Easter weekend

Still under the gun here at naptime so a few photos to hold you...

March in Minnesota - spring, where are you?!

Modeling the shark pj's

Slap me some skin, sister!

Reading with mom before bed.

Going in for the smooch!

Easter Sunday brunch at Liz, Dennis and Owen's house. Helen decided Dennis' awesome french toast was a heck of a lot better than the toaster version I've tried to give her at home. Perhaps mom needs to step up her effort a little bit?!

(Helen's cousin Abby requested that I share what was in Helen's Easter baskets: 2 very cute and cuddly stuffed animals - ducky and bunny, 2 books - Sesame Street and Peter Rabbit, some gummies - she likes to carry around the package and squish them in her hand, and a DVD - Big Bird in China.)

Naps

Hey, sorry I haven't had a chance to post yet this week. Helen's naptimes have been really short (looks like she's got some big ol' molars coming in) and that's when I usually get the chance to blog. Hang in there with us and I'll post again as soon as things sort themselves out here - I'll shoot for a post by the end of the weekend...over and out.

First attempt

Ok, so I realize this little video cuts off abruptly but I just wanted to figure out how this whole posting a video thing works. Unfortunately, my camera's battery ran out just then - how inconvenient. Anyhoo, now that I see how easy it is you can expect great things to come. Well, great might be overstating it so how about this...you can expect videos in the future, some of which may be great. So that's our little Helen in action. Our friend Liz brought over that fun ball popper this past weekend and H luuhvs it. (I couldn't remember what it was called while I was trying to talk to Helen and help her and tape her all at the same time!! "Is that your ball............popper?" Funny.)

Woo hoo - mommy and daddy love free toys!

Next blog post, I think I'll talk a little bit about adoption parenting and how Helen is doing with some of the bigger stuff like attachment/bonding, etc. If you're interested in all that, come on back next week. If you're just wanting to see more photos of my cute kid (and I really don't blame you), I'll see what I can do for you guys, too.

Snapped with my phone in the car (not while driving) earlier this week

Helen seems to be returning to her normal self over the past 24 hours. Her color is better and nothing gross has happened since Sunday. At music class this morning, she was smiling, laughing and crawling around visiting her neighbors in the circle. YAY! We're so relieved she's feeling better and are looking forward to her 15-month check up tomorrow. I am hoping to be reassured that she's getting everything she needs from cheese, fruit and bread - since that's all she'll eat. Perhaps she'll move to France one day!

The Flu...boooooooo (said in The Princess Bride voice)

No photo updates today, sorry kids. The flu has come to visit our little Helen.

What a sad face! ...and wow, is that "stuff " super gross.



This morning, I called a dear friend for any advice she had for me. She said, "Towels on the floor, plenty of Diet Coke for you, and just hold her." Very wise words from a great mom.



I'm feeling that heart pange you get when you realize what YOUR mom/parents did for you when you were little. I'm so happy we can be here for her and she's so happy Farmer Jeb (her favorite) is here for her, too.

6:00 PM

Woo Hoo! Dad's home...

So glad to see YOU!

Smooch!

Posing for Mom.

Happy Chinese New Year 2008

Our friends and travelmates, the Johnson Family, invited us over for their annual Chinese New Year party. We had a great time making new acquaintances and tasting everyone's delicious offerings! A lot of the kids were sporting their traditional outfits - here's Helen in hers.

(What's up with that expression?! Hilarious.) You can see how her hair is really growing. For comparison purposes, click on October 2007 in the Archives - wow.

Helen and I think we need to move to Florida

Getting ready to go to the grocery store for milk on a winter's day in Minnesota...

...and not too happy about it.

Mmmmmm, zipper...that's good chewing.

Your next American Idol

Power ballad.

Making it her own, dawg.

If you'd like to vote for Helen, you can text the word "VOTE" to...

All in a day's work for Helen

Learning to use a spoon. With a little help, she's pretty good!

Chewing on the other end is, perhaps, more fun.

Helen loves making the Little People's House toilet flush. She flushes and flushes and flushes.

Reading Is Fundamental

Reading books before bed with Dad.

In Minnesota, the Sleep Sack is a MUST!

Helen would rather read books than play with her toys. Current favorite: Busy Monkeys. She could listen to that book all day and some days...does! She knows what a monkey says and the past few days, when she sees a picture of an animal, pretty much any animal, she makes the monkey noise, "Ooooh, ooooh, ooooh". In her case it's actually more of a "mmm, mmm, mmm". She also knows where her feet, toes, and belly button are! Grandpa Pokorny will be pleased to learn Dad has taught her "pupik" as well - Czech word for belly button.

