Merry Christmas!!!!

It seems to have been one party after another around here lately and I’m beginning to think that little Miss Jenna is growing too accustomed to opening presents, both baby presents for Jolene and Christmas presents, and having chocolate as her main food source. Her Auntie bought her a chocolate advent calendar and first thing in the morning when she comes downstairs, she insists on opening another number. Am I a bad mother for allowing her chocolate for breakfast?? Who can resist her little cute voice saying “Mama, eat number 20 toomono?”, which doesn’t actually mean tomorrow, but right now to her. Too cute!

The same girlfriend threw me a baby shower last week, the first of two, and I can’t believe how little I actually had for Jolene. Being as though I delivered 6 weeks early, I didn’t have a lot of things ready for her arrival. Okay, okay, the fact that I’m the biggest procrastinator didn’t help either. But now, after one shower and a family Christmas celebrated early, Jolene has many new beautiful clothes and toys (as does Jenna). My girls are definitely loved and spoiled by so many of our friends and family. We are very blessed.

Jolene is still growing like crazy despite having issues with feeding. The formula we used at the hospital and for a few weeks after she came home gave her the worst gas and she was very hard to settle down after a feed. We then switched to 2 other formulas and although the gas was a little better, she was still writhing in pain after some feeds. I put in a call to her pediatrician and we now have her on a new formula. It stinks like crazy and is double the cost of regular formula but I’m crossing my fingers that it will do the trick. She’s only been on it for a few days so it’s still a little too early to tell. My heart breaks for her when she’s screaming in pain, arching her back and curling her feet up to her chest. I just feel so helpless some days. The husband is very good at reading my stress level and taking her from me to help calm her, and me, down. Who knew this whole mothering a newborn was going to be this hard. Aside from the sleepless nights, being puked on, being pooped all over, looking (and smelling) like a troll most days, and having an upside down house, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Soon, Jolene will be older and all of this hardship will be a distant, fond memory so I am trying my damndest to savor every moment.

I took the girls to see Santa the other day and I was preparing myself for worst with Jenna. We were at the mall a few weekends ago and while the husband and the girls were waiting for me to finish up at a store, they stood by where Santa was and Jenna apparently jumped right out of the stroller into Daddy’s arms frightened of the bearded fellow. So knowing that, I tried preparing her a few days in advance telling her all about Santa and that he brings presents if you’re good and she was starting to get pretty excited as well. I couldn’t have asked it to go any better! We got there and right away, she sat on Santa’s knee, with Jolene sleeping on his other knee and when asked what toy she wanted for Christmas, with a very serious face, she held up two fingers and said “2 gums and a chocolate please”. I knew she wanted gum as her whole world revolves around gum, but holding up the 2 fingers cracked me right up! Santa didn’t quite understand but nodded his head politely and told her to take a candy cane. I was so proud of my big girl and since then, she talks of him often AND of the 2 gums she’s waiting to see under the tree from him. And I've been using the "I'll call Santa and tell him you're being naughty" as a bargaining tool to getting her to do things I want....like behaving when she's not. I know, something I'm not all that proud of!

We’re off to California on Sunday for a week to spend Christmas with my sister and her family. We haven’t spent Christmas together in quite a few years and I’m giddy with excitement. Jenna is soooo excited to see her cousins.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a rockin’ New Years’ from our family to yours! I haven't downloaded any recent pictures from my camera lately, which is already packed, so I will leave you with one of my most favorites videos of Jenna. It was taken over the summer at a mall when Toopy & Binoo made an appearance. She was just too darn cute!

Miss Jo Jo...

My baby girl is growing like a weed! She's now a whopping 6lbs 9oz!!!! She's now actually fitting into some of her newborn clothes, although it makes me really sad to put away the preemie clothes. They were just so darn cute! I'm afraid if I blink, she'll be starting kindergarten!

I'm baaaaaaack....

I’m still here, really I am. It’s just been so darn busy around here lately that I have neglected this blog quite terribly. But now that I am back, I will try and post a little more frequently.

