Let Me Translate That For You

It is so fun to watch Sophia learn to speak. She picks up new words every day,  One of the issues the other family had was that she wasn't learning to speak  - really she just needs time to figure out things. Every once in awhile she says something and Mama's not sure what it is. Nathan will translate for me and say, "I just spend more time with her, Mom" in that all-knowing tone that only a child can do.

At night at bedtime, Mama rocks her and sings.  She "orders" the songs she wants to hear:  "Sing 'Twinkle Twinkle'"  Her favorite right now is "Give, Said the Little Stream".

I love watching her talk to my parents on the phone. My dad came to the airport to meet her the day they flew home.  It was the night of a massive snowstorm and the flight was pretty late.  Nathan and I nearly spun out on the freeway driving up - so because of the conditions only Grandpa made it up with us to meet their flight.  She has had a special place for "Bampa" ever since.  When we call them at night she likes to tell  them what she did that day, followed by acting it out so they can "see" over the phone.  "Bampa, I jump." [on the trampoline] (she starts jumping up and down).  "Bampa, I slide." [on the slide] (she drops to the floor and starts scooting across the ground in her bottom).

It's a 3D phone experience on our end of the phone.  Pretty cute.

Happy Girl

We went to a wedding reception and she's playing with the bubbles in the backseat.

And this is how she sings the "I love Mama, she loves me, I love Daddy, Yes-sir-ree" song.  It's just a lot of "yes-sir-rees"

Sweet Moves!

For reasons that are too long to explain, my son thinks he can dance like Michael Jackson.  

My favorite is the little "clap" thing he does randomly.

And THAT'S Where He Draws the Line

From Feb of this year:


So "Finding Nemo" was on last night.  Nate was watching it and had no problem with the talking fish, etc, etc.   
Then it got to the point where the whale swallows Marlin and Dory and then blows them out his blowhole into the Sydney harbor.

Nate said, "Mama, could that really happen?  Could they really blow out a whale like that?"

I told him I wasn't sure how that worked for whales. 

He said," Ahh... just in the movies, then" and turned back to watching.

A few minutes later, the pelican picks up Marlin and Dory in his bill and it shows the two fish positioned in the pelican's craw with their "heads" above the water in the pelican's bill.  Both fish are screaming and holding on for dear life.

Nathan threw his hands in the air and said, "Fish don't breathe air! That couldn't happen! This is unbelievable!" and stomped out of the room.

Somehow he was OK with the fish talking, as long as they were doing it underwater... we all have our limits within which we can suspend disbelief, I guess.

Riding in Cars with Boys??

This was taken 2 weeks after Sophia came home. ,

Nathan adores his little sister.  He loves to play with her.  This was a box that he commandeered and named "Sled" and used it for days to push her around and around the living area of our home.

This was the first night he tried it and he'd been pushing for a good long while.  He came to me and said, "I think Sophia would be more comfortable with some juice." So they both got juice boxes. 

Sophia was hanging on with her one hand and squealing with delight as Nate pushed her.  Then I heard him say, "Sophia, you can let go with your other hand.... you know, like you're waving at a boy or something..."

No idea where he gets this stuff.

Nathan loves Lego Harry Potter and Lego Star Wars games on the Wii.  He and Brent got into a little water fight in the front yard last night and, obviously, Nathan didn't win.  He came in the house dripping wet and crying.  I said, "What happened?" and he said, "Mama, Daddy belongs in Slytherin!" (which is the worst thing he can think of right now).

Miss S has entered the "Why" phase.  I hope we all make it out alive from the "why" phase.  

I haven't posted a lot because there's a whole other aspect of Sophia's life that we've never had before.  Out there, in the world covered by the internet, is another family that brought her home from China and then relinquished her.  They felt she had Reactive Attachment Disorder and rage issues.  

I know how easy it is to find this blog and they do know our names (obviously).  There's a whole family (grandmas, grandpas, cousins, aunts, uncles) that lost a family member with this disruption and I'm a bit worried about them finding this and seeing that the rage issues aren't with the child.  Sophia is doing great.  She's a joy.  She's happy and bouncy and perfectly, wonderfully three.

Thus while I want to shout it from the rooftops that we're so in love with this little girl, I want it to be a quiet roar while another family heals from their loss and ordeal this last year.

BYU Women's Conference

I spoke at BYU Women's Conference today.  It was quite an adventure.  One of those experiences where you have 4 months to "prepare" (which means stress, second guess yourself and wonder if they know that they're doing by asking you).

Several weeks ago, I told Nathan I was 'worried about this big talk I had coming up where I had to speak to a lot of people".  He reached out, rubbed my arm and said, "Mama, if you're nervous, you can just talk to me..."

So today, I told him I'd finished it and he explained, "See, Mama!  I told you it wasn't that bad!"

I think it went well and I'm grateful I had the opportunity.  Once in a lifetime for sure.

And, to make up for not posting for weeks and weeks, here's a video of Sophia telling the gripping story of Goodnight, Gorilla.

Yes, my kids are THAT cute.