Sweet Seattle Summer!

Enjoying our summer!

Enjoying our summer

Can't believe it has been so long since posting. Life is flying along, and we are enjoying the (sometimes) summer weather. Got Emma up her first 'real' mountain (she insisted on walking a fair bit), and she loved it. And fell asleep in the pack on the way down :-) Then did a shake-down car camping trip with Alan and Casandra, complete with Emma's first campfire and marshmallow s'mores.


Had one of the nicest afternons last weekend, at Folklife, our big music festival in town. We just roamed, listening to a song or so from each performer, and then moving on. Emma loved all the music, listening with full attention, and often was the first to yell "yay!" and clap at the end. The previous day (we went 2 days) I had to physically stop her from running out to join the break dancers, she was so into it. There are also kiddie amusement rides there, and Emma's caught the bug- on her first solo ride (cars on a track), I put her next to another child and moved away.. she was just about to burst into tears when the ride started- she was soon waving and laughing.

Emma is singing up a storm these days, mastered the alphabet song, do-re-mi, and many of the usual songs... today she was working on supercalifragilisticexpialodocious. Cruel, I know. She takes such joy in singing and hearing others sing (she's the only one that ever applauded my efforts), so fun to watch.

Tidepooling and hiking

Just a few pics- Jerry and Michele came with us for some local tidepooling, on one of the low summer tides. We saw all kinds of anenomes, flame red sea cucumbers, large starfish, and a seastar. Emma mostly loved just being on the beach, or at water's edge, digging and playing with seaweed.

We've gotten out hiking a bit (well, I hike and Emma gets carried, or Emma happily meanders and we move at a rather erratic pace)... I love it that she's learning words like moss, fern, stream, and trail, experiencing the (unnerving to her) racket of a woodpecker, and calling my attention to faces she sees in the trees and rocks.

Emma and I have been together for six months now... Meg Ryan, who adopted her daughter Daisy from China in Jan06, recently said in a Redbook interview "I am convinced, completely convinced, that there was nothing random about the adoption, she is the daughter I should (ie was meant to) have." I feel exactly the same way.

Easter Egg Hunt

We had a wonderful Easter, complete with an Easter basket and an Easter egg hunt in the back yard- The morning was uncharacteristically sunny and warm,and folks came over for brunch. And then "the girls" retired to Emma's room to read books.


Emma loves the outdoors- I got her on a mini hike, and we spent a long time tossing leaves and sticks into a little stream. Coming back, at a T in the trail, I asked Emma if she wanted to go left to the car, or right to see more- Emma took off to the right, laughing, and got into a bit of trail running! This bodes well for this summer..


Kendall took this picture of Emma bundled up in her car, off on another adventure!

Emma's settled in

If someone asked me how long it took, for Emma to feel like she’s settled in… I’d say 4-5 months. Something has changed in the past few weeks, Emma's anxiety seems gone, and she's just more relaxed. Emma is fine when I go off to work, she gives me a hug and is secure that I’ll be back. She’ll wander away from me, at a gathering, or a playground, and explore. She’s fine with either of her nannies, happily going away from the house with them. She’s ok if I give another child attention, or pick them up. The other day at Trader Joe's she flirted shamelessly with the cashier, and never took her smiling eyes off him as he wheeled her in the cart thru to the front of the checkout- it wasn't that long ago that I needed to be conscious of getting her wheeled thru quickly, or (in the early days) on my side, so she wouldn't start to panic. Emma's day seems pretty good right now- weekday mornings maybe an errand with me and then a park, weekday afternoons napping and most often going to a park with Kendall or Weihua, dinner and then evening with lots of books before bed.

In the past weeks Emma moved from shapes to numbers and now to colors. She has a puzzle with the numbers, and she called out tenderly to each one, like greeting a long-lost friend, as she put it in place… Five!.. In the past few days she’s been focusing on colors- calling out “that’s red! this is blue! all the time. Emma is almost combative about learning- “what’s that!” is the most frequent expression she uses. She doesn’t much care if she initially gets things wrong, she just keeps trying out words til she gets it right.

