Friday Faces!!

Daddy & his girlie-bug

After tubby, and Avery gets all her lotions on and jammies on she loves to play on our bed. She tickles Daddy, and jumps, and falls backwards onto the pillows, and rolls around everywhere. I finally got some pictures of Gary and Avery during playtime after tubby-SO SWEET!!

Random photos that I love...

The first one is our newest NDC dancer!! She dances, and twirls all the time. Love, love, loves music, and is always raising the roof, and bopping her head to music!

The second one is Mommy having fun with her hair during tubby time. She has been really good lately during tubby time, no more screams. I love to give her a mohawk/fauhawk!!

The third one is Avery on Christmas morning with her favorite gift. The shopping cart and all the groceries!! She has destroyed every box, but now we know the names of all the fruits, and veggies etc.

Ain't she a cutie pie!!! 

Happy Valentine's Day!!

The bug in her Valentine's Day outfit. We will get a clearer picture with Gary's camera later, this was from my iphone...plus we were on our way out the door, and she was ready to go!! But yes, that is a red hearts tutu, heart leggings, and a Valentine's day shirt-of course!!! Such a sweetie!!

Avery is doing very well. We have had some waking up in the middle of the nights lately. We think she is having night terrors or nightmares. She wakes up screaming/crying, and it's abrupt. Then she will not go back to sleep in her crib, wants to be held. She thrashes a lot when she sleeps also...teething right now too, she has 7 teeth coming in-WOW!!!-poor little duffer...

Avery is so much fun!! She lights up our days, she is so expressive. With her hands, her eyes, and she repeats and does everything you do. Her personality is changing everyday. She is very huggy, and kissy right now. Gives you like pecks, with big sound, at random and unexpected moments-so great!!

She now takes her naps downstairs on the couch in the sunroom with the ottoman shoved up against it. I'm right in the kitchen and she can't roll out, but I have a keen eye to her all the time. This works a lot better and she takes a 60-90 minute nap there. Where before upstairs in her crib it would be 30 minutes if we were lucky. This allows Mommy to get things done before work.

I have a hard time lately going to work. I'm tired and a little stressed, not sleeping well, and need some time off with nothing planned and nowhere I have to be. Next week is vacation!! I plan on doing what I want, when I want, and not having plans-hopefully!! No dance, no rehearsals, no choreography, no musical.


Our girl is a true blessing in our lives. We have never smiled so much, laughed so much, loved so much!!

Makes us really want to get started on the paperwork to go get her a sister. Soon!! All in good time!!

Hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day!! Filled with love, laughter, and little moments that you will remember forever!!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Saturday Snaps...

Friday Faces (on Sunday!)

Happy Chinese New Year-Xin Nian Kuai Le!!

Happy Chinese New Year!! Xin Nian Kuai Le!!


It is our 1st Chinese New Year with the little bug in the house. I ordered some red lanterns like ones we saw all over in China. I will put up a few more decorations today.

Doesn't she look cute in her red outfit!!

It is the Year of the Rabbit:
1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.


According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves.  It is a time for negotiation.  Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail.  To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children.   Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.


Avery and I are Year of the Ox, and Gary is Year of the Dog.

Our adoption agency used to have a Chinese New Year party, but in the last 2 years they have not. Budget cuts, and staff cuts etc. We went one year and I was so depressed while I was there. I loved meeting the people, and seeing all the children but we were seated at the "waiting table". Us and 4 other couples...it was hard.

I wish they would have it again. Just to meet the other parents and children, it would be great!! Must talk to them about this and see what can be done.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!!

6 months and oh how we've thrived!!!

Avery is now 20 months old!! We've been home 6 months, and Avery is just thriving! She is learning new words everyday, and she amazes us with the amount of new things she can do now. She is learning her colors, and shapes, and numbers. She now can point to her nose, mouth, eyes, hair, head, feet, toes, fingers, hands and ears when asked. She recognizes the numbers 1-6. She says new words everyday. She can say ladybug, phone, circle, square, bubbles, Koko, Homer, Jessie, red, purple, pink, blue, donkey, sheep, pig, cow, duck, name all the characters in Dora the Explorer, and a ton more...

We are having a hard time right now with her tubby. She hates having her hair washed, screams bloody murder. Starts to scream as soon as you get the tub out and until you're done. The water is not too hot or too cold, and we have one of those buckets that has the rubber on it so it doesn't get her face, she has a ton of toys but... she just hates it, but she still gets a tubby every other day. Hopefully she'll get over it soon!!

She has about 6 teeth coming in now all at the same time. She's pretty good though. It seems she's more restless this time other than in a lot of pain. She is talking all the time...all the time!! She likes to yell at the cats...A LOT!! Poor cats. She loves to chase you around the kitchen counter, jump on Mommy & Daddy's bed upstairs while hanging onto our hands. She can do knuckles, and high fives, and climbs EVERYWHERE.

Avery loves hotdogs, ham, a little chicken. She loves rice, and cheese. Vegetables are corn, broccoli, and carrots. Apple juice is her preferred drink, but she drink a lot of milk also.

Avery is doing just beautifully!! Still about 9-12 months on her bottom half, and about 12 months on her top half, and size 3 shoes.

We are looking forward to decorating a little for Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Rabbit, and it starts on February 3rd-coming right up!!!

Leave comments if you read the blog. I don't post as much anymore, just busy, but love to hear from people!!

Happy Chinese New Year!!