Sooooo, so much to say.......let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

Jenna’s preschool ended the end of October and since then, I’ve been feeling that she needs some sort of regular structured play time so she will be starting UNPARENTED, hold on, I’ll say it again because it gives me great joy….UNPARENTED playschool in January for 2 days a week for a 2 hours each class. It’s not that I don’t enjoy hanging out with her during the day, it’s just that I’m not all that great at long hours of play with a toddler and she really needs interaction with other children. She loves school, more importantly, the School Bag. She did very well at school (not that I can say that about every child there!!) and she made me very proud as she sat on the matt every class joyfully singing songs, listening to stories and making beautiful pieces of artwork that always hangs proudly on our Fridge-o-crafts. She’s just so darn sweet! Lately she’s taken to sitting for what seems like hours (toddler hours = 20 minutes in this house) just coloring pictures for anyone she can think of and then decorating it with lovely stickers. I always make it a point to completely gush over every piece of scribbled on paper she hands to me and she just loves that I make such a big deal and that ear to ear grin warms my heart like no other grin in this world.

In other news, Jenna now has a little sister, who she sweetly and ever so proudly calls ‘baby seesta’. Jolene Emily was born on October 28th at 12:02pm weighing in at exactly 4lbs and measuring 17” long. She wasn’t supposed to arrive until Dec 3rd (which coincidently is tomorrow) but she just couldn’t wait any longer and entered this world 6 weeks early. I had a lot of problems with high blood pressure towards the end of the pregnancy and it actually had me in the hospital quite a few times but in the end, I ended up with preeclampsia and there was no other option but to deliver. Thankfully, Jolene was very healthy, just little so she stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks to help fatten her up. It was the longest 2 weeks of my life and I really didn’t think I’d make it through. Thanks to help of my MIL who stayed with Jenna while I was in the hospital and right up until Jolene came home, we all survived unscathed. I knew Jenna was being well looked after so I focused all my time and energy into getting Jolene well enough to come home. The guilt of not giving Jenna the time she needed, deserved and was use to was overwhelming but nothing that a lot of candy, chocolate, hugs and kisses didn’t cure. It just proves the fact that children are just so resilient!

Jolene is now 5 weeks old and growing like no ones business. She was able to leave the hospital weighing 4lbs 8oz and at her Ped appt 2 weeks ago, she already weighed 5lbs 3oz. This whole new born mothering is a lot tougher than I ever imagined (kudos to those who have multiples!!!) but I’m fumbling through it like every first time mother (to a new born that is) before me. I was quite spoiled with Jenna as she came home with us when she was already almost a year old and was such and excellent little baby. I’m amazing myself at how well I can function with such a miniscule amount of sleep. Things are getting better though and I’m sure, soon, (please God soon!!!), that she will be sleeping through the night. Until then, there will just be days where the house looks like a garbage dump, days where my hair hasn’t been washed and greasier than all hell, and days when I will wonder….”what have I done to my ever so peaceful life???”. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t think those things every now and then but in all honesty, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I will always be thankful for having the opportunity to be a long awaited first time mother to my Jenna who, in my eyes, is the most loving, patient and well behaved little girl I know, thankful for being blessed with the opportunity to give birth to a very spunky, very healthy, very sweet little baby, especially after having tried for 8 very long years, and just thankful for all that I’ve been blessed with over the last few years. It’s funny how much life can change in 3 years….it amazes me everyday. Oh ya, did I mention the husband? Well, I’m very thankful for him too!! (most days!)

Here are pictures of my new family!

Jolene just minutes old.










Hanging out in her magic bubble!









My sweet little sprout.









Chillin' out at home in a nice tight papous (as my girlfriend calls it!)









Daddy with his girls (and his famous "enough with the camera" joking face)

Jenna loving her "baby seesta" to death! So sweet!

Week old post I forgot to post.......

Things around here have been pretty hum drum lately, hence the lack of posts to the blog!!!

Jenna started Preschool a couple of weeks ago and loves every minute of it, which doesn’t really surprise me since she is my little social butterfly. On her very first day she was almost vibrating with all the other little 2 and 3 year olds around as well as the new toys there were to play with. Her little friend V is also in the same class so it’s nice that she sees a familiar face in the crowd. And of course, in true new mommy fashion, my little peanut had on a new outfit and she also sported her very own knapsack!!! The whole ensemble was just way too cute for words. I think I was more excited about her starting school than she was!

