tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67112548966771688362024-03-12T17:17:58.300-07:00Life with LiaJulie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.comBlogger362125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-65811865167794278112013-11-23T11:24:00.001-08:002013-11-23T11:24:20.664-08:00Fall 2013 - A ReviewLots of fun activity this fall...so much that I haven't had time to blog! Lia headed back to school in September. This is her first year of kindergarten (because her birthday is late in the year, she will actually attend two years before 1st grade). She is once again loving her teacher and friends at school:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uTbm_N2Dgy0/UpD9oFSDIoI/AAAAAAAACiQ/xbdYx_lHKDo/s1600/Lia+School+Day+1.+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uTbm_N2Dgy0/UpD9oFSDIoI/AAAAAAAACiQ/xbdYx_lHKDo/s640/Lia+School+Day+1.+2013.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Soon after school started, we were invited to a birthday party for a set of twins in her class. These girls hosted their party at a working farm which also includes a petting zoo and horses. Lia was super brave and took her very first REAL horse ride on a very tall horse! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGSDEQgy8vY/UpD9KEk9PTI/AAAAAAAACh8/7689F1gLB6k/s1600/Lia+Horse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGSDEQgy8vY/UpD9KEk9PTI/AAAAAAAACh8/7689F1gLB6k/s400/Lia+Horse.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Along came mid-October and we had a very special trip planned to Disneyland with grandma and grandpa! We met them in Anaheim and had a total blast for three days. Lia was in Princess heaven meeting all her favorite characters, especially her current favorite - Rapunzel:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jhyc2xflwpM/UpD8-fQk45I/AAAAAAAAChs/rS2Xlbfk_LY/s1600/Lia+and+Rapunzel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jhyc2xflwpM/UpD8-fQk45I/AAAAAAAAChs/rS2Xlbfk_LY/s400/Lia+and+Rapunzel.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fq-b7yNGmw4/UpD9KybY8fI/AAAAAAAACiE/Q41970iJnYY/s1600/Mama+Lia+Mickey+Ears.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fq-b7yNGmw4/UpD9KybY8fI/AAAAAAAACiE/Q41970iJnYY/s400/Mama+Lia+Mickey+Ears.png" width="315" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course, right after our Disney trip came...Halloween! For the first time in a couple of years, Lia decided NOT to be a princess (guess she's gotten those jollies out at Disney)...and chose to be a Panda for Halloween. She and Daddy had a great time running around the neighborhood and even ran into a few of Lia's schoolmates along the way. What a difference four years makes, huh?:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dolH35IHZHw/UpD86gHMelI/AAAAAAAAChk/XLZfTqfH5tg/s1600/Halloween+2009+2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dolH35IHZHw/UpD86gHMelI/AAAAAAAAChk/XLZfTqfH5tg/s400/Halloween+2009+2013.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And what comes after Halloween? Lia's birthday of course!!! Our big girl turned 5 and had a party with her class at school, as well as a family party over her birthday weekend. She picked the theme of her party as the "minions" (from the movie Despicable Me).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAGhx08RhoQ/UpD9L1qhYWI/AAAAAAAACiM/iwy6WbNULTQ/s1600/Lia+bday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAGhx08RhoQ/UpD9L1qhYWI/AAAAAAAACiM/iwy6WbNULTQ/s320/Lia+bday.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-amk_rUZbC4E/UpD9KD9Mk7I/AAAAAAAACh4/s0JCpEdt49Y/s1600/Lia+cake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-amk_rUZbC4E/UpD9KD9Mk7I/AAAAAAAACh4/s0JCpEdt49Y/s320/Lia+cake.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL!!!</span></div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-69343069585167289802013-08-09T15:38:00.004-07:002013-08-09T15:38:47.038-07:00Summertime FunWe are starting to wrap up our busy summer. Three weeks and Lia will be going back to school for her first year in early entrance Kindergarten. Time flies! We've had a lot of fun this summer. Lia has attended local preschool daycamp in the mornings with weekly themes of Circus, Cowboy/Cowgirls, Rainforest, Royalty, and Beaches. Next week is the final (6th) week of day camp. We'll miss the teachers and helpers - they have been awesome! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5eqDoCpfpU/UgVrQuLqKYI/AAAAAAAACfU/UPs7OHNZ9H0/s1600/Lia+Vashon+Deck+7.2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E5eqDoCpfpU/UgVrQuLqKYI/AAAAAAAACfU/UPs7OHNZ9H0/s400/Lia+Vashon+Deck+7.2013.png" width="300" /></a></div>
We've also done a LOT of doctor & therapy visits this summer. Speech therapy weekly, and now twice weekly since she is also doing a summer speech program thru her school for August. Catching her up on all her vaccines (which have been behind since China!) has required two separate visits for shots (8 total - yikes - and she took 'em like a champ!) On Wednesday we visited her ENT to check on her ears. Unfortunately, the hole in her left eardrum continues to grow, which explains a lot of her irritation around loud noise levels. The doctor gave us some ear plugs for now, but warned us that another surgery might be down the road to patch the hole. <br />
<br />
Lia and I took a "parent-tot" swim class during the month of July. She was officially too old for the class since she is 4, but they were willing to waive her in based on her history. She was pretty wary at first, but really enjoyed swimming on her own with the foam noodle. <br />
<br />
She never did get to the point where she'd put her face or head under water, but as the ENT pointed out, that is probably a good thing with the hole in her ear. He does, however, want her to learn to swim as much as we do, so he recommended trying it with ear plugs next time. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIvCL8bF8hA/UgVrg8CUm5I/AAAAAAAACfc/FS6QALLyDkc/s1600/Lia+swimming+7.2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fIvCL8bF8hA/UgVrg8CUm5I/AAAAAAAACfc/FS6QALLyDkc/s320/Lia+swimming+7.2013.png" width="303" /></a></div>
<br />
Lia also saw her first movies in the theater this summer! Monsters University was her very first movie and she loved it ("only a couple scary parts mama!") so we took her back to see "Despicable Me 2" and "Turbo"a few weeks later. That girl can chow down a bag of popcorn let me tell you!<br />
<br />
Other than that, it's been a summer of rest and relaxation. Spending time in our backyard and the firepit at grandma & grandpa's house making s'mores. <br />
<br />
In two weeks we will be headed to Colorado to visit Grandma Wall and Lia is really excited to go on an airplane again and visit all of Steve's family, many whom she hasn't gotten to meet yet. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YvRww5hRLig/UgVvP_Q-UnI/AAAAAAAACgQ/HqiFjT9zVZc/s1600/Sprinkler+Movies+mashup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YvRww5hRLig/UgVvP_Q-UnI/AAAAAAAACgQ/HqiFjT9zVZc/s640/Sprinkler+Movies+mashup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-70295934045645294312013-06-12T13:00:00.003-07:002013-06-12T13:00:48.175-07:00The Graduate - Preschool June 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Monday was Lia's "graduation" from the two years of preschool she has attend thus far. Grandma & Grandpa and Great Uncle Dave join us for the special occasion. Lia was VERY proud of her fancy purple dress and her graduation cap! <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuU3w9gMRNw/UbjRr1l6bmI/AAAAAAAACfA/Xg4ehibKtIA/s1600/LiaPurple+Preschool+Grad+6.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuU3w9gMRNw/UbjRr1l6bmI/AAAAAAAACfA/Xg4ehibKtIA/s640/LiaPurple+Preschool+Grad+6.2013.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modeling her dress before the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jJAs0KDDJS0/UbjRqB8q8iI/AAAAAAAACeo/k0202FnX6A8/s1600/Lia+family+graduation+6.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jJAs0KDDJS0/UbjRqB8q8iI/AAAAAAAACeo/k0202FnX6A8/s400/Lia+family+graduation+6.13.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging in the audience with mama, grandma, & grandpa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C67_0H0Kqs8/UbjRqkPaAkI/AAAAAAAACew/_wYUI1K8eYI/s1600/Lia+graduation+box+6.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C67_0H0Kqs8/UbjRqkPaAkI/AAAAAAAACew/_wYUI1K8eYI/s640/Lia+graduation+box+6.13.jpg" width="398" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely box full of momentos, milestones, and photos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhPaJgFN_DQ/UbjRrVvAvvI/AAAAAAAACe4/QSGxUeqR28s/s1600/LiaJeremiah+Preschool+Grad+6.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhPaJgFN_DQ/UbjRrVvAvvI/AAAAAAAACe4/QSGxUeqR28s/s400/LiaJeremiah+Preschool+Grad+6.2013.jpg" width="326" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia and her best buddy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3SM5XMNMCw/UbjRqG_LymI/AAAAAAAACek/nF05VDIdWsU/s1600/Lia+Mama+Daddy+Grad+6.