Family

 The other morning Lena climbed into bed with Dan and I and as we were snuggling she said, "I am so happy I have a family now!"  Lena has a flare for the dramatic and I think she was likely quoting Stitch (an alien orphan) from Lilo and Stitch which she had watched recently.  However, I was struck by the truth of her statement.  Lena with her 11 other embryo siblings (including McKinley) were family-less in cryogenic storage for several years before Dan and I adopted them and even after that it was several more years before they were born into the presence of God or in McKinley and Lena's case born into our earthly family.  I too am so glad that Lena and McKinley have a family now!  What a blessing. 

McKinley Jane: 11 Months Old

11 Month Stats

12-18 month clothes

Size 4 Shoes

Size 4 Diapers

Probably around 21-22 pounds

29 inches tall

Before she was fully walking she would scoot all over the park in this walker. 

Bouncy House Fun

11 Month Firsts

An official walker!

First tooth (finally!)

First emergent vocabulary

Jumping in the bounce house

First drive in movie (She watch the Minion Movie and stayed awake!)

At the drive in watching Minions!

The last of the toothless grin pictures.

11 Month Favorites

Swimming!

Pool time with Mama

Pool time with Dada

Little's Vocabulary

Hi D! (Hi Dog Dog)

Ooooo Whaz thaaa! (Oooo!  What's that?!)

Nigh Nigh Nigh (Night Night - asking to go to bed)

Na Na Na (No No No - imitating Mom)

 MMMMMMM!!!!  (Give me more of that food!)

Lena's Ideas

For the last several months Lena has been sharing many of her great toddler ideas!

"I'm a Cookie"

Family Role Play
Daddy is the king, Mommy is the princess, Lena is Ariel, Kinley Jane is the pumpkin patch, and I want to paint Jersey green.

Beach Day with Grandma
Lena loves the beach...a lot.  But she also loves Grandma.  We were on our way to Grandma's house when Lena asked if we could go to the beach.  I think she would be in heaven with Grandma at the beach!

How to get to Hawaii
Lena has fallen in love with Hawaii.  She asks to go there all the time like it is across town.  She says, "Let's just drive there!"

McKinley Jane: 10 Months Old

Our precious "Little" is growing fast!  She is such a cute chunk a lunk and we love her to pieces. 

10 Month Stats

Weight: 20 lbs

Clothing: 12-18 months

Diapers: Size 3

Shoes: Size 3

10 Month Firsts

Took first unassisted steps

Eating rice for the first time..she still won't touch bananas.

Beach Girl

10 Month Favorites

Foods: Bread, scrambled eggs, rice

Playing in water (swimming & bathing)

Balls

Animals (Jersey & Figgy)

Eating rice...sort of.  Look at that cute grin!

Little Steps...Big Milestones

Grandma by Lena

Lena drew her first "stick person" this morning. I asked her who it was and she said "Grandma".  I LOVE LOVE LOVE when little kids draw people like this. 

Grandpa by Lena

 The next day Lena was doing sidewalk chalk with Dan in the park and she drew Grandpa.

Sissy Pics - May 2015

McKinley took her first unassisted step today too.  I just love experiencing all these little milestones as my girls get bigger and bigger.

McKinley Jane: 9 Months Old

Munching on fake food at Aunt Kristy's House

Miss McKinley is 9 months old!  This little girl is so much fun to be around.  It has been fun this month to see that Kinley and Lena have been able to play together more.  She still doesn't have much hair or any teeth but this girl can move!  She loves to climb and crawl. Love this precious girl!

Fun in the falling snow in Big Bear

Out for a walk in the snow with Mommy in Big Bear

9 Month Firsts

learned to drink from a straw

New foods: yogurt, crackers, bread

experienced snow

Spaghetti..yummmm

Watching the Chino Airshow with Mommy

9 Month Stats

Size 3 diapers

Size 9 month or 12-18 month clothes

Size 3 shoes

18lbs 13oz

McKinley loves music!

Out for a night walk in matching piggy pjs!

9 Month Favorites

Dancing to the "shake your body" song

Climbing Mommy's legs

drinking water

eating yogurt

Fun with a friend in the park.

Mother's Day 2015

This past weekend I celebrated Mother's Day with my two special girls and with my Mom.  Poor Dan had to work so we had a fun afternoon at Grandma's house.  A few days before mother's day though we took a spontaneous trip up to Big Bear to get in on a rare May snowstorm so that our little "snowflakes" could see snow fall for the first time.  We had a great time doing a puzzle, teaching Lena how to play Sorry, eating fun snacks, playing in the park, and Dan and Lena had a ton of fun playing in the snow making mini snowmen and throwing snowballs.  It was such a fun little trip and we can't wait to go back sometime. 

Mother's Day Flowers from Dan

The Girls - May 2015