MAYLIN2007

One minute she's a tornado. The next, she can wash her own hair, type on the computer, and take down a kitty for a hug.

This past week Maylin has had the pleasure of meeting family and friends. Sorry the pictures are out of order, but I am still learning. Today we had a get together with others from our adoption agency. It was so fun to be with Susan and Anna, Tiffany and Eliza, Erin and Libby and of course Maylin and Laurel! We missed Nate and Emily. Thanks for organizing it Susan! The girls had fun. As you can tell from the pictures, it was going to take more than 4 moms to get a "good" picture of the girls. But really, the crawling, crying and laying down ones are the best! Our good friends the Stanley's came to visit (we love you), the White's (good luck with your adoption) and so did my nephew and his wife. Maylin liked them all. She was quite amazed with my nephew at 6 foot 8. He seemed to just go up and up! My good friend Anita and possibly my twin in spirit, with Maylin. (Below)Adam and Claudia - my nephew and niece -in-law. Eliza trying to convince Maylin that sand really is ...

We just got our referral in the mail today for Maylin Nini....I know kinda backwards, but that is how things work around here. The translation just made me cry. It talked about how the foster mother just loved her. I am keeping my promise to the director who said she was upset and am putting together an album of Nini here in our home. I will send it next week. Also, the referral said she was found in a cardboard box . I guess that makes sense for protection reasons, but it still broke my heart.

My kids are on spring break. We thought it would be a good time to show Nini around SLC. Stop number one: Thanksgiving Point's Barnyard. Nini was so funny she had everyone laughing. She was okay with the little yellow chicks that were secure behind plexi-glass, but for those other animals that roamed behind fences she was fit to be tied. When we approached the horses, donkeys, calves etc, she would start to whimper and tried to hide in her stroller. If they sniffed her, it was an all out cry. I picked her up and it was amazing how her bravery improved. She would hang onto the rail and call to them. With a little hand holding we even got her to pet a horse. However, if they got to close she would try to climb over my shoulder and would whimper again. Unfortunately that bravery was quickly squashed when the turkey we were looking at gobbled! It sent her into full blown tears. But explain this one...she was brave enough to ride a pony! She loved it. Only thing we could figure was ...

It has been almost a week since I posted. So here are some of our favorite shots from this past week. This one has to be our all time favorite. Wouldn't you agree? What a darling girl! Maylin has finally decided she likes the swings, but only if her sister has her. We don't get that one, but who knows the mind of a one year old. She is still crazy for the slide. She loves to try to climb up it. Also, she loves riding on Daddy's shoulders. She hugs and kisses his head. Daddy loves it! Also, Jay celebrated his 40th! It was a tough one for him. Poor guy. Maylin loved the cake, but didn't know what to make of the singing thing. We went to the Passey's this week for Emily's b-day. We had a wonderful time! Emily is beautitul and Nate is the model mother! The girls are so cute together. Of course, I forgot my camera. Thank heavens for the Passey's. They are forwarding pictures to me.

Sorry. These belong with the below post. I am still new to this whole picture thing. Any way, take a look at these and read the blog below that explains them. ALSO, We want to take this opportunity to wish our daddy and our wonderful niece/cousin Julia Ferre aka Hooli a wonderful birthday tomorrow! " Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear family. Happy birthday to you!!!!!!!"

This morning we woke to chores. You know the normal, bedrooms, floors, trash, yard work etc. Then Austin left for a 5 hour service project and Alex left for his first baseball game of the season. He did awesome. He had 3 hits to the fence and an amazing catch, but most of all he had fun! I think I did about 1,000 pieces of laundry today. Why we have that many clothes, I will never know. Maylin tried her first cheeto (spelling?) and her first bite of a Ding Dong and she attended her first baseball game. Also, you know those locks you put on your cabinets so babies can't get in? Well, Maylin watched me take it off once, and you guessed it she stood there and took it off! Under the sink became her world. So Monday we are off to find a Maylin proof lock. Tomorrow is Jay's birthday so we bought him a 40th birthday cake. Alex wanted to know why it wasn't black because 40 is all about black. Jay loved that. I told Alex it isn't about black its about grey because that's the...

Do you think there is a little static in the air or what? Grandpa comes for a visit to get to know Maylin Nini. Grandma got some good hugs! We love grandma and grandpa!

Tomorrow, Thursday we will have been the proud parents of Maylin Nini for 3 weeks. Wow! It went so fast. We love her more every day and she loves us more every day too. We have discovered some very interesting things about her. We thought you might be interested too. 1.Our Spicy Hubei Girl as they are sometimes called because of the spicy food they serve there, LOVES spicy Mexican food. Yes, that's right. She loves tacos, refried beans etc...anything that is spicy. 2. She says rabbit, bottle, brother, sister, dad and mom in Chinese. 3. She loves the phone and the remote. 4. She is a dancer. Hears music, will dance. 5. Has learned to do patty cake, insey winsey spider, blow kisses, wave, and blow a whistle or a horn. 6. She loves her Chinese squeaky shoes. When she is wearing them she doesn't walk, she stomps. She is great. I am finding that over the last 2 days, my other kids have decided to have a hard time. There has been a lot of jealousy and a lot of "you don't lov...

Laurel's nephew Devin, his wife Rachel, and baby Crew came to meet Maylin! Crew is 4 months old and is absolutely darling. Maylin wasn't sure if another baby was trying to move in on her territory or what. She thought he was cute tho'. Thanks for coming!

Click to view larger photos.

Yard work, computer work (Alex and his friend), and an egg hunt! Maylin loves the robin eggs. See the blue face. Happy brothers and sisters.

Dad mows the lawn. Maylin thinks the lawn mower is too big. You should have seen her when he started it. Good thing she was on mama's lap. Alex takes Maylin for a ride. Constipation? No worries! Maylin recommends prune juice! Here: problem is solved.