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M3SM5XMNMCw/UbjRqG_LymI/AAAAAAAACek/nF05VDIdWsU/s400/Lia+Mama+Daddy+Grad+6.13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So proud of our girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-40583225639535840182013-05-02T14:55:00.001-07:002013-05-02T14:55:32.241-07:00Spring has SprungOnce again, it's been awhile since I've done any blogging...life has just gotten too busy with an active four year old, and both of us balancing work with family time. Lia is doing amazing. Her speech is REALLY coming along. Now, people who haven't seen her in a few months even comment on how much more they can understand. She is also coming out of her shell now that we've been settled in our house for almost a year and she is enjoying her new school and afternoon schedule as well. As the previous post noted, Lia started ballet in January. During March, there was a brief hiatus from ballet lessons, where I enrolled her in a local gymnastics program for four weeks - just to try it out. The gym is loud and there are a TON of kids there on any given weeknight - so I wasn't sure how she'd do. She is also still working on catching up on some of her gross motor skills in terms of balance, strength, and agility. The first night she was more of an "observer", but since then, every week she has tried (and succeeded!) and new skills and her increased strength is showing! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6ORU3WVmyQ/UXbfoT-y__I/AAAAAAAACcU/YRy6lSsrF9E/s1600/Lia+Gymnastics+April+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6ORU3WVmyQ/UXbfoT-y__I/AAAAAAAACcU/YRy6lSsrF9E/s640/Lia+Gymnastics+April+2013.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Lia also got a new, 2-wheel bike a few weeks ago! She is still using training wheels, but she has gotten the hang of using the brakes to slow down, and is working hard pedaling up inclines and using those new leg muscles! We are so proud of her. Now, anytime the sun is shining, she wants to go outside on a ride around the neighborhood with us. When it rains, she just rides around and around the kitchen island! Yesterday was beautiful, so Steve took her out on her bike and she rode over to the neighborhood play area. She face-planted at one point (due to going down a driveway slope too fast and turning the wheel) but she was wearing her helmet and pads, so after a few tears (from being scared!) she got back on that bike and rode over to the park anyway. GO LIA!<br />
<br />
Over Lia's spring break from preschool, we took a day to travel up north and visit the tulip fields. It was SO beautiful. Lia said she could look and them "all day and all night". Her favorites were the pink and purple varieties (of course!) but we were able to snap this pic of her standing amongst a field of red. Amazing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29yHzVD2A1I/UYLgbbLUWEI/AAAAAAAACdw/AOwLg9bMTHQ/s1600/Tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29yHzVD2A1I/UYLgbbLUWEI/AAAAAAAACdw/AOwLg9bMTHQ/s1600/Tulips.jpg" /></a></div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-82789975589824038772013-02-19T20:31:00.001-08:002013-02-19T20:31:13.433-08:00Ballet & ValentinesLia started ballet classes at the local rec center at the end of January. She absolutely loves it. She loves the pretty outfits she gets to wear, and the music, and the teacher. After the first class I asked her if she still wanted to go back the following week - and she said "Yes!...and the next week...and the next week...and the next week!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k44RVtq_-_E/USRQGSanlPI/AAAAAAAACag/lGfxwC8Ppc4/s1600/Lia+ballet+1.26.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k44RVtq_-_E/USRQGSanlPI/AAAAAAAACag/lGfxwC8Ppc4/s400/Lia+ballet+1.26.13.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
Valentines Day lasted for what seemed like a week at preschool. Since she attends two different preschool classes at the same location, she got to have two parties...and each class made Valentines crafts all week. I especially loved this Valentine "owl" bag they made:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qis330SUOpk/USRQJSzmPlI/AAAAAAAACao/sj03og4b4kw/s1600/Valentines+Bag+1++2.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qis330SUOpk/USRQJSzmPlI/AAAAAAAACao/sj03og4b4kw/s320/Valentines+Bag+1++2.2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
She was thrilled to wake up on Valentine's Day to some special treats from mama and daddy as well!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sphXkqZfetY/USRQDHf--WI/AAAAAAAACaY/uiVBO6pL28w/s1600/Lia+Valentines+Day+2.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sphXkqZfetY/USRQDHf--WI/AAAAAAAACaY/uiVBO6pL28w/s320/Lia+Valentines+Day+2.2013.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<br />
Of course, at this age, her favorite Valentine is her daddy...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr5j2JXDZEE/USRP99jSkgI/AAAAAAAACaQ/kFlu2vdnAnI/s1600/Daddy+Valentine+2.2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hr5j2JXDZEE/USRP99jSkgI/AAAAAAAACaQ/kFlu2vdnAnI/s320/Daddy+Valentine+2.2013.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-47583789015730104172013-01-02T10:56:00.001-08:002013-01-02T10:58:06.293-08:00Happy New Year 2013!Well, I promised I would blog more after the new year, so here we are! We had a bumpy holiday this year with illness and work schedules, but we still managed to have a lot of fun along the way. <br />
<br />
Lia started afternoon preschool in December. We had her moved to the afternoon class for a few reasons, but mainly because there is a 4 year old afternoon class that has girls in it! Amazingly, at least in this school district, there seems to be many more boys than girls registered for preschool. She is really enjoying the afternoon class, and coming out of her shell much more. The teachers are really pleased with her progress and acclimation into the new class. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, she came home the second week of December with a cold, which ended up turning into pneumonia by week's end. After a trip to urgent care, and a round of antibiotics, we got her healthy enough to play "the camel" in her preschool's Christmas play - which was a hoot! You gotta love a group of 4 year olds shouting out the lyrics to Christmas carols they don't really know. As with any group this age, the kids have short attention spans:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7kld5JdBvw/UOR62zNDWPI/AAAAAAAACZA/zsgp63hR_pQ/s1600/Lia+camel+12.19.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7kld5JdBvw/UOR62zNDWPI/AAAAAAAACZA/zsgp63hR_pQ/s400/Lia+camel+12.19.12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia, far left, watching the teacher as her friend yawns...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Preschool released for winter break right after the play, so we had a few days to catch up on our holiday decorating and traditions before Santa's big visit. On the 21st, we visited a local nursery, where Santa's reindeer come to "rest up" prior to the big night. Lia loved seeing them, but was somewhat disappointed that Rudolph was there with his red nose:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n67m0A-LRzM/UOR_3pi-I2I/AAAAAAAACZU/B3LozxjO7Qg/s1600/Reindeer+12.21.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n67m0A-LRzM/UOR_3pi-I2I/AAAAAAAACZU/B3LozxjO7Qg/s400/Reindeer+12.21.12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
On Christmas Eve, Daddy had to work, so Lia and I decided to make some frosted sugar cookies for Santa. This year Lia helped cut out the cookies and spread the frosting and sprinkles. She did a great job! The cookies turned out awesome and Santa gobbled up the three that she chose to leave out for him that evening:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66Gu4HsyzqQ/UOR_8Pj9izI/AAAAAAAACZc/cXsHaarJD4Q/s1600/Xmas+cookies+12.24.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66Gu4HsyzqQ/UOR_8Pj9izI/AAAAAAAACZc/cXsHaarJD4Q/s400/Xmas+cookies+12.24.12.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
<br />
We had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, followed by a candlelight church service, before heading home for the night. Daddy helped Lia hold her candle and her eyes were as big as saucers, but she was so proud to get to hold a candle herself this year! Christmas day my parents, uncle and sister came to our house for Christmas dinner. Lia had plenty of new toys and presents to show off to the family.<br />
<br />
The following day, we took her out shopping, with the gift card she received from Steve's mom. It was super fun to watch her make tough decisions, pick out her gifts and hand her card to the cashier. This little girl is not hurting for toys!!! Later in the day, she posed with some of her new acquistions:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5v779SyWza0/UOSCK1OVMoI/AAAAAAAACZw/1JULCO0DslU/s1600/Xmas+presents+12.26.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5v779SyWza0/UOSCK1OVMoI/AAAAAAAACZw/1JULCO0DslU/s400/Xmas+presents+12.26.12.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>
<br />
<em>A cute sidenote:</em> Santa brought her a baby penguin, which coos when you feed it a bottle. When we told Lia that she had a gift card she could use to buy anything else she needed/wanted that Santa might have forgotten, she says, "I want to get the baby penguin a mama and daddy. He needs a family...like you came to China to get me"... Oh, my heart! And I'll be darned if the first thing she picked out on Wednesday wasn't a penguin mama and daddy for her baby. Sweet girl. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-77863870003465152532012-12-24T10:36:00.001-08:002012-12-24T10:36:37.104-08:00Christmas 2012Where has this year gone? I guess between job changes and moving and a new school, dental surgery, birthdays, and a 'bout with pneumonia - it has just escaped me. I will try to catch up in a New Year's post, but for now, just wanted to wish all of our friends and family (near and far) a safe and merry Christmas! <br />
<br />