And this Thursday, she will also be starting her gymnastics class as well. I don’t exactly know what to expect yet but with her loving to tumble around the house like she does, I’m sure she’ll love every minute of that as well. Jenna’s busier than I am these days! Both classes run all the way into November so hopefully I won’t be too big and uncomfortable by the time they end.

Jenna still continues to amaze us everyday. She still doesn’t talk in complete sentences yet but has a cute way of telling a story with very few words and a whole lot of expression. We took her to the zoo a few weeks ago and we witnessed a very large elephant bang her head against a wooden pillar. The husband and I both thought that if there would have been a trainer in there with her at that very moment, it wouldn’t have been pretty. Jenna witnessed the whole thing and didn’t really have a whole lot to say about it….until we got home. And since then, the same story, told pretty much the same way is heard a number of times daily. It goes something like this: Efedent. Boom. Head. Owie. Maaaaaaaddddd. Now we think it’s so cute that if we don’t hear it for a few hours or if family and friends are around and haven’t already heard it, we ask her about the elephant….and she will always gladly tell the story again, with as much expression as if it happened just moments ago. Now, she does tell other stories too, mostly about all the war wounds she gets when she’s with her daddy….and she has lots of those to tell! I’m sure it won’t be long at all until all those single words will make one long, coherent sentence. Until then, we’re quite enjoying this stage. Potty training is much better. We still have our accidents but for the most part, she pretty much tells us when she needs to go and now it’s because she NEEDS to go and not because she gets a jelly bean. That’s progress right?

The pregnancy is ticking along nicely. A little slow for my liking but everything has been checking out perfectly. Now that I’m into my 3rd trimester, I’m starting to feel very tired and very big. I can’t believe I still have 11 (or so) more weeks to go…I just can’t imagine how much bigger I’ll actually get!! (Scary thought!) This baby is definitely going to be an active little thing because there are times in the middle of the night that it kicks me awake. It’s such a weird feeling to me to know that wherever I am and whatever I’m doing…..I’m never alone!!! I must say though that being the worry wart I am, the kicking is definitely a reassuring feeling. What I’ve found utterly amazing during this whole experience is now that I am expecting, it seems everywhere I go, everyone else is expecting as well. Is it just me or could it be that I just notice pregnant bellies more now because I got one too? Weird. I must say that I really love being pregnant and all the tiredness, nausea, vomiting and just plain icky feeling has all been worth it so far. I’m so very thankful that I get to experience this whole thing AND that I have such a wonderful husband who helps out sooooo much when I’m sooooo tired! Life is good!













Jenna at the zoo riding on her first pony...she just about had her dadddy convinced that she needed one in her backyard!!!













Jenna's first day at "My first pre-school".












Making chocolate zuchinni muffins with Mommy. Yummy!

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Parties AND Potties!!

Again, it’s been far too long since my last post but man is life ever busy. It started with Vegas for 5 days then we were off to California for a week, then it was Jenna’s one year anniversary home with us, then 2 weeks later my sister and her family came to visit us for 10 days and during her visit was Jenna’s big birthday party. Now I have my MIL staying with us for 2 weeks. Whew, that’s a whole lotta stuff going on. Amidst the entire goings on, Jenna continues to morph into a little toddler running through life at top speed. It’s a bit sad really, but still a joy to watch. She is talking all the time, copying pretty much every last word you say. Sometimes we have no clue what she’s saying and when asked to repeat herself a million times, sometimes she just lets out a big old sigh, as if to say “what is wrong with you people, I’m tired of repeating myself already…..focus”. Too cute for words. We're trying to teach her more words than “No” and “Mine” but it's been a bit difficult. Hopefully we will wean them out of her vocabulary sooner than later.