It has been awhile since posting- with Emma settling in later at night, it has really limited my time to do things. So I put in lots of pictures-

We went to Beckon and Mark’s beautiful wedding. Emma got dressed up in a velvet dress and patent leather shoes, and had a great time- as always, loving goofing around with Owen (in the pic with her, looking rather handsome).

We really enjoy the ferry, I promise no more ferry pics after these. Emma always makes a friend/two, you never know what’ll happen. (This time Emma again asked to fly).





It is spring here, and Emma loves the flowers. Walking to the front door we always pick something in the yard, and she has little bunches of flowers in glasses by her placemat, she’s learning their names. (Hug.. cherry tree.. she said the other day as we were driving past a row in full bloom)

I posted pics of Helen (with Emma on trikes) and Michelle (with Emma at Owen's birthday party).



Looking back, we’ve had a few bouts of illness- several days of Emma spiking fevers, kind of spooky, then she was totally fine. I am on the tail end of a nasty chest cold, but now Emma has come down with it. A toothache and root canal in there (which was surprisingly painless, to my surprise, I had a great doc). We've both been so healthy post-China, maybe just the odds catching up with us.

Kendall and Weihua sit with Emma in the afternoons. I am so lucky to have them in our life, and Emma loves them both. Kendall is the first non-family member that Emma has felt totally secure with. Weihua started recently, and is (re)teaching Emma some Mandarin- she’s forgotten all/most of it, but seems to be picking it up again easily. The picture with Kendall was taken a couple months ago, the picture with Weihua a few days ago- Emma is growing up so quickly…

Ferry ride

Emma took her first ferry ride and loved it- We went with Alan, to check out his new office in Silverdale. Breakfast was on the boat, watching the world go by. Coming back Emma and I were on our own- we went up to the open top deck, near the front, where it was really windy and the gulls were soaring just above the boat. Emma looked up and asked 'fly?' I'd previously held her so she could pretend to fly in the living room, belly down and arms outstretched... this was very near the real thing, a bit of a 'Titanic' moment, as she was head into the wind, arms out, watching the boat plow thru the water and the birds soar overhead.

These days Emma picks out squares, ovals, triangles, etc, wherever she goes. Today she 'got' the library, we went to story time, and then picked out some books and checked them out. Emma proudly carried the stack of books outside... Another milestone today- Emma went in Kendall's car to an indoor playspace, first time in a car without me.. only a bit anxious leaving, and when she came back she happily announced "I'm back".

Prose of the previous post sure sounded tired... it was- Emma is making good progress on the sleep issue, finally..

Music and first real haircut

We started a toddler music/dance class at one of the local community centers- Emma was transfixed by the woman with the guitar and sweet voice (something her mama definitely does not have).

We also went to the big Garden Show, with Liz and Becky. Random, that best describes Emma's motion there (the backpack and front wrap were both rejected once inside)... but we stayed a few hours, and it was nice to see the Lathrops. Emma was mostly interested in the water fountains and statuary.

Emma had her first real haircut here, and did just fine. Wish I'd done it sooner, it looks really cute.

Sleep.. well the crib is gone- more a statement of what had already occurred than anything else (as Emma refused to use it). Emma's mattress is on the floor, with a safety rail, that will work til she's ready for a higher toddler bed. Naps are infrequent now too. Finding a new sleeptime routine is an ongoing project, we've had all sorts of variations but nothing consistently works just yet. Things change so quickly I'm sure we'll get it figured out. Soon I hope :-)

Emma (finally) sleeps

What happened to the golden night-time routine of the past few weeks?? A few books, sweet kisses and "goodnight Emma" followed by a return of "goodnight Mama", and I'd leave the room. A distant memory. Almost a week ago, on the last page of "Goodnight Moon", a sleepy Emma wriggled off the rocking chair and visibly shook herself awake. And proceeded to be a wired child til 11:30- with some variation on this for the next few nights. I tried everything... and the only way she'll let herself fall asleep before total exhaustion is in the stroller. So stroller it is, twice a day- for naps, and at bedtime. Truth is, this works for both of us- Emma always jumps at the chance to be in the stroller, and I'm enjoying the evening walk/jog!!