P.S. - We LOVE the Santa on Vashon Island. No crowds, just a quaint little log cottage in the middle of a town park. No pressure. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1CwQE29uZg/UNigC0KxDvI/AAAAAAAACYs/fh0cQQuPMNs/s1600/SantaLia2012trimmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1CwQE29uZg/UNigC0KxDvI/AAAAAAAACYs/fh0cQQuPMNs/s640/SantaLia2012trimmed.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-77036758830720057372012-11-16T16:37:00.002-08:002012-11-16T16:37:46.400-08:00Fall 2012We have been so busy this fall - getting moved into our new house, Lia starting a new preschool, a long weekend on the Oregon coast, then her dental surgery, followed by Halloween, and then her 4th birthday - WHEW! I need to stop and take a breather before heading into the holiday season!<br />
<br />
Picking up where we last left off - my family headed to the Oregon coast for a long weekend in mid-October. Par for the course this time of year, it was raining off and on the entire weekend, but we managed to have a fabulous time anyway. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FKaCq784S0/UKbaZInGrLI/AAAAAAAACXU/kGuo8JWwG3A/s1600/Lia+Cannon+Beach+Haystack+Rock+10.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FKaCq784S0/UKbaZInGrLI/AAAAAAAACXU/kGuo8JWwG3A/s400/Lia+Cannon+Beach+Haystack+Rock+10.2012.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
This was Lia's first time at an ocean beach, and she built a giant sandcastle. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCwpdcspYkQ/UKbaldym1sI/AAAAAAAACXk/fZ-uel0Bb8Y/s1600/Lia+Cannon+Beach+Jazz+Hands+10.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gCwpdcspYkQ/UKbaldym1sI/AAAAAAAACXk/fZ-uel0Bb8Y/s320/Lia+Cannon+Beach+Jazz+Hands+10.2012.jpg" width="240" /></a>The following Thursday, Lia had her big dental surgery under anesthesia. She did well, but the surgery did end up taking a full three hours! They put on six silver caps, two fillings, nerve treatments, and extracted at total of four teeth. OY! What a day. And what a week followed... This may have been the hardest recovery we have seen for her in the three surgeries we've endured thus far. Interestingly, she bounced back really quickly from her two palate surgeries at age 2, but - maybe because she knows more now and remembers things longer - there was a lot more anxiety surrounding this surgery and recovery. Because her mouth was retracted open for 3 hours, her lips and corners of her mouth were very swollen, cracked and bleeding for several days following. We used a lot of advil, ice and vaseline during that time. </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A week later it was Halloween. Lia planned for months (probably close to a year) on being "Sleeping Beauty" (Princess Aurora). Her costume was beautiful and she looked absolutely gorgeous in it. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hS0nKqCaA_0/UKbazfG9L-I/AAAAAAAACXs/yLhHUzWOUXQ/s1600/Lia+Halloween+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hS0nKqCaA_0/UKbazfG9L-I/AAAAAAAACXs/yLhHUzWOUXQ/s400/Lia+Halloween+2012.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unfortunately, the *concept* of trick or treating was a lot more appealing than the *actual* thing. All it took was one young boy jumping out a screaming "Boo!" wearing a Hulk mask, and it was over for us. Maybe next year... :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D8xSJiDjLeo/UKbbRFD5IDI/AAAAAAAACX0/_eHsmY-LlO4/s320/Lia+Halloween+2012+scared.jpg" width="240" /></div>
<br />
<br />
That brings us to Lia's 4th birthday last weekend. Hard to believe the little 17 mos. old we first saw in our referral photos is now a big 4 year old. Time just flies by WAY too fast! Lia's theme of choice for her party was "Little Mermaid" and this year she blew out the four candles like a pro!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--D3BlUmXW4M/UKbbsETTLeI/AAAAAAAACX8/_HA-MGw-qRQ/s1600/Lia+4th+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="604" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--D3BlUmXW4M/UKbbsETTLeI/AAAAAAAACX8/_HA-MGw-qRQ/s640/Lia+4th+Birthday.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-1850182081029779412012-10-08T11:51:00.001-07:002012-10-08T11:51:33.276-07:00A Boo-tiful October!October is upon us and we have been busy as ever the past month. Lia started her second year of preschool on September 5th. This year she gets to ride the bus to school. It is a special bus just for preschoolers and it picks up and drops off right at our driveway - you can't ask for better service than that!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6wo42lQFSI/UHMetzL2PII/AAAAAAAACVY/mU5DQxm58Ho/s1600/Porch+Waiting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o6wo42lQFSI/UHMetzL2PII/AAAAAAAACVY/mU5DQxm58Ho/s320/Porch+Waiting+2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
So far she is loving her new school. It is 4 days/week (Mon.-Thurs) for 3.5 hours. During her days there, she gets OT & PT once/week (each) and speech therapy 2x/wk. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp97bbicaK8/UHMe9WXGm7I/AAAAAAAACWA/dATwzZiT8tA/s1600/Lia+Wings+8.28.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yp97bbicaK8/UHMe9WXGm7I/AAAAAAAACWA/dATwzZiT8tA/s320/Lia+Wings+8.28.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
She also gets to take one of her toys with her each day to share for show and tell. She thinks this might be a great reason for mama and daddy to buy her some *new* toys, but we have convinced her that by the time her birthday (Nov.) and Christmas have passed, she will have plenty of new toys to share. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrJxp-7mdao/UHMe4l_hbLI/AAAAAAAACVw/5qYrnshyuWE/s1600/Lia+Playground+10.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GrJxp-7mdao/UHMe4l_hbLI/AAAAAAAACVw/5qYrnshyuWE/s320/Lia+Playground+10.2012.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<br />
The Pacific NW has had an unprecendented warm and dry fall thus far. Just beautiful and sunny, with temps on many days reaching into the 70s. Our new house has a community playground just a block and half away, and Lia has loved being able to ride her trike over there with mama or daddy to play on the slides. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILpF9Ixg2zc/UHMe20spbtI/AAAAAAAACVo/NSbS5ppmScs/s1600/Lia+and+Steve+10.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ILpF9Ixg2zc/UHMe20spbtI/AAAAAAAACVo/NSbS5ppmScs/s320/Lia+and+Steve+10.2012.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<br />
Today Steve and I celebrate six years since the day we met! What a wild ride it's been. We're looking forward to a family getaway weekend on the Oregon Coast in a couple of weeks. Then We have Lia's massive dental surgery to look forward (?) to on the 25th. However, the doctors say she should be in fine form for Halloween, and she is excited to be Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) this year! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4EhdbjnEZw/UHMe62Z_MaI/AAAAAAAACV4/TXUNCmr1BKI/s1600/Lia+pumpkin+10.2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4EhdbjnEZw/UHMe62Z_MaI/AAAAAAAACV4/TXUNCmr1BKI/s320/Lia+pumpkin+10.2012.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-31431109891268985702012-08-13T21:50:00.004-07:002012-08-13T21:50:54.570-07:00Summer 2012 - Where to begin...I just realized that I hadn't posted since Father's Day - goodness! It has been an incredibly busy summer for our family. It started with Steve's job, commute and work schedule being such that he was gone 14 hours a day, and we saw him very little - which was sad for Lia and I. We spent July 4th over at my parents' house on Quartermaster Harbor, and Daddy got off work just in time to join us in a front row seat for the Harbor fireworks show: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8Jilj4UOtU/UCnNw-jgJkI/AAAAAAAACTg/Zah2vS3A1Pg/s1600/July+4+2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a8Jilj4UOtU/UCnNw-jgJkI/AAAAAAAACTg/Zah2vS3A1Pg/s320/July+4+2012.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia wore her red, white and blue...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyzjyI47pus/UCnOZBwyQ6I/AAAAAAAACTw/BFlwZpMQrJo/s1600/Smores+7.4.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cyzjyI47pus/UCnOZBwyQ6I/AAAAAAAACTw/BFlwZpMQrJo/s320/Smores+7.4.12.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and later on we snacked on s'mores at Grandma's firepit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, a couple days later, Lia woke up with a swollen face and black eye. Knowing that she has some ongoing dental issues related to her cleft, we immediately took her up to children's hospital where she ended up having an emergency extraction of one of her molars. That was a rough day! But she was brave and very happy to receive a visit from the Tooth Fairy that night (an experience not many 3 yr old can boast about!) <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azlTakLKKK4/UCnTGUSc4jI/AAAAAAAACUU/foT_zREAzc0/s1600/Dental+Surgery+7.6.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azlTakLKKK4/UCnTGUSc4jI/AAAAAAAACUU/foT_zREAzc0/s320/Dental+Surgery+7.6.12.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sweet, brave girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our munchkin will require additional dental surgery under general anesthesia in October where they will fit many of her remaining molars with crowns (to stabilize them for the next couple of years) and do a couple more extractions. Poor girl, the Tooth Fairy will owe her BIGTIME after that one!<br />
<br />