She is now off of the baba (bottle) and tonight, has FINALLY pee pee'd on the potty, on her own, and without having to sit there for what seems like hours waiting for her to go when she doesn't really go anyway. Yes, tonight before her shower (I know, my kid loves to shower!!), I took her diaper off and put her on the potty like I've been doing for the past few weeks and I was shocked to hear her go pee pee right away. I think I actually scared her with my squeal of delight. Grandma happened to be there and we all did the 'Happy Pee Pee Dance' and then went downstairs to tell Daddy and he also did the 'Happy Pee Pee Dance' (although if he's ever asked will deny it up and down!). I have alot of friends with kids who are quite a few years older than Jenna and when they were going through the whole potty training thing, I would hear stories similar to the one I just told and quite honestly, back then, I just didn't get it. As hard as I tried to seem even a slightly bit interested, I just couldn't. But now, that is my world and I wouldn't change it for a thing!

Jenna playing dress up with her buddy

We couldn't let Jenna's one year Adoption Anniversary pass by without some sort of celebration so on July 2nd, the three of us celebrated with a mini "iiiisceem" cone. I'll have to get a bigger cone next year so I can fit 2 candles on it!

Jenna at the spray park with her buddies. I couldn't resist the picture of her with her back to me...that bum was just too adorable in that cute little swim suit.....that eventually had to be thrown in the garbage because of the dang blue and pink bubblegum Popsicle I gave her!!

Jenna at her friend V's birthday party at the beach. She was sitting in her stroller on the beach because she refused to touch the sand. What the Empress wants....the Empress shall get!

Jenna's cousins' got her this really cool mini jump house for her birthday. She loves it!

Jenna's cousins from California. She sure does miss them!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet 2 year old. It was yesterday but I forgot to post it! My how time flies! The past few weeks have been a frenzy of activity but I will be posting some pictures from her birthday party and the visit from her California cousins very soon.

Mommy and Daddy love you very much!

Happy Gotcha Day Anniversary Baby!

Two days ago last year, we boarded a plane to China. I remember feeling like it was all a dream, that the weeks of packing and making lists would continue and we’d never actually make it to China. I guess I just couldn’t believe that after waiting for soooo long, it was finally going to happen. That we were going to get our little girl. Was she going to like us? Was she going to cry inconsolably for days on end? Would she not want to come to me? Was she going to be sick? All these questions raced through my head up until the minute she was handed to me. At that very minute, I knew she was going to be just fine. She stared at me with such seriousness. Then, I handed her to her daddy and they both stared at each other with such seriousness. Then she whimpered the cutest little whimper. Even that little whimper broke my heart because I knew she was scared. There was so much going on in that tiny little banquet room it would have been hard for anyone to concentrate but I tell you, I don’t recall any of the background goings on. I only had eyes for my baby. She only really started to cry when it was time to go upstairs to our hotel room and at the time, I thought the crying would never end, but in reality, looking back, it really wasn’t all that long. I just seemed so at the time.

I remember how small she was sitting on that bed, wearing a little diaper shirt that was miles too big for her that it hung off her shoulders. The next 2 weeks in China after getting her all seems like a big blur to me. It all just happened so fast. I loved being there with my new little family but I also knew that I wanted to get home and show her a new life, far different from what I seen in China. Not necessarily a better life, but a new one, filled with more love that she might have ever known. I sometimes wonder what her life would be like had we not met. I know she would be loved because knowing her as I do, I couldn’t ever imagine anyone being with her and not loving every bit of her to pieces. She is just that wonderful and easy to love. More importantly, I often wonder what MY life would be like, and it's sometimes hard for me to even imagine a time when I didn't have her. I do know that my life wouldn't be what it is without her. And that’s what makes me appreciate her more, love her more, hug her more and kiss her more because she has enriched our lives in ways I just can't even put into words.

Tomorrow will be our official “1 Year Anniversary”. I know I say it all the time, but she really is just the happiest little baby girl I’ve ever met. Sure we have our days, I’m certainly not saying she’s perfect all the time. But in the last few months, she has certainly blossomed into a full fledged toddler, equipped with a little attitude and words such as “NO” and “MINE”. It’s enough to drive a mother crazy but she’s finding her way in this world and her little personality is coming out more and more. And I know this phase shall pass and I have to be thankful that it’s not any worse…because believe me, I’ve seen worse! She’s very inquisitive, funny and loves nothing more than hanging out with Daddy or dance around when you sing to her.

