Mrs. Piggle Wiggle- My first true love

My SIL recently reminded me of these wonderful books. Oh how I loved them! I remember coming home from kindergarten (on the day they told us we knew how to read now) and runnning to my Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. I still remember being incensed that I couldn't read it. I could only get a few words and I was utterly infuriated that I had been so misled. I can't wait to read these books to Red Fish.

I've been sick with pneumonia among other unfortunate ailments so it's been a long week. But hopefully this week I can do alot more snuggling with Red Fish ( and Two Fish for that matter) and I can actually leave the house once or twice.

A Bit of Silliness

Now that Red Fish is sprouting some hair we decided to see what she will look like with a fro.

Squash- Not a fan!

NAB

I just returned from the 2nd largest trade show in the world- NAB. It was really interesting to visit with my distributors from around the world. Using translators and trying to understand new customs and accents in business was a new experience. It made me think about how small the world is becoming. I got a lot of great feedback and a lot of things to think about. Several people told my Dad that my brother J and I are "very intense." Whatever that means. Hopefully it's a good thing. It was fun to spend some time with J but I've decided we are pretty boring. Three days in Vegas and all we did was go out to dinner a couple times. I sure missed Two Fish and Red Fish.

Red Fish is very into feeling textures. She wants to feel the fabric of your clothes, your hair, your skin. She also wants to pet the dog Blue Fish now so we are trying to teach her to pet him and not pull his hair. Luckily Blue Fish is very gentle, but he isn’t sure what he thinks of this new attention. Red Fish has figured out what mouths and noses are. When I ask her “Where is mommy’s nose?” She will grab my nose. When I ask her “Where is mommy’s mouth?” She grabs my mouth. Now when she grabs at my ears and hair she looks at my expectantly like “what is this?” I can’t get over how smart she is.

Red Fish has hit the phase where she can control her hands enough to play with her toys but she can’t quite get the toys to do what she wants so she gets rather frustrated with them. I found something this week that she can get some serious satisfaction out of. I bought Red Fish these new percussion shakers that have little handles on them. Each one makes a different sounds- one has bells on it one has clappers etc. She LOVES them! They make a much bigger sound than any of her rattles she has and the handles are easier for her to hang onto. She has been having a lot of fun with them. She likes to shake one in each hand and sing at the top of her lungs. She is very into singing and squealing.

Anyone have any tips on great toys that brought your kids alot of joy and creativity?

Family Pictures

The grandkids and their grandma (Two Fish's Mom)

Everyone together for the first time in five years!

(There have been alot of additions since our last family picture!)

Just the three of us- Two Fish, Red Fish, One Fish

Two Fish's siblings with his Mom

My Brother is Home!

My brother J returned from his mission today. We met him at the airport with signs and a crowd. I don't remember being quite so short next to him. It's good to have him home. My Mom was so excited waiting at the airport that she almost mistakenly hugged a pilot coming off the escalator because he had a name badge. It's so good to have him home and so fun to introduce him to Little Red Fish. She hadn't met either of m brothers because they have both been serving missions. I dressed Red Fish in tutu just because I knew it would bother J (he thinks I shouldn't inflict my sens of fashion on her.) The first thing he said is: "What the heck is that?" He said it was the first thing he saw from the top of the escalator. At least Red Fish made an impression.

Answers to Some Questions

First of all we just wanted to thank everyone for the incredible amount of love we have received recently from all of our family/neighbors/friends. It's been pretty amazing. We are truly honored to have such wonderful people in our lives.

So here are the answers to some questions we get asked alot-

How are things going with Red Fish?
So wonderful! We love her more than we even knew we would! I can't imagine a more beautiful wonderful daughter. Everyday just gets to be more fun. I could go on an on about this.

When can we apply for adoption again?
The agency we went through will allow us to start to file our paper work one year after Red Fish's birth. Yes we plan to do so as soon as we can! There is no way of knowing ahead of time how long it will take for us to be placed with a second time. If by chance we were to find a birth mom who wanted to place with us before the year mark we could get permission to go ahead with it. I'm not sure if that happens alot though.

When do we get to be sealed to/bless Red Fish?
Six months after her birth. We are getting very excited for this.

Can people talk to us about adoption?
We have learned alot through the whole adoption process and we would be happy to share some of our experience with anyone who is interested in adoption. The end result of our adoption process has been just wonderful! We are very familiar with many of the ups and downs of the process but trust me it ends on an up and up and up.

And a non-adoption question
When is brother J coming home?
FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY! I'm just a little bit excited.

Dinner With Friends

Okay these are terrible pictures because we took them on Two Fish's phone but the picture of Red Fish is just hilarious. She wouldn't stop jumping up and down when we were trying to take the picture so she is just a big blur.

So Stinkin'Cute!

Red Fish had her picture taken yesterday and she was so stinking cute. She kept smiling really big and she sat up on her own for most of the pictures (which means she was slumped forward but it was still really cute.) She kept falling over though because she would try and pick up her feet to show us. She also kept pulling her dress up over her head. We took her picture in her Chinese outfit and also in one of the sun dresses that Mom gave her for Christmas. Then she was so cute when we were changing her we took a few in just her bloomers.

Like taking candy from a baby

or rather like taking the baby's stroller. Who steals a stroller? Right out of our garage no less. We don't leave our door open except for when we are unloading groceries or something. (The back of my car can't open with the garage door closed.) Yesterday I realized that our big nice barely used stroller is gone from the garage. It isn't something that could just be misplaced. Why in the world would someone steal it? Now I have to get a new one and I find it very frustrating.