Then we ended up spending the second half of July preparing to move. Yes, again. And hopefully the last time for a long time. The family whose home we'd been renting on the island returned from Europe and we decided that we needed to live closer to Steve's workplace so that we could actually see him once in awhile (imagine that!) So while we were very sad to leave the nearby grandparents, and Lia's wonderful school and teachers on Vashon, we felt like this was a move that needed to be made. We moved into our new home and neighborhood on August 2nd and have been busy getting Lia's room painted ("princess" pink of course!) She is very proud of it:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Z9nKdU_Akc/UCnWk-QLTII/AAAAAAAACUw/0-77bUaAJWo/s1600/Lia+and+friends+new+room+8.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" mda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Z9nKdU_Akc/UCnWk-QLTII/AAAAAAAACUw/0-77bUaAJWo/s400/Lia+and+friends+new+room+8.12.JPG" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The poor child has absolutely NO toys. ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We also went to Daddy's company picnic, where Lia tried her hand at some non-Olympic badminton:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tL7rSBputnM/UCnXCHuixLI/AAAAAAAACU4/ZzapnzwCexw/s1600/Lia+badminton+8.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tL7rSBputnM/UCnXCHuixLI/AAAAAAAACU4/ZzapnzwCexw/s400/Lia+badminton+8.12.JPG" width="297" /></a></div>
<br />
Summer has finally come to the Pacific Northwest and we've been enjoying temps in the 80s the past couple of weeks. Lia will start her second year of preschool at her new school on Sept. 4. I can't believe that is just around the corner! Hope everyone has had a fun and relaxing summer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-86410601109119554952012-06-17T15:40:00.002-07:002012-06-17T15:40:56.191-07:00Father's Day 2012This week marked the end of Lia's first year of preschool. I was sad to say goodbye to her wonderful teachers, her speech therapist and her PT for the summer. Lia has truly blossomed under their care and their dedication to her success has been truly above and beyond what I expected. A real blessing. Here is a pic of the mini rose bushes we took to each of them on the last day of school:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-rTSyUtf4Y/T95amgnDtxI/AAAAAAAACSc/J8QZ9iTJkXI/s1600/Last+day+of+school+6.13.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" pca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P-rTSyUtf4Y/T95amgnDtxI/AAAAAAAACSc/J8QZ9iTJkXI/s320/Last+day+of+school+6.13.12.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As mentioned in the last post, Lia, my mom and I traveled to Nashville over Memorial Day Weekend to see the director of Lia's first home in China - the <a href="http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org/" target="_blank">Starfish Foster Home</a>. Amanda is currently undergoing cancer treatment in Nashville, so about 25 families made the trek to Tennessee to get together that weekend. It was great - and very emotional - to finally be able to give Amanda a hug in person and thank her for all she did for Lia as a tiny, fragile, cleft baby. As in China, Lia was an amazing little traveler and did well (better than her mama!) on all the bumpy airline flights to and from Nashville. She slept on most of our five flights, or watched her portable DVD player.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXTQAx2UKBM/T95b47I9MFI/AAAAAAAACS8/95ctfNnhyBU/s1600/Lia+and+Grandma.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" pca="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXTQAx2UKBM/T95b47I9MFI/AAAAAAAACS8/95ctfNnhyBU/s320/Lia+and+Grandma.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia and Grandma on the plane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, I think the reunion itself was a bit too much overstimulation for our girl. Not sure whether it actually brought back memories for her, or whether being around that many people just caused some general anxiety, but she had a tough time during our stay. Shockingly, the one highlight for her was the hotel swimming pool! I wasn't sure what to expect, because during our China trip, Lia had zero interest in going in the swimming pools. But this time she was very brave, and with the help of mama and arm floaties, she practiced "swimming" (kicking her feet and dog paddling her arms). It was very cute!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YkBclU8qgaY/T95bnQpFhOI/AAAAAAAACSk/T6RCvhTt6P4/s1600/swimming.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" pca="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YkBclU8qgaY/T95bnQpFhOI/AAAAAAAACSk/T6RCvhTt6P4/s320/swimming.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming with Mama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today is Father's Day and unfortunately, Steve had to work. We will be celebrating my dad at dinner this evening, and then will celebrate with Steve once he gets home a little later tonight. His current commute is less than ideal - about two hours each way - which makes for some long days for him...and us. Hoping to find some better solutions for this during the summer. Below is a photo I just love of Steve and Lia. It pretty much sums up what a great daddy he is for our little girl.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3NFVKGoh_YM/T95bt4iUh-I/AAAAAAAACS0/5u7EuWGVskM/s1600/Daddy+tutu+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" pca="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3NFVKGoh_YM/T95bt4iUh-I/AAAAAAAACS0/5u7EuWGVskM/s400/Daddy+tutu+head.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and Lia playing dress-up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-68069968451990065862012-05-21T19:31:00.000-07:002012-06-03T09:15:48.263-07:00May Update & Starfish Reunion!Where on earth does the time go? How did it get to be May 21st already? I see my last post was Easter for goodness sakes! Our girl continues to learn and grow by leaps and bounds. Our life has been busy the last couple of months with Steve starting a new job, me continuing to work 30 hrs/wk and balance home and child care. My mom has been taking Lia 2.5 days/week to help me pack my work hours in, which has been a godsend (thanks mom!)<br />
<br />
We are currently searching and hoping to get into a more long-term housing situation in the next few months. We've been moving around a lot due to job changes, but we are ready for some stability for Lia (and ourselves) for the next few years and hope to put down some roots.<br />
<br />
Lia loves school and has really blossomed over the past six months since she started. I'm sad to see the school year come to and end. She doesn't really get the concept of "summer break" yet, so I know she is going to miss school over the summer. Here's a short video that her teacher got of her playing at school: <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kSrY9UGbdcc" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
We've been lucky to have some nice weather recently and have been spending some time at the park where Lia has overcome her fears of the slide and play equipment for the most part. She seems to particularly enjoy helping the younger toddlers and making sure they are safe. It's very sweet to watch her play the role of caregiver to the little ones. <br />
<br />
Our most exciting news is that we're headed to Nashville this weekend for Lia's reunion with her friends from China. <a href="http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org/" target="_blank">Starfish</a> families from across the U.S. are traveling to meet-up and see our kids reconnect for the first time since they lived at Starfish. There are sure to be some very emotional moments - but we are very excited to be going and feel very blessed to have the opportunity to connect and stay connected with these people from Lia's early life, as we know this is a luxury that most adoptive families never have.Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-61146937044941547582012-04-10T15:11:00.000-07:002012-04-10T15:11:25.576-07:00Easter 2012Today is April 10, 2012. It's hard to believe that five years ago today, my adoption paperwork was logged in with the Chinese Government, and I officially began my "wait" for Lia. Amazing. Those first three years seemed to crawl by so slowly, and yet the last two have seemingly flown by! <br />
<br />
This weekend we celebrated our second Easter with Lia. On Saturday we attended the local "Spring Fling" egg hunt and Lia got to meet the Easter Bunny herself. A sunny, 70-degree Easter is almost unheard of in Seattle. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBTS_rFhjVc/T4Stgv_sKrI/AAAAAAAACRY/XhY8emg-MhU/s1600/Lia+Playground.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XBTS_rFhjVc/T4Stgv_sKrI/AAAAAAAACRY/XhY8emg-MhU/s400/Lia+Playground.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxRwCjAmm6Y/T4SvtJDmztI/AAAAAAAACSI/Qb3spEYlBHM/s1600/Red+++Blue+=+Purple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxRwCjAmm6Y/T4SvtJDmztI/AAAAAAAACSI/Qb3spEYlBHM/s320/Red+++Blue+=+Purple.JPG" width="252" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57TwFQBggUY/T4StjpzlZHI/AAAAAAAACRg/tCWqHa24JhI/s1600/Lia+Hugging+Bunny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57TwFQBggUY/T4StjpzlZHI/AAAAAAAACRg/tCWqHa24JhI/s640/Lia+Hugging+Bunny.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6GhzTBVsII/T4Stouw08-I/AAAAAAAACRo/mLxuTyWZ4MQ/s1600/Lia+on+the+hunt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6GhzTBVsII/T4Stouw08-I/AAAAAAAACRo/mLxuTyWZ4MQ/s400/Lia+on+the+hunt.JPG" width="373" /></a></div><br />