Mommy and Daddy love you Jenna

This is the video I made shortly after we came home with Jenna....one of my very favorites.

Catch up...

I kept meaning to find some time to update my blog, but alas, I've not been very good at it. I did manage to finally download some new pictures from the camera so here they are!

We just got back from Vegas last week. It was a long 5 days, the longest we've ever spent in Vegas. We went with some friends of ours and Grandma and Grandpa. It was okay but I don't think I'd ever take Jenna there again. I don't know what I was thinking in the first place. It was hard for me to have fun and let lose because I was always worried about her and felt bad that GMa and GPa were looking after her....and also being pregnant and not being able to enjoy some nice icy 'beverages' in the heat. There will be lots of time for Vegas when the kids are older but I think the only vacations we'll be taking are 'kid friendly' ones!

We do, however, leave for California the end of June and will be flying to my sisters' and then hopping on another plane the very next day to head to San Diego. I can't wait. I just LOVE Sea World.

I'm finally starting my 2nd trimester and actually starting to feel human again. The nausea and vomiting really kicked my butt but now I seem to have more energy and a bit more of an appetite (YIKES!). All in all, things are progressing quite nicely.






Jenna and her 3rd haircut!!! Her hair grows amazingly fast and is so thick...makes her mama envious!












Jenna striking a pose.

















Jenna with her grandparents in Vegas watching the light show on Fremont Street. She was a little unsure of the loud sounds though.













This is the infamous quart of milk that we ordered from room service. It cost us $13.00!!!! She drank every bit of that milk though! Nothing's too good for my baby girl. ($13.00 for a quart of milk though.....come on!)








Jenna loves to sit on things and will tell you to sit along side with her. But she REALLY loves to sit INSIDE of things, regardless of whether or not her cute little butt will fit into it. Too cute. Also, notice she's sporting the famous "bed head".












Just this past weekend, Jenna's little friends came over for a play date. They had fun playing in the yard and chasing all the bubbles from the bubble machine. Jenna loved it so much that I went and bought one of her very own!

It's a..........

BABY!!!!!!

So this is the news that I've been meaning to post about for a while but I really wanted to wait until my ultrasound (which was today) to make sure things were progressing nicely with my pregnancy.

JENNA'S GOING TO HAVE A BABY BROTHER/SISTER!!!! The little peanut was moving around like crazy today and my heart skipped a beat. I've only ever been pregnant once before but, sadly, that ended in miscarriage at 6 weeks so to this little being inside of me looking like a real live baby just sort of took my breath away.

On March 10th, we transferred our 3 last remaining embryos that had been frozen for last 2 1/2 years. On transfer day, the embriologist showed us our thawed babies and said that they certainly weren't of the best quality but if we wanted, they could transfer all 3 of them anyway. I figured we had nothing left to lose at this point so they went ahead and transferred all 3. Two weeks later, after peeing on a stick, we knew, and the rest is history! I really think that having my Jenna around to keep me pre-occupied really helped in making this cycle, out of the previous 6 cycles, successful. There was just no time to dwell on every little thing that could go wrong. I guess I had also surrendered to the fact that if this didn't work out, well that was okay too, because we were blessed with Jenna and there was no need to want anymore. But now we're going to be blessed with one more and we couldn't be any happier!

The baby is scheduled to arrive on November 28th, 2007. This could be a realllllly long summer! But one I'd gladly sweat through!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

My first Mother's Day started off with a breakfast prepared by the husband and little Miss Jenna of course (an egg, a piece of toast and a bowl of strawberries!). It was the best breakfast I've ever had and it was just so darn cute watching Jenna carry the heavy plates to the table as she helped set it. Then, on top of my strawberry bowl, there was a card, and in my bowl was a beautiful diamond necklace....man am I spoiled!!! Daddy even said Jenna was the one who picked it out. We then met some friends for brunch (because the small breakfast early this morning just wasn't going to cut it!) and pretty much lazed around together the rest of the day. It is just what I was hoping this day would turn out to be. Watching the husband and my baby girl twirl around in the kitchen this morning will be a scene that will melt my heart for a long time. I know that Mother's day is just one day out of 365 days, but it's a day I've been looking forward to for a very long time and it couldn't have been any more perfect! My camera died yesterday so I won't get to post pictures until tomorrow.

