss!" I have to admit, I kinda set her up for this. I lay her down to take a nap or go nigh-night and I walk away... knowing I will hear her sweet voice say, "Oh shoot! Mama kiss!" So I hurry back in, kneel at her bed and give her a kiss goodnight. And, for some reason, if she doesn't say it one day, I am prepared to say, "Oh shoot! I need a kiss!" I can't get access to my videos right now, but I captured Amaris cutting for the very first time... I showed her how to hold the scissors, say "open and shut them" as she opens and shuts them, and cut on the black line. Yep, she did it... and, almost perfectly the very first time. She is a fast learner. YES... that is the heart she cut out below... ALL by herself. She was two... almost 3. She's like a scissor-cutting rock star!
Age 35 months: (January 2013) It's a new year! Gabriella turned 6 this month and Amaris will turn 3 in February.
Both girls decided to start speaking in sentences at the first of this month. One of the first sentences Amaris said was "Where me water is, Amaris?"
In the last few months, Amaris has not only learned English, she has learned to speak "Gabriella" which is it's own language, and she has created her own. Its jibberish (and oh so adorable) that is generally a very long sentence ending with one or two recognizable words. I am trying to capture it on video... One of the other fun things she did this month is start making special request for lunch: "Mama, broccoli and chicken, please!" "Mama, me nuts, salad, and avocado." She is amazing. She still has never seen a sandwich (nor has Gabriella- home since July 2010)... Amaris, Gabriella and I found out that we are gluten intolerant... all for different reasons... so, we no longer consume anything yummy. Well, anything we thought was yummy a month ago. This is an example of what one side of her cheek looks like and we served VERY LITTLE to NO wheat (intentionally) to her while in China. We tried to load her up with the highest nutrition possible at all times.
Amaris' cheeks break out in a dry rash in just minutes after consuming wheat - whether in bread type items, recipes, or even soy sauces and dressings. We are not sure what is happening on the inside of her body, but it could be potentially dangerous if she continues to consume wheat. So we are attempting this drastic lifestyle change literally over night. But, I am bound and determined to find a gluten-free doughnut soon. We have almost completely gone meat and dairy free as well. The girls still consume their 6AM cheesestick and morning yogurt... but, that's it. I think we could say goodbye to yogurt for good if I was willing to pay the $2 for the SoDelicious Coconut yogurts... but, buying 5 or 6 of those per day would be a bit ridiculous. So, we are making this switch a bit slower. Both girls also have decided that they are pretty much done throwing their fits that they started back in November... a trick Gabriella learned in kindergarten. After visiting Gabriella at school on her birthday, it was decided that it is now time to homeschool the girls. This has already proven to be a fabulous decision.
Amaris decided that it is time for her to learn to read. She doesn't know all of her letters yet, but she is already blending the ones that she does. She knows all her vowel sounds... I have started her with "ma, me, mi, mo, mu"... she wants to turn the page in her blend ladder kindergarten book, but I won't let her. She asks to read several times a day because Gabriella loves to read and is flourishing. She is now completely confident in the words and useage of terms such as mine, yours, you, me, etc. For instance, if I say, "Amaris, this is yours!" She will say, "Mine?" Whereas a month ago, she was still saying, "Yours?"
Amaris switched from diapers to Princess and Minnie Mouse pull-ups. She wears them for me. She hasn't needed them for probably 3 months now, but this month, I don't think she peed in them at nap time or bed time more than 3 times... I suppose she really doesn't need them anymore. So, on her birthday (in just a few days), I will let her be pull-up free. She also is completely done with the baby Princess potty chair.
She has learned how to snap and un-snap her seatbelt at her chest level on her new car seat... still working with both girls to get the two main belts buckled and unbuckled. Wondering... how does a mom of 4 princesses in car seats really go anywhere... or even WANT to go anywhere... especially in the rain or heat? I am so glad I am a homebody.
