Happy Birthday, old one!

It is time once again to wish that old one of mine Happy Birthday. She is 14. The day before her birthday I registered her at the local high school. I am proud to say that she was admitted into a special program that is medicine based, heavy in math and science! She is a typical teenager, oy vey! I love her to pieces and without her being so wonderful I would have never wanted more children. So, E, it is all your fault!! =)

No need to call the authorities.....

we are all okay. Things have been a bit busy around these parts. Nothing like a little family drama. The old one graduated. I am so proud of her. She applied to and was accepted to the medical program that is offered in our high schools. Unbelievable! She is going to take Algebra 2, Chemistry, Honors English, World History, Spanish 3, and some elective to balance the schedule! What a ridiculously hard schedule! Kudos to here for being prepared to take such courses!
Did I mention that school's out for summer????
Flora is doing amazing well. We had a little jaunt up north to visit some family. We were able to hook up with some travel friends that we made in China. Their daughter, Emily, is doing very well. Traveling to China was an amazing experience, through and through. We meet some equally amazing people. But your experience in China is like no other. It is a flash of time when things are all so new, unusual, different, and fantastic. Never again will you see these people walking the halls trying to get their new daughters to sleep. We saw folks with bed head in their pj's. We scrambled to help anyone with anything. You need diapers? I have extras. You need prunes? Well, I have 2. But it is equally wonderful to see these babies (who were in shock, initially) comfortable in their own homes. I loved visiting our friends.
And now it is time for a few photos. We have a family photo that was taken for the benefit of our home study and then who doesn't love a smiling baby?

Time for a visit!

I can not believe that it has been 6 months. Okay it really hasn't been that long. But it is time for our home study person to visit today. House is clean, correction picked-up. No, we don't live in a hovel, however, sometimes it is messy.....
In the meantime, here are some photos of FJ.

Updates!

We have been very busy chasing after our WALKER!
~Flora started walking on Sunday April 26, 2009. She took her first steps and has since graduated to walking 80% of the time and crawling a mere 20%. She is proud of herself.
~She has been using a spoon lately to feed herself. Luckily we have dogs!
~She is going to eat us out of house and home. My girl can chow down. She is tipping the scales at 20.75 pounds. I turned her car seat around. She seems to be far happier with the view.
~She has continued to flourish. Joe has left town for 10 days. I was a bit concerned how things would pan out. It has been easy. Em and Cl have stepped up to the plate. Truly, I couldn't prouder of them.
~Flora was having some difficulty sleeping, getting to sleep and sleeping through the night. Joe and I read The Sleep Lady and we have had some success. As for sleeping through the night, all it takes is a light sleeper (Joe) to leave and a sound sleeper (Me) left in charge. Problem solved!!!!

The ape walk! She is not doing this hands over her head walk as much anymore.

I love this crinkled face. She makes snorting sounds while making that face!

Flora was given this chalkboard by one of my students. He carefully washed for her, because it was his. She loves drawing on the chalkboard.

Phavorite Photo

I love, love, love this pic of my girl. I took it myself a week ago. My husband, who is the avid photographer says it is great. I concur!

The post birthday haze

Flora is affected by sugar! Too much sugar wires my little darling to no end. It was a fun day (her birthday), but we spent all of yesterday dealing with withdrawals. Seriously, she was so wound up on her birthday that she did not take an afternoon nap. She stayed up way past her bedtime. She fell asleep in the car on the way home (the last 5 minutes that is). When it came time for the transfer from the car seat to her bed she woke up. Needless to say she did not fall asleep until 10:00 and she woke several times during the night. I am so happy birthdays only come once a year, only 363 days to go!
I forgot to post these photos on her birthday. She brought in a special snack and sat at group to eat it with her friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is Flora's first birthday! She started the day like this at 8:30.

Everyone was anxious to see her, because she brought this to "school" aka my work.

More later on Flora's first birthday adventures!!



We had a great dinner at a Chinese Restaurant. Miss Flora had congee!!! Something that she has not had since she left China. It was a special night!
The cake, FYI, was banana rama with chocolate buttercream icing. YUM, YUM, YUM!