Updated Pictures

Hi - sorry for the delay in updates. Jia is in full time care now as I mentioned earlier and I'm full focus back at work. Our first days of getting up and out by 7:30 am went reasonably well - Jia is having some sleeping issues for the first time and this is probably due to a combination of change in schedule and having a bit of a cold (her first since she's been with us!). All continues to be great - she loves hanging out with Aunt Lisa and her cousins and I already see advancement in her physical abilities. She wants so badly to chase after her cousins! She's crawling very quickly and wants to stand all the time. We're thrilled! She is definitely having her voice be heard and laughs and bounces all the time. I miss her terribly through the week but she is getting the stimulation she needs being around other kids and that is what is important. And we gets lots of play and kissy time when we're together. We're going to the boat for the first time this weekend! Weather is supposed to be great so we'll give this a go and see how she likes sailing! I'm a little nervous but that is to be expected. I'll have more pics and stories after the weekend!

You can see how clingy she is when she gets home - she wants to be literally ON me - the day she was most needing of me physically was after work Tuesday - she has gotten more used to the idea of spending the day without me throughout the course of the week. We're all adjusting!

Geez Mom, More Pictures?

Jia is really quite patient with the number of pictures I take. Here are a few from our wonderful Sunday together. It's the last day we'll get for a while as she goes full time into alternate day care tomorrow. Her aunt Lisa will be her caregiver during the week. Boy, am I ever going to miss her. She does love her cookies!

Happy Saturday!

We're off to enjoy a great weekend!

Just Kickin' It Around the House

Just having fun around the house and finding her legs - it's a very exciting time for Jia. Jia has also become very vocal. Anytime we are out she loves it! She is not a homebody (at least not yet - but what toddler is?). She makes lots of yelling sounds and razzes. She attracts alot of attention! People look over to see who the heck is making all of that noise and then they see her. I can't tell you how many people have approached us in any number of settings to tell me how beautiful she is. I know! But then again, I'm the mom - she is the most beautiful little girl in world as far as I'm concerned. But others seem to feel the same way. She really is a sweetie too - it's just as much her personality as it is her beauty that charms everyone. One view of those 5 teeth and you're toast!

On the Way to First Steps - and Morning Cuteness

A few pics to start the morning!

So Much Fun

It's funny, as a new, first time mom I've spent more time than I should thinking about how tired I am and how much work this baby business is - and not enough time realizing how incredibly wonderful this baby business is. It was a real shock to the bod and the brain to become a mom overnight. Not that I didn't spend almost 3 years thinking about Jia and what life would be like when we finally had our little girl and formed our family. But the wait went on so long it became a kind of far off possibility that seemed surreal at times. Boy, does reality ever hit you in the face when it happens! And it really is better in so many ways than I ever imagined. It's also harder than even my elaborate imagination could summon. But is it worth it? Oh yeah!!!

This morning Jia and I sat in the chair in her nursery, as we do every morning, and she held my face in her hands for the first time and tried to give one of those sloppy open mouthed kisses babies give when they are learning how to kiss. How can anything, anywhere top that? Terrell and I have made lots of adjustments to our schedules (more than I thought we would in some ways and less in others) to accommodate this bundle of joy. For all those moms-to-be who read this blog - just know it is an adjustment but it really is indescribably worth it. Jia is so sweet - truly. She has moments just like all 13 month old babies/toddlers. Is there a word for this stage - similar to the tween word - like boddlers or tabies? But the most defining feature of Jia is her sweet and funny nature and her trust and love. She has learned how to blow spit bubbles and razz everyone and giggle, giggle, giggle! She teases her Grandpa - when he reaches for her she puts out her arms then jerks back at the last second and jumps up and down and giggles so hard! I love the way she puts her little index into any hole she can find, or uses that same finger to play in the baby food I drop on the high chair tray, and how she opens her mouth like a little bird for more food - only to spit it our half the time! The faces she makes when she tries new food and the way she scrunches up her nose when she's delighted with something. How she opens her mouth and bites her Nilla Wafer and then offers me a bite. I clearly could go on and on. I mean geez, the only time she cries is when she is not being held by me or touching me. While this is maddening in some ways - I have to remind myself that the only thing she is guilty of is wanting to touch me. (And boy does she scream when I walk away for even 30 seconds!).

