NO More Waiting for baby Mia

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T06:20:00.001-05:00

Happy Chocolate day!!

You can't see the chocolate in my mouth

I pretty

Cheeeesssseeeeee

A few recent pics

2012-02-13T15:08:00.003-05:00

fun in the leaves

Hey Mommy!

Hot-scotch with Daddy

Like this.....

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

2012-02-12T19:55:00.004-05:00

Mia's Hair bows

2012-02-06T16:46:00.000-05:00

Today I decided to make a little video to show you how I make Mia's hair bows. After spending hours searching the internet I have come up with my own template and easy way to make these bows and I wanted all of you to be in the know too. Here is one I made today, in about 10 minutes - sooooo easy. The only tricky part is when you pinch the ribbon together just before you wrap it with thread.
Play with it a few times, you will have no problem making them.
E-mail me if you have any questions.

***For those of you that are concerned about your daughter pulling her hair bows out, make sure you place the clip at the very bottom of the pigtail-right on the scalp not up in the actual pigtail. With this type of Alligator clip it has to be a pretty determined pull to get it out of the hair.

Since everyone has been asking how I get Mia's piggies to be so perfect..........................here is my secret:

The clip is placed just below the pony band, stick through SOME of the hair at the base of the pony. I stack the hairbands (not wrapping the band over itself but next to it) so her hair will stand out like a "sprout" otherwise it will flop.
I know soon it will be time to cut her hair but for now we are having fun with these "ponies" as she calls them.

Finished bows

2012-02-04T17:39:00.000-05:00

Getting a Valentine's Day gift from Nana & Popa.

Lunch, well kinda

2012-02-04T17:06:00.000-05:00

This was a peanut butter and marshmallow sandwich "Fluffernutter".

Daycare=new clothes

2012-02-04T16:59:00.001-05:00

Can you see that cute little skirt? Yea the one with the bleach stains! Apparently they are changing Mia during the day while being potty trained and washing her clothes. Now I totally appreciate that they are trying to help but everyday I send her to school she is coming home in a different outfit and as you can see this one has been near the bleach. I really don't like sending my child off to school in dirty looking or stained clothes so I am having to buy new things constantly(oh darn) She doesn't go to school in the "good clothes" usually the shirts are no more than $5 or so and the skirts/skirts around $8 but this all adds up. Got any ideas for me?

Building at Lowes

2012-01-14T16:01:00.001-05:00

Our first building project at Lowes this am. Mia had a great time using the hammer :)

Finally.............she drove her car

2012-01-04T18:06:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the loud laughter, I just couldn't help it :) When you hear her laugh it just makes you happy.

It has taken since Christmas to get Mia driving this car, we still need to work on steering.
definitely view in full screen mode and HD.

and a New Year begins!!!

2012-01-02T15:06:00.002-05:00

"I count to 10"

You & I know this is Kai Lan but Mia calls her Dora and she calls Dora Dora.......not sure why she hasn't figured them out yet.
This is part of a cute little outfit Tracy, Bob & Owen sent Mia. (Tracy it fits now & she loves it) :)

Happy New Year to everyone, we are off to a wonderful start. Today I took Mia to daycare (school as we call it). she started in the over 2 class so it was a pretty big deal for her.....uhhhh and mommy too. This class is in the same building only on the other side and the classes have more kids in there. She was fine with going to "school" but when we got in her new classroom she became one with my leg. It was hard to leave her when she started crying, I had a few tears too on the way out the door.

Here are a few departing pics before the crying started (Mia & Mommy)

Mia & Mommy 1st day of the "Butterfly" class in Daycare.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T17:42:00.003-05:00

I still have more pictures to process but here are a few of today's festivities. This video was one of her melt downs, we had a few today. Not only has she been sick, we learned today that you DO NOT let a 2 y/o open her presents on Christmas morning before breakfast-EVER, that started the melt downs off wonderfully.

Look what Santa brought.

Looks pretty, too bad she wont get in it.

My new ride

One of the gifts from Jonni and the girls. The medical set they sent was so cute.....have to find that pic.

One of our gifts from Hannah, they also spoil us!!!!

Up early

2011-12-23T07:36:00.001-05:00

Mia is staying home with mommy today as she keeps spiking a temp. You would never know this girl is sick, she is almost always happy. I thought she just might sleep in today but nooooooooooooooooooooo we are up at the crack of dawn. I hope this means early nap :)

Hairbows

2011-12-19T17:12:00.000-05:00

Yea, my mama makes my hair bows, don't hate you just might get some too.........and I have ALL colors :)

Hair bows

I look pretty cute for being sick (AGAIN!) Tonsillitis and bil. ear infections..............daycare is rough. Mommy & Daddy are also on antibiotics now since I seem to being home all the "kid germs". Not good when the pharmacist sees you coming and says "Oh No" and I say "Oh yes".

