We spent a few hours at a mall earlier this week since it was a bit too cold to spend much time outdoors. Not much shopping done, really, just a lot of walking and playing around the water fountains. She could spend all day tossing pennies in. We stopped to see Santa,again, but she still wanted nothing to do with him. She was happy, though, to hang out nearby. Hey, it's a start. Oh, and on another note, one of Kerry's newest words learned this week is "mine". Oh boy, just in time for Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving flashback

This picture was taken earlier today and it immediately reminded me of....

This one. It was taken five months ago, almost to the day, in Nanchang.

I guess I don't really need to tell you what I'm most grateful for this Thanksgiving, but I will anyway. Doug and I were married 13 years before this little answer to prayer came along, so needless to say I am endlessly thankful for my Kerry Lu. I'm thankful for every little giggle, every hug, every kiss, every new word or skill learned, every toy I have to pick up, even for (most) every typical, healthy, toddler tantrum. When she says "mama" in her husky little voice, I melt. I'm also thankful for the good health of myself and my family, for a comfortable little home, and for my friends and family. And I'm incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband, who has become an even more wonderful father. Happy Thanksgiving,everyone!

Kerry met Santa today for the very first time. Yeah....she pretty much hated him. He was a much sweeter Santa than he looked but she was still having none of it. Does anyone else find it disturbing that there is a real, formerly live, reindeer in "Santa's Wonderland"? I'd love to know how many parents had to try to explain the dead reindeer to little Johnny or Susie tonight. It was a long line. This all took place at B*ss Pro Shop which explains alot, but still I wonder, is it Blitzen..Comet.. maybe Cupid? Whoever it was must have really ticked Santa off ;)

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Thankfully, my girl's illness has been very short lived and she's feeling much better. Just a bit of a cough and runny nose lingering but no fever, playing and eating well. She's a bit more clingy but Mama is more than happy to give extra cuddles to her sometimes-almost-too-independant-at-times girl.

Enjoying a recent outing to Mamaw's house where she has plenty of room to roam.

Enjoying one of her newfound loves....strawberry milkshake. I ordered a small, but it looked huge in her little clutches.

Well, apparently those shots did a bit of a number on my girl or she's trying to come down with something. She was restless all night and fussing a lot. By 2 AM she had a temp of 103.5 according to the ear thermometer, so I gave her some motrin and brought her to our bed so I could keep an eye on her. She was, like I said, very restless and fidget-y and was "talking" in her sleep, which is something she doesn't normally do. I was starting to get concerned that she might start having a febrile seizure so stripped her down to her diaper. I guess that helped and finally the motrin kicked in and she cooled down and settled down for a better sleep . Needless to say she slept in this morning and has been mostly fine today. Just a 101 temp a while ago and two shorter naps instead of her normal 1 nap but she ate dinner well (home made chicken noodle soup) and is playing now. Hopefully whatever it is is passing.

This child makes me deliriously happy. She amazes me, really. She is so open and willing to trust and to give and receive affection, despite spending her first fifteen months in an orphanage and being handed over, four and a half months ago, to a couple of complete strangers who looked and sounded like nothing she had ever seen. On occasion I see a hint of insecurity, usually having to do with myself, or Doug, leaving. And of course, like any toddler, she can get very upset when something doesn't go her way or she's over-tired, but she really is just a happy, sweet, energetic baby. She's come a long way recently,too. A couple of Sundays ago, she stayed in the church nursery without me for the first time. And this week she stayed with Doug's parents by herself for the first time and did great. My mom usually watches her on the days that I work, but she's vacationing in Gatlinburg this week.

She had a routine checkup and got 2 shots today (at mommy's office). The poor thing was fine until we walked in the exam room and she lost it. She knows what it means now, after 3 sets of shots within 4 1/2 months. Dr Rash pronounced her healthy and she now weighs in at 26 pounds, is 32 inches tall, and has a head circumference of 18 3/4 inches.

She's such an adorable little melon-head, though, if you ask me.

Sunday Sweetness

We had a little visit with Aunt Stephanie tonight for Kerry's first real haircut. We just trimmed about an inch off the back to make it more even with her sides which resulted in an adorable little baby-bob. Now it should look much better as it grows.



Before, as you can see, it was very uneven and mullet-like.



Kerry was fine to let Stephanie do her thing as long as she had Mommy and a lollipop.



Checking out the results in the mirror



Hugs for Aunt Stephanie


The results =)

I'm so glad that Kerry seems to enjoy being outside as much as we do. We try to do things out of doors as much as possible, be it hiking, biking, working in the yard or just taking a walk around the neighborhood. So far, Kerry has been game for almost everything we've tried with her...aside from some initial playground equipment trepidation. Today, for example, we went to a nearby Civil War fort and cemetary which included quite an uphill hike.

She had a great time shuffling her feet through the leaves.

We also stopped at a park on the way home. Kerry loves climbing, as you can see, and sliding, but still is not too fond of swings.