Forever Family 1st Anniversary

Our Forever Family Anniversary was today March 12th. Naveia Hsiao-Yu and Kai Yi-Hsu will have been with us a year. It has gone by quickly. I have put together a movie of our time in Taiwan. Thank you for all your support throughout our adoption journey. This will be my last post.

Year of the Rabbit

Our wise SNAKE. Our enthusiastic MONKEY. Our adventurous ROOSTER Our helpful PIG Blizzard of 2011. The kids now have some cool tunnels going through this mound of snow.

Merry Christmas

With each new season and holiday brings with it new words and first experiences. For example Naveia has always asked if she can pet any animal she sees in a book. So when she saw a ornament of Santa petting a reindeer she said “why can Santa pet a reindeer and not us?” I realized at that point she doesn’t even know that the reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh. That night we read The Night Before Christmas and she experienced the special connection Santa has with his reindeer.

Thanksgiving for Family

I entered my pictures backwards so go to the bottom of this post and look up. They all helped cut it down and we went straight home for some hot cocoa. Kai was crying and having a fit over being cold and walking so long. I don't think he is going to be our outdoorsman. We went Christmas tree hunting. Another first for the little ones. It was so cold today like 30'. They loved it and for a week it was the first thing they did when they got off the bus. The little ones first leaf pile to jump into.

Our 1st FF Halloween

Breakthrough! We have four kids and try to take them one/one when possible. It was Naveia's turn yesterday for grocery shopping. Then trick-or-treating with dad and little brother. Later that night she said "I am so happy to be here". This was very encouraging to us and melted our hearts. She has always seemed very happy to be a part of our family but has never expressed it through words. We took a family trip to the zoo. I met with teachers for the yearly p/t conference. Naveia's teacher just loves my child. She gave her and E (excellent) for conduct (behavior). That made me very happy because she does not receive and E at home, or in dance class, so I was a bit surprised. She has turned her behavior a full circle since coming home but there are still issues that we see daily. Also I guess she is the "popular" girl in kindergarten. All the kids want to be her friend and play with her but she also tells them when to back up and give her some space. Oh yeah, her academics are right on target if not advanced, but honestly we already knew that. She is so amazing from where she has come from.

6 months with us and Teeth

We pick the little ones up six months ago. The first two pictures are of now and then. The siblings have all grown to have your typical brother/sister, love/hate relationships. It finally feels that we have a balance and a new normal has set in around our home. They are both doing great with school, language, friends, and family. Their attachments are growing stronger every day. Kai still prefers mommy and Naveia still has her moments when she plays the reject mommy and see if she will stick around game. We just keep loving them and standing firm. This is our forever family through the good and the bad. September is the month of the tooth around here. First Zane finally lost his 1st tooth and then 2nd tooth two days later. The next week Naveia lost her 1st tooth. Then finally this week Kai had his dental surgery. He had nine stainless steel crowns put in. He is not a happy at all with what the doctors put in his mouth. It is hard to explain to him that they are making it better when it does not feel better.

Kai's Birthday

Naveia first day of kindergarten. I don't know what has happened to my background image. I am trying to get it fixed.