Monday, March 31, 2008

Quilting

just a little funny story today...I have a few hobbies that I really love, namely: sewing, quilting, and knitting. Cecelia is sometimes patient with me while I sew but not always...so not much gets done anymore, except what I can sneak in at night after she is asleep and after my lesson plans are done...but the other day, she was really patient with my quilting and was playing along side of me. I had to leave the room for a minute and when I came back, a little "quilting helper" had added to my stitches! I hope you can see the handy work!

Friday, March 28, 2008

It has been a long time since we last posted..it is amazing how time flies now that Cecelia is home with us...before her adoption, time was at a crawl...

So many new things in the past month! Cecelia has learned to climb up on a stool and "help" with everything. She loves to do the dishes and I love it as it keeps her busy while I am cooking/cleaning the kitchen. She is just not a toy kid...yeah!!!! Cecelia has also learned to cut with scissors. She had practiced at this for at least a month. She would clip and I would help her to open the scissors until...VOILA...one day she could do it. She was SO proud....now to make sure nothing is cut that isn't supposed to be! And last, but certainly not least, Cecelia's grandest accomplishment came after three months of frustration and practice, practice, practice on her part. Because of Cecelia's cleft palate she is not supposed to be able to suck- she actually chews her bottle nipple to get the milk. She is very GOOD at that I must say. All of the children in our little school bring juice boxes to school and this was just something that she wanted to have very badly( so badly in fact that she would take the empties from the trash if I wasn't looking and sit in a quiet spot trying to use that straw! ewwwwwww!) One day last week, low and behold, some how, some way as she was working at it, the juice FINALLY came up that straw...she was actually sucking it...the picture of her smile and her pride at that accomplishment will not soon fade from my mommy memory! We even went right to the store to get her some of her "own" juice boxes... where there is a will, there is a way...and this baby girl has a will..that is for sure..what a survivor!

Cecelia celebrated her very first Easter! Of course we dyed eggs, had delicious food, had a visit from the Easter bunny, and loved the baskets he left! Enjoy the pictures!

We also had a very nice surprise this month. We have a very good family friend who lives in Germany named Tilly. Tilly was an exchange student from Germany who lived with my great-grandparents for a year from 1950-1951! We have been blessed to be able to go to Germany to see her and her wonderful family for the past two years but this year, with the adoption, it was not going to be possible. Well, let's just say that Tilly can't wait to meet our wonderful little girl and so she made it possible for us to go. Cecelia, Collin, and I leave on April 9th for two weeks in Sulzbach, Germany with our extended "family". Please pray that Cecelia's passport comes on angel wings...we are getting nervous! Also think of us on that plane without Dad's help...Collin says he can be an "adult" while traveling and help with Cecelia...we will see! It isn't many two year olds who can say that they have been on three continents in one year...Asia, North America, and Europe!

Enjoy the picks!
An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance.

The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.

Ballet Class

Ballet Class
How many years do you think it will take for my leg to reach that bar?

The Cutest Ladybug in the World

The Cutest Ladybug in the World
Cecelia is going to be a ladybug for Halloween and she just loves her costume. She will wear it on every occasion she can. This was one day in our little homeschool. I love this picture so much. And of course I love the little ladybug in it the most!

Apple picking, pumpkins, and calves...fall fun

Apple picking, pumpkins, and calves...fall fun
Collin, Cecelia and her little friend Sofia spent a day picking apples, pumpkins and visiting calves...Fall fun!

feeding a calf

Cecelia enjoyed picking this pumpkin until her fingers touched the dirt!...catch the LOOK!

dance class

dance class
ballet sure works up your thirst!

Two Little Ballerinas

Two Little Ballerinas
Cecelia and her friend Meilyn

A Day at the Zoo

A Day at the Zoo
Cecelia and some friends met at the zoo last week for a really fun day. Here are a few pictures. I must confess that I forgot to bring my camera so these pictures are courtesy of Jonni, mommy to Cecelia's friend Sofia!