Happy Mother's day to all you Mother's out there and especially to those who are are still waiting to become Mother's. You're time will come, and it will be so dang good!!!

Goodnight!

Happy 1 Year Referral Anniversary!!!

(I kept trying to find time to post this yesterday, the ACTUAL anniversary date, but better late than never!)

One year ago today, we saw our baby girls' face for the first time. I remember sitting in my computer room staring at the phone like a raving lunatic, when all of a sudden, it rang. She was telling me all this information about our baby and I was frantically trying to write it down while gobs of tears are falling from my face onto this piece of paper. It was around 2:30 or 3:00 on a Friday and she said that if I left right away, I could go and pick it up in her office before it closed at 4:30. All I remember is calling the husband, blabbering a few bits of information to him (that I'm sure he didn't even understand) then gathering my things and jumping into my truck and driving like a mad woman. When I got there, the ladies came into the room and said they didn't think I'd make it there that fast. I was thinking "Lady, if you only knew the longing and the heartache I've been through over the last few years to get me to this point, you'd be saying it took me too long!"

I remember opening that envelope ever so slowly, as if it were the most delicate piece of glass, and I saw the picture and I cried, and cried and cried. All the hurt and disappointment that only someone who has been through infertility would understand seemed to have lifted off my shoulder the very moment that I laid eyes on my daughters' face.

I also remember thinking that I will no longer be staring at a lit Christmas tree in the middle of the night crying because my baby is not here, or going to a kiddie party and sitting in a corner not knowing what to do with myself, or going to summer festivals and staring at all the happy parents pushing baby strollers. No, not anymore because what I felt missing in my heart was instantly found in that tiny, overdressed, little pouty face. It all seemed like a big burden for my baby, that she was going to make my saddness, my sense of longing and years of disappointment go away, but seeing that face for the first time, I just knew she would.

And now.....she is beyond my wildest dreams. She is just so easy to love.

Thank you my sweet girl for making this mommy the happiest she's ever been! Happy Anniversary!

New pictures..

I've now taken up all my free computer time catching up on my blog list that I only have time to post a few new pictures (well, maybe not so new). There a few new & exciting things going on in my life right now but I will write more about it later. For now, here's my sweet baby girl, who, by the way, is growing waaayyyyyy too fast!

Jenna's second hair cut. This is her "Cheese" smile. See the dorky mom behind her in the mirror?

Jenna has the thickest hair I've seen and it grows really fast!

Jenna all prettied up before going to my birthday dinner with friends. Who knew leopard would look so cute on her?

Easter at my brother and SIL place. At this point, she had no idea what was inside those eggs...

Aaahaaaa! This is why these silly people are going "goo goo" over me finding these eggs....CHOCOLATE!!!!

MY LOOT!!!!

Pictures....

What a difference 8 months makes!!! Same girl....same place...same balls....and sadly, same germs!!!






























Jenna and her friend Allie on the balloon ride

A girl in a fast car....

And the best part....the ice cream after a morning full of fun! Thanks Allie and Tracey for such a great time!

We went to the Boat and Sportsman show a few weekends ago so the husband could drool over some speed boats and there was this man with this owl....it is definitely real, although I don't think Jenna thought so. I'm not sure she would have taken a picture with it if she thought it was. What a beautiful bird....oh and the girl's kinda cute too!

No time......

I've been trying to find time to update this blog for quite a while but by the time I get caught up on everyone else's blog, Jenna gets up from a nap or starts to lose fascination with the things I've throw over my shoulder for her to play with. How do you all find time to blog with little ones wanting your attention all day? I watched an episode of Super Nanny one day and one of her tips were to give your child their own activity table/sheet/or box to keep them occupied while doing work on the computer (not that I call this work or anything but I NEED to have my blog fix daily!!!). While this idea is good, I find that by the time I've spent 15 minutes or so on the computer, I turn around and Jenna has a multitude of things (such as cards, all 52 of them scattered all over the floor, old keys, pens, papers, books and old remote controls) all over the place and is STILL pleading "Up, Up, Up!". Then I feel bad for ignoring her and log off. Right now it's early and she's still sleeping.

