Maylynn Chinese New Year 2010

Maylynn Chinese New Year 2010
Originally uploaded by hayleighsmom

Even though Chinese New Year was over a month ago - this post is better late than never!

We had a fun time meeting up with other families from our area for a potluck. It's always so much fun watching all of the kids run around and catching up with the families.

Maylynn is fitting in perfectly with our family. Her language has increased so, so much - i'm amazed. Some of the phrases she says just tickles me:) Sometimes her pronunciation isn't quite clear but I can understand her. She loves to learn! She loves singing, loves reading books to herself, loves to count to 15ish, loves to sing the ABC's, loves to color and draw. She can't wait until she goes to preschool next year. She also has her stubborn moments but she's learning what she needs to do.

I am looking forward to her first birthday with us next month. So far, i'm just planning on a little party with some of her buddies - can't wait!

Post Op smiles

Maylynn was all smiles after her procedure... We hung out in the new pediatric unit for about and hour and a half - it was really nice! We also enjoyed seeing some familiar faces from church:) Hayleigh's Wed. nite teacher "Miss Amber" works there as a Childlife something or other...

Post Op smiles
Originally uploaded by hayleighsmom

E.T. phone home

Sorry - i just realized these posts are going in reverse order...

E.T. phone home
Originally uploaded by hayleighsmom

Popsicle fun

Popsicle fun
Originally uploaded by hayleighsmom

Maylynn had her tubes put in yesterday. She's had fluid in her ears ever since we were able to clear the wax out. She did great - the only tears she had was when I had to hand her over to the nurse:( She came out of recovery wonderfully.

Dedication Day

We had Maylynn dedicated on November 15th. This was a special day - almost 1 year ago we had first seen her picture and knew that she would be our daughter. Now we were dedicating her to our Lord - promising to raise her with God's word with the hopes that one day she would choose to follow Him on her own...

We all went up on stage - she did fine for a few minutes and she allowed Pastor Steve to hold her for a very short time! As you can see, she started crying and the only way i could get her to stop was to bribe her with some gum:) So, i really didn't get to hear the special prayer that was said or anything else for that matter:( But, It was kinda cool because the sermon that day was about Romans Ch.8 and part of the lesson was about adoption! Isn't God's timing so awesome:)

Getting to know Maylynn...

This post may be a little random and not orderly but we decided to brainstorm and share some things that we have learned about Maylynn and what she likes, acts etc... hope that you enjoy getting to know our little MayMay:)

• You can tell what she's thinking by just looking at her face - her eyes & mouth are very expressive:)
• She is a little "parrot" - repeating everything but not correctly
• when she gets an owie - she always insists on a kiss
• if you say anything to her she says "why"
• she pretty much eats anything we give her but she is sometimes a little more selective than 4 months ago. She doesn't finish every morsel on her plate anymore -which is good b/c she is almost wearing a size 4 like her sister (we've gone from 24 months to size 4 clothes in 4 months!)
• she still does the chinese thing when eating soup or anything in a bowl - when she gets down to the end, she'll try to drink it up and push it in her mouth with her spoon:)
• she is very affectionate - loves to give and receive hugs & kisses and telling her m&d "i Love you"
• she likes her babies! and to mother them too by wrapping them up in blankets or stroller them around:)
• she now has her ears pierced like her sister, mom & grandmas
• she loves playing in the bath tub, brushing her teeth & doesn't mind wearing lotion now:) & she is pretty good about me doing her hair...
• she has gnarly bed head in the morning!
• she's so smart & loves to count to 10.
• she likes to sit and color, bead and read
• she will hopefully get tubes in her ears soon. She's had fluid in her ears ever since we've had her home - they tell us that she hears us like we are talking under water -no wonder why her speach is so muffled... fluid in ears & repaired palate...
• she likes to ride bikes & scooters
• when none of her siblings are around to play with she enjoys playing with our dog "oreo"
• all her brother needs to say is that she gets to go play with the "ladybugs" (the name of her class at church) and she'll burst into tears - although, once she's there it only takes 5 min. for her to settle down...
• "be happy" is a phrase that she hears form us alot - she tends to have a sour looking face at times and just needs a gentle reminder to smile and be happy:) she immediately gives us her precious smile that lights up her face!
• When traveling in the car on looooonnnng trips - she like to sleep with her pillow over her face.
• she likes books & puzzles
• her speach is nasally
• she likes candy (who doesn't???)
• she loves it when her grandparents visit!
• when her hands/fingers get cold, she tells us that they are "owie"
• she know almost ALL her bodyparts!
• her belly laugh is so funny & usually gets everyone smiling and laughing:)
• she loves it when her brothers chase her
• her favorite songs are: Jesus Loves me, Jesus loves the little children, ABC's, and Toby Mac's new song "City on our Knees" :)
• She falls down or bonks her head SEVERAL times a day! Brayden enjoys keeping count:)

That's all i can think of right now... i'll add to it later:)

Ladybugs

Yeah! Maylynn is now an official "ladybug" at church. Ladybug is what the 2-3yr old group is called:)

Tuesday morning i took the girls to the club and left them at the "short stop" daycare while i did my kick boxing class (love the class!) This was a "first" for Maylynn to be left with anyone that is not related - she walked right in to play with her big sis and then cried after i said a quick goodbye. But I'm told that she only cried for 5 min - i felt good about the whole situation b/c she had Hayleigh with her:)

So, Wed. night - we/i decided that we should try the church nursery. Hayleigh is not in her class - so i was a bit hesitant but felt that it needed to be done. So, we both went in, i stayed a few minutes to explain to the teachers her language (or lack there of), that she's potty trained and what she calls it (most of the time it is neow, neow (Chinese for potty) but sometimes she says "motty" (English for potty))and that she likes men (a hint for the guy to help out with her;)). I told her good bye and tried to leave - she caught me in an amazing grabbing, fist clinching hold - i hugged her and told her that I'd be back - and the teachers helped to pry her off. I felt HORRIBLE -but i know it is a process and our church life will be so much more pleasant for everyone once she is in her class. After the worship, i snuck back to hear if she was okay and she was. She was so excited to see me at the end - it looked like she had a really good time - i do have to admit she gave me so many kisses that night all over my face when i was putting her to bed - i was amazed but LOVING it! I just let her kiss away...

Please pray that the process is successful on Sunday:)