She's From China...Like Me!

In the past couple of months (I guess since we've been home with Gracie), Wesleigh is acutely aware when she sees an Asian person.  The first time happened when were walking out of a doctor appointment.  We passed a white mom pushing an Asian baby in a stroller.  Wesleigh said, "baby".  Then when we passed her she said, "that baby from China like me".  I was shocked...I'm still shocked.  It's no secret my girls are from China :), and we do tell her when we meet someone else that they are from China "like you".  I just never thought she would be able to distinguish who was Asian and who wasn't.  After this incident, I thought maybe she had just got lucky.  Nope...it happened again at Cade's school.  One of the teacher's husband is Korean and their little girl looks Asian.  Wesleigh pointed her out and said, "That girl from China, like me".    Again...shock.  But this last incident takes the cake.  I was reading the book Pumpkin Hill to the girls.  No big deal...not an adoption book...certainly not about China.  However when we got to this page:

Wesleigh says "They're from China, like me!". I never even noticed that the illustration was of an Asian family. It's the only one in the book. I am just amazed. I thought, at their age, they would just assume they looked like me. I think she's very young to have already noticed there is a difference and be able to pick it out in so many different situations. And because I know you want to see pics of this little Asian beauty...here are some I've been wanting to share: Oh...How I love this little cutie! Her sweet, quiet and cuddly personality has really stood out since we brought Gracie home. That is just what seems to happen when you have someone to compare to... their differences become more evident. Not in a bad way...in a "God made you uniquely special and wonderful" kind of way :)

Just Can't Get Enough!

I have become quite the little league football fan lately! I have never been a big football fan. When I go to a LSU game, I'm really more interrested in watching what everyone has on...just speaking the truth! I don't know positions and find it very hard to see everything that's going on at once.

This year, however, Cade has made a fan of me! Of course, things are more fun to watch when your child is excelling at them. Also, he's the quarterback and also plays defense. He's always out there and getting plenty of action. I am loving it!  So far, I have taken over 1,000 pics of the season!  My computer is so slow right now, because I have way too many pics on it.  I've got to do something about that!  He has 2 more regular season games and then the playoff game.  We expect to win that, so we'll go to the "superbowl!!"  Yay!!  I can't wait!  I have to say, I think I will be a little sad when this season is over.

Here is one of my favorite shots.  #8 has been Cade's friend since preschool.  They have so much fun together.  Over and over, I caught shots of him blocking for Cade.  He looks like he's Cade's protector...I love that! 



Here's the next shot: Love it!

There's only one other team in the league that is undefeated like us.  We play them in 2 weeks...I'm already nervous :)

Her Mojo Is Back!

In China, Gracie talked and danced the whole time.  Unfortunately, that stopped for the most part when she realized we couldn't understand what she was saying.  She didn't seem sad about it, she just didn't talk much.  Well...since her vocabulary is getting so much better, I find she is talking so much more.  She also breaks out into a jive whenever she hears music.  At Braden's game yesterday, she started dancing every time the music started.  I was able to catch this short clip of it:  SO FUNNY!




How about that split move??? Yep...you guessed it...she got that from me :) lol....

Gracie's English

Ok...well, here it is.  I am going to address the question as to how Gracie's English is coming along.  We were home 8 weeks this past Friday, and I can say that I have seen a great improvement in the amount of words she can use just in the past few days!  She and I have been understanding most of what the other says for a while...at least enough to get by.  She has understood English for a while now and could speak some very basic words.  Just lately, she's able to put more English words together to form thoughts.  Some examples would be "Cade, come here" or "Wesleigh went bonk".  She loves to sing the ABC's and sings it alot.  The first video I'm loading is of her singing them.  She knows the song as well as Wesleigh does :) 

My biggest struggle with her learning is to make sure she's pronouncing the words like me and not like Wesleigh.  Wesleigh has some articulation problems, and encourages Gracie to repeat after her...like the blind leading the blind!  The words Gracie says are perfect...I'm trying to keep them that way :)

I haven't noticed alot of frustration from her because of a lack of communication.  I'm a little surprised by that.  We learned in China that she is VERY vocal, but she has not been since we got home.  She learned very quickly that we couldn't understand what she was saying, so she quit saying it...so sad :(  With her increased vocabulary, we've had an increase in "chatter" too.  I am happy about that.  I can't believe she hasn't been more unhappy not being able to communicate...amazing!  She is pretty good at acting things out.  I think she's so smart to figure out that she can act something out when she can't speak it.  I am just in awe of her.  She is frustrating sometimes because her energy is not controlled alot of the times, but she's such a survivor, and has done it with such joy...You can't help but be amazed and pray that you could do the same.