On Sunday we had Easter dinner at my parents' house with my uncle and sister. Needless to say, Lia got LOTS of Easter goodies! She was a happy girl. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-26603405326931858652012-03-11T13:33:00.000-07:002012-03-11T13:33:52.143-07:00Working and Playing and Picture TakingOnce again, the weeks have passed without a blog entry! Where does the time go? We've been busy, busy, busy - lots of working and playing over the past six weeks. Lia is loving preschool and her speech is really continuing to blossom. As the weather continues to warm up here in the Pacific NW and we start to see streams of sunlight poking through the clouds on a more regular basis - here are a few of the highlights: <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P6gygEotQOQ/T10JhAEFT-I/AAAAAAAACPw/ZWL5YO9Ke0M/s1600/Lia+Mama+Linda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P6gygEotQOQ/T10JhAEFT-I/AAAAAAAACPw/ZWL5YO9Ke0M/s320/Lia+Mama+Linda.jpg" width="307" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First visit with "Auntie Linda" (my BFF from high school). Good times!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHjtRq8Lg0I/T10Jj7d8USI/AAAAAAAACP4/yosI20MU7cc/s1600/Lia+and+GG+2.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHjtRq8Lg0I/T10Jj7d8USI/AAAAAAAACP4/yosI20MU7cc/s320/Lia+and+GG+2.12.jpg" width="320" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Grandma Harriet's 90th Birthday Party</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qx6VmWWsl5A/T10JnmwmrTI/AAAAAAAACQA/IXb3LF_AKMk/s1600/Lia+Valentines+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qx6VmWWsl5A/T10JnmwmrTI/AAAAAAAACQA/IXb3LF_AKMk/s320/Lia+Valentines+Day.jpg" width="195" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing her computer skills on Valentine's Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5pL1nsFGw8/T10JrKXBqcI/AAAAAAAACQI/OZ6Hcw5wtFo/s1600/Lia+on+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5pL1nsFGw8/T10JrKXBqcI/AAAAAAAACQI/OZ6Hcw5wtFo/s400/Lia+on+Beach.jpg" width="307" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March - Low-tide beach exploration on Vashon Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_qf7tSGoA0/T10JxCeD-pI/AAAAAAAACQQ/yip_QpZQR1k/s1600/FJ+Lia+Lighthouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k_qf7tSGoA0/T10JxCeD-pI/AAAAAAAACQQ/yip_QpZQR1k/s400/FJ+Lia+Lighthouse.JPG" width="400" yda="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick trip to the lighthouse/beach after school</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Blw7C2Wc_kU/T10JL62cl4I/AAAAAAAACPo/4cql6JQPDR0/s1600/Lia%2BSwing%2B2.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Blw7C2Wc_kU/T10JL62cl4I/AAAAAAAACPo/4cql6JQPDR0/s400/Lia%2BSwing%2B2.12.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a rare sunny day in February on her backyard swing<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-15828115729447400392012-02-17T11:38:00.001-08:002012-02-17T11:40:08.039-08:00"Hugs for Amanda" Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j79-uRJoZgw/Tz6n84yvu9I/AAAAAAAACPY/MLCEYihC3Rg/s1600/Amanda%2520de%2520Lange-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j79-uRJoZgw/Tz6n84yvu9I/AAAAAAAACPY/MLCEYihC3Rg/s1600/Amanda%2520de%2520Lange-1.jpg" yda="true" /></a></div>This is Amanda de Lange. She is the founder and director of the Starfish Foster Home in Xi'an, China. As most of you know, our daughter Lia was adopted from Starfish. <br />
This is Amanda's story:<br />
<br />
<em>In September 2005, Amanda de Lange founded Starfish Children's Services to save children who have special health needs that are the most at-risk in its partner orphanages. After nursing them back to health through solid nutrition and a loving environment, Starfish organizes and pays for the children’s surgeries before providing post-operative care. After the surgeries, the goal shifts to getting these children in the adoption pipeline so that they can join a stable, loving family.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
<em>At Starfish, Amanda has taken care of 150 children to date, arranged more than 175 surgeries and had 66 international adoptions, so our little starfishes live all over the globe: the US, Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Australia and in China. Starfish currently has 49 babies under the age of 3 and a half at the foster home. Amanda is an amazing woman with an amazing vision. She has always maintained that the purpose of Starfish is, “For this child, I will make a difference…..”</em><br />
<br />
<strong>Now, Amanda needs our help:</strong><br />
<br />
To our great sorrow, Amanda was admitted to a hospital in Xi’an recently for tests, and the doctors have determined that she has advanced stages of uterine cancer (stage 4/type B). She has begun chemotherapy and Amanda is receiving top medical care and will continue to receive the best treatment and care possible. <br />
<br />
However, without medical insurance, her medical costs will be extremely expensive. Friends and loved ones worldwide are being invited to help cover the costs of her medical needs. For one who has given her life so unselfishly for the lives of babies, for the life of each “one” – including our Lia - this is our time to rally around her and make a difference in her life. <br />
<br />
We invite you to consider making a donation in Amanda's name to help with her expenses. You can go to the Starfish website at <a href="http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org/">http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org/</a>. Click on the orange Donate Now button in the upper right hand corner. Dedicate your donation “In Honor of” and type in "HUGS FOR AMANDA" in the box.<br />
Help us make the "Hugs for Amanda" campaign a huge success and let Amanda know that we are here for her by sharing this information on your blogs, on Facebook, on the Yahoo groups you belong to and with your family and friends. Starfish will continue to post updates on their website about Amanda’s situation. Thank you for your help in this hour of her greatest need. <br />
<br />
<strong>CARDS AND WELL WISHES TO AMANDA:</strong><br />
<br />
Jeannie Butler, a very close friend to Amanda and major supporter of Starfish, is going to China to be with Amanda - she will leave on March 1st. If you would like to send Amanda well-wishes in the form of a card or letter, please send them to Jeannie Butler to be received Jeannie no later than February 27, 2012 to the following address: <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Jeannie Butler</div><div style="text-align: center;">Caring for China's Orphans</div><div style="text-align: center;">PO Box 210003</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nashville, TN 37221</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w3A3ioZc1sw" width="560"></iframe>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-45787954272530586002012-01-16T12:09:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:09:37.420-08:002012 Begins!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Two weeks into the New Year and Lia has already come down with, and overcome another cold. All it took was two days back at preschool and she was down for a week, but thankfully she has now bounced back and we can (hopefully) get back into our pre-holiday routine - just in time for Chinese New Year next week!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lia's Christmas extended way beyond December 25th. She continued to receive gifts and cards well into the new year. Needless to say, this little girl is well-loved and doted on by many friends and family near and far! Thank you so much to everyone who helped make our holiday special...</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GzwBNWJErJw/TxSCDGBmNaI/AAAAAAAACNU/hBNvz7Hjn9k/s1600/Lia+Xmas+Jammies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GzwBNWJErJw/TxSCDGBmNaI/AAAAAAAACNU/hBNvz7Hjn9k/s400/Lia+Xmas+Jammies.JPG" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another package from Grandma Wall...Tinkerbelle jammies - YAY!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e4bNjROA5Xo/TxSCN1F-ZVI/AAAAAAAACNk/lAAlGvkZD88/s1600/Lia+Pillow+Pet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" kba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e4bNjROA5Xo/TxSCN1F-ZVI/AAAAAAAACNk/lAAlGvkZD88/s640/Lia+Pillow+Pet.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving her oversized Unicorn pillow pet...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXRkB3A64fg/TxSCUaYjt4I/AAAAAAAACNs/fLCn5BXo_xo/s1600/Pony+Love.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JXRkB3A64fg/TxSCUaYjt4I/AAAAAAAACNs/fLCn5BXo_xo/s640/Pony+Love.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those eyes - is this kid gorgeous or what??? <br />
This was after a long day at preschool...and with a cold coming on...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sb3ID3VELdU/TxSCb8KQ6qI/AAAAAAAACN0/jaTvqZHL8aM/s1600/Lia+Snow+1.15.2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sb3ID3VELdU/TxSCb8KQ6qI/AAAAAAAACN0/jaTvqZHL8aM/s640/Lia+Snow+1.15.2012.JPG" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First snow in Seattle this year! </td></tr>
