Myah's First Christmas

This will go down as a very special Christmas for us as we celebrated Myah's first. We were trying so hard to not get caught up in the hustle and bustle and really take it all in. This is the first year that I can recall Mark having the days before, during and after Christmas off. It was so nice to have our own celebration at home and then head up north for our family gatherings. Myah wasn't really sure what opening presents was all about, she hasn't had a birthday party or anything yet that she has had to open presents, so as with most little ones, she loved the paper and bows and would rather play with them as opposed to playing with the great toys that were inside the fancy wrappings. We made a few stops to see a few of Mark's relatives that had not yet met Myah and it was so nice to see his family. Four years ago, Mark's dad passed away and so did his grandmother, three weeks prior. We used to have a huge Christmas with all of the aunt, uncles and cousins. Since their passing, we don't get together anymore as a whole. It was so good for Mark to see his family and share our little girl with them for the first time. We also celebrated with his immediate family at his mom's house in her new "holiday room". Myah loved it because there was a special ramp made so that Great Grandma Fahlsing could get up to the room with her walker and Myah must have walked up and down that ramp a hundred times. Mark and I also attended the candlelight service at the church we were married in. We don't get back very often but it is a special place for us as his family still attends there, Mark's parents were married there and Mark was baptized there as a baby. We had a nice time at my parents also, it was definately crazy with the three little girls running around. Dayton, bless his heart is sure a trooper with all of the little girl stuff! Myah loved the fact that every time she walked up to someone they would offer her a cookie or cracker. I swear she gained five pounds over the holidays! She also gained 3 new teeth! Ironically, Dayton lost a tooth on Christmas day. We laughed because he lost his first tooth on Christmas Eve five years ago. What is it with our family and teeth on Christmas!? Myah also went to see Santa for the first time. We weren't sure how well she would do but she sat right on his lap and actually put her head on his shoulder. This is just more evidence of how much more comfortable she is with us. She would go up to all of our family and hug them even when she had just met them. I am so glad that she has a loving heart. For so long she would get so timid around everyone but the three of us. She is really loving life and is laughing from her belly, smiling the biggest smiles and has a new scream reserved for when she is really excited. She also has a new obsession with wearing boots, I have caught her many times trying to get her new boots on all by herself, she is even trying to step into daddy's big work boots. Our only disappointment this year is that there hasn't been any snow!!!! Not that I LOVE snow or anything but we didn't even see one flake in December! We would love to take Myah outside and push her in a sled down our hill but I am beginning to wonder if we will have to wait till next winter!! I guess I better be careful what I wish for right!!!! We were very excited to start the new year, we have been so crazy busy ever since Myah arrived with adjusting to our new life, settling into Mark's new position, Mark's finishing up of his Masters, Dayton's schedules, and life in general, that we haven't had much "down time". We are anxious to see what 2007 will bring for our family, I am really excited to announce that I am starting my own photography business, this has been my passion forever and I can't wait to play with my new camera and equipment with my little China doll! I hope you all had a nice holiday and that 2007 brings you much happiness.

Eighteen Months Old

Today we have officially been home for 6 months with Myah! One minute I am amazed that it has only been 6 months, it seems like she has been with us forever, in the next minute, it feels like just yesterday that we held her for the first time. We are gearing up for the holidays just like everyone else, we are much busier this year! It has been so much fun finally being able to shop for two children, it seems that Dayton's presents cost much more than Myah's and they are much smaller than hers too! We put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving, Myah was just amazed at all of the lights. We have many ornaments that Dayton has made through the years, some with his pictures on them. Myah wakes up every day and looks at the tree, she sees Dayton's pictures and says "Date" and waves her hands up in the air in excitement! I went to Frankenmuth for my Grandma's birthday and bought some special ornaments for the tree that are for Myah. I love the glass vintage looking ornaments and found a Chinese flag, a ladybug and a princess crown and had her name put on it. We are so excited to take her to see Santa this week, it will be really interesting! She is just blossoming on a daily basis. I took her to my family Christmas and she "worked the room", she wandered away from me on her own and was walking up to people and was hugging them. I am amazed at how she has come out of her shell this past month. She is letting other people hold her, even when I am in the room. Everyone just loves her wherever we go. I have said that she reminds us so much of Dayton at that age, she does so much of the same things that he did. I just picked up photos that we had taken of the kids back in August and they are just gorgeous, but it is as if I am looking at her face and seeing the same baby on the outside but she is such a different baby on the inside now. We have definately made huge strides in her emotional and physical developement. She also has more confidence. She is very strong willed and is learning how to "charm" us when she knows she is in trouble. She is saying new words just about every day, some of her new favorites are yes, juice, shoes, down and Chloe. She went through a two week period last month when she kept falling on her face, she was so swollen for a few weeks, she was a mess! We are adjusting to Mark's new schedule and trying to keep her quiet during the day is a challenge, good thing Mark is a deep sleeper! She will stand at the bottom of the stairs and yell "Da Da". She is quite a character. We are so in love with her and can't wait to see Christmas through her eyes. It is so sad to think that last year at this time she was six months old living with her foster parents and not even celebrating this holiday. Another mom who has adopted from the same orphanage as Myah has put together a scrapbook album for the Tuanfeng orpanage each year to send over and also sends something for the foster parents. We sent along a page that we decorated for her. We sure hope that someone will recognize Myah and take comfort in seeing her happy. I have been thinking alot about her birth mother lately and I hope that God has comforted her heart when her thoughts turn to the baby she left on the steps. I also think about little Myah and am so grateful to God that she was protected during those moments when she was completely alone, my heart doesn't let my mind play out the scenerios of what could have happened to her. Her birth certificate arrived the other day, it was very basic, I am sure there are many blanks that were left that way, blank. But the most important part was where it named us as her parents, we will love this little girl forever! Our best gift this year is definately one that won't fit under the tree..... or should I say that won't sit! Thank you all so much for caring so much about our family and about our daughter. This year has been just amazing for us and we are so glad that you shared it with us. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2007!