Santa 2011

2011-12-17T20:57:00.001-05:00

Yea, we knew this was going to happen :) This is a picture of the picture, I managed to get a little video footage too (before they caught me). I will try and get that up this week sometime. All was fine until she got up close and personal with the 'ole guy.

They took a few more shot with daddy holding her near Santa but we really think this one captures it perfectly :)

Using new words

2011-12-15T11:15:00.004-05:00

The word of the week has been "ouch" and we are hearing it a lot....not when she falls down of course just whenever she feels it is right.

She can now count with help up to 10....I will try and get some video of her but lately when she sees the camera she clams up or looks away.

This is Mia this morning @ 0545 before leaving for daycare.

getting ready for Christmas

2011-12-14T09:27:00.001-05:00

"I like mismis ights" ( Christmas lights)

Lazy Sunday afternoon

2011-11-27T21:26:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T00:19:00.001-05:00

Well, we certainly had a lot to be thankful for this year! I can't believe we waited 5 years to share this day with our daughter.
Today we spent Thanksgiving at Gordon's parents house. The gathering was a little smaller this year as Gordon's sister and her family spent this holiday home in Louisiana. It's late so you will only be getting a few pics. Some day when I learn better time management skills I will get back to a little journaling on this blog, in the meantime just pics :)
No pics of me this year....busy running around with the camera.

Nana & Mia

Popa, Mia & Nana

Steve

Denise & Mia

Zack & Tyler

Tyler & Zack

A few videos to go with the NY post

2011-11-25T00:15:00.001-05:00

Here I am with Mia in FAO Schwarz on the "Big Piano" ...remember that from the movie "Big" ? Also here is Mia pushing Hannah around in Hannah's doll stroller.....she did this every time she could get Hannah to sit in it.

A Surprise visit to NY

2011-11-24T23:53:00.001-05:00

On the 18th of November we flew up to NY and surprised our friend Christine. Her husband John had called me over a month and a 1/2 ago and invited us up for Hannah's Christening and to surprise Christine with our visit. It worked.....she was surprised Friday night when Mia knocked at her door!
Here are some pics of our visit. We had a great time with them and can't wait for them to make the trip down to FL to enjoy some Mickey Mouse time with us.
***There are a few pictures of the girls in China here too so you can see the difference in them in over just 7 short months.

Mia, Christine & Hannah in China April 2011

Hannah & Mia in NY November 2011

Christine, Hannah & John in China April 2011

Christine, Hannah & John In NY Nov 2011

Hannah in her beautiful Christening outfit

Mia & Hannah at the church Nov 2011

11/19/2011

Gordon, Mia & Gina 11/19/2011

Mia & Mommy 11/19/2011

Gina, Gordon & Mia in front of FAO Schwarz toy store NYC 11/20/2011

Hannah & Christine in FAO NYC on 11/20/2011

Mia saying goodbye to Christine & Hannah the morning we left for the airport 11/21/11

Bye Bye

Oreos

2011-11-16T21:34:00.001-05:00

Yep, we let her have Oreos yesterday, they were obviously a big hit. Sorry I didn't get the pic of her dunking her Oreo or opening her cookies and eating the white filling......not until it got messy did I think to grab the camera. (yes the highchair cover actually came clean)

Mmmmmmmmmm......... More!

Another Fall outfit from Jonni

2011-11-12T21:51:00.001-05:00

We are pulling out all the cute stuff this weekend :) Tonight we were invited to my partner's open house and of course Mia had to look super cute. Here is another outfit from our dear friend Jonni, again from head to toe she hooked her up! Tomorrow it is going to get warmer so back to shorts for a few days.

Hoping to enjoy some awesome weather next weekend.

Thank you Jonni!

A few days

2011-11-12T17:41:00.001-05:00

Before we go out I am trying to get a few pics uploaded here for you all. Yesterday it was cool enough during the day to put Mia in the most adorable outfit that our good friend Jonni sent us. Really I don't know how a mother of 2 girls has the time to think of us they way she does but we are so thankful :) My brain is so scattered I can't leave the house without my calendar or I'm totally lost. I will have a few more cute pics over the next few days as Jonni sent us bunches of cute outfits...complete from the tights to the hair bows!!!
***I must have taken at least 300 pics of her in this outfit and not a one is her showing the front and having a smile on her face. She is figuring out my camera :)

A little sugar from daddy

Jonni, she looks so cute!