</tbody></table><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mkcgIwSTYqc" width="560"></iframe>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-7113675941154074962011-12-26T19:15:00.000-08:002011-12-26T19:15:00.180-08:00Christmas 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRGsVVclyQA/Tvk3KBcJwfI/AAAAAAAACMo/ViUnMOfEos0/s1600/Lia+w+Santa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hRGsVVclyQA/Tvk3KBcJwfI/AAAAAAAACMo/ViUnMOfEos0/s400/Lia+w+Santa.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First time visiting Santa!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiZ1rqdZDcM/Tvk3QsygmSI/AAAAAAAACMw/gxDvPsTmwlU/s1600/Xmas+Eve.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiZ1rqdZDcM/Tvk3QsygmSI/AAAAAAAACMw/gxDvPsTmwlU/s400/Xmas+Eve.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christmas Eve fun</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nj7DR42G-6U/Tvk3VhCqLMI/AAAAAAAACM4/um8dmUeD7rg/s1600/Xmas+Morning+Pony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nj7DR42G-6U/Tvk3VhCqLMI/AAAAAAAACM4/um8dmUeD7rg/s400/Xmas+Morning+Pony.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our happy girl on Christmas morning...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SbZS6TbbuEQ/Tvk3ZC7_FsI/AAAAAAAACNA/T1tNK0HXNzk/s1600/2011+Xmas+Card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SbZS6TbbuEQ/Tvk3ZC7_FsI/AAAAAAAACNA/T1tNK0HXNzk/s400/2011+Xmas+Card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Merry Christmas from our family to yours!</div>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-37149579943318851742011-11-15T15:30:00.000-08:002011-11-15T15:30:08.829-08:00Halloween, Birthday, and Preschool!So much activity to catch up on over the past couple of weeks! No wonder I can't find time to blog...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3kFoGEsMaY/TsLyq-9M3tI/AAAAAAAACLU/Q5NXH2AuLzI/s1600/LiaBelle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3kFoGEsMaY/TsLyq-9M3tI/AAAAAAAACLU/Q5NXH2AuLzI/s320/LiaBelle2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>First of all, Lia celebrated her second Halloween with us and this year dressed up as "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast. She decided on this costume a couple months ago and I was glad she didn't end up changing her mind at the last minute. She understood and was able to say "trick or treat" (or "rick or ree" as she says it). We were pleasantly surprised that the small town where we now live celebrates Halloween in a BIG way! They close off a six block radius of main street for three hours and all the businesses stay open late to give out candy to the kids. Some businesses even do group-themed costumes. It seems like the entire population turned out for this event. I'd never seen so many folks in town at once! My parents, sister, and uncle Dave all joined Steve, Lia and I for trick or treating. It was a fun night.<br />
<br />
Next up? Lia's 3rd Birthday, which we celebrated last Saturday. She again wanted to wear her Belle costume, but this time the theme was (again, her decision) "Purple, Princess, Pony" (her three favorite things currently). The party was a great success with lots of extended family and friends present for her big day. <br />
<br />
The biggest moment (for me) was watching her blow out her own birthday candles. Redirecting air flow to her mouth (from her nose) has been a big goal in speech therapy the past several months, so it was awesome to see her blow air with enough force to extinguish those three candles. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4IDAGI8V0I/TsL0cijxenI/AAAAAAAACMU/gSwz-StFeNY/s1600/LiaCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" nda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4IDAGI8V0I/TsL0cijxenI/AAAAAAAACMU/gSwz-StFeNY/s400/LiaCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">After the big party, we were lucky enough to have won tickets (for the second year in a row!) to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live, so we headed downtown and took in the big show. Needless to say, we had a very tired little girl by the end of the night... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jrLL4dcqvXM/TsL0ISggdlI/AAAAAAAACMM/a2nnwfv3YXQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jrLL4dcqvXM/TsL0ISggdlI/AAAAAAAACMM/a2nnwfv3YXQ/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Last (but definitely not least), Lia started preschool on Monday! This was a big deal because she had to be three in order to qualify for the school's early preschool program, which is communication-intensive and integrates kids with speech and hearing deficits into the same classroom with "typically developing" three year olds. During her time there (3 days/week, 2.5 hrs/day), she will also receive two half-hour sessions of one-on-one speech therapy with the therapist she has been seeing the past four weeks (who we love!) All in all, a terrific situation for us. We are so happy to have found this program in our local community! <br />
<br />
Definitely a busy and exciting few weeks around here, with only more to come as she gets used to school, and the big holiday season just around the corner. She's already excited everytime she sees Santa and his "ponies" (reindeer). "Rudolph, the red-nosed PONY..."Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-25120612067292529062011-10-15T11:48:00.003-07:002011-10-15T12:04:18.632-07:00Fall is Upon Us<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2i0ABWFFvSc/TpnSgtrtQKI/AAAAAAAACJc/EQUMAqj-Eh0/s1600/Lia+Pumpkin+10.6.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2i0ABWFFvSc/TpnSgtrtQKI/AAAAAAAACJc/EQUMAqj-Eh0/s200/Lia+Pumpkin+10.6.11.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>We are coming up on a big season for our family. For us, this includes Halloween, Lia's Birthday, Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas and New Year's...all within the span of two months...Zoinks! <br />
<br />
It seems like it's been forever since I found the time to blog. Things have been super busy at work and lately many days I feel like - although I'm only paid to work part-time - I'm really not doing a good job at either my job or being a mommy. I guess all moms feel this way. If I could only clone myself...or have more hours in the day. *sigh*<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKzVu4sTMd0/TpnS79EsSkI/AAAAAAAACJ8/O3kRDyvGEC8/s1600/Lia+Trike+Fairy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKzVu4sTMd0/TpnS79EsSkI/AAAAAAAACJ8/O3kRDyvGEC8/s320/Lia+Trike+Fairy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>As I mentioned, Lia's 3rd birthday is quickly coming upon us and people have been asking me whats she's currently "into"... Let me tell you, she's very opinionated! We still have three purple tutu dresses in high rotation, now joined by a pair of purple fairy wings, and a purple princess tiara (which are usually paired with purple rubber rainboots!) She goes around the house collecting purple items and carrying them around together in her purple Halloween candy basket. We go to restaurants and she pulls the purple crayon out of every kids cup or box of crayons and asks me to put it in the diaperbag for safekeeping. She only wants a purple blanket on her bed, and picks the purple Fruit Loops out of her cereal and hands the rest to me. Do you see a theme here? <br />
<br />
She has specifically requested a "Purple Pony Princess Party" for her birthday. In addition to the color purple, My Pretty Pony and Disney Princesses are her favorite things on earth (even better when they come in purple!). Unicorns are also high on her list. It seems Mickey and Tinkerbell are now considered "for babies" and she has moved on from those previously beloved characters... Lia also has developed an affinity for "kitties". She likes to crawl around on the floor and play kitty and "meow" to us. She loves visiting grandma's kitty (when it will cooperate and let itself be seen!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urAdGciCY5w/TpnUn220XAI/AAAAAAAACKU/nerEJ67cR4I/s1600/Belle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urAdGciCY5w/TpnUn220XAI/AAAAAAAACKU/nerEJ67cR4I/s1600/Belle.jpg" /></a></div>All this said, she shocked the heck out of me when we started talking about Halloween and she said she wanted to be "Belle" from Beauty & the Beast. WHAT??? She's never seen "Beauty and the Beast"...but more importantly, Belle wears a yellow dress, not purple!!! But over and over again she has confirmed that Belle is who she wants to be. I asked her if she wanted to be Belle because Belle has brown hair like Lia. She said, "no, brown hair like mama." That made this mama's heart sing! So Belle she will be...<br />
<br />
We've made several visits to Seattle Children's Hospital over the past month to get Lia set up with all her new specialists on this side of the mountains. All the providers we've visited have been wonderful. We learned that our girl currently weighs a whoppin 28 lbs. and is now 3 feet tall! Long and thin for sure, but healthy and while still picky with food, she is eating more now than she was in the past. Her blood and liver tests all came back with the normal range. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We had a six-hour marathon "cleft team" evaluation last Monday. The majority of the news we received was good, and it was great to get a second opinion on what we'd already heard from our providers in Spokane. Lia's hearing checked out the same, with very minor conductive hearing loss in her left ear, and normal hearing in her right ear. We were disappointed to learn that her palate does have tiny hole in it again, at the very top of the arch (right where it happened last time), but this one is much smaller, it's barely the size of a tip of a pen, so the doctors aren't going to worry about repairing it for now. The ENT does have some concern about the amount of air coming out of her nose when she talks, and believes an endoscopy and possible p-flap surgery may be required in the future to close the gap at the back of her throat, but we all agreed to let her work through speech therapy for another year before we decide whether that is really necessary. So as long as her ear tubes stay put, we *should* be able to go surgery-free this year! YAY. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovd8GdoFgNw/TpnS0puGCYI/AAAAAAAACJ0/Or-Hz1PGurs/s1600/Lia+Fairy+Princess+Boots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ovd8GdoFgNw/TpnS0puGCYI/AAAAAAAACJ0/Or-Hz1PGurs/s320/Lia+Fairy+Princess+Boots.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>After eight weeks in transition, we finally got Lia started in speech therapy again, and I couldn't be happier. We saw a speech therapist at the hospital, who was terrific, but we were really hoping to find someone closer to home (since it's at least an hour commute for us each way to the hospital). I was so pleased to find out that our local elementary school has a great speech therapist we can see 2x/week right now while Lia is still 2, and then once she turns 3 next month, she will qualify for the school's early preschool 3x/week and her speech sessions will be built-in to her mornings at preschool! As it turns out, the speech therapist recently moved back to Washington from the Denver area too and we had actually worked in some of the same professional circles there, so that was a great "sign" for me that I was making the right decision about all of this. Another YAY. <br />
