Puerto Rico slide show

Here goes...I'm testing out the embedded slideshow feature from Picasaweb. See how this works. These are pictures that were taken by Raul while we were down in Puerto Rico over New Years. (From the quality of the pictures, I guess it's pretty obvious that I didn't take them!)

Our prolific reader, the nose eater.

N. has always been very interested in books. She's getting to the point now where she will sit in her room and take every book out of her bookcase and go through each one in sequence. Of course, they all end up on the floor in her room, but at least she's reading. She also is pretending to read now, and will point to words and sentences and make up sounds and words. I caught her in this video reading to her doll. Oh, and don't ask me why she pretends to bite her doll's nose off and eat it. She's a little crazy like that sometimes...

I am obligated

When she grows up and comes to the realization that she is, in fact, a Yankees fan like her father, she may never forgive me for this. Until then, she'll remain an oblivious toddler.

She's two!

We can't believe how fast the last year has gone. She is growing up too fast, as they say. They who? We had a party on Sunday with the whole family to celebrate her big TWO. The day started out so good...she slept great, played all morning, and even fell asleep for her nap at the perfect time to wake up rested and happy for her early afternoon party. Yeah right...it was downhill from there.

When she did wake up, she became a monster! She wouldn't sit to eat, she wouldn't go to anyone but me, she cried when anyone else came around her, and she didn't even enjoy opening her gifts. I think she might have been feeling a little sick and with all the people around she just wasn't digging it. So much for showing off our cute little happy girl. Just to prove she can be happy and sweet, here's a video of her two days later, on her real Birthday day.

What a change

Can this really be the same child??? What a drastic change I notice when I look back over her referral pictures, pictures from when we were in China, and then her most recent pictures. She's turning into a big little girl now. Knowing her now and how she reacts, we can see how scared and shut-down she was on our adoption day. The blank look on her face is her scared look, and of course who could blame her with all these strange people around! She probably just wanted to be back in her familiar stainless steel crib in the room full of crying infants. Then I look at the little personality that she is now - full of fun, mischievous, loving, and oh so BUSY, and it's hard to imagine this is the same child.

We still like her a lot...

anything with a steering wheel

She loves to drive...or at least pretend to drive. Everytime she goes by something with a steering wheel she points at it frantically and makes her "driving" motion with her hand. It doesn't matter if it is a car, truck, riding lawn mower in Home Depot, or a tractor - she wants to steer it.

New Years in Puerto Rico

We decided to be brave and attempt a trip down to PR to visit C's family for New Years. N did really well on the plane and was a real trooper, despite the airline's delays and getting into San Juan much later than we had planned. Because of all my business travel, we were able to get an upgrade to first class - which was SO much nicer for us. The extra room was a great blessing since N was able to wander around the seats a lot easier.

C's family thoroughly enjoyed their visit. It was the first time her father and brother had met N, and they immediately fell in love with her. C's sister was also visiting from Tokyo, so she got to spend some quality time with her "Titi" also.

Her Spanish comprehension is really amazing already. She seems to understand everything they were saying to her - or at least was able to fake it pretty good (like her father!) She always wanted to be outside: chasing the small lizards around, watching the ants, or running around the yard. She really had a good time and with all the exercise, playing, and running around she pretty much just collapsed every night - which we enjoyed.