At some point, while the tiredness and loss of independence is still there, it begins to fade and Jia, as my mom pointed out happens, has become a member of our family and the day is just routine - and pretty daggone cool.

Where's MY sushi??

Everyone is having fun - and Jia is wondering, OK - I'm getting more of this orange runny sweet potato stuff but where the heck is MY sushi??? The whole family went out for Japanese Steak House fun last night and Jia had a great time! She is so enjoying getting to spend time will all of her cousins and is just enamored with her Aunt Laura and Uncle Lance. I just wish they could stay (permanently) for a longer visit! They are all off to the beach next week but Jia and I and the dad will be hanging here in town -work beckons. But we sure have enjoyed their visit!

I Want to Walk and Bang Cabinets Already!!

Oh my, I think we are very close to having a little walker in our midst. Jia wants to walk SO badly. I know it must be incredibly frustrating for her - she is 13 months (or more -she's amazingly smart) cognitively but still a bit delayed physically. Who knows if these are delays due to the way she spent her first 11 months or if she is just a bit of a later bloomer (my brother - Director of Finance for a major corporation and an incredibly smart/funny human didn't talk until he was like five - that's an exaggeration - but look at him now). But she so wants to move. These are a few pics depicting her curiosity and a glimpse into what the mom and dad will soon be facing!!

The Illini Cousins Are Here!

And it doesn't get much better than this! I think the pictures speak for themselves. Family is good! The more the merrier and Jia was happier tonight when we got home then I think I've ever seen her. More family also means more helping hands and I was able to sneak away to get some work done - and her cousins and Aunt and Uncle got to know the most recent addition to our family!

More Pictures

Just adding a few more pictures from the weekend. All of Jia's Illinois family is coming in tonight! She'll get to meet her Aunt Laura, Uncle Lance and cousins Duncan, Sarah and Patrick! She is very, very excited.

Grandma, Grandpa and Cookies

Well, like all grandchildren should be, Jia is spoiled by her Grandparents. We spent a fabulously relaxing Saturday at my mom and dad's house and Jia absolutely loves it there. She is so content being doted upon by her Grandma and Grandpa. They have lots of experience in this department since they have 6 other grandkids. I hope you like the pictures - I have more coming!!

Ni Hao Kai-Lan

Oh the joy Jia gets from Nick Jr.'s Ni Hao Kai-Lan! I watch her in wonderment trying to figure out what delights her so much. For those of you who haven't seen the show it is a cartoon that is very much like Dora the Explorer but for a younger set and is about a little Chinese girl who, with her little friends, help kids manage various feelings (sad, impatient, mad, etc.). She visits a lot with her Grandpa on the show (yi yi - not proper Chinese spelling I'm sure but that is sort of it phonetically). Just like Dora they learn how to say words in a different language. With Dora it's Spanish of course and with Kai-Lan it is Chinese. Maybe she recognizes some of the words? Feels comfort by them? Or maybe she just loves Kai-Lan's big brown eyes - I can tell you - those big Chinese brown eyes in real life are heart stealers! Jia is doing well - we've struggled with some feeding issues recently - I think I'm the uptight one here (yes, those who know me will say - REALLY????) I'm just so worried she is not getting enough calories. But today she had a weigh in at the doc and she is 17.15 pounds! That is a 2.15 lb gain in less than 2 months and right on target. Whew. She had her first self feeding exercise today. I had to just sit back and chill while sweet potatoes were flicked all over her, me, the dog, the floor and anything within the range of a 13 month old with a spoon and a bowl full of sweet potatoes! Remember Madge and the Palmolive commercial? Yep, she was soaking her entire hand in a bowl of sweet potato glory - orange up to her elbow somehow - and laughing all the way. I just need to keep her away from the walls! These pics are Jia watching her favorite program - I hope I've captured her joy!