Have no idea why she thinks her big wheel is a recliner this morning

Chaulk Festival 2011

2011-11-06T21:09:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pics from the festival this year, although not as good as last year, there were still a few that really stood out. Sarasota Chaulk Festival 2011 Mia didn't seem to care either way just as long as she was outside she was having a good time.

My favorite

She loves to be outside

2011-11-05T21:34:00.001-05:00

My bag lady,she loves purses

Listening to daddy

To tired to write a post.....will catch up maybe tomorrow.

Our little girl is 2!

2011-10-31T14:49:00.001-05:00

Here are just a few pics from Mia's Birthday party yesterday. I still have 700+ more pictures to go thru soooooo it might be a few more days til I post some more.

She had a great day and we got to spend it with some great friends, thanks to everyone for their wonderful gifts.....Mia doesn't know which present she likes best.....right now they are all "mine" she says.

Our first pumpkin

2011-10-23T16:01:00.001-05:00

Daddy & Mia carved their first pumpkin together today, OK daddy did the work and Mia ran around him in circles. It turned out pretty cool.

Excuse the color.....too much sunlight.

Morning

2011-10-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Mama doesn't do such a good job re-dressing in the middle of the night. Hey, at least I put her pants back on :)

Jammies

2011-10-20T19:16:00.000-05:00

and a chance to wear some warm jammies....Finally Mia gets to wear them. I bought these over 5 years ago when we started our wait and tonight I got to put them on Mia :) So cute!

Cool morning......finally!

2011-10-20T05:16:00.001-05:00

A little cooler this morning down here in FL, a welcomed change. Excuse the hue on the pic, not easy to get a moving target and your settings all at the same time.

6 months

2011-10-11T09:33:00.004-05:00

Today marks the date we have been a family of three! Where did the time go, I remember texting everyone on the day we got our referral and the next thing I know here we are preparing to celebrate Mia's 2nd Birthday.

Mia continues to amaze us, there is nothing she won't do or try. Currently she is mimicking everything we say (oops) so it's quite funny around the house these days. Dink, juc, mik, craka, sit, up, down, no and my personal favorite.......still is.......MINE! She has many words in her vocabulary but these are the cutest to hear her say (all except for the MINE).

As you can see, Mia has become Daddy's girl.

Click pic for larger image

Girly big wheel

2011-10-03T21:17:00.001-05:00

Like this???

Oh I can ride it??

Go, Go, Go!!!1

Yea, I had fun!

Tonight we finally were able to got outside and play for a while before bath time. Mia got a new Princess Big Wheel this weekend and is learning how to pedal it around. Her feet just barely touch the pedals but soon she will be able to reach.

On the toddler bed...........last night was a huge success. Mia slept the entire night and didn't try to get out of bed until this morning when I went into her room to get her up. This evening after playing with her Big wheel she said "Nite Nite" and gave me the baby sign for sleep around 6:45 pm so off to take a bath and she seemed excited to climb into her bed. I never had to tell her to go to bed, she just did it on her own.
We are some lucky parents :) Just waiting for the day she becomes stubborn.

Oh and the patch, if you remember we are having a little trouble with the eye muscles of her right eye so she is wearing a patch on every other eye, 2 hours a day for 4 months. The patches come in all kinds of groovy colors, she doesn't even mind wearing a patch................damn we are lucky!

Big girl bed

2011-10-02T22:47:00.000-05:00

Mommy's back just couldn't handle the crib anymore soooooooooooooooo today we converted Mia's crib over to a toddler bed. As of this post it is 11:45pm and she has been in her "new bed" since around 8pm with no complaints AND she hasn't gotten out. Will have to see what the morning will bring.

Oh, this is so much easier for mommy to work with, now if I could only move her room down to the first floor.

Pillowcase Dress

2011-09-27T08:14:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Thanksgiving. I finished my first pillowcase dress for Mia, it was super easy. Of course when making a pattern for the first time you have to allow for some learning curve :) Thanks to Kerri for working on it with me. Now, off to find more fabric to make some more.

Turkey Day dress

Close up of the print

Seriously?

2011-09-24T13:42:00.001-05:00

Today I received the Lilli Kelly shoes ordered from Shoes.com........................do you see anything wrong with this order????