Cecelia and her friends: Helaina, Sofia, Cecelia, and Meilyn

here's looking at you

here's looking at you
one of my favorite pics of the summer

how's my flexibility?

how's my flexibility?

stretching

stretching

attitude

attitude

All set for college

All set for college

cecelia grace

cecelia grace

happiness is a blowup pool and sunshine!

happiness is a blowup pool and sunshine!

the big pool!

the big pool!

Cecelia at Ben and Jerry's in Vermont - one week after surgery!

Cecelia at Ben and Jerry's in Vermont - one week after surgery!

Cecelia and Dolly in the hospital

Cecelia and Dolly in the hospital

12 hours after surgery

12 hours after surgery

Cecelia in recovery

Cecelia in recovery

Bad hair day - take three

Bad hair day - take three

Bad hair day - take two

Bad hair day - take two

Bad hair day - take one

Bad hair day - take one

Swinging in Vermont

Swinging in Vermont

Side walk chalk is the best!

Side walk chalk is the best!

Is this how you cast out?

Is this how you cast out?

Cecelia and Dad fishing

Cecelia and Dad fishing

Cecelia and the beautiful peacock

Cecelia and the beautiful peacock

In Tilly's flower bed

In Tilly's flower bed

making American" pizza...Cecelia and Tilly

making American" pizza...Cecelia and Tilly

Heidelberg

Heidelberg
Cecelia and Collin climbed the entire mountain to get to the castle

Tilly and Cecelia

Tilly and Cecelia

Still in Mosbach

Still in Mosbach

Collin and Cecelia in Mosbach

Collin and Cecelia in Mosbach

On our way to Germany!

On our way to Germany!

here is my latest quilt in the background

here is my latest quilt in the background
"the quilting helper"

some "new "stitches from my helper

some "new "stitches from my helper

Happy Easter

Happy Easter
our beautiful baby

I love jelly beans!

I love jelly beans!

collin loves them too!

collin loves them too!

I need some more!

I need some more!

ut oh where are they?

ut oh where are they?

all gone......and I am sad

all gone......and I am sad

my brother doesn't like me to cry...

my brother doesn't like me to cry...

I love my brother

I love my brother

It's My Birthday!

It's My Birthday!

My birthday cake

My birthday cake

two candles for Cecelia and one for good luck!

two candles for Cecelia and one for good luck!

will I be this tall?

will I be this tall?

I love this toy!

I love this toy!

nothing like a bath in the sink on a cold winter's night in Vermont

nothing like a bath in the sink on a cold winter's night in Vermont

new cousins- Juleigh and Cecelia with Juleigh's daddy- Uncle Freddie

new cousins- Juleigh and Cecelia with Juleigh's daddy- Uncle Freddie

this is winter!

this is winter!

the cabin in February

the cabin in February

out the front window- check out the swingset to get an idea of how much snow there is!

out the front window- check out the swingset to get an idea of how much snow there is!

a bit of space at the end of the driveway

vermont in the winter

vermont in the winter
Mt. Killington

hmmmm..a new bike!

hmmmm..a new bike!

I am almost two!

I am almost two!

I'll share!

I'll share!

what else is there in life...gummies and Chinese New Year!

what else is there in life...gummies and Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

I love when two year olds discover their pockets!

I love when two year olds discover their pockets!

Hadley is the next victim...oops, I mean playmate

Hadley is the next victim...oops, I mean playmate

I am so happy!

I am so happy!

Cecelia, Carly, and Meilyn

Cecelia, Carly, and Meilyn
friends!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

I am too cute!

Cecelia and Riley waiting for the school kids to arrive

some of my favorite toys!

"What did you want me to write?"

my favorite blankie!

how can I look mad and adorable at the same time?

our baby with her baby

what a wonder...

Cecelia at Christmas 2

Cecelia at Christmas 2007

Cecelia at 19 months old

Cecelia at 1 year

Cecelia 1 year old