Riding a bike for my 2nd time!

While we were visiting Katie's house, Francesca got to ride her very first tricycle! It took her a little time to catch on how to work the pedals and handlebars, but once she got her groove on...she was actually riding the bike "all by herself" (and doing a great job at it as well). So when we got home, I just had to go out & get her a bike of her own. After it taking Grandma & I over an hour to put the bike together today...she was ready to ride!

I would have never thought she was ready for riding a bike at her age (she'll be three in January), but after some encouragement from Aunt Amy...telling me that it is going to be OK (I was so nervous and thought she was way too young to be riding a bike YIKES)...and from her really wanting try to it...she was actually riding the bike within minutes (Daddy did a wonderful job at showing her how its done).

Being the nervous mother that I am (I would have never thought I we be the like this...I was always the wild & crazy one), I didn't get any photos of her actual first spin on Katie's bike, but I do have photos to share with you all of her second spin on her bike.

And away she goes...



("hey mom, it is hard to say 'cheese' and smile while trying to ride my bike")

It is getting harder & harder to say "goodbye"....

Every time we leave Uncle Owen, Aunt Amy, and Katie house...I ball my eyes out! (seriously, this time I cried almost one full hour after we pulled away from their driveway) It is amazing how two beautiful little girls brought our two families together. At first, we knew that we would always share a bond that is so unexplainable, but now...now they are so much more...they are our major part of our family! We had a wonderful weekend in Michigan & we are so looking forward to the Weaver/Winkler family coming to visit our neck of the woods sometime within the next two months.

Amy & Owen...We are also so grateful for everything, EVERYTHING, you have done for us! We love you guys so very much! We can't wait to you guys come to PA!

"Best Friends"








The girls playing foots-see!




(isn't that just way too cute...the girls couldn't keep from playing together...both truly had a blast!)

Playing with some Play-Do...


Snack Time...


Meal Time...


Katie opening her birthday gift a little early....




(We will be back in Michigan after New Year's for the Yihuang Birthday Celebration that started last year with two other little girls from Francesca's & Katie's orphanage, all the girls' birthday are within the months of December and Janurary. We are so looking forward to it).

So much to tell...Where do I begin!

"We as parents feel a child is a child regardless of any special needs that child is labeled with. In our hearts, this is the right choice for us as a family."

Keith & I just finished meeting with our social worker regarding the filling out of our agency's "waiting child medical checklist" and faxed it to our agency! What this means is that our family will be considered for a waiting child from the lists that our agency receives from the CCAA. A waiting child is a child that has been diagnosed with one/or more medical conditions that does not allow that child to be adopted through the traditional program. The diagnoses vary...from a cleft lip and plate to hearing issues to vision problems to missing/or additional digits to skin conditions to heart problems. Keith & I have talked extensively on this issue & totally feel in our hearts that this is the right choice for us! According to our agency, the wait time until we are matched with our daughter can be from 8 - 10 months...with travel following 2-4 months after that. So we are still looking at a year's time before we will see Sofia's face for the first time!







Now...onto the photos!

Fun Time at Grandma's! As always, Francesca loves going to her Grandma's house!

Baking Cookies...(OK so they are not "home-made" but according to Francesca, they are the best & her favorite!)






and while the cookies were cooling, Grandma and Francesca headed outside while Grandma tried to rake the leaves...


















(every time Grandma would get a nice pile of leaves together...Francesca just had to run through them...it was so cute!)







As you may or may not know, my grandmother aka G.G. fell recently and is in a rehab center. We miss her so much when we visit Grandma's house, but we do get to see her every other day at the center. Today, they were having a Halloween party...and of course Francesca had to go! It was so much fun!







The ones I love...





(Auntie, Grandma, G.G., Mommy, and Francesca)












(Auntie & Francesca)









I love my Minnie Mouse costume this year!












Making funny faces with Daddy!












And finally, I just had to post this photo of Francesca taken yesterday at lunch time. Not only does she have her JoJo hat on, but she also has on her princess crown...on top of the JoJo hat! I thought that Keith put it on there for her, but after asking him if he did...he told me "No, she did it all by herself!". What a kid!












(isn't that just way too cute!)







