Christmas Afternoon 2009

Christmas afternoon was fun. We had a great Christmas lunch with Mark's family. Laney made it from about 12:30 to 3:30 before she was ready for an overdue nap which she slept from 4 to 6. Than at 6 we had a nice ham and twice baked potato dinner with some of my family at our house. Laney enjoyed everything she opened. She also enjoyed everything everyone else opened. The busy ball popper was a huge hit (the look on her face in the last 3 pictures - uhhhhh melt my heart). The vacuum, the crayons, the homemade stuffed bear & duck, the college savings funds, the perfectly colored block set, the medical kit, the baby dolls, the paint kit, the jam music set w/ the guitar or as Laney says "TAR", the say please tea set (ok this toy rocks, Mama & Poppy love it too). the adorable clothes, the drawing paper, the Dustbuster/vac set (Laney love the moving fake dust in there), the slippers, the pj's, the music box, the books, the ornaments, the sheepdog puppet, the boots, the gloves, the hat, the puzzles, the panda pocketbook, the soft cuddle stuffed animals, the rocking horse, the donation to Half The Sky (ok this one brought mama to tears) WOW! The card said "in celebration of Laney Yan Ge. For other Laney's still waiting for their families". WOW, Thank you). Ok so that is to just name some of her things, wow this girl is loved (ok and fun to shop for). Despite being sick she really did have a fun Christmas.

Phots taken 12/25/09

Christmas Morning 2009

Wow what a amazing way to spend Christmas morning. Something we have never had the joy of experiencing before. Waking up to see a gorgeous, excited, innocent face that we are lucky enough to call our precious daughter on Christmas morning. To stay home as a family of 3 (well 5 counting Maui & Tiki) on Christmas morning and just be that A FAMILY!!! So many Christmas mornings had a twinge of sad. Knowing for over 10 years that we wanted to create a family, knowing Christmas morning would be filled with love, joy and children someday. We finally got it!!! OUR FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS MORNING!

I have not been journaling in my paper journal much this month (which I plan to start up again in 2010) so I am going to journal here a bit more than usual just to be sure I have it down somewhere. Laney woke up about 8:15 and Poppy was waiting by her door with the video camera (he was so excited). She walked out to the living room where the night before the tree had no presents under it. Now Christmas morning it was loaded with piles and piles of presents. She looked we said "Laney Santa came" she said "Ho Ho". It is funny she always stops at 2 ho ho's. We started with stockings. She enjoyed ripping the wrapping paper and called her stocking a sock. Great Grandma made her stocking to match one she made for Ma Ma when I was just a baby (she also made one for Poppy when we were married). It is so awesome to look at the mantel and see that. Laney opens here stocking and two presents than she stops and says MAMA and does sign language for eat. Crack us up! She is like ok I am done with this present thing let's eat! That's our little chunk a monkey. After 2 scrambled eggs and potatoes we opened more presents and she loved them all. Often she also loved the box tops, bags and tissue paper too (hee hee).

photos taken 12/25/09

Christmas Eve 2009

With Kleenex in hand we decided to venture out for a quick Christmas Eve visit. Than to bed for little Miss sick Laney (no fever for a few days now but the nose began running big time). She was in bed by 8 and we were in bed by 10. Maybe not the Christmas Eve we imagined but we were together (FINALLY a family of 3) and that was what mattered most! photos from 12/24/09

Love MaMa, Love Potatoes

So happy MaMa is home from grocery shopping and hugging a bag of potatoes (she loves MaMa's twice baked potatoes - with soy milk of course.
photos from 12-20-09

20 months

Today 12/28 Laney turns 20 months old! Since little Miss is still fighting a cold we are are using a few cute pictures from a few weeks ago when she was feeling much better (pictures from 12/19).

1,2,3,4 Santa Claus is coming to town (7 months)

4 Santa visits and today Christmas Eve is 7 months since we first held our precious girl (wish she felt better today, 1st fever in 7 months, so sick, poor thing)

1st Christmas, 1st fever

Yup it is a bummer and not fun. Poor little girl :(

OHH SOO CUTE

Dancing by the tree

4th Santa (this one was on the train)

This past weekend Laney saw Santa for the 4th time! This time was a bit unique and on the Santa Express Train. Mrs. Claus was there also. We went with some new friends it was so FUN!