<br />
We were able to visit the preschool classroom one day when the students weren't there. Lia got to look around the room, meet the teacher, and play with some of the toys. Since then we've been going to the school for her speech sessions (in the therapy office), she has been exposed to all the kids running around, the school bell, and all the other action a K-5 school has going on a daily basis. One thing I love about the small town where we live, is that there is a dad (or teacher?) that stands out front of the school while the kids are arriving, playing bluegrass on his banjo and greeting everyone. It makes for such a happy, welcoming atmosphere. You can't help but smile. Again, all this just makes me feel really good about the decision we made to move and to live in this town. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSJKRB-7Ju8/TpnTJF__x4I/AAAAAAAACKM/sgwpcyWBV78/s1600/Tracy+Lia+9.30.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSJKRB-7Ju8/TpnTJF__x4I/AAAAAAAACKM/sgwpcyWBV78/s200/Tracy+Lia+9.30.11.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>In other news, my sister <a href="http://www.teamtd.blogspot.com/">Tracy</a> finished up chemo a few weeks ago, and her tests have come back clear from cancer, so that is awesome news! As you can see from the photo at left, Lia loves her Aunt Tracy.<br />
<br />
Also, Steve and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary together last weekend. Time flies...sort of? In some ways it feels like we've known each other much longer than five years. Same with Lia. She's only been home 13 months, but it's hard to remember life before she was in our lives. I feel so lucky to have both of these amazing people in my life. Very blessed. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJrsulyLPDU/TpnXf-2oC1I/AAAAAAAACKc/2bzYrUTo5vQ/s1600/Merry+Go+Round+The+Fair+9.22.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJrsulyLPDU/TpnXf-2oC1I/AAAAAAAACKc/2bzYrUTo5vQ/s320/Merry+Go+Round+The+Fair+9.22.11.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I almost forgot to mention...Lia had a blast going on her very first carousel ride last month! My friend Megan came to town and we all trekked to the Western Washington State Fair for a few hours of fun. Lia got to see real horses and ponies, and visit the animals in the petting zoo... She had her first cotton candy, and took a ride on a mini choo-choo train - but the merry-go-round was definitely the biggest hit! Each time she picked out a white horse (with a purple saddle of course!) She rode it six times in all. Thank goodness Steve was willing to go round and round in circles over and over again in the heat of the day, because just going on it once made this motion-sick mama kind of dizzy. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-58148662781529830382011-09-20T14:49:00.000-07:002011-09-20T14:49:22.167-07:00Getting AdjustedIt's been almost a month since I last blogged. Where is the time going??? We believed that our move west would simplify our lives (closer to family, work, smaller house, smaller community) - but I just feel like we've been even busier! Of course, the first few weeks post-move are always a mess, and even moreso with a toddler. Then there is job of getting all Lia's medical records transferred and set up with new doctors, which in itself could be a full-time job. Dealing with insurance companies, state agencies, and billing depts. to obtain the right referrals in the right sequence, and to the right new doc's and therapists. I'm still wading my way through it all. We are getting closer on having her back in speech therapy (she's now gone seven weeks without), and we have initial meetings set up with all the various cleft "team" doctors she needs to see, since in October she will be six months post-surgery from her last palate repair. <br />
<br />
We have also made a little bit of time for fun. I have been lucky to become part of the larger group of "Starfish Families" on Facebook. All of us have children adopted from the <a href="http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org/">Starfish Foster Home</a> in Xi'an. Through this group I learned that one of Lia's foster brothers was recently placed with a family in Vancouver B.C. It so happened that his family was coming down to Seattle for the annual Dragonboat Races, so we were able to meet up with them for awhile one recent afternoon:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TL2rOzepW9g/TnkI18gFIII/AAAAAAAACHE/gVKK_Gymm9w/s1600/SharonRiverJulieLia+Happy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TL2rOzepW9g/TnkI18gFIII/AAAAAAAACHE/gVKK_Gymm9w/s400/SharonRiverJulieLia+Happy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud mamas and their "Starfish"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hOGQdceSsw/TnkJKH_4KwI/AAAAAAAACHQ/i4dWUSxFRzk/s1600/LetsGo+Lia+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--hOGQdceSsw/TnkJKH_4KwI/AAAAAAAACHQ/i4dWUSxFRzk/s400/LetsGo+Lia+River.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia scooping up sand with River's sandal!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I had the awesome opportunity to finally meet a friend of mine from the "adoption blog" world. Kim and I started the China adoption process around the same time back in 2006. Kim lives in Tennessee, and went on to adopt her daughter from Kazakhstan in 2009, and of course we brought Lia home in 2010. How fun that Kim and her daughter were out in Seattle for a family wedding, and we were able to meet up with our girls for dinner one night! It is almost surreal, when you see these children in person. The hopes and dreams of a family-fulfilled. It was also very cute to see Lia interact with Kim's daughter, (who is 7). Lia is generally shy around kids her own age, but she really warmed up and had fun that night with a friend who was a little bit older. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4tAUmGsxb4/TnkJD1L0KII/AAAAAAAACHM/RLxpCx6axYg/s1600/Alina+and+Lia+posing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4tAUmGsxb4/TnkJD1L0KII/AAAAAAAACHM/RLxpCx6axYg/s400/Alina+and+Lia+posing.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Lia continues to come out of her shell more and more. She is using more words (especially the word "NO"). She is starting to learn how to spit when brushing her teeth, and she helped me in the kitchen for the first time making brownies the other night! We've been going to the local library storytimes, and while it's much smaller than the group we had in Spokane, this seems to work better for Lia. She is more engaged in the books, and also more willing to participate in the silly songs and dancing. We are back at square one on potty-training. She really is just not that interested - at all - right now. She is not motivated by stickers or M&M's or "big girl" panties...so I figure I'll let that slide for a bit and try again in a few weeks. I'm definitely ready to be done with diapers, but as the doctors and others have told me, there's no point in pushing her if she's not ready. Here are some more pics of her many "firsts"...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpcLsvgTayI/TnkJPid-PhI/AAAAAAAACHU/2Jsgmgkwjwo/s1600/Lia+Daddys+Shoulders.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpcLsvgTayI/TnkJPid-PhI/AAAAAAAACHU/2Jsgmgkwjwo/s400/Lia+Daddys+Shoulders.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First shoulder ride with Daddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_QdfgiHgx4/TnkJUT9ztDI/AAAAAAAACHY/KzpwrpGavI0/s1600/Lia+Nightie+Precious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f_QdfgiHgx4/TnkJUT9ztDI/AAAAAAAACHY/KzpwrpGavI0/s400/Lia+Nightie+Precious.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Princess Nightgown</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tufu6HuPlQs/TnkJW4TA4qI/AAAAAAAACHc/jT2T2-ZQyho/s1600/First+Pony+Ride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tufu6HuPlQs/TnkJW4TA4qI/AAAAAAAACHc/jT2T2-ZQyho/s400/First+Pony+Ride.JPG" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First pony ride at the grocery store</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-86580134766060176502011-08-28T11:05:00.000-07:002011-08-28T11:05:22.360-07:00Some Pics of our New PlaceWe made the move back to western Washington a couple weeks ago. We are finally starting to get organized and unpacked. Moving is such a hassle - ugh. But overall, we are very happy that we made the move. Lia loves the new house! Rather than "growing pains", we have experienced some "shrinking pains" since we downsized quite a bit for this move. This house is half the square feet of our house in eastern WA, but it has an open layout, and we are making it work. The views of the surrounding wooded ravine and towering evergreens are beautiful, and we are just five minutes from the shores of Puget Sound. This town has a slower pace of life, and we appreciate that, but the city is also only 20 minutes away, which allows us the best of both worlds. We feel very blessed to be living here, and the weather has been beautiful... