A month of celebrations...

It's actually been only three weeks since we got home. In that time we have been busy with...a late Christmas celebration, Sierra’s birthday party, Chinese New Year, Daddy’s Birthday, Sierra’s Art Show and Girl Scout presentation for her Junior Aide award and playing, working and staying super busy with an adjusting baby who does not understand the value of a schedule or uninterrupted sleep! Although tired we are doing well - better than I expected. Sierra said it seems like Samantha has been here for years not weeks. Samantha has fit right into our lives and our family with such precision I cannot imagine any baby fitting in any better! She has really bonded well to me and to Sierra and says both mama and sissy jei jei and she constantly looks to me for assurance when she's playing on the floor and pretty much needs to be held all of the time.

Between working from home, being a full-time mom to an infant and keeping up with Sierra’s school and after school activities I am EXHAUSTED. I have to remind myself that it is normal to feel this way while not getting enough sleep and never getting any time to myself. I hope to adapt to my new schedule soon and I also hope Samantha begins to sleep a little more so that when I end up working late into the night I will get more sleep. Now for what is sure to be a long update about our family of four!!!! Scroll down if you only want to see photos - this will be long!

Samantha is a very sweet, cuddly & happy baby. She wasn't used to being held when we got her so although she fought being held close she also craved it. She finally gave in and is now as cuddly as a baby can be. Sierra and I spend all of our time with her cuddling her unless we're playing! She is truly tiny. The last time we weighed her she was still only 14 pounds. She wears a size 2 shoe and size 6 month clothes. She is growing though and size 3-6 month is now too short (although still fits around the waist) and her ribs aren't as visible. The most noticeable is her thighs are no longer thin and the same size as her calves - they've become chubby! She is much more outgoing at home. Most of what they said about her is not true, at least not now that she has a family. They said she has an unusually quiet voice, doesn’t vocalize much, doesn’t like to exercise (won't crawl or play on the floor) and she doesn’t like to eat. NONE of that is true!!! She CAN have a very quiet, sweet voice (literally sounds as I imagine a baby angel would sound) but that is generally when she’s “talking” to herself or when it’s quiet and Sierra or I are talking quietly with her. But she can be equally LOUD – she yells, squeals or screams about virtually everything. She is very quiet (and tense) when we have visitors or when we are out but those are the only times she is quiet (like her big sis - shy in public but loud and outgoing at home!). She is also very active - crawling and cruising with no fear (or common sense!). And she LOVES to eat. The only food she has not liked is barley (but really who likes barely). So why she has not gained weight since last August is a mystery, although I think it has to do with her bottles being propped and her needing encouragement, and extra time, to finish a bottle or to eat a meal. They also didn’t give her much variety (rice and egg yolks mostly) so maybe she needed more variety. Her favorite dish is Chicken Divan (Sierra’s 2nd favorite) but she did not like tacos (Sierra’s favorite). However, she loved the avocado, so Sierra is hopeful she’ll like the rest of the taco fixings soon. Before getting here she had never fed herself and never sat in a high chair. She now only wants to feed herself! Trying to come up with foods she likes that she can feed to herself is a challenge, especially since she is not even close to using a spoon!

Although she has become much more outgoing and happy at home she is not independent. If I walk out of the room to answer the phone she crawls after me hysterically crying. She cannot be alone even for one second. At night when she wakes most of the time she just wants to make sure she's not alone. She only needs a few pats or some quiet words to go back to sleep (usually!). She does tend to get hungry early, early in the morning (like 4AM) so she also wakes for that reason.

Sierra and Samantha are quite the pair. Sierra loves being a big sister more every day. She has told me that Samantha is the best baby sister ever. That she can’t imagine life without Samantha and being a big sister is the best thing ever! Likewise, Samantha loves her big sister so much it’s unreal. We spend our evenings with her going back and forth between our arms and laps. Sometimes Sierra and I squish together and Samantha literally jumps back and forth between us, giving hugs, clapping, squealing with delight and laughing. She has begun to say Sissy Jei Jei (Sss DayDay) and will crawl around yelling for her! It’s so sweet. After school she is so excited to see Sierra that she practically explodes with joy! When we get to school there are tons of kids and she just looks around very stern and quiet until she sees Sierra and then her joy just comes out. Although there is a big age difference (although a smaller age difference than between my sister and me or Jeremy and his sister!) Sierra and Samantha seem destined to have been sisters. They adore each other, and have since the moment their eyes met in Taiwan. Sierra is the only one (besides me) who can hold Samantha when she’s upset or around strangers and their personalities seem to mesh quite well. It even helps that Samantha is so small because Sierra can easily carry Samantha, which she loves doing. They even dress alike. Sometimes on purpose but many times just coincidentally. Sierra has always been a bit psychic (ok a lot but it freaks me out so I just ignore it!) so maybe it’s something to do with that. Virtually every day they are in the same color. It’s very cute.
Now for the photos - click on any you want to enlarge.

A late Christmas - Jan 26th:

The first of many Christmas's together!!

Sierra's Birthday Party:

Samantha helping Sierra celebrate her 10th birthday!

Sierra had a science party and a good time was had by all - Samantha meeting Sierra's oldest friend


Morning cuties!!

Chinese New Year:

Samantha, Sierra, cousin Logan and Auntie Amber

A fight breaks out over the licee (Red envelopes)!! Note the strong grip and look of determination on Samantha's face! She really is very strong for someone so small! Maybe her strength comes from her determination because she is so small and was generally walked on at the orphanage (in half the photos we got from them other babies are either taking her toys or literally walking or crawling on her!)

Playing after New Year dinner - see our OLD coffee table, we had to get rid of our beautiful new coffee table. It was too high, and the corners too sharp, for Samantha. I knew there was a reason I insisted we keep our old table! It is the coffee table we bought when Sierra was a few months old. We hope to bring our new table back soon!

Sisters Forever - relaxing after the company left - the end of the first day of many years of fun, Happy New Years days!

Daddy's Birthday:

At the casino after daddy's birthday dinner - with the raspberry cake Sierra chose (daddy's favorite flavor)

Helping to blow out candles - who knows why but since Sierra was a baby daddy''s never been able to accomplish candle blowing on his own!

Why do the big girls get cake while I get cheerios! Healthy who cares about health!!


Art Show:

Sierra with some of her paintings at the school Art Show - Samantha fell asleep on the drive over.

Girl Scout presentation:

Sierra gave a Chinese New Year presentation, the history of the celebration, a traditional snack and a craft of a Chinese lantern.

Horsey:

Saying "yeahhhh" and riding horsey. Sierra has had horsey since she was a toddler but it may soon be time for Samantha to take over, although Sierra still plays on horsey on a regular basis!

Playdate:

Sierra had a playdate and I looked over and Samantha had joined in on the fun! It was too cute!

Lavender Angels:

While I was getting ready Sierra did all this and then directed the photo shoot so they could be lavender angels!

Taco Night:

The shocking after effects of avocado!


Playing:

After school is the Best time of day - Sissy Jei Jei builds towers for me and I get to knock them down, we crawl through tubes and we play, play, play!! We mostly play restaurant and I have to be the waitress. I tend not to give the customers their food but it's still fun!!


Don't go mommy:

I don't like it when mommy goes to the potty or cooks in the kitchen - just so she knows how much I don't like it this is what I do!

First BBQ of 2008 & first time on back yard swing!!!

Can't wait for summer to get here!!

CHECK BACK SOON FOR SAMANTHA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PHOTOS!!! SHE TURNS ONE ON 2/22!!