The shoe on your right is the correct shoe......

Can you believe they put 2 totally different shoes in this box and shipped it out??? WTF? One is pink and the other is white......one is a Mary Jane and one is a Tennis shoe.
They said they would make it right and sent out another pair (hopefully I get 2 of the same shoes) and gave me another 20% off. :) Guess these must have been packaged on a Friday at 5pm and someone was not interested in checking the box before they sealed it.

She loves to follow daddy

2011-09-19T14:28:00.001-05:00

Helping daddy fill the feeders

Wait for me......

I'm getting wet!

Woooohooooo, I've got the hose to myself

What ? You want me to water the plants too???

Hey, don't take my hose!!!

Her favorite word

2011-09-11T14:16:00.002-05:00

She is saying "mine", then pleeeeeeeeeeeeease

Our little pirate

2011-09-08T19:15:00.001-05:00

Strabismus, heard of it?
We noticed last month Mia's right eye would sometimes drift off laterally then back to normal when she was looking at something in the distance. After watching her for a few days we decided it was time for her to see an eye specialist...a pediatric eye specialist.

Our suspicion is correct, she has Strabismus in the right eye. She will have to wear a patch on her eyes, alternating eyes every night for 2 hours for 4 months then we return for a re-check. Hopefully this will correct itself, otherwise she will need to have surgery to repair the
muscles in her eye.

She did pretty great tonight wearing her patch for the first time. They come is all kinds of groovy colors too.

Helping daddy wash his car, and then some

2011-09-05T19:54:00.002-05:00

I'll help you daddy

Hey, cut that out

I'm gonna get you daddy

That was lots of fun!!!

A little cuteness

2011-09-05T19:23:00.003-05:00

While outside today watching daddy wash his car................after pictures to follow.

Hanging out on the dock

2011-08-26T22:27:00.003-05:00

more Mia

2011-08-23T08:35:00.005-05:00

That is 5:53 am folks.......yep, daddy has Mia out the door @ 6am for daycare. But I will tell you she is pretty good at waking in the morning. Yesterday she was awake, all smiles and got right up (damn, wish I could be that happy in the mornings) I get her up at 5:25-5:30am and usually no fussing. She goes to sleep at 7:00 - 7:30 pm during the week nights.
In her Garanimals.............all these little outfits are so darn cute and thankfully very inexpensive (especially since she totally trashes her clothes in daycare with food and paints)

Now as I recall Garanimals worked by matching the animal on the tags...........well this outfit is 2 different animals but I think it matches perfectly......what's up with that?

evening jams

2011-08-23T08:33:00.003-05:00

This is what Mia likes to do every evening, listen to music videos and jam-out. Unfortunately getting camera or video shots of her are becoming more difficult as she knows exactly what I'm doing and stops what she is doing. I need to find an angle so that she can't see me :)

Morning 'Nanner

2011-08-21T14:20:00.003-05:00

How cute are these little flip flops!!! Here's our girl having her morning banana, nothing else will do for her unless she has the 'nanner first.

OH, and I promise I have ordered a calibration kit for my monitor......hopefully my pics will be better soon! I should have done that years ago, my bad.

Meeting new friends

2011-08-21T14:06:00.003-05:00

A few months before we received our referral my husband ran into a couple( at our local Lowe's-his hang out) that had adopted recently from China. Gordon was in total awwww over their little girl Dakota, so much that he even took a video of her to show me when he got home that evening. They had exchanged phone numbers with Gordon and had planned on getting together with them once we returned home from China with our Mia.

Fast forward.... Saturday afternoon, the girls got to meet for the very first time (and I got to meet this family also for the first time). It so nice to know someone that has been thru the same process and totally understands.

Dakota brought over a gift for Mia and of course Mia wouldn't share but eventually they decided they liked each other and started playing and running around the house. It was so cute to see how happy these 2 little girls were and I am so happy to have met this family. We hope to get these girls together more often.

It took about an hour before Mia warmed up to Dakota.

But then it was game on! these two girls were running around the house after each other-so cute.

Dakota is so sweet, cute and petite. I had to make sure Mia didn't get too pushy around her, Mia is like a bull in a china shop.....seriously! She is the year of the Ox!

It's interesting to see Mia just watch Dakota and study her for at least an hour before she warmed up to the fact that she had a new friend to play with. Cute was the moment Dakota sat in my lap, little Miss Mia came right over and squeezed her behind right into my lap, moving Dakota out as to say...hey my mommy.....cute!

