Gotcha Day 2012

On Tuesday January 24, 2012 Taylor and I celebrated out 2nd Gotcha Day / Forever Family Day anniversary.  Hard to believe it has been 2 years since that incredible day in Xi'an China when Taylor and I became a family.  Taylor has changed to much since then.  She is now 45 inches tall and weighs 45 pounds.  She is still Miss Personality.  Wakes up with a smile on her face most every day.  Has a great laugh that everyone loves to hear.  Has a bit of a stubborn streak and doesn't like when she doesn't her own way.  Her verbalization has grown in leaps and bounds since she started speech therapy a year ago.  She is also becoming independent and starting to do things on her own.  Still loves Dora and her 3 favorite movies are Cinderella, Tinkerbell and Toy Story.  Loves to play any playground I take her too.  Does gymnastics every Saturday and has done several session of swimming lessons.  Loves being in a pool and swimming.  Even enjoys being in the bathtub once she is in it.  What a change from 2 years ago when all she would is cry when she got anywhere near a pool.

Taylor is goes to 2 pre-K programs.  She still goes to the school she started in 2 years ago when I went back to work and is in their pre=K class.  She also goes to the elementary school in the afternoon for their pre-K program and that is where she gets her speech therapy twice a week.  I had a conference the other day with her teacher and speech therapist to discuss Taylor's progress.  She is doing very well and they love having her in their class.  She will definitely be ready for kindergarten this September.  Can't believe she is going to be 5 on April 1st.

For our 2nd Gotcha Day we went out to dinner with Kathy (my friend who traveled to China with me) and her family.  We had a good time and Taylor kept us entertained throughout dinner.  She can now count to 10 in Spanish (thank you Dora) so had to demonstrate that for everyone.

Princess Taylor

Taylor is all about princesses.  She loves to watch princess movies, read princess books and play princess games on her Leap Explorer.  She calls herself  either Princess Taylor or Princess Unicorn.  She loves dressing up in her princess dress, tiara and shoes.  Most nights when I come home from work she comes up from playing in the basement dressed to the hilt in her princess gear.  The below are from one such night 2 weeks ago.  She loves dancing around in her princess high-heels...I think she likes the sound they make on the hardwood floors.  Catch her in this video.

Some Pampering for Taylor

On December 30th I took Taylor to Sweet & Sassy, store/salon for kids.  She got a mini mani and a mini pedi.  Cute place and you can have parties there and also have hair and make up done and have a fashion show.  After everything Taylor has been through I decided she deserved some pampering.

Health Update

The 2 weeks prior to Christmas were crazy here as both Taylor and I had 1 planned and 1 unplanned health issue.  The unplanned was me going to the ER at 4:30am on Wed Dec 7th in an ambulance as I was having issue breathing due to severe bronchitis.  I had a bad reaction to the contrast they gave me when they wanted to do a CAT scan.  I ended up sedated and on a ventilator for 2 days.  All in all I was in the hospital 6 days.  Fortunately my sister came down and got Taylor and between her and my SIL they watched Taylor until Sunday when they brought her home.  Saturday my Mom came up and stayed until Thursday. It was nice to come home and have her here for a few days to take care or me and Taylor.  I am now 100% better.

On Wednesday December 21st, Taylor had surgery to correct her lip.  This surgery was planned!!!!  The left side was higher than the right side and the plastic surgeon made them event and touched up her nose just a bit.  She came home the same day.  She wasn't a happy camper afterwards but by Thursday she was pretty much back to herself.  It is healing nicely.  All the swelling has gone down.  We go back to the doctor for a follow up next week.  This should be the last of the surgery for a few more years.  She will need her nose evened out a bit when she is older and most likely will need bone grafting in her mouth but time will tell on that.  No dental work will start until she starts loosing her baby teeth.

Here is hoping that we are both healthier in 2012!!!!!

Waiting for the doctor to start.

Leaving the hospital.  She enjoyed her ride to the car as much as anyone could after surgery and some pain medicine.

Christmas Day

Christmas was fun this year.  Santa brought both Taylor and Wesley some really nice gifts.  Wesley's new train kept both kids occupied for a bit so the adults could get some breakfast.  Both also enjoyed opening their stockings from Santa.  Then it was onto the gifts.  After about 20 minutes of opening gifts, Wesley took his new train pillow, layed down on the floor and put his thumb in his mouth.  It was time for a nap.  Taylor continued to open presents which she loves to do.  We all received some really nice gifts and some fun ones as you will see below in the pictures.  Friends of my sisters came over later in the day for dinner.  All in all it was a successful Christmas.  We came home on the 26th and Taylor has been enjoying all her new dolls, toys and arts and crafts projects.  There is enough to keep her busy for the winter.

Wesley checking out his new Ferrari from Santa

Taylor playing with Wesley's new train set.  She didn't even go see what Santa brought her.  More interested in the train!

Taylor told Santa she wanted red flowers and he delivered.  She was so excited.

She finally tired of the train and decided to see What Santa brought her.....red flowers, a doll named Avery and a music box from the Tinkerbell movie.

Stocking time!!

Taylor in her new hooded towel listening to her new music box.

This fake hair definitely took the prize for silliest present.  Taylor loves it.  Everyone had to try it on (see a few pictures below)

Wesley had to get in on the fun and try on the fake hair too!!!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we drove up to my brothers in Poughkeepsie NY for lunch and to exchange Christmas gifts.  Afterwards we headed over to my sisters to spend Christmas with her and her family and to be there for Wesley's first Christmas.

Taylor opening her gift with Aunt Amy.  Lots of arts and crafts projects that will keep her busy this winter.

Taylor and her cousins Meg and Max

Taylor watches in awe as Max plays his saxaphone for us.

Later that night at Auntie Linda's we spread the reindeer food over the front lawn in preparation for Santa's arrivval

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa

Holiday Party

On Sunday December 4th we headed down to Cherry Hill, NJ to JoAnne and Danielle's for our holiday party with our friends from NJ/PA that have also adopted from China.  The girls all had a great time playing together and exchanging Christmas gifts.

 Danielle, Taylor, Olivia, Charlotte, Jenna, Erin (in front)

Taylor received a Cinderella doll and princess purse.

Tea party time!!!