Language development kicks into high gear!

Abigail's language development has really taken off! She has been using two-word phrases (more milk, mama back, book down, etc.) but all of a sudden, it's as if she has realized that there are millions of words out there and she wants to know and use them all!
New phrases include "Stop it, JieJie," "MY (fill in the blank)," "how're you?" "JieJie sleeping," "(where) are you?" and "Mama, look!" She wants to know what everything is called. She points to a bus and yells, "ChooChoo!" Frances and I tell her that it is a bus, so then she sees a truck, and yells, "Bus!" No, that's a truck. Then she sees a motorcycle and shouts out, "Truck!" It never ends, but she is starting to figure it all out. She does get "airplane" correct, 100% of the time. She talks about up and down, in and out, and she gets so excited when she can tell us about something she sees in her environment. Abigail's tone of voice implies that life is just astonishing. She is starting to "tattle" on another child from her daycare; as we ride home in the car she says things like, "My-my, eat!" Apparently, this is in imitation of Amy, telling Mya to eat her sandwich at lunch. Elevators and escalators are called "updown," and Abigail is quick to say "hurt" along with the name of the body part that needs a kiss. She is struggling with the correct use of personal pronouns... Abby approaches me or Frances and says, "Help you." When I try to get her to say help ME, she says "Help YOU Mama..." We're working on that one.

A weekend in San Diego

Our neighbor kindly let us know on a Wednesday that she would be having a party the following Saturday. It would probably be late and loud. If we were going to get any sleep that night, it would have to be somewhere other than our house. We had planned on going to the Adoption Options reunion picnic in San Diego that Saturday anyway, so I had my friend Dana find us a great deal on a hotel, and we spent the night in SD.


There was cable television in our room (which we do not have at home), so we didn't even leave the room for dinner. We had a pizza delivered, so that Frances could watch The Disney Channel. The experience reminded me of why we don't have cable!

The next day, we visited the Wild Animal Park. It was (of course) Abigail's first time seeing any of these animals. Both girls were less than thrilled with the tram ride, although I loved the opportunity to see African animals up close, and to learn all sorts of interesting information about the animals and the conservation efforts being made on their behalf. The playgrounds were a favorite place, as was the petting zoo. Frances initially said that she was too old for the petting zoo, but when given the option of waiting outside on a bench while I took Abby inside, she decided that she could suffer through it.

Abigail was uneasy around the deer, and shoved Frances ahead of her. "You go first!"

Frances approached the deer, to show Abigail that it was completely safe. Then the deer came nose to nose with Franny... hey, back off!

Finally, Frances was able to help Abby pet the deer, and I think it was a nice time for both of them.

Unlimited rides on the carousel are part of the admission, so Abigail had her first ride on it. She hated it, even on the stationary animals that don't go up & down! Frances rode it five times, on a gorilla, a black jaguar, an eagle, a reindeer, and in the spinning nest (like the Disneyland teacups, but on a carousel)!

A year of "firsts"

Memorial Day was Abigail's first time at Krispy Kreme Donuts. Yum, yum! The girls each got a hat and a free donut. America.... what a great place!

Franny's annual piano recital

It's that time of year again... Frances' piano teacher had her annual benefit concert. Frances played two pieces in the concert, and this was her first year playing with the orchestra. For those of you who haven't heard me speak about the annual recital, it is in the piano teacher's backyard. Her eight grand pianos are arranged around the pool, and are amplified. There are two youth orchestras to accompany the piano students, and the orchestras also perform several pieces without the piano students. As many as 8 students play piano together at once. The children must dress in formal attire. A professional videographer films the evening's performance, and DVDs are available for purchase. It's a lot of drama, but we do it each year. This piano teacher is really good, and Frances is learning so much from her. Frances did a great job, and looked beautiful.

Abigail turns two!

Abigail wore her "Birthday Princess" crown all day on her birthday, as well as during most of her party!




Abby's birthday was on a Tuesday, so my parents came to visit, and took us all out to dinner at Mexicasa (see previous posts for more info on our favorite restaurant). The waitresses brought a small dish of ice cream with a candle, and we all sang to Abigail. She looked confused, even though Frances and I had been practicing with her at home... Franny had to blow out the candle, because Abby would not do it. That Saturday, we went to another two-year-old's party (close friends of ours) and I told Abigail to watch her friend Karley, so that Abby would know what to do with her own birthday cupcake the following day. It must have worked, because at her party, Abigail kept trying to blow out the candle before we finished singing!


Abigail received an Asian baby doll from her friend Phoebe (adopted from Kyrgyzstan). I can almost hear her thinking, "Cute doll, but why does she have more hair than I do?"


We also had a bounce house... Of course, it says right on the bounce house "no flips." Well, Frances is in gymnastics... so of course she was doing flips!

Mother's Day 2009

Frances sometimes asks me, "What did you want to be, when you were growing up?" and I always tell her, truthfully, "All I ever wanted to be was a mom." God has granted my childhood wish; I am so blessed.

And no, that is not our dog. "Lady" belongs to Grandma and Grandpa Hunter; it made both girls happy to have the dog in the picture!

Mmm... Mexicasa!

On a Saturday night, you can often find us at our favorite Mexican restaurant, Mexicasa. Any of you long-time Anaheim residents will be familiar with this local blue-collar establishment. It is very affordable, has no "atmosphere," and is a great place to practice your child's "restaurant behavior." This is the place where Frances learned about remaining in her high chair until we were all ready to leave the table. It is also where my mom fed Frances mild salsa on a spoon! To this day, Mexicasa's salsa is one of her favorite things. Our friends Dana and Haley often drive up from Huntington Beach to join us there!

On our last visit, we were a little out of control...
Abigail has become interested in dipping her food, with things like ketchup. She watched us eating chips & salsa, and started asking, "Dip? Dip?" I gave her a little bowl of salsa (no one wanted to share with her, since she double-dips). Pretty soon, she was just lifting up the tiny bowl and drinking the salsa! I suppose it's like gazpacho...

The rest of us were being silly also, drinking a toast to everything and nothing, feeding each other bites of dinner, singing worship songs...

and the total bill for four people came to a whopping $21.64. That's our highest tab yet, I think!