Happy Eight Month anniversary, Ellie-Kate!! (11/23/09)

Hi Everyone--

WOW-- has it really been eight months already?? In some ways, it seems as though Ellie-Kate has always been with us. On the other hand, I can't believe that we were celebrating our letter of acceptance from China almost exactly a year ago.

Ellie-Kate is a remarkable, bright, smart, athletic, spirited girl at 21 months. (She'll be 22 months on her first Thanksgiving Day later this week-- how cool is that??) She can say around 100 words, and she's starting to get frustrated when we don't get what she says on the first try. She LOVES to kick, throw, and try to catch soccer balls, basketballs, volleyballs-- ok, balls of all sorts :) She really likes for us to read stories to her, color with her, and singing children's songs (Twinkle, Twinkle, Old MacDonald, etc.). Speaking of which, she has just discovered television, but she really only likes one particular video-- the Baby Einstein video about farm animals. She now says "eieioooo" all of the time, begging to watch the Old MacDonald music video on the tape. Ellie-Kate really enjoys going to "play babies" at the rec center, church, and library-- anywhere that she can find other kids and their toys :)

We're all really enjoying her and looking forward to introducing her to Thanksgiving and Christmas. She already has given us that "my family is really crazy" look, and we're fully expecting it when we drag the tree into our house on Friday!

Roger and I are VERY excited that we're almost done with the quarter. It's been a rough transition back to work, especially given that Chelsea and Emmy both played fall sports and that we all (except Ellie-Kate) struggled with seasonal illnesses. However, December should be much less hectic and much more peaceful as we celebrate the season and the very special gift that God gave to our family last November (but that we got to touch and hold on March 2, 2009).

Have a happy Thanksgiving!!

Christie