Happy, happy birthday baby!

Our little girl is a year old! She didn't have the best day since she didn't sleep all night then had today's nap cut short! It wasn't until after 3:00 that I discovered a new tooth about to break through, no wonder she was a bit irritable! After some tylenol, anbesol, and a bottle she was a new person. Our neighbors (the Newton's) stopped by for a piece of cake and helped it to feel a little more festive around here. It was anawfully quiet birthday though.
It is hard to explain, but there is a cetain connection between her birth mother and I that is impossible to ignore on this important day. I felt like I needed to do something and yet I really wanted it to remain personal (between me and her other mother - figuratively). So this morning I lit a candle and let it burn all day until it burnt itself out. I pray that where ever she is tonight that God will give her peace in her heart. That she will know her baby girl is safe and loved!

"Hhmmmm...

wonder what's up here." 

"Where's my cake, Daddy?"
(She spent 10 minutes working really hard to get all the way up to the top step then pull herself upright. She wasn't too happy when we took her down!) 

Fun with gifts...

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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Playing with Daddy

Paige is definately a Daddy's girl. She lights up when he gets home and wants to be right by him all evening. She spent about ten minutes the other day walking back and forth between Rick and the couch and giggling the whole time. 

Hidin' out

She got herself stuck under the coffee table while checking out Caden's weapon stockpile! 

Relaxing morning...

Paige enjoys her morning bottle reclined in her high chair! At least there is one good reason for that recline feature! 

Gung Hao Fat Choi! (Happy New Year)
We took the kids to their first Chinese New Year parade in Chicago's Chinatown yesterday. A friend of Trace's from school and his family met us there and the kids had a blast together. The boys were convinced it was going to be horribly boring but as soon as the first dragon appeared Caden was hooked! It was pretty cold (in the low 20's) and there were about 5000 more people there than I'd expected, but a good time was had by all. Afterward we bucked tradition and went out for Mexican! There was no one in the entire restaurant besides us and one other family. We decided we'll do Chinese on Cinco de Mayo! 

Three months already...

The day before Valentine's Day marked three months since Paige was placed in our arms. Tuesday (the 20th) will be three months since the first picture was taken. The second picture we took today (the 16th). I knew she was getting bigger but WOW! This little dress is, I think, the only thing I've paid full price for. I realized today that it wasn't going to fit much longer and she had only worn it the one time in China. I couldn't believe that her chunky little thighs were below the hem of the dress! I also couldn't believe how chunky those little thighs have gotten! She is an amazing little girl and we are so blessed to have her in our family. She is taking some steps on her own but still really prefers to crawl. Caden can make her laugh just by running almost every time. She loves, loves, loves her fruit! Grilled cheese, pizza crust and chicken nuggets have replaced congee and steamed egg in her diet. She sleeps all night almost every night, but still needs a little help from our friend Benedryl. Broccli is her favorite veggie, much to Daddy's deight. She has changed our lives in so many was we can't even explain! 

Pilcher Park

Caden's pre-school had a field trip today to Pilcher park. I debated going because it was so cold, but in the end my curiosity won out. I've only read about making maple syrup in Little House on the Prairie books so I was pretty excited to actually see it! Caden was excited too because it had to do with one of his favorite foods - syrup! They served us lunch of pancakes and sausage and we met the turtles, snakes, fish and a red hawk with a partially amputated wing from being hit by a truck. Then we went out to see how they make the syrup and on a little nature hike. Caden did awsome on the hike because he was nice and warm, half the kids wimped out! It was quite a day and Caden is dying to take Trace and Rick back to show them - maybe when it warms up enough for the sap to actually run! 

Caden had a ton of fun with all the snow, especially eating it! He was one of only two kids dressed appropriately! The bucket behind him is hanging ready to catch the sap if it ever warms up above freezing around here! 

This is the large boiling vat. The sap runs in from a tank outside (that is actually a jet fuel tank that was never used for fuel). It comes down that pipe in the upper right and into the first pan. From there it goes through each section until it reaches the bottom right. The inside of the sugar shack was silled with steam and smelled like a camp fire! 

The final result is the dark amber colored maple syrup! 

 

 

Caden thought it was pretty cool to touch the turtles. He wants to work there someday so he can hold them. 

This was the area they had the turtles in and the one bullfrog who thinks he is a turtle. He has never tried to jump out of the pen despite being fully able to!