Our Chosen Child: June 2010

We're having a wonderful summer. I'm enjoying being home with Ellie. She is such a silly, funny, and a wonderful little girl. I just love watching her explore or seeing something for the first time. We haven't held back too much on Ellie being engaged with activities this summer. We want Ellie to become a very confident child. Early on she has shown qualities of be a leader not a follower. She doesn't get afraid too much, just the normal things ~~ doesn't care for horses, but what little person wouldn't be afraid of HUGE horse. She doesn't care for you to put her up high in the air, but she likes heights on her terms~~~ like climbing tables, chairs, and gym class. She likes having control of her heights! She is NOT afraid of water ~~~ It's a workout at the pool with Miss Ellie Pei Hua!~! She walks off the pool's edge like Jesus walked on water! It's her way of jumping into the water or she will get on a step to jump onto her purple noodle. She is still shy with new faces which doesn't concerned us at all because that's continueous stimulation with attachment, and it's not overbearing with her shyish. It takes a little time with her to warm up to anyone and she will become your bestie! And we have also discovered that NEVER, I mean never let them EVER out of their restaurant high chair because they will NEVER want to sit in one again ~~ she wants to play instead of sitting in her chair, and the melting downs that comes with our dining experiences! Wow!! Someone needs to write this in a book somewhere!!!!!! I thought my child was sick the first time this happen, and poor Brian was freaking out! Thank God mommy's know how to calm situations!

Ellie has graduated to a big girl bed, and she loves it! We decided it was time when her legs where hanging out through the posts of her crib, and waking up stuck/crying in the middle of the night. It was sad taking down her crib ~~ watching your baby go from a baby to toddler stinks! She has become a good sleeper since we moved to Houston, but that 7am waking has changed one bit!! She fights us ( not too bad) about going to bed every night, but she peeks through door at us, and yells "mommy" ~~~ and I go to door to put her back in bed, then she will do this quick escape to her daddy ~~ giggling, laughing and running to her daddy ~~ it's so precious to see that you want her to escape! She has also graduated from baby bottles ~~ I've put thoses away the other day. She has been on straw sippy cups since 9mos old, and I've noticed that she wasn't finishing her bottles, and started stucking them like a straw. So, I knew it was time. However, I'm very thankful the removal of bottles was painless! She has never been attached to blankies, pacifiers or bottles. Now, she loves her babies, and she attached to several of thoses! She love thems and give them kisses.. it's really sweet.

We know as parents that we don't follow a strict schedule or all the rules. Life is too short not to live in the moment with our daughter. We do keep Ellie on a nap schedule, because if we don't, her evening will be ruined! We do keep Ellie on a healthy diet ~~ She does get treats every once in awhile, but it's a treat. Ellie has become a good eater because I've stuck to healthy food. She will eat any meat, vegs & fruits! I can't wait until she has full mouth of teeth ...Oh she going to really love food! Ellie is normal on the charts, she is 23lbs and 32 inches tall!! yikes! Her height is making her tiny in the waist though .. she is staying in 12 mos clothes, so I predict she will be wearing 18mos clothes for the winter/spring, and she has a size 5 foot! Doing good for a 16 month Asian baby!

This July 4th is going to be so special for Ellie, and I just can't wait to celebrate Ellie's first July 4th as a family! On these holidays to come, I will always reflect back to when we went through customs to be process through and Ellie becoming a US Citizen on that day 1o.9.2009. I just remember having so much joy and tears running down my face as we walked through those double doors. What a day that I will always treasure with Ellie.

I hope you enjoy the photos of our summer so far.. more to come!!

Ellie loves watermelon!! Mommy found out quickly watermelon stains!

Ellie playing in a splash pad...

Brian's 1st Father's Day... we had a blast on Kemah boardwalk!

Just funny... Ellie will fall asleep to anything moving!

Ellie's first train ride...

Ellie running in the breezy night at the drive-in movie...

Ellie in the Texas sky...

I just love that BIG smile and giggles...

Ellie enjoying the wind blowing under the big screen... "deer in headlights look"

And whose says you can't go to the movies with a 1 yr... YOU CAN..we took Ellie to see Toy Story 3 at a drive-in. Ellie watched 1/2 the movie, then she fell asleep. I wish I could've gotten a picture of the expression on her face when the movie started... it was priceless! :0