A little late, but...

Happy 20 month birthday and 4 month anniversary of being a family! A note from Kate....

It's been a while since we posted but, hey -- I'm a busy girl. Check out what I've been up to and you'll understand.

I'm a big girl now -- my car seat is turned around and I'm reading my own books while mama shuttles me to and from story time. I still let her read to me at home, though....
Yeah -- It's bath time! I love, love, LOVE taking a bath and laugh when water gets dumped on my head. This makes Mama and Papa very happy because it's easy for them to wash my hair....

Do you like my Frank Zappa look?

Papa says this look is much better for a pretty little girl like me.

This is the face I make when I really like something. In this case, it was a cocktail shrimp. I didn't like the cocktail sauce though -- YUCKY!

And here is the face I make when I don't like something or don't get my way. I'm still cute, though, aren't I???

Here I am at playing with my friend, Taylor. Taylor held on to that chicken leg ALL DAY LONG. When I talk more, I'm going to give her the nickname "Chickenbone." Nice, huh?

Here I am, reading to myself again. Mama was sleeping, so I decided to read the teddy bear book to myself. It's a good read -- highly recommended.
Well, once I realized that Mama was awake and taking pictures, I thought I'd offer up an impish smile. Truth be known, I'm planning my day and thinking of all the things I can get in to. Mama has no idea what's coming her way!

Check out the hat. It's only one of my accessories for the day. The other, if you look closely, is the big bandage I'm sporting on my left pinky finger. That's right, folks, I know my right from my left.

Oh, you're wondering about the finger? Mama thought she was too fast for me and shut the door before I could get into the room. She was wrong. I was partially in the room -- well, if you count my finger in the door. This was on 2/26 at 5:30 pm.

We went to the emergency room where they took x-rays (NOT FUN) while my finger was bleeding. Luckily, nothing was broken, but my finger was split wide open. I got four stitches and woke up EVERYONE in the E.R. I also made the doctor work for his money that night, since I wriggled and screamed during the stitches so badly that it took him several tries to make them stay. I cried so hard that it took three people to hold me down while the doctor did the stitches. I'm pretty sure Mama cried more than me, though.

So, back to accessorizing. For a kid with so many outfits, I don't have a lot of shoes (that fit me, anyway). I've got little feet, so the infant shoes that fit aren't the kind I can really walk in. But I had this stylin' outfit on (thank you, Ms. Marelisa!) and I remembered Mama's cute red sandals. I didn't think they would fit, but they did match, so I had to try....
Nope, they didn't fit, but they make good purses, don't they? And a girl always needs a matching purse or two, you know....

Here I am the morning after my emergency room visit:I was a very good girl and waited about twelve hours after this picture was taken to unravel the entire thing. Mama and Papa rewrapped it later. I made it abundantly clear that I did not like that.
Here is a close-up of my injury. The doctor will tell us on Friday whether I need to see an orthopedist:

I heard Mama tell someone that the stitches are coming out on Friday. Doesn't she know I don't like people messing with me, especially doctors? If she thinks I'm going to take this quietly, she's got another thing coming.

Oops -- I forgot to show you the hat I made during story time. It was right before Valentine's Day. I wore it while I made Papa's Valentine's Day card. Cute, huh?

Here are a few more things you are probably dying to know about me:

• I weigh 21 pounds now -- that's up 3 pounds since coming home from China. I'm still wearing 6 - 12 month clothing, but it fits much better than before. My height is still the same: 31.25 inches.
• I can say Mama, Papa, Pu-uh-up (for Puppy), Oop (for Oops), and I've been heard saying: "bye," "mine," "ni hao" (Chinese for "hello"), "book," and "baaa-buh" (for baby).
• I can point to my head, nose, eyes, ears, mouth, feet and toes. I'll show you my belly if you ask, as well as wiggle my toes.
• I dance all the time, swaying back and forth while I purse my lips grooving to the music.
• When we watched the Olympics, I'd always stop what I was doing to watch and clap for the figure skaters. Curling, luge and downhill skiing just didn't have the same effect.
• Seeing puppies or birds always makes me shriek with delight. Always.
• I love going on the toddler swing and want to go higher and higher.
• I also like to step up onto anything that seems like a balance beam. I'm practicing balancing on one foot. Mama has the insurance card handy for our next ER trip.
• Although I'm a swing / balance beam daredevil, I DEFINITELY do NOT LIKE getting my hands dirty. I try to avoid touching the ground AT ALL COSTS and will just keep saying "Mama" over and over again until she comes to pick me up. Yes, I can get up by myself, but a girl shouldn't have to dirty her hands, should she?
• I'm known as a picky eater now. What can I say? I like what I like. Here's what I'm usually willing to eat: bran cereal, oatmeal, crackers of any variety, tuna fish salad, cheese, tofu stir-fry, peanut butter, mashed potatoes, bananas, pineapple, shrimp, fish, broccoli sometimes, graham crackers, cheerios, and goldfish crackers. If I could, I'd probably eat goldfish, cheerios and whole wheat crackers all day.
• I've started to drink a little water, mostly because sometimes it's the only thing Mama offers. Mostly, I drink soy milk. The regular milk was making my tummy feel funny. I really like Rice Milk and Soy Milk, though.
• My FAVORITE toy is my stuffed puppy, "Seemer." Every morning I give him hugs and kisses. I talk to him and he understands me perfectly. I snuggle with him several times throughout the day and think he is as awesome as I am.

Well, that's it for now. I'd love to hear your thoughts so please leave a comment on our blog. Until next time, here's milk in your eye!

~Kate

A Note To My Students

As I'm all sure you've heard by now, I am not returning to Edgewood. Although Kate is doing very well and impressing us each day with her progress, she's just not ready for full-time daycare. She needs to know that this home, this family, is forever. Remember, she was in an orphanage for 9 months and then foster care for 7 months. We've only been together just over 3 months. Kate doesn't need another major change at this point. She deserves so much better than that.