I'm amazed at how much I'm learning every day - about Helen and about myself. Lots and lots about myself. I've learned that I'm not as patient as I thought I was and I'm more selfish then I knew. With those 2 things in mind, how our day goes at home together is all up to me. Helen is a week away from 14 months and she is very busy with that. The only one standing in our way of having a great day is me. It only took me about 3 months to figure that out... What a life lesson that is, huh? Being home with her every day is the most difficult and awesome thing I've ever done. Some days 6:00, when Stew gets home from work, cannot come soon enough. That said, those days often end up being the best ones because I've managed to learn something very important. After dinner, I usually collapse on the sofa and watch as Stew plays or reads with Helen. It's this perspective, this little bit of distance after a paticularly long day, that always gets me. As I watch this amazing, beautiful, smart, hilarious kid play with her daddy before bed, I get a little weepy. How lucky I am. How very lucky, indeed.

Finally - Christmas 2007 pix

Stacking cups Christmas tree.

Aunt Missy showing off Helen's Christmas dress.

Christmas in Iowa!

Opening presents at home.

Grandkids with Grandpa - Helen taking a good look at cousin Abby.

Getting a squeeze from Aunt Barb.

I know I promised Christmas photos for my next post but this is WAAAY better...

Today - Thursday, January 17, 2008 - I said, "I love you" to Helen and she said, "luh yuh" back to me. I know I've been up since about 5:15 this morning and am slightly delirious, but I'm telling you she said "luh yuh" to me. That was the best thing EVER.

Who needs socks?!

Milestone, baby!

AND HELEN IS...

UP!

ALL THE WAY UP!

Sorry, this last one's a bit blurry but I was clicking fast to catch her on tippy-toes. She's been pulling herself up since Sunday - so surprised when we walked into her room to get her up from her nap and she was standing in her crib! Finally had the camera at the ready and captured it. Stewart and I are having such a great time watching Helen cruise through her milestones, ticking them off her list, one after another. A few Christmas photos still coming...

New photos!

Very serious about scaling dad's legs.

At least once a day, Helen crawls over to visit her friend - the Huggies baby.

While there's something a bit "Girl with Pearl Earring" about this, I swear to you the hat is cute in person. Love this photo because you can sort of see what she's going to look like when she grows up.

Sorry I've been away so long! The holidays, what can I say. Stewart's back at work (bummer) and Helen/I are back to our regularly scheduled programming. We had a wonderful first Christmas together and will share some holiday photos in my next post.

Helen has changed so much in the last month. This weekend, she stood unassisted for a few seconds a couple of times and I wish I could describe the noise she made when she realized what she was doing. It was a hilarious combination of laughing and freaking out all at once. She's all over the floor, crawling after us where ever we go. Once she realized she could follow us, she was much happier, indeed. Changing diapers has become an all out war - her against us. Our baby book says to learn to change her while she's standing up and all I could think was "Really? Huh." Do ya really do that? It sounds impossible. She's just begun copying noises we make, especially when we're reading books. So cute. I'm suspicious that "Nah-nah" is me and am hoping that's NOT her commenting on my age.

If I can figure out how to load some video in the next couple of weeks, I'll treat ya'll to Helen In Action! Stay tuned...

Sharing our birthday

Helen sporting her Tiger Hat (thanks Allyson!) on her First Birthday.

Chinese Folklore - babies wear this hat on their one year birthday to catch all the heavenly goodness falling between the tiger's ears.

Yukking it up with Dad.

Yukking with mom.

On our birthday, I took Helen to Stew's work and the three of us had a nice lunch together. Later at home, we did the birthday cupcake thing (still poking through those photos for a good one - stay tuned) and opened cards and gifts. On Saturday, we had brunch out with friends. Have to say, my best birthday ever - sharing it with Helen!

My Uncle Roger and Aunt Connie visiting us in MN this past weekend.

Helen continues to do so well. She had her 12 month check-up last week and had grown almost 3 inches since her medical exam in China, putting her in the 56 percentile for height! The doctor was so happy with her progress that she said Helen is now within the normal range developmentally, as well. I have to admit, I got a little weepy (with joy) over how quickly she's caught up. She has amazed Stew and me every day but it meant so much to have the doctor confirm her progress!

Thanksgiving

Day after Thanksgiving at Grandpa Pokorny's.

Check it out - she's using a sippy cup!

With cousins Ashley, Brianna, Ellie and Elizabeth.

Posing with cousin Abby.

Playing with cousin Gabe.


Bonding with Grandpa Pokorny.

Giving herself a kiss.

Classic bath shot.

We had a great time in Iowa over Thanksgiving, spending a few days with my sister and her family and a few days with the Pokornys. Helen made the ride down with barely a peep - she slept and hung out for 4.5 hours! Couldn't believe it as she'd really been stuggling with sitting in her carseat. Once in Iowa, she napped and slept through the nights like a trooper. We're SO lucky she's a good sleeper. Was fun watching her take-in each new family member and a couple even managed to successfully hold her for a little bit without tears! Baby steps on that front, but making progress. She had fun playing with all her cousins and aunts, uncles, both regular and great, and grandpa. So many wonderful people! Really wish a few pictures from our time at my sister's house turned out, but alas, they didn't so we'll give it another try at Christmas.

Thursday is Helen and my birthday! Will post the obligatory baby with first birthday cake photos so stay tuned. Will be thinking of Helen's birth family on her big day. We hope they have some sense that she is well, happy, and surrounded by love.