Anyway, not alot new here. I know that I was suppose to post pictures of our CNY part at the restaurant (read above) and quite frankly, I really didn't take a lot of pictures. When we first got there, they wanted all 12 adults and 7 kids to sit at a round table for 15. WHAT!!??? Thank goodness we had an early reservation and were able to get 2 tables. Dinner was served a little later than I thought and the babies started to get a little antsy but otherwise turned out pretty good. The food just kept coming and coming and I thought it would never stop. All in all the food was quite tasty, except for a few dishes people pretty much passed on, like jelly fish (honestly looked like onions) and pickled pork hocks. After about an hour the place was jam packed and you could barely hear yourself talk but everyone had a good time.

Jenna's been growing like a weed and is also talking more and more everyday. Sometimes she goes into a babble that makes the husband and I just stare at each other and roar...it's just so darn cute! She pretty much understands everything we say, not necessarily listens to it all but understands it nonetheless.

She has her followup appt with her pediatrician on Wed and this is where I'll find out whether her iron levels have gone higher since she's been home with us. Her counts were low and she needed medication and iron supplements for a while. Her doctor thinks that it could be hereditary in which case there's not a lot she can do about it, but it could have also worked itself out. I guess we'll see.

Anyway, Jenna's waking up so I better wrap this up. My camera is downstairs so I'll try to download some pictures tonight.

Happy New Year!!!

Jenna is hosting a Chinese New Year dinner with her little friends today at a local Chinese restaurant. I really wanted to invite the "whole family" (we have a really big extended family) but I decided that I'll incorporate CNY celebration when I do my annual Easter dinner. Anyway, they have a special menu for today and when I went and looked at it last week, they hadn't translated it to English yet so I thought I'd be brave and just go with it. Well, during the week I had second thoughts as most of the guests will be, ummmm, how do you say.....White or non-Asian. It's a good thing I went yesterday because dishes like fried sea urchin, fish ball soup and a couple other dishes didn't sound like they would go off too well among my Canadian friends, so I replaced them with some really "safe" dishes like fried rice, shrimp and noodles. I'm sure those traditional dishes are very tasty and I would probably try them myself, but I'd rather pay for food that I know will be eaten. Plus, I'm the biggest "white-washed" Filipino you'll ever meet so sticking to what I know is best. Anyway, I'll update tonight complete with pictures of Jenna's first Chinese New Year home with us!

Random photos.....

Just some random photos that I finally downloaded from my new camera I got at Christmas time....



Last week Jenna decided that she really didn't need an afternoon nap so after fighting sleep for so long, the poor little thing crashed just as I was giving her after nap snack. She's never done this before but I'm sure it won't be the last time either! Too cute!








Jenna and her Daddy just before going to the Oilers game against the.. ummm, whoever. We went to the game and lasted a whole period and ended up going home. Let's just say we won't be going to a game with Jenna until she's a little older to sit in her own seat and keep herself amused by shoveling piles of junk food into her mouth. You can dress her up, but you can't necessarily take her out.....to a hockey game that is!
















This was at New Year's at Auntie Terri's and Uncle Brad's fondue. This was the first ever article of clothing I ever bought Jenna. It was at Macy's in California and although I knew that referral was a long ways away, I couldn't resist this pretty little party dress. I remember putting it on her that night and thinking how badly my heart ached for her back then....and now here she was wearing her dress. Who would have ever thought beautiful could look this beautiful!



















Jenna's first hair cut at a cute little shop called Beaners. She picked the princess care to ride in (of course) and she was such a good little client. Better than I thought she'd be.














Amazing how cutting a few little hairs can change my baby's face soooo much. It brought tears to my eyes!




Jenna and her cousins' place in California. How cute do my three little girls' look!!