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCDq4JPPWto/TlqCBefpCrI/AAAAAAAACGo/ut8R-gH2aOk/s1600/Front+Door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCDq4JPPWto/TlqCBefpCrI/AAAAAAAACGo/ut8R-gH2aOk/s400/Front+Door.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fNZbzPLDYw/TlqCE6n-b-I/AAAAAAAACGs/1RTH6ZF9jz4/s1600/Backyard+Garage+and+Garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7fNZbzPLDYw/TlqCE6n-b-I/AAAAAAAACGs/1RTH6ZF9jz4/s400/Backyard+Garage+and+Garden.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xdutpsKJx8/TlqCLl4Pf_I/AAAAAAAACGw/6SO9r9b0uAA/s1600/Ravine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4xdutpsKJx8/TlqCLl4Pf_I/AAAAAAAACGw/6SO9r9b0uAA/s400/Ravine.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQ53uxjWS9w/TlqCPsPO9pI/AAAAAAAACG0/lEolYBiuqCY/s1600/Shed+and+Swing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQ53uxjWS9w/TlqCPsPO9pI/AAAAAAAACG0/lEolYBiuqCY/s400/Shed+and+Swing.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-601-M-mQHQ4/TlqCvv4lFzI/AAAAAAAACG8/sDPnKgw6N4E/s1600/Living+Room+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-601-M-mQHQ4/TlqCvv4lFzI/AAAAAAAACG8/sDPnKgw6N4E/s320/Living+Room+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxyhKTare6w/TlqCziVDJtI/AAAAAAAACHA/8hhK-Z3fqzg/s1600/Pink+Gingham+Dress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxyhKTare6w/TlqCziVDJtI/AAAAAAAACHA/8hhK-Z3fqzg/s400/Pink+Gingham+Dress.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-7926860541576614482011-08-27T13:33:00.002-07:002011-08-27T15:52:11.198-07:00Our American Citizen...One Year Ago & Today!A year ago today, our plane from China landed in Seattle and Lia officially became an American citizen. My, how our sweet baby girl has grown and changed in the past year! Last September we had a developmental assessment done. At the time, Lia was 22 mos. old and her only word was "mama". Her hearing was 85% blocked, and she came in at a 17 mos. old level for gross and fine motor skills. Yesterday we had a second assessment, and our lively, chatty, 33 mos. old is now doing things that many 3 yr olds can't do! The only area where she is behind is speech (which we will continue to work on in the coming years). You've come a long way baby - WE LOVE YOU! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frYp81EWXFc/TllQ8KSpkBI/AAAAAAAACGg/XhX-UruyHKU/s1600/LiaSlide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frYp81EWXFc/TllQ8KSpkBI/AAAAAAAACGg/XhX-UruyHKU/s640/LiaSlide2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lia's first time at a local park...one year ago tomorrow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rsBCbi1v8yk/TllRAmug5aI/AAAAAAAACGk/nP5h76Oqu64/s1600/Happy+Girl+8.27.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rsBCbi1v8yk/TllRAmug5aI/AAAAAAAACGk/nP5h76Oqu64/s640/Happy+Girl+8.27.11.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">...and in our backyard on her very own swing - TODAY! </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-45498055421221168652011-08-17T12:15:00.001-07:002011-08-17T12:16:33.198-07:00Our First Family Day!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5atN7ot3fw/TkwSq8IF46I/AAAAAAAACGc/CtrrvLlvAFY/s1600/Lia+Before+and+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5atN7ot3fw/TkwSq8IF46I/AAAAAAAACGc/CtrrvLlvAFY/s640/Lia+Before+and+After.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Lia: Then and Now</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We successfully got moved across the state last weekend, and now we just have a huge mess of boxes on our hands. With all the craziness, I didn't have a chance to blog about our first Family Day on Monday. We DID celebrate (Chinese dinner with Grandma & Grandpa). It was low-key and perfect. Lia doesn't really "get it" yet, but it was certainly important for <u>us</u> to mark the occasion. She was just thrilled with the Disney Princess balloon that grandpa brought for her. :)</div><br />
A lot of adoptive families celebrate "Gotcha Day", but I deliberately chose the term "Family Day". Mainly, because our "gotcha" moment in Xi'an wasn't really something to celebrate. Of course we will always remember that moment, but it was intense and upsetting for Lia and for us... She was terrified, sad, and screaming, and we were nervous and worried and sad for her. Not exactly a moment you want to "celebrate" for all time...<br />
<br />
The term "Family Day" just makes more sense for us. It is the day we became a family...and that IS definitely something to celebrate! Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-91723833681094284172011-08-10T16:03:00.000-07:002011-08-10T16:03:44.859-07:00Yep! It's Happening Again...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_hF9kl9OJc/TkMOBmmXcvI/AAAAAAAACGU/GsOCMiCEHB8/s1600/Moving+8.1.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_hF9kl9OJc/TkMOBmmXcvI/AAAAAAAACGU/GsOCMiCEHB8/s320/Moving+8.1.11.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>That's right, we're on the move again! For those who have been following this blog since the very beginning (Nov. 2006) - this will be my sixth move in five years...*sigh*. This time however, it's not because of a job. It's just a quality of life issue. While we've enjoyed our three years in eastern Washington, we are ready to head back to the west side of the state. My job is headquartered there (although I'll still be working part-time from home for the most part), and Steve is able to run his consulting business from anywhere - so given that our current landlord decided to sell the house we've been leasing, we had to make the decision to move to another house here in town, or move back closer to family and friends on the west side of the state.<br />
<br />
It was not an easy decision. Moving is always expensive, and because all of Lia's medical providers are here, the thought of setting up new relationships with all new doctors and therapists was daunting. But with the help of some great contacts here in town, I've been able to make connections on the west side which I feel will be good for Lia. We were also sad about leaving our local friends who traveled with us to China last year, but we hope they will visit us at our new home so our girls (and we!) can stay connected. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYn5geJnCKk/TkMOMCkj0_I/AAAAAAAACGY/QeMyjOUfAqE/s1600/Lia+Smiling+7.27.11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bYn5geJnCKk/TkMOMCkj0_I/AAAAAAAACGY/QeMyjOUfAqE/s320/Lia+Smiling+7.27.11.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>I was a bit worried about how Lia would handle all the hustle and bustle around the house. Packing and moving boxes, various rooms and surroundings changing...but she has not seemed the least bit stressed about it. We've told her that we are moving to a new house - mama, daddy, Lia, the dogs - and all her toys, and her bed, and our TV and all the food, etc. and she seems OK with it so far. I'm not sure she really understands it yet, but so far, so good. <br />
<br />
I think I've had the hardest time with all of it. I don't like feeling "pushed" out of my home, especially my daughter's first home with us. I also took a nasty fall while packing last week and ended up at the ER! Let this be a lesson to you all - never underestimate the damage that can be done by slipping onto your bathroom floor. A sprained ankle, bruised tailbone, and big bump on the head later...UGH! It could have been a lot worse, and I am thankful that it wasn't, but I am still sore 10 days later... <br />
<br />
In better health news, at Lia's visit to her ENT last week, her palate was looking really good (still 100% closed) and her audiology tests came positive as well. Her right ear appears to have perfect hearing, while her left still shows a little bit of impairment (but not too far outside the "normal" range). Hooray!<br />
<br />
We also finished our final 12-month post-placement report with our social worker two weeks ago. This fulfills our final requirement with the Chinese government. I was thrilled to send along four terrific photos of our happy, smiling girl for the government adoption officials to see. It's hard to believe that one year ago today we were boarding a plane to China!<br />
Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6711254896677168836.post-64981654204664311842011-07-17T21:53:00.000-07:002011-07-17T21:53:19.233-07:00Splish Splashing Away!Way up here in the Northwest, we've had a cool summer thus far. Too cold for an unheated pool anyway. We bought a kiddie pool for Lia last summer before we left for China, but by the time we got home it was September and the weather was already cooling down. So we were happy to bring it out this weekend, our first truly warm weekend this year - and Lia loved it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xt7fwamlEzo/TiO7wmuaHKI/AAAAAAAACF8/Vo-nlRil_PE/s1600/Lia+Pool+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xt7fwamlEzo/TiO7wmuaHKI/AAAAAAAACF8/Vo-nlRil_PE/s400/Lia+Pool+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfzxmLI_2vU/TiO71R0WamI/AAAAAAAACGA/QDsLPferAT8/s1600/Lia+pool+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfzxmLI_2vU/TiO71R0WamI/AAAAAAAACGA/QDsLPferAT8/s400/Lia+pool+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0I_VA6BGqI/TiO74EGppqI/AAAAAAAACGE/XQ4-Aoss5No/s1600/Lia+pool+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b0I_VA6BGqI/TiO74EGppqI/AAAAAAAACGE/XQ4-Aoss5No/s400/Lia+pool+4.JPG" width="390" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OT_alOzjS6w/TiO76QAwDiI/AAAAAAAACGI/oKTUj-Rv39I/s1600/Lia+Pool+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OT_alOzjS6w/TiO76QAwDiI/AAAAAAAACGI/oKTUj-Rv39I/s400/Lia+Pool+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Julie and Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08300324052366689241noreply@blogger.com3