As you can see, we had a great weekend! On Friday, we leave for Michigan to see the Weaver/Winkler family...that's Uncle Owen, Aunt Amy, and Katie! We are so excited! It has been way too long since we were able to get together! You can be sure that I will have a lot of photos to post next week regarding our visit!

LID for 6 months now!

MONTHS from being LID!

(I still think we have a long way to go until we see Sofia's face for the first time...ugh)

You'll never guess what I am working on now....

(and no, it is not another vacation)...it's our family Christmas photo cards! It is getting harder for me every year to decide what photos I want to use! Since I really only put Francesca & Honey on them, I was taking photos of the two of them the past few weeks. Out of 87 photos taken, only one...ONE...came out pretty good (if it wasn't for the reflection from the flash on Honey's eyes).





(it is such a great photo of my two babies that I am now using it as our profile photo here!)

Last year, I started this whole process way too late and while I loved the way the cards came out...I knew if I started it earlier, the cards could have been much better. After working on this project for the past few weeks (as mention earlier...) I finally have the finished product. The only thing is that Honey won't be in them this year. He totally refused to have his picture taken any more...so it will be Francesca only (Honey would actually turn his head the other way whenever I would take out the camera).


(last year I used an online company that designs & prints the cards out for you...all you needed to do was send them the photos, but this year I am going to try to do it myself...that's one of the reasons why I am starting so early...I'll keep you posted on how the process is going...(and I might be asking for help.) Wish me luck!


and if you can believe...I have already started my Christmas crafting. At the end of the season last year, I purchased a ton of Christmas crafting items to design and use as gifts. I have been hard at work these past few weeks & it has been a blast...especially since Francesca was so wanting & willing to help me this year with the crafting & designing! And I know some of you may want to sh**t me when I say this, but I am 98% finished with my Christmas shopping for this year. (if you are wondering how...I am one of those people who shop 'all year around'). Do you think I have Christmas on the brain? Christams cards....Christmas crafting...and Christmas shopping...I do have to admit...I have Christmas on the brain!

Weekend Wrap-Up!

We had such a fun time this past weekend (not to mention a very busy one as well...). Friday night, we attended Aunt Cherilyn's birthday party! It was such a great time! Grandpa and Grandma C. came in from Virginia Beach (it was so great!) and Aunt Lisa, Uncle Scott and little Scotty were there too...along with many of Aunt Cherilyn's family & friends!

As many of you know...or may not know....Francesca does at times get a little "uncomfortable" around people she isn't too familiar with and of course, Keith & I are always carefully of what kind of situations we put her into. I have to admit...Francesca did amazingly well! She greeted everyone at the party with hugs and kisses and was simply the star of the show! I can't tell you how happy we are as parents to see how much Francesca has grown and has opened herself up to so many wonderful experiences. You just don't know how long we have waited for this to happen. (she was even letting our waitress play with her...hold her...and willingly helped her serve!)

All dressed up for the party!



(isn't she just beautiful...!)

Having Fun with the Birthday Girl...Aunt Cherilyn!



(it was just supposed to be the grown-ups, but Francesca had to get herself in the photo as well)

Just me & my Grandpa aka PaPa!

(I miss you so much!)

Grandma C, Scotty, and me!


Having fun with our server, Bernie!


Everyone who was at the party!

(I think Grandpa is checking his cell phone?)


Now, on Sunday, we headed to Miller's Pumpkin Farm for our annual visit! And again, Francesca had a blast! She played on the slides, took a hayride, picked out her own pumpkin, and took her first ride on a horse (that's was her favorite)!

On the sildes...




On the hayride with Grandma!




Feeding the bunnies...


Riding a John Deer...
(with Mommy standing right beside me)


Today I wanted to be a....LadyBug!


And saving the best for last...photos of my horse ride!

Getting ready...
















She enjoyed the horse riding so much, we are now thinking of having her take riding lessons in the spring (but first we have to see how the swimming lessons go over). I can't begin to tell you guys how proud we are of Francesca! She has truly come a long way! First by going to the party Friday night & not going 'crazy' when first walking in...and for wanting...really WANTING to ride the horse...without Mommy's help (or standing by her side)! She is truly trusting us completely and is also so willingly ready to try new experiences!

(now if only I could get her to go into other's houses! she still is having a hard time going into friends' and family member's houses she is not familiar with. but I beleive that with a little work, this she can over come this too....)