Please know that I love each of you and was sad to know I won't see your happy / grumpy / sarcastic / cynical / fill-in-the-blank faces each day. You are important to me and I do miss you, but my daughter comes first. Also know that I am an email away and EXPECT to hear from you. My email address is mbraun@cfl.rr.com.

Be well, be happy, be nice to your new teacher, go with the flow, and for heaven's sake -- do your homework!

Hugs and all that mushy kind of stuff,

Mrs. B

January 25, 2006

Happy Anniversary & 3 Month Update!

On January 25th, we celebrated the three month anniversary of being a family of 3! Kate also turned 19 months old on the same day. Is it even possible that we've only been together for three months? I can't begin to imagine -- or remember -- life without her.

Three months ago, we met our scared little girl in the meeting room of the Lottery Hotel in Nanning, China. She had two layers of clothes on -- the first a set of long underwear with yellow dog paws, and on top a sherbert green top and pants. The pants, of course, were the Chinese split pants. Around her neck she wore a toy cell phone and on her back a backpack shaped like a dog's face. She was one of the few babies that didn't cry, but she was definitely scared. We were terrified.

Above: Kate then and Kate now

Over the next two weeks, we became a family. We played with Kate and watched her laugh, we rocked her and watched her stay awake (the bugger!), we fed her, we bathed her, we learned that simple tasks weren't so simple. We also figured out that her foster family clearly adored Kate Hai Yang, for she knew what it meant to be loved -- and spoiled. Our daughter wouldn't hold a bottle, wanted to be carried just about everywhere and certainly wasn't going to use her own hands to feed herself. We didn't mind. In fact, we believe it helped us form a bond, because she allowed herself to need us. What she didn't know is just how much we needed her.

We've been home for less than three months, and our sometimes-devilish-but-always-sweet little girl has grown up so much. It's so exciting and so, so, so bittersweet. I keep telling her to slow down, but she's stubborn and won't listen! Kate is far too busy walking, pretending to talk on her wide array of toy phones, reading her books (she LOVES books), feeding her dolls and stuffed animals with her toy bottle, jamming on her keyboard, dancing to The Wiggles, dancing to any music playing ANYWHERE, practicing feeding herself, practicing throwing food on the floor with glee, using sign language to communicate (whether we happen to be looking at her or not), and using the word "mama" to demand whatever she perceives to be a need.

She claps and smiles when I ask her if she's ready to go to storytime at the library. Her smile is even bigger when papa walks through the door each day. She waves and then signs "papa." Now that she's walking, she spends the next hour following Papa throughout the house. When he shuts the bathroom door, she keeps making the sign for papa (open right hand, with thumb touching the forehead). Of course, Papa can't hear her signing, so she hits her head harder and harder trying to make him "hear" her. She finally resorts to using both hands to make the Papa sign and then smiles HUGELY when he reappears in the hallway.

Kate won't say "papa," but uses the sign for it and will even construct sentences with sign language. Until she decides to vocalize her thoughts, she is communicating well. For example, she might sign "No (to whatever I'm offering, such as food), more milk."

Kate clearly understands a great deal of English. She knows where to go if I ask her if her diaper needs to be changed. She will turn a page in a book, point to (well, actually kiss) the animals or objects that I ask her about, pick up a specific toy that I ask her about, etc. She's just not into saying those words yet, but that will come.

Did I mention she's stubborn? Did I mention that temper?
She's a fiery little one who knows how to turn up the drama over absolutely anything. She knows exactly what she wants and will do whatever it takes to let you know. Our eardrums will attest to this. We're working on mellowing that out a little, but we're convinced that we won't have to worry about anyone walking over her or her ideas. A wallflower she's not. (She's so much different than her softspoken parents. Yeah....right.)

She is one busy chick. And we are two tired parents. And together, we are one very happy family.

Kate's Christmas!

Although she had no idea what the bright lights and the wrapped gifts meant, Kate seemed to thoroughly enjoy her holidays. Despite having a horrible cold and two ear infections, she continued to rally back from crankiness in order to laugh, play and kiss all her toys.

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Puschmann's
Kate was spoiled silly at Grandma's house during the holidays. Between Grandma and Aunt Diane, Mama didn't have to do much at all. Thanks! Kate thoroughly enjoyed being with the family, playing and showing off her new walking skills. On Christmas Day, she started walking on her own!

Above: "Really, mama! Get these things off of me."


Above: The bottle in Kate's right hand was a stocking stuffer from Grandma. It didn't leave her hand the entire day! It's still one of her favorite toys!


Above: Kate jammin' on the organ


Above: The bib is part of an outfit that Kate received from Auntie Dorothy. The outfit's too big for now, but the bib is just right. Go Cubbies!

Christmas with cousin Sebastian

Above: Kate with cousin Sebastian. Sebastian is probably thinking, "I hope that girl doesn't try to kiss me -- she's a drooler!"

Below: Kate with the awesome toy that Sebastian gave her. It took a week or so for her to figure it out, but now it's part of the daily routine!



Christmas with Oma and Opa

Above: Kate kissing her new piggy bank, which used to be Mama's piggy bank when she was 3 years old!

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Braun
Grandma and Grandpa Braun spent last weekend with us, showering Kate with affection. We had a great weekend visiting, playing and doting on the newest Braun. Kate loved being with them and also thinks the big bear they brought her is fantastic! !
PS: The awesome puppy is from the Seemer family, and Kate plays with "Seemer" everyday. If I ask her, "Where's Seemer?" she goes right to the puppy and both kisses / rubs noses with him. Thanks Jack and family!