So...here's the first video of her singing the ABC's



Here's another one with more of a "conversation". This is what day-to-day life sounds like :) She sat at this table playing with playdoh for, at least, 2 hours the other day! Wesleigh was there for alot of that time, but Gracie never moved.



I think her vocabulary is really going to take off from here on out.  I have a conference with their teacher next week to see how they're doing.  I can't wait to hear what she has to say!

Happy Fall Y'all!

I just can't even believe this week is already over! It's amazing how fast time flies sometimes! The past couple of weeks have been good. The girls seem to be settling in a bit and everything doesn't seem to be such a struggle. Gracie has been home for 8 weeks today! Wesleigh doesn't seem to be fighting me quite as much, and I seem to have found some of my sanity again :) Even though our adjustment has been "easy" compared to what some are...it's still hard work...and still a big adjustment for everyone. I took the girls to snap a few pics a few mornings ago. We are finally having a little bit of cool weather, so we can wear some of our fall clothes :)

Playing "ring around the rosie".


Shadow fun.  Can you tell who is who?  It is funny to me how obvious it is.  They are so very different!



And my very favorite of the day:


Have a great weekend!  We have another weekend full of football.  Can't wait to see my Cade man play tomorrow!!

Peek-a-Boo

"Peek-a-Boo, I see you!" is one of Gracie's favorite things to say.

I know I've been hiding, but I am still here...just haven't felt much like blogging :(  Things are so busy here with everyday life that it's hard to sit down and write about it sometimes.  It's a phase, and it will pass...always does.  The weather is finally supposed to cool down this week, so maybe I will find some inspiration in that.  I might take the girls to a new spot I found the other day and shoot some pics today...if they cooperate...we shall see :)

Can you believe that I started writing my Christmas list today???!!!  Holy Moly!!  I can't even believe it will soon be time for the holidays.  I am SO not ready.  I was asked to put my house in the Christmas parade of homes this year, and graciously declined.  If I can get my house clean for the holidays, it will be a miracle... Much less, decorated!  I told them that next year might be a much better option for me :)  I am looking forward to the holidays with the girls this year.  They will add that magical Christmas spirit to the house.

Oh well...let's get through Halloween and Thanksgiving first :) 

I'm still planning to post on Gracie's English...I'm such a procrastinator!!  UGH!!  I'll post soon..promise :)

Have a great week!

Wordless Wednesday

You Pwomise?

My Sweet Wesleigh Jane...



Truthfully, I have been struggling a bit with Wesleigh. She is finding her way with her new sister, and doing really well. It's just not easy to have someone your age move in and automatically share everything from your parents to your toys to your clothes. Lots of children have new siblings, but only a handful get siblings their own age that they immediately have to share everything with. Wesleigh seems to be dealing with these changes by becoming quite defiant to me. Not all the time, but it's something I have never seen in her before. I think she's was a little ticked about the whole thing...and I'm the bad guy. We're working through it, and we'll make it. I've seen some improvement...we're getting there.

I have also seen alot of growth in her, as well.  Gracie has pushed her to be more assertive and to try new things.  Gracie is stronger physically than Wesleigh is, so it forces Wesleigh to stretch herself.  That's a good thing.

A while back Wesleigh started using the phrase "You promise?/I promise". Of course she says it much cuter than that...more like "I pwomise".  I don't really know where she got it from.  I don't think it's something I say, but it is just stinkin' cute!  Yesterday was dance day.  Wesleigh lives everday, waiting for dance day!  She asks me every day if she gets to go to ballerina school.  Every day, I tell her she gets to go on Friday...then she says, "You pwomise?".  So cute!  Before dance yesterday, I was telling the girls that they had to be good listeners.  Gracie tends to get distracted during tumbling when she's waiting for her turn.  Sometimes Wesleigh follows suit.  They did great!  I was so proud of them and told them that after class.  Her response, "You pwomise?"  Yes.  I promise!