Age 34 months: (December 2012)
It's December and Amaris has just celebrated her first Christmas in America and her first 6 months home. She is a professional gift un-wrapper... her first gift she unwrapped was some princess underwear. We generally have more Christmas trees up in the house than we do presents under a tree... I think that was true of the number of presents the girls opened this year as well... they were fine with underwear, a chore chart, a used Fisher Price Little people train with animals, a Disney Princess book set that is read on a mini tablet, and their Disney photo album of their trip to Disney World last week. It doesn't take much to impress a little child... and, I love to keep it simple. Santa brought the girls an electric piano. Baba says Christmas is every day in our home anyway, so they really didn't need anything... the only difference is today there was an elf named Princess No Touch and a little bit of gift wrapping. He's probably right. While I don't really go shopping, other than Costco, there is really nothing they lack or could even possibly want; although Aunt Becky and Uncle Ian gave them a new cool Little Mermaid bath toy and a Cinderella carriage.
Our family in December 2012
Our most favorite Christmas present for 2012!
Princess Amaris Nanette!
So what has happened in the last month? Amaris got sick for the first time... with temperatures ranging from 100 to 106.9 (although the later temperature is a bit unbelievable to me... I think there was something wrong with the thermometer... because I was never panicking like her life was in danger)... it generally stayed at 103.7 (which was what two nurses had at two different Disney parks)... she was lethargic for about 15 of the 30 hours she had a sudden temperature... completely healthy before and after the "attack". We cooled her with wet wash cloths and gave her some liquid Ibuprofen, and she was back to our bouncing baby full of joy.
This is what she sometimes looked like... sometimes worse... 103.7 temp.
Even still, when talking to Baba, she could still smile... and, then vomit!
She LOVES, LOVES, LOVES the Disney Princesses... uhh... you kinda have to if you live in our home... She walked up to the princesses and the costumed friends (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald Duck, etc... learning all their names before we left the parks) She loved getting their autographs, hugging them, playing with their nose (if they were an animal), and getting her photograph with them... her smile often faded though as my ever-so-slow camera finally captured the moment.
See the separate Disney World 2012 post for the video of our trip!
She can consistently and correctly tell me when she has to go to the bathroom... and, what I should expect. Yeah!
She just had her 6 month Post-Placement report for China... we each had to describe her personality... I did it on paper, so our social worker asked Jason to describe her... we both said the same thing: she is beautiful, bold, confident, courageous, un-stoppable, funny, nurturing, smart, and athletic. Oh, and she is a drama QUEEN... she can out dramatize your most professional dramatic kid... really! And, she can stop and start on command... tears and all.
Honestly, we forget that she once had a critical heart that would have taken her life had she not had her life-saving surgery in China.
She is our grace and favor... it's all I knew to pray for through our adoption journey to her... and one of the ways God confirmed her for us was that her advocated English name was "Nanette" which means grace and favor... and her Chinese sur name is "Nan" which means, grace and favor. She truly is all that and more.
Last month she learned to ride a bike with training wheels. I think I forgot to say how she did that. I was tediously bending over trying to move her feet around in circles and telling her to peddle. For some reason, she wasn't getting it. So we took both girls outside... and I said, "Amaris, look at Gabriella ride her bike... pedal! pedal! pedal!"... "Okay Mama!" And, she did... we rode all around our huge neighborhood... and, that's how she really learned to ride her bike! She got on it and rode. She's brilliant! VIDEO: "Amaris Rides Her Bike for the SECOND Time" This is her second bike ride ever (forgot the video camera the first time)... I am walking the dog while videoing and chasing after Amaris... I guess I was pretty confident she could pedal...
I am sure I have mentioned this before, but she has recognized her name for at least 5 of the 6 months (if not all 6 months)... even when she still called herself "Duo Duo" (pronounced "doe-doe")... She knows several letters of the alphabet as well... uh, that totally caught me off guard. She is quickly grasping colors and shapes as well. She also is starting to spell Gabriella's name... she's got the "G-a-b" down so far... then she adds her own letters.
Baba noticed that her hair has grown at least 3 inches in the last 6 months... really... it is amazing to see all the changes.
She loves to sing and sings the songs on the radio... she attempts all of them... of course, this month, she was singing songs about Santa and Frosty. Oh how I love this age! While Amaris has been our favorite Christmas present for 2012, we had hoped to be matched with our next little one or two. Giavanna (Gia) means "God's gracious gift"... the Bible verse I wanted to use to reflect her name and life is James 1:17 NKJV (ironically, my mom had that letterhead for Christmas letters, so we used it this year... after all, she no longer needs now that she is in Heaven)... "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." Lord Jesus, we are waiting on YOUR gift... another gift (or two) of adoption... the gift you showed us in June 2009 we would someday have. We thank you that you are opening the windows of Heaven for her/them to come into our arms. We are still believing for Amelia (Mia) Destiny Faith Fouts as well.
