Life is Crazy at the Moment

We're all doing OK. Just busy. My in-laws have been in town since Sunday and are heading home tomorrow. But then on Friday, Lane's sister is coming in for a visit. Between visitors, karate, play groups, and other little things, I'm lucky enough to find time to sleep. Not that I'm complaining but it's a reason for my lack of blogging.

Took some great photos this past Sunday after church of me and the kids and then of the kids without me. I'm posting some of them here.

So what's been happening with us in between the chaos (especially Emi).

• Emilija could barely walk when she came home. She was wobbly and clung on to fingers for dear life to keep herself steady and moving forward. Since then she pushes our fingers away most of the time, she's walking BACKWARDS and very close to running!

• She "talks" all the time now. About the only time she's quiet is when she's sleeping. And even the sounds she makes are changing. She's finally picking up on the baby signs we're teaching her and understands some of our language. And the funny part is that she either smiles or laughs when we tell her "No". It's very much a, "yeah right".
  

• She's gaining weight. Not a lot but since coming home 3 weeks ago she's put about a pound on her tiny little frame. That is very good. We're hoping that her size 12 mos clothes will fit her better soon. Tops and dresses are fine, bottoms on the other hand are a different story. Her waist is so tiny!!
  

• She does this little food dance. Especially with sweet stuff. It's so funny and hopefully we'll get it on video soon to post. There are other things we have gotten on video that I need to show on the blog.

• Emi thinks the cat his hilarious. Not sure why. He's afraid of her as much as he is of Eriks. Might have something to do with the night he went into her room, stood up on his hind legs to get a view and a sniff inside her crib and she kicked him. I don't think George is ever going to like kids. As long as he loves me, I don't care!

• This weekend or sooner we will have to lower the crib mattress. Emi has learned how to pull herself up into a sitting position in her crib and could easily pull herself to her feet. She hasn't yet, but if she does, she could tumble out and that would be a very bad thing. I so did not expect this yet.
  

• Emi sees the ENT team on the 21st of August. Hopefully then we'll have a good plan of action concerning surgeries, etc. I'm sure she would love to have that hole in her mouth closed so that she can eat more and start talking the way she should be.

• Speaking of Dr's, we decided to switch pediatricians. After exchanging a few emails with a pediatric nurse who was in our travel group, as well as other people we know, they all felt that the tests that our pediatrician wanted Emi to have were on the extreme side and bordering overboard. A gal I met recently adopted her SN daughter at the time last year from China and it is her pediatrician we are seeing. He has been very good with her daughter and son. I'm glad I stuck to my guns and was reassured that I was not crazy in thinking what the pediatrician wanted her to go through was extreme.
  

• Eriks is about to lose a tooth. He went to the dentist almost 2 weeks ago and the hygienist pointed out that he had a few loose ones on the bottom. Where does the time go? And can anyone give me some advice on the going rate for the Tooth.Fairy these days? Growing up I got anywhere from $1-$5 for my teeth depending on how many there were under the pillow. I think I got the $5 for 2 teeth. I still can't believe that he'll be starting kindergarten in just over 2 weeks and turning 6 in December.
  

Last but not least, this beautiful little girl entered our family. My brother and his girlfriend welcomed their 1st child, Laila on Sunday. She is the spitting image of her father. It is amazing how much she looks like my brother did as a baby.