Watching Wesleigh in class yesterday touched my heart.  Gracie coming home has emphasized the fact that Wesleigh is not the most coordinated toddler.  Her spina bifida has contributed to her pigeon toes, and that makes it a little harder to do some things.  You can see in the photo above, that her feet turn in.  She has to work really hard at things that come very naturally to Gracie.  1st position in ballet is very hard for her.  We have been practicing all week to help those tiny feet turn out.  To watch her in that class, concentrating on every move makes my heart smile.  Gracie is a natural athlete, but hasn't shown the same determination yet.

Wesleigh Jane, If you keep working hard, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to!  I promise.

Little Models??? Not Yet!!

I have been so frustrated lately with the pictures I have gotten of the girls lately.  Before we got home from China, each of them was super photogenic and would humor me.  Now that they're together, they have both turned into difficult subjects!  It's not just when they're together either...ugh!!

The other morning, though, I was checking Zulily like I do most mornings, and Gracie saw a picture of a little girl modeling some clothes with her hands on her hips.  She started mimicing her.  I took the opportunity and showed the picture to Wesleigh and asked if she could do that too.  They were both having a great time and agreed to let me snap some pics.   We literally had 2 minutes before we left for school, but these crack me up!!









A funny story...the other day, Gracie was in her carseat and said "look-a-me" (all one word :)  I was so surprised to hear that come out of her mouth and wondered where she had heard that before.  It's not something Wesleigh says when in her carseat.  The next day, I was taking pictures of homecoming and I heard myself say it, "look at me"!!!  I couldn't believe it!!  God only knows how many times that child has heard that statement...and I didn't even realize it!!!!

From Homecoming To...

Baby Dedication!
Sometimes the vast separation of my kids' activities make me laugh out loud :)



Sunday was the day that we dedicated Gracie Joy at our church.  We go to a very large church and I have known our pastor since I was in high school and he was in Bible college.  It's always fun to share this special day with him, and especially since we were featured in the adoption video a few months ago. I know there were alot of people watching who were excited to see her.  It was amazing to be up there with this precious child, who was only a picture last time the church saw us on the big screen.   We also got to share the day with my brother and his wife!  They adopted a baby boy just a couple of weeks after we got home from China!!



My brother and his wife and baby Ever.


The two of them loved seeing themselves on the big screen behind us. They are both looking at themselves here :) Gracie kept turning my head with her hand to look at it :)

I have to admit, I was scared to death.  There was no way to know if Gracie would start screaming at our pastor or try to jump off the stage.  She's not exactlly the quiet, calm type!  That is actually why the boys aren't with us up there.  I know she would have wanted to be passed around the whole time.  It's also why I'm the one holding her even though she's a good bit heavier :)  Thankfully, she did great!

PURPLICIOUS!!

Oh, Yes he was!!!  That was what the girls had to say about Bryce when he put on this amazing purple shirt.  How much do I love that!!  He looks so handsome.





Last night was Bryce's first homecoming.  We had a last minute shake up when he and his girlfriend broke up last week!  Yikes!!!  He was just going to skip it, but ended up taking a friend instead.  I'm so glad he went.  Of course that meant that I had to run back to the mall this week and exchange all the clothes we bought before!!  That's ok...hearing the girls call him "purplicious" was totally worth it!

Gracie was totally enamored with the girls.  She wanted to see their flowers, dresses, purses...everything.  It was pretty funny.  I felt like I was sheilding the girls from her the whole time.  You're never quite sure when Gracie will decide to tackle someone :)  Wesleigh is too shy to get up in the middle of all those strangers.  She decided to play with PawPaw.



(So how about that corsage????)  This southern girl LOVES it!!  lol... It is made with tulle, feathers and a rhinestone broach.  I didn't realize it would be that much bigger than the regular ones but I love it!  I hope she did!!


They met at our house for pictures, then went to eat at a nice restaurant.  Richard and I actually volunteered to drive them.  I had my parents stay with the others and we just got a separate table and enjoyed a dinner ourselves.  It's our 18th anniversary today, so that was our celebration :)  lol...

















We then drove them to the dance, which was fun.  Bryce gave me the ultimate compliment :)  We were talking about Gracie and Bryce said she was going to be the crazy one in high school that everyone would wonder what she was doing.  I said that I thought she would be the "fun crazy" one.  Then Bryce said, "like you".  Awwwww.......I'll take that over just about anything :)  I just love that boy!!

After the dance, another mom took the group bowling.  I can't tell you how thankful I was to have the early shift!!  I'm anxious to see Bryce's phone...I hope he took some fun pics!

Soooo.....from High School Homecoming, we go into baby dedication this morning!  Gracious!!  That is a post all to itself :)