Age 33 months: (November 2012)
It's now November. At the end of the month, she will have been home 133 days. We did our re-adopt of her during this month because it is National Adoption Month. This is a time when friends and families come and celebrate with the adopting family... taking photos and witnessing one of the biggest moments of an adopted child's life. Last year Gabriella was re-adopted, Amaris this year, and Gia and her sister next year. My girlfriend April said she and her family will join us next year to celebrate this big event. Sometimes I wish Grandma Nai Nai were here celebrating with us and not in Heaven... but, I know she was smiling down on us.
There is a separate post on Amaris' re-adoption, so we will just post these two photos.
This month (okay, technically last month...ie October) Amaris got the beginning introductions to Christmas... well, at least Christmas decor. We started the weekend before Halloween... I just didn't see how I could get motivated to put up 27 Christmas trees. Oh, I hope I sell some of them... I am pretty much done with most of the trees. There are only 11 trees up... but, the good news is, I am willing to sell all but 3. The Princess tree will be around for awhile, the Reindeer tree will be around for a while and the upside down tree may stick around longer. The rest are for sale. The girls stockings are the size of an adult hand... so, they will only hold a couple small items... and, we intend to only put 2 or 3 gifts under the tree for them. Our biggest gift... we hope will be our Giavanna Allegra and another little one... we are still waiting for both files and are trusting the Lord will have the perfect little girls for us.
Before we turn into the parking lot of church, Amaris yells, "my church, my church." She loves church... sometimes I wish I had her in preschool, but she is only 2 1/2 years old. In the last couple months I have noticed her talking more about "Briella's" choices and what she is doing. Amaris is learning to obey the first time... bath time is one of her biggest challenges because she chooses not to keep the water in the tub and finds a number of ways to remove the water. I spent the first 3 months educating her and giving her terminology, now I am removing her from the fun... oh, that stinks! One bath time was less than 4 minutes long. She LOVES bath time.
She is very good at puzzles. This month we have started working on puzzles with the shapes and knowing their names. I gave her the word "heart" and told her to match it with the heart shape... she did this for circle, square, star, and I think rectangle.
She has decided she loves her over-sized Nike running shoes (I haven't found ANY cute pink running shoes yet in over 8 months). She puts these shoes on a lot... hoping to ride her bike. I let her ride her bike in the house... it's just too cold outside. She's a maniac... she rip roars around the 7 foot island in the kitchen... she has no fear. She rides to the front door, up and down the hallway and anywhere she can get her bike on the bottom floor.
She tells us "Ai Ni"... for "Wo Ai Ni"... which means, "I love you."
She is still speaking two languages: English and "Gabriella"... Gabriella has her own language... it's part English and part I have no idea.... but, I understand it and Amaris can speak it... exactly as Gabriella speaks it. Which makes teaching English a bit more challenging. Finally, although we are big fans of Amaris, SHE is her BIGGEST FAN. Each time she does something good, she says, "Good job Duo Duo!" For example, when she starts to go potty, she will say: "Good job Duo Duo!" and clap her hands for herself. I think I should get this on video for her... she may appreciate that when she is a teenager.
Age 32 months: (October 2012)
By October, she decided she didn't need the princess toilet seat a top the regular toilet... Mama is worried someone is going to get an unusual bath someday. She is attempting to help open the window shades... by scaling bears and the wall. (Geez!) She can color in the lines when she wants. She is starting to watch 30 minute videos: the favorite: Leap Frog Letter Factory. While some of you hate TV, I can guarantee you would LOVE it if you had my busy 2 year old. If she just watches a 1/3 of that 30 minute show, I can iron 15-20 little girl outfits... every 10 minutes counts! She prefers meat and nuts, hates cookies and drinks 20 or more ounces of purified water a day. She can brush her teeth while balancing her body on the edge of the counter... while I am not looking... yikes! She loves to brush her teeth... I almost need to lock her toothbrushes up just to protect her from accidental injury. Amaris is an athlete... she LOVES to do anything physical... I literally have to watch almost every move she makes. She has been caught standing ON TOP of the media chairs, scaling walls, climbing up railings (and attempting to go over), climbing counters, standing on chairs and kid tables, jumping from couches, climbing the castle... it never ends. I try to pre-think her as much as possible. She also is an experimenter... if it MIGHT fit, she will try it anyway... take for instance, the photos below where she has decided to get into her baby doll stroller.