Backpack

Starting back on the road to the outdoors! I bought a backpack, and Emma loves riding in it. Sara came from Utah for a visit, and we trekked all over the market downtown on Saturday. On Sunday Alan and I did a 'mini-hike' around Foster Island. Both times Emma was happy as a clam. So very cool... Next in my sights- a bike trailer :-)


Emma is starting to show an interest in dolls, which is fun to see. Here she is, in her rocking chair, 'reading' Goodnight Moon to Dolly. Mama knows the book by heart, who'dve thunk.

Emma speaks several hundred words, and understands most of what I say, if I limit my vocabulary a bit, just amazing... I've discovered take-out Thai.

Three months ago today

Three months today, since Emma was placed in my arms. Hard to believe, it feels like we've been together for so much longer. I'm so proud of Emma- with so many changes, she has responded with resilience and intelligence and a willingness to again laugh and love and trust. I know this little girl was also loved by her foster parents, by how she in turn has loved... I am certain they are missing her hugely. Tonight Emma and I went to a neighborhood Chinese restaurant and both devoured a huge plate of bok choy, tofu, and mushrooms.

Photos are miscellaneous from the past few days- love the sleepy bedhead shot, taken just after waking up this morning. Michelle (still Ayi to Emma, or 'Auntie' in Mandarin) started what I hope will be a tradition of getting Emma into some crazy sporting venture, and got her on a scooter- missing is the image of them riding together at a rather good clip, Emma holding on tight.. and after, always asking for yet one more ride.

I also added a few photos to the "gotcha day" entry in October- they were from the backup camera, and I only recently discovered them... they catch the feelings of that day well I think.

A few photos

Not too much to report- life is just moving along, and all is well. I've returned to work, half-time, and am really happy with Emma's child care- Jennifer, who rents my mother-in-law, sits two afternoons a week, and Kendall, who is studying to be an elementary school teacher, sits the other two afternoons a week. They are both wonderful with Emma, and Emma gets lots of attention, in an environment where she feels secure.

We started swim lessons at a nearby pool, Emma just loves being in the water, and cheers all the other kids kicking and blowing bubbles too. Emma is starting to play dress-up, and loves both her costumes, and digging into my scarves. Catch the cute hat with the funky fringe.. knit by Emma's cousin Emily.

Christmas at the beach

Happy New Year everyone! We had a wonderful holiday week in Florida with my family- Emma completely loved being at the center of attention for the week. We had two adjacent houses right on the beach, and great weather (warm, sunny and even a few storms). Emma loved the water, playing in the sand, and especially playing with her cousins Canyon, Nathan and Allan. Canyon did what I could not- in 30sec, he had Emma brushing her teeth with him. Allan was Emma’s armchair, she’d just settle into his lap. And Nathan and Emma played forts. So much fun to see the young crew together (and we’re eagerly anticipating Heather and Robert’s addition in April!)

Now home, Emma asks to look at the pictures and movie clips on the computer at least once a day- especially the one of her beloved Uncle Rick making googly-faces at her. And we now have the refrigerator covered with pics too.

One of the more touching moments of the trip came as we got home- After the last air leg, I told Emma that we were done with airplanes, and that we were going to see Alan and go home. She was happy to see Alan… but when we opened the front door, only then did she understand she was really back home- she broke out into a huge grin. With all the changes in her life, she may have thought she was moving someplace different yet again. At 1am Florida time, we had an hour-long celebration, with Emma loving all her old toys, riding her scooter, playing her music (and insisting we all dance), etc.

Emma changes every week- she’s talking more and more, and more physically active- I don’t carry her very often these days. She is just a total joy, and a happy little girl.