At Nana's

2011-08-21T14:04:00.004-05:00

I can finally hold a crayon

Hey, that's me in the picture!

I crack myself up!

Chocolate covered Bananas

2011-08-10T21:38:00.003-05:00

ummmmm, what is this?

me likey....

Heading for the fountain....

think I will rinse off here.....

Mia loves loves bananas and has a "nanner" every morning. This evening we gave her a small frozen chocolate covered banana and well, you can see how she enjoyed it.

Toenails

2011-08-10T12:22:00.004-05:00

While cruising my "daily blogs" I saw that Chloe had her toenails painted and it was so very cute, I thought I might try to paint Mia's toes someday. Well that was Saturday or Sunday I saw that post and you won't believe this but DADDY decided to paint Mia's toenails Sunday afternoon....seriously, I can't make this stuff up people. I never even mentioned it to daddy and he somehow thought of it on his own & he proceeded to tell me he could do mine for me too but I graciously(laughed it off) passed on that offer. Mia likes her painted toes and lifts her foot up to look at her toenails and to show you how pretty they are (way too cute to see her do this). Awww my little girly girl.

Catching up on a few days

2011-08-05T12:36:00.011-05:00

This week Mia has been going to (KUW) Kids under the Weather (at the hospital Gordon works at).

Here is how our week has gone....

Monday & Tuesday=Daycare

Tuesday night Mia started sounding stuffed up and woke with a mild temp. We kept her home from daycare and sent her into KUW, while there the nurses said when Mia was sleeping she had a cough that sounded like Croup & we should just keep the Tylenol going to keep her temps down.

Wednesday night I heard what sounded like a rooster with something stuck in their throat crowing from the upstairs bedroom....Mia was sitting up in her crib crying and crowing. Her fever was up and once again we gave Tylenol and she went back to sleep.

Thursday morning it was off to KUW again but midday Mia's temp spiked up to 105.3 and she wasn't sounding any better so off to the ER we went. (I of course left work immediately...partner understood still not quite sure my Battalion Chief did but he said ok.... (me) ummm yea I'm leaving) You all know I'm a Paramedic BUT when it's my child everything is waaaaaaaaaay different, your child I can be comfortable with treating---- MY child NOT SO MUCH.

Diagnosis: Tonsillitis with mild Croup

Treatment: Antibiotics and steroids.

Today, Mia woke with no temp :) and Gordon just called, he is up at KUW having lunch with Mia who just happens to be running around the place like she is on crack. Guess she is feeling better :)

Even with a temp of 105.3 yesterday this child of ours is still a happy girl...maybe a little grumpy but I would be at the least grumpy.

Here are a few photos to catch you up on our Mia.

Sitting on daddy's lap last night, Temp 105.3 and still happy

Lunch at Kids under the Weather

New kicks (Skechers)

Shopping for new clothes (growing fast)

Not too excited about daycare today

Morning 'nanner

Some strange pose she now does when I follow her with a camera

21 months old!

2011-07-31T13:31:00.002-05:00

My dad

2011-07-24T21:13:00.002-05:00

Mia and her Grandpa (my father)

Good Morning!

2011-07-20T13:46:00.002-05:00

It's so wonderful to see this little girl every morning. She is always happy (of course she is about to get her breakfast in this picture).

Hot morning in Florida

2011-07-16T12:44:00.002-05:00

A visit from Friends

2011-07-15T09:16:00.004-05:00

Last night we had a visit from our Friend Claudia and her 2 daughters (Joya & Toni)

Joya is in the pink

Toni is in the turquoise

Claudia is the person that introduced us to the world of Chinese adoption and we are ever so grateful for her! It's been 5 long years and last evening they finally got the chance to meet Mia.

I must tell you, Mia was delighted to meet & play with the girls. I have never seen her follow anyone around other than me.

Playing with bubbles

2011-07-11T11:06:00.004-05:00

Mia was not happy to watch daddy show her how to use the bubble machine, she wanted to do it herself without help as you can see her having a fit in pic #1, better in #2.

These pictures were taken at 10:30 in the morning yesterday-super hot & humid day already in FL.

At Nana's

2011-07-07T12:27:00.002-05:00

4th of July

2011-07-07T09:59:00.004-05:00

Got Syrup?

2011-07-02T12:09:00.002-05:00

Daddy made waffles for breakfast. Yuummmmmmm, syrup!