By September, she decided that she can take the yucky vitamin that only big girls get... (when I realized she hated it... I no longer gave it to her and told her only big girls get it... days later, she demanded it). She counts to 13, missing only the number 4. She can draw circles and straight lines and attempts to draw a picture of herself. She can say her ABC's even better. She prays at her meals. She was climbing on top of the princess toilet seat without any help, and without me knowing. She began speaking to us with her own baby-talk language... and, oh is it so adorable... she still says everything we have taught her, but this is in addition. I have removed the shelf with all the games from the castle room and put it into their closet... no more storms! Amaris is able to play picture bingo and match 2 cards of 9 pictures, simultaneously, with as much speed as her 5 1/2 year old sister... while identifying bingo cards for her sister's games as well. She is attempting to buckle her own car seat. She has learned to ride a bike... simply by watching Gabriella. She can scream and mimic Gabriella in any way, shape or form. She now likes strawberries. She still throws grapes. She loves oranges. She will eat salad, if I feed it to her. You can ask her to get you just about anything of hers, and she will know exactly where it is. Her most annoying behavior: screaming like Gabriella... whether it is excitement because the bus has arrived, she's ticked because she didn't get her way, or just because it is a bit too quiet in our home and we need to stir things up a bit. I have taught 500 preschoolers ages 3-5, Amaris is probably in the top 5 most outgoing and friendly children I have ever met in my life. She is as sweet as can be... or, as silly as can be... within just a second or two.
Sweet or silly in seconds!
Age 30 months: (August 2012)
By August, she could recite most of her ABC's and count to 10... missing only a couple numbers. She was climbing on top of the princess toilet seat without my help... oh, and climbing on top of the castle bed as well. She can cause an incredible storm in the castle room... whipping out all of the toys and games before Gabriella even lets me know what is going on. She finds ways to capture your heart... without even trying... she loves to wear everyone's shoes... especially Baba's. She is attempting to put on her seat belt in her car seat, but it is tricky. She hates strawberries and grapes... and throws them or feeds them to the dog (despite my instruction). She can brush her teeth. Her most annoying "help": turning on the dishwasher multiple times a day. Give this girl 2-3 minutes, and she can win your heart forever.
World's sneakiest tornado maker... even her sister doesn't notice!
Age 29 months: (July 2012)
Within a month of Gotcha Day, she was counting to 5 and beginning to say her ABC's. She knew that "A" stood for Amaris and "G" stood for Gabriella. She could easily remove her diaper at whim... especially during nap time... so that it wouldn't get messy. She still enjoys her bottle at night time, and I really enjoy night time. She can sit on the baby chair to go potty, but she can also challenge herself as well... like attempting to help mama dump whatever is in the potty chair (yeah... that never works out quite like mama would hope). By the end of July, she could use the toilet seat with the princess seat on top to go potty. She is a total mess-maker. She is learning how to do puzzles... she can easily do puzzles up to 12 pieces if they have a certain shape that fits. She says words and phrases EXACTLY and as incorrectly as Gabriella. Our favorite: when she wants food, she says: "So, so yummy?" Her most annoying "help": feeding the dogs, 5-6 cups of dog food at a time... and, scooping the rest onto the floor. (After multiple attempts to teach her the right way to feed the dogs, she lost that privilege). Amaris is extremely creative and often chooses to do something in a different way... just to see if she can. Take for instance the way to go potty... maybe she was reminiscing the good ole days with the orphanage squatty potty. We discovered quickly that she can sleep in possibly ANY way!
I know there is a right way and a different way... I will choose the later.
If you would like to enjoy this on-going post of the many ways she sleeps, you can find it here:
