Happy Gotcha Day!!

2 years ago today Janie was placed in my arms. I cannot even begin to find the words to describe that moment. After so many years of waiting, heartache, wonder, praying, and even some doubting.....God handed me my child.

I am still in awe of how blessed I am. Janie is an amazing little girl. She is an absolute perfect gift from God. Isn't it wonderful how He knows EXACTLY what He is doing!

There simply are no words. Just L.O.V.E beyond anything else I have ever imagined. And now that she is a big sister, I am double-blessed!!

Thank you Deana Pan (and your loving staff), thank you AGCI, and mostly thank you Lord for my daughter! I pray that her birth mother also feels the peace and comfort knowing that her sweet baby girl is adored each day!

Referral photos of Janie. These were the first 2 pictures I saw of my sweet baby.

Janie today! You've come a long way baby!

Growing up too fast!

Back during our "mini" spring break trip (on April 7) Janie and Lexie went to the park.

Janie was 26 months old and wearing this outfit.


Lexie, at 19 months old, wore it to church today (and it is almost too small for her). Sigh....she is growing up too fast!

Speaking of growing up too fast....look how tall (and grown-up) Janie looks in this picture. My babies are becoming little girls.
Below are some of my other favorite photos from the past few weeks. My silly, funny, crazy, girls!!! I count my blessings each day!

Went to Dairy Queen and ordered a Kiwi-Strawberry drink. Lexie really wanted some!

Loved her reaction!!

Other random cuteness of the girls!

La La La La--Elmo's world....

I don't dress the girls alike. I don't really like matchy/matchy. Sometimes I like to coordinate them in colors and patterns--but I never do matching......

But, how cute are these Elmo pj's!?! I made an exception with pj's--pj's are supposed to be fun, right!

They loved them and they kept giggling and running around looking at each other. They thought it was so funny that they were dressed alike. (They also have a pair of matching Dora pj's too). 

Also cracks me up how both of them are chewing on the same finger too! Sometimes they are so much alike! Sweet sisters......L.O.V.E  them soooooo M.U.C.H

Sweet sisters showing off thier Elmo pj's

Lexie being her adorable self!

Janie thought the hat added a little something extra to her outfit! (She is very into Wonder Pets right now and it had her attention captured)

Sam's Club Shopping

Shopping at Sam's Club this weekend. 

The girls were super excited....maybe it's all the free food samples :):)

Conversations

Janie

Lexie

I love that I can now have full conversations with Janie. She pretty much talks all the time, asks tons of questions, repeats things over and over to get my attention, and basically is exploding with language development. I look forward to this time next year when Lexie is doing the same. I can only imagine the conversations I will hear from the back seat :):)

Here are a few examples of some recent "conversations" Janie and I have had (or that she has tried to have with Lexie).  Too sweet!!

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I pulled into Publix parking lot. 
Janie: "Do you have grocery list" 
Me: "Yes, baby, I brought it" 
Janie: "Do you have bananas for me and Wexie"
Me: "Yep, sure do" 
Janie: "Yay, I'm so excited"

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Janie: "Mmmmm, I have a question" (while holding her finger up to her mouth)

Me: "What is your question"

Janie: "I have to tell you something"

Me: "OK, What is it"

Janie: "Ummm, it is about a hotel"

Me: "What about a hotel"

Janie: "I saw a choo choo and lunch"

Me: "Yes, baby, we did see a choo choo train and eat lunch" 

This was a few weeks after we stayed at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel in Tenn. I guess she was still thinking about it

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Janie was laying up on the sofa with her head on the pillow pretending to be asleep. She then got off to get something from the toy box. Lexie jumped up on the couch and laid down. When Janie turned around and saw Lexie she screamed:

"Nooooo, WEXIE...No ma'am, that's my sleep....get off the couch now" 

Not a very nice conversation..but she got her point across....

Such a funny, funny girl!!!

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And not to forget about Lexie....she is talking up a storm too. But of course hers is just words....and lots of baby jibberish still. But, she is trying soooo hard. Some words she knows and uses consistently:

ma ma, more, mine (got that one from Janie), no, bye-bye, night-night, ball, book, bottle, blanket, nap, napkin, baby, juice, snack, wake up (from a silly game we play), shoe, boo (for boo-boo or hurt), and lots more that I can't think of right now.....

She also loves to tell you the sounds that animals make. So far she knows cow, dog, cat, horse, elephant, duck, and pig. She is working on frog and goat.

She tries to repeat everything she hears....just doesn't pronounce very good yet...but she is trying so hard-she has so much to say!!

Janie

Lexie

Lexie 18 month pics and Janie 2 year post-placement

Janie's 2 year PP report:

Tomorrow my social worker is coming over to do Janie's 2 year post-placement report. Oh.my.goodness.....

Deana placed my sweet baby in my arms on Sept. 14, 2009 and we arrived home on Sept. 22, 2009. So hard to believe that is has been almost 2 years! 

My sweet baby in my arms at last (Sept. 14, 2009)

My sweet baby (or big girl) today!!

You've come a long way baby!!!!

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Lexie's 18 month pictures!

I finally got around to taking Lexie to have some "professional" pics taken. I know, I know--bad mommy! I have waited toooo long. But, I have been a little busy--and I do take TONS of pictures myself. 

But, I wanted Lexie to have her own pictures (without Janie) since I will likely do all professional pics together from here on. And since she will be 18 months next week-it was the perfect time....Of course since the IRS still hasn't given me my adoption tax credit yet, I am on a Sears budget...so that is where we ended up. I think they did pretty good though! Here are a few of my favorites...they were all really good...but I think they had a beautiful subject so it wasn't too hard to capture the beauty!!

Love, love, love this sweet baby girl! What a blessing she is! Such a sweetheart!! Each day I still ask what I did to deserve these 2 amazing sisters. God is so good!

4th of July

Well, this is a late 4th of July update....but, I finally got around to loading the pics from that day and just had to share! We went to a parade in a nearby small town. It was basically just police motorcycles, fire trucks, a few businesses handing out coupons, and lots of old cars (oh and can't forget-lots of candy thrown). I think it maybe lasted all of 15 minutes...but it was fun!! 

There was a little celebration after the parade with food vendors and music...the girls liked that too. It was soooooo hot that day! But, it was a great first Independence Day with the girls home together. Looking forward to many more!!

Found our spot...now waiting for the parade to begin

Lexie showing her American pride!

Janie showing her American pride!

Janie showing off her USA outfit!

Lexie showing off her USA outfit!

After taking a short walk with mommy, Janie spotted her Mimi saving our spot 

and took off to her! She loves her Mimi!

Lexie and Mimi taking a walk while waiting for the parade to begin!

It's almost time for the parade! Let's get ready!!

Janie liked the firetrucks!

Lexie liked it all and kept waving to everyone! 

Here she wanted Mommy's sunglasses!

The girls kept looking up at him in disbelief!

Lexie won this inflatable frog and didn't let go of it all day! 

Janie won an inflatable turtle too!