A year in review

A year in review is what I had planned for my final post to Chasing Kayla. However, time has gotten away from me and as I sit typing in the Atlanta airport...I'll just get to the point. Come see us here for the latest.....

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One day I will do Kayla's year in review, right now, life's to busy to look back.

Seriously...how does that happen?

A whole month has gone by already?

Kayla is talking up a storm. She's starting to be able to tell me what she did in school everyday. Well, it's actually still a bit of a guessing game. Like when she way saying "played in the plinkers...plinkers, Mommy. Got wet. Plinkers!" That was splash day in the sprinklers..duh, I'm the one that packed her swimsuit that morning.

Here's a picture from the 4th of July.

We took a family shot because 1) we don't do that often engough and 2) we're finally finishing up the paperchase for #2. I've spared you the excrutiating play by play of this paperchase. Suffice it to say, it was longer, has had more frustrations and bumps...but thankfully with Kayla around it was much more bearable. I'll be sure to post once the paperwork is in China...another month probably.

Also on the 4th we had an exciting game of T-Ball. I'm determined that if Kayla has any athletic tendencies at all that my uber-girliness will not be a stumbling block. Okay, she is playing in a cute matching skort and pigtails. My influence has to be there somewhere.

So much for Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.

Let's just start back up as if I never left off. Kayla's now pushing the ripe old age of 2.5 yrs. She can still throw down a serious tantrum when she hears the word "No", but at least now she understands that a two minute time out will follow. Of course, getting to the two minutes may still take up to 20 minutes (any Super Nanny fans out there?).

Kayla is chatting up a storm these days. Sometimes she's like my own little parrot. I find myself saying things just to hear her try to repeat it back...i.e. Mommy's sooo pretty, Daddy's job is to keep Mommy happy, I hope the stocks go up today so Mommy can retire early, etc. She also asks Watz dat Mommy? about every five minutes.

She's really good at "helping" now too. Yesterday when I picked her up from school she was eating a marshmallow. The teacher told me she got one for being the Super-duper-cleaner-upper for the day. So, I thought I'd try that title out at home and see where it would get me...yeah right, she's too smart for that.

Here's a pic of my little pride and joy to tide over any loyal readers that are still out there until I scrap some more....

Kayla still holds onto "baby" and sucks her thumb. Remember the old pillows that calmed her in the car seat? I've whittled it down to this more manageable size so far.

Boo! Happy Halloween

Kayla's first Halloween was low key and fun. Kayla walked with her Daddy over to a couple of the neighbors to get a lollipop and she was set for the night. Or, I should say very wound up for the night. We sat out in front of the house to pass out candy. Kayla "helped"...okay, she really didn't understand the concept of giving away "her" candy. One time she actually started running after the kids yelling cookie! cookie! All sweets are cookies to her.

Well, at least we had a chance to practice sharing.

Daddy's Princess

I wish I could bottle up the happiness from days like this and take sips of it years from now like an old vintage wine. Instead, I'll finally post a little again.

Kayla is 22 months old and has been at her forever home just short of a year. It feels like we've always been parents and yet still have no clue. Currently we're battling a biting issue (again...sigh) and have made it through two phases of toddler meltdown mania. We've got a B U N C H to learn.

(I would like to take a moment to give a little shout out to whichever parent it is pressuring the preschool to kick out our precious little biter---Hey Other Parent of Whatever Oh So Perfect child of yours --- I hope your child wets the bed until well into his/her thirties!)

Kayla is a constant observer and soaks up the most minor details. It's so funny to see me and Bobby mirrored in what she does. She's speaking more and more toddler-eez. I'm planning to get her some Mandarin videos for kids...although I'm pretty sure if it's not Elmo speaking Chinese, she won't be too interested yet.

Last week we transformed the crib into a toddler bed. Mommy was a little sad...but once I saw her eyes light up about her big girl bed, I got over it...mostly.

One of Kayla's favorite things these days, other than Elmo, is listening to music.

And, if it's a music Elmo combination, she's in heaven.

What do I do on Friday's?

I thought going to a reduced schedule in the summer would give me plenty of time to catch up on my scrapbooking and blogging while Kayla naps. Turns out my little girl keeps me completely occupied and when she sleeps...I'm busy cleaning up from our previous fun (as seen above).

These days Kayla is all about doing things for herself. She's trying hard to repeat everything she hears...uh, if she calls anyone CRAZY, that's my fault, and her fascination with shoes has now moved to an obsession of both socks and shoes.

***We're also doing a Happy Dance for Alyson and Ford who have received their referral for a beautiful little girl. Kayla's already looking forward to a playdate.***

We finalized Kayla's readoption for Florida last week. You can see from this picture she is very over the government offices and paperwork. Sending a big thank you to Paul J. Consbruck, Esq. for making the process relatively painless.

P.S. Since we're having so much fun on the parenting track, we've applied to apply for the paperchase again. Yep, just think in 4 to 5 years, Kayla can have a Mei Mei. Maybe mama's a little CRAZY. (Okay, crossing my fingers it won't really take that long, but best to brace for a long wait).

Easter in June

Well, at least half of my Easter collage is complete so I'm showing it in June anyway. This scrapbooking stuff is addictive.

It's been a little over six months now since Kayla's been home. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday and sometimes it's hard to remember life before she was here.

Kayla's running around and babbling away in her own little baby language. I joke that sometimes when she's whispering to herself she reminds me of Children In the Corn (for anyone old enough to remember that movie...where the kids...uh...do away with their parents). Her real words at 17 months are: Mama, Dada, bath, and side which is short for outside. She's twice as tall as when we met and her hair is long enough for me to have a little fun...that is when I can get some cooperation.

What can I say? Life is better for having our Kayla in it.