Faster than daddy

2011-06-29T13:41:00.002-05:00

Apparently someone is much faster than daddy when it comes to a diaper change. Daddy forgot to close the powder but Mia got it before he noticed. We are at our friend's house for dinner-wonderful dinner and this was a huge laugh for all of us :)

Using signs

2011-06-24T14:01:00.003-05:00

Here is Mia this am using a few of her "baby signs". Here she is using more, drink, all done and bye bye.

The first glimpse of our Mia

2011-06-21T11:52:00.002-05:00

I have uploaded the video of our very first glimpse of Mia walking into the room at the Civil Affairs office to meet us (Got'cha).
WARNING......Tissue alert. We still have ooodles more of videos from China and I am slowly going thru all of them. Everything is now burned onto discs AND on an external hard drive so there will be no more chances of loosing them. I am so very thankful that we were smart enough to bring the external hard drive with us to China and backed up all of our files while we were there. Who knew the computer would crash (it's brand new!)

**For those getting ready to travel, my advise.....spend $100 and bring along a portable external hard drive.

Click here to be directed over to our referral page to see the video.

Getting a bath

2011-06-18T21:01:00.001-05:00

Playing in the garden

2011-06-18T20:37:00.007-05:00

Who needs toys

2011-06-17T10:54:00.003-05:00

Hi!

2011-06-15T18:44:00.003-05:00

Squeeky Shoes

2011-06-15T17:06:00.003-05:00

Here is what squeeky shoes are for those of you not familiar.

Best idea ever

2011-06-14T15:11:00.005-05:00

Thank you to Johnna for sending this gift home with Gordon!!! This is one of the best ideas ever for use when feeding your toddler. It's a bib/towel/top...YAY (don't you love the giraffe on it too) I would highly recommend this to all of my mommy friends.

I think this is what (well kinda what) I was seeing on Mia in her pictures from the SWI.

Learning new things

2011-06-14T14:42:00.004-05:00

Learning to use her new big girl cup with a straw :)

Dr.s visit

2011-06-10T07:21:00.003-05:00

She gained 1.0 lb in the past month.
We go back next week for bloodwork and shots if needed (they didn't do any of that on the 1st visit)

Feeding myself?

2011-06-07T09:10:00.002-05:00

Yea, I can eat with a spoon.............can't you see? Think it's shower time AGAIN.

Kerri's Birthday

2011-06-06T22:04:00.004-05:00

Friday Mia and I visited the station to celebrate Kerri's Birthday (my work partner-actually I call her my life partner since I see her more hours a day than my husband). I have a few more pics of Kerri and Mia cutting the cake BUT my laptop crashed and I have been working on restoring my files and haven't got a chance to finish more pics.

Turning 2

2011-06-02T22:49:00.005-05:00

I know, it's still a few months away but I am thinking of having a (small) themed Birthday party for Mia, she was born on Halloween. Time is going by so fast now that we are home, October will be here in no time. Nothing scary, just fun an colorful.....have any ideas you would like to share with me? As she gets older this will be much easier to plan for but at 2 what do you do?

Daddy is home

2011-06-02T15:22:00.002-05:00

She was waiting for him by the door today when I told her Daddy is home.

And now it's June

2011-06-01T11:32:00.006-05:00

No day would be complete without a few Mia pics :) (OK my day wouldn't be complete) I go back to work at the end of the month so I'm not sure just how many daily photos we will get.

She decided on a hat, not me.

19 months old

2011-05-31T08:46:00.002-05:00

Memorial Day & a fat lip

2011-05-30T14:20:00.005-05:00

This morning Mia started our day off with a bang, I mean literally. She decided it's fun to get in the shower with mommy then get out dry off and try and get back in-that is where we get the bang! She slipped on the tile and wacked her lower lip, she is fine I think I cried as much if not more than she did. The floor is not all that slick but I'm not taking anymore chances. All is good but she will be sporting a fat lip for a few days.

We are off to Bed Bath & Beyond now for a grippy mat for our master shower. Good Lord she is hard to keep up with sometimes :)

Today is the last day before daddy returns to work so this afternoon we enjoyed lunch outside, burgers & apple pie :)

Sunday evening

2011-05-29T19:53:00.003-05:00

Snooty & friends

2011-05-28T16:41:00.002-05:00

Today we spent the day at one of our local Aquarium/museums and got to visit with Snooty the 63 year old Mantee and some of his friends. After we stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch (well breakfast actually-who goes there for anything but breakfast) and Mia enjoyed rocking in the chairs out front.

I am having camera & CS5 processing funk so hang on til I get my skills back :)

2011-05-27T21:35:00.000-05:00

Lowry Park Zoo

2011-05-26T21:40:00.007-05:00

I Love, Love Love Giraffes :)

This giraffe slimed Gordon, she wanted whatever he had in that cup and was relentless with that super long tongue.

Yes, it's a giraffe backpack AND a little purse with a mini giraffe in it.

Feeding the birds, Mia was a little scared of these little guys (but again....she rode the camel???)

Our first visit to the zoo with Mia, she seem to really enjoy herself today. Missed her nap and was wound up until we got home then she was & still is out cold. This girl was afraid to pet a pony or feed the birds but had no problem riding a camel.

A little Daddy time

2011-05-25T20:20:00.011-05:00

Waiting for a Got'cha moment

2011-05-24T23:07:00.011-05:00

I am up late tonight waiting for a fellow blogger buddy's Got'cha moment. Krista is meeting her little Mia rightnow as I blog and I am hoping to see some pics sometime this evening well looks like it is after midnight so sometime this am. Make sure you check out her travel blog here to see pictures of her new arrival. How exciting to follow her journey and know just exactly how she is feeling right up to this Got'cha moment.

Here is Krista and her Mia on Got'cha day!

They look absolutely perfect together :)

Boating

2011-05-23T20:33:00.003-05:00

Today we decided to take Mia out on our boat. I was concerned she would be afraid of the sound our boat makes. There was no wind today, temp was 93degrees F with no rain in the forecast. Well, at first she didn't care for the actual movement of the boat when it was in the water (the side to side motion), the sound didn't bother her a bit. After we were a few minutes out from the docks she looked at the water, then looked at me as if to say "this is a really big pool", she was fine after that. Mia was all lotioned up with #50 sunblock and a hat, that life vest finally situated it's self into place it seemed so huge it has a strap on the back of the neck float part and that is what I was constantly grabbing a hold of. I have to say she definately has her sea legs and had fun dancing and moving from the front to the back of the boat and back for most of our ride today.

Children's garden, 1 month home

2011-05-22T20:33:00.003-05:00

Today marks 1 month since we have been home (in the US) with Mia, what an amazing transformation she has made. Everyday we are enjoying seeing changes in her, all for the good. She has now bonded 99% with daddy and mommy is able to have some breathing room - YAY! Not that I don't enjoy her company but atleast I can have a little space to myself now and then when daddy takes her outside or to the pool. This afternoon we were invited to a playdate at the Children's Garden with a friend/co-worker of Gordon - she has a beautiful little 3 year old girl named Madelyn. Mia played, well I should say followed little Madelyn around the garden. Not one time did I see Mia push her (as she has done to little ones before when we went to a playarea) Maybe she is starting to enjoy the company of playmates :) I was starting to worry about this pushing thing as daycare starts in August for Mia. Looks like we will get thru this phase pretty quick-fingers crossed.

I have been taking an averge of 500 pictures a day of Mia but don't seem to find the time to process many but here are a few for your viewing pleasure:)

Playing in puddles & the pool

2011-05-21T20:20:00.002-05:00

Looking for more puddles of water to jump in-daddy just finished washing the car.

I finally had some success with pigtails this morning, give her a book on the potty and momma can do her hair :)

Today Mia spent some time in the pool after running around outside with us in the morning. Every day we spend a few hours playing in the yard and I think she has come to enjoy/expect that.

The temps here are still only in the mid 80's but you would swear it was warmer, you can't help but go into the pool everyday during the spring and summer. Speaking of swimming....how 'bout those little swimmer kinds of diapers.....what are we actually keeping in there? Maybe they are good for keeping "floaters' out of the pool but anything less than ummmmmmmmm boyant only gets watered down to seep thru them. Is commando the only way to go girls?

No way.....

2011-05-21T20:18:00.001-05:00

She eats everything EXCEPT octopus, can't say I blame her. Ewwwwwwwwwwww.
Last night we went out to a Chinese buffet (yea, I know...I am tired of Chinese food but they do have good sushi). Gordon thought he would try one of these little suckers, after one bite he said no & since Mia was curious he handed it over for her to try. Don't you just love the expression on her face ......she is saying, ut oh no way.

Visiting with Gibby

2011-05-20T15:35:00.003-05:00

At the water park yesterday.

Yesterday and this evening

2011-05-18T20:25:00.007-05:00

Zack, Tyler & Mia

Looks like we have quite the friendship growing here....

Taken with Gordon's cell, Zack is in the car with Mia.

Last night our friends Steve & Denise came over with their 2 boys for burgers on the grill and some playtime with Mia. The top 2 pictures are from last night, the rest are from tonight, we all went to a local pizza place for some $5 pizza and the kids got to run all over the place. Mia has taken to Zack ever since the first time they met, she follows him everywhere and he doesn't seem to mind.
I must have taken 700 photos between the 2 cameras and still only got very few post worthy shots, those kids are having some serious playtime and could care less about me trying to get some "good shots" of them.

Blurr.............

2011-05-18T13:15:00.007-05:00

I hven't been able to find my sweet spot in my camera lens for the past few days. Not sure if it is because my eye is irritated, I know today's reason is that my eyes are totally dilated and I am wearing glasses instead of contacts. Can you see the blur in some of my pictures???? WTH? Maybe I need a little more practice, I had put this camera down for a few months and still trying to get the feel back. Even my CS5 skils are lacking :( Still have another month off work so there will be time to brush up and get some better shots of Mia. Thinking it's time to add another lens to my collection.

Lazy Sunday

2011-05-15T21:23:00.002-05:00

YAY, early nap!

2011-05-14T12:48:00.005-05:00

Out cold within 5 minutes :)

Tried to get Mia to lay down right after lunch today & it was a success......now a little pic for you and time for me to go nap too. Isn't she the most perfect little thing ever????? :)

Lunch time

2011-05-13T15:23:00.001-05:00

2011-05-13T13:42:00.005-05:00

On May 11th we celebrated 1 month home with Mia. What a difference a month can make, she looks so much older and has soooooooo much personality now.She is peaking at the camera lens here. May 11th 2011

April 11th 2011

As we enter the 4th week home Mia is finally bonding with daddy, not 100% but I would say a good 75%. Daddy can now wake her, bathe her, dress her, change a diaper (YAY) and she will hang out with daddy without crying when mommy leaves the house. Looking forward to the many more changes with the months to come.

We will be home with her until August then she will go to daycare. Last week we stopped in the daycare for a tour & registered her. While we were there Mia stood at the window looking out at all of the children playing outside and some of them were quite intrigued by her as they stood on the other side of the window looking in. I think she will enjoy being at daycare, waaaaaaaaaaaaay more fun than with mommy and daddy-we are boring.

She was already re-arranging the furniture in her classroom while we were there-she will be an handfull for them at first I'm sure.

Morning playtime

2011-05-10T15:37:00.004-05:00

Every morning we spend some time outside with Mia before heading out for the day. This girl is always on the move and it's getting harder and harder to get some pics of her not in motion.

With all that motion comes scuffed knees BUT she is learning not to lead with her head anymore. She uses one of her arms like a propeller to get her momentum up-too funny-and she giggles like she is getting away with something everytime.

Glad to hear her giggle today, gave her some Motrin with her orajel and that seems to be keeping her happy.

My 1st Pizza

2011-05-10T15:32:00.004-05:00

Today we went to Cosimo's at the mall for some pizza.

This place has the best pizza (crust especially) in Sarasota we think. Here here a few shots of Mia eating her very first pizza loaded with mushrooms, ricotta & meatballs....I'd say it was a hit! She definately will eat anything. Then it was over to the indoor play area where she would only sit in this one red car.

Teething

2011-05-09T19:01:00.003-05:00

Just call her baby drool today..............she cut both of her lateral incisors in the past couple of days. Yesterday and today she was miserable. A crying, screaming Mia does not make for a relaxing day.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T15:03:00.006-05:00

Daddy dipped Mia's hands in paint and made this for me.

Out of around 150 shots this one is the most forward facing one of Mia.....she's always moving.
A little CS5 Topaz action

Happy Saturday

2011-05-07T20:56:00.006-05:00

*click pictures for larger view

Before the rain today

2011-05-06T14:12:00.004-05:00

Getting too close to mommy with the camera, next shot-fingerprints.

tearing up flowers

picking flowers

in the puddles

Hanging in her car making sure daddy does the repairs.

**Click on pics for a larger view

Mama's sick

2011-05-05T17:21:00.004-05:00

I made it to China and back without getting even the slightest sniffel but now I am feeling achey, exhausted, sniffely (is that a word) and have headache. No pictures today, we didn't do too much of anything except visit our favorite Mexican restaurant for Cinco De Mayo. This is one of the longest standing restaurants in Sarasota & it's wonderful, nothing fancy just great food and great people.

Mia is getting closer to daddy every day and currently they are out shopping together....I'm glad for that because I feel like----well you know----poop.