Sunday, December 4, 2005

It's been way too long since we updated the blog. It's been a busy fall and now we're into the Christmas season.

Stacie continues to do very well, and she's a joy to have. She is so well adjusted it's really amazing. The other kids have really been good with her, and she's a lot of fun.

She's been walking since mid-October, and she keeps us busy. She also continues to communicate with us using baby signs - she uses signs for the words "more", "thank you", "please", "potty", etc. She likes American food, but she also likes Chinese food - especially steamed rice.

Stacie also is doing well with other kids. When Sue goes to the YMCA she puts Stacie in the kids area and Stacie plays there. We've also put her in the baby area at church a couple of times and she does okay there.

Stacie saw her first snowflakes a few weeks ago, and she was really excited. Sue called me at work and said that she was pointing at them and making a lot of noise.

Attached is a picture of Stacie with her sisters and brother getting a pumpkin.

That's my short update - here's an update from Stephanie, Stacie's 14 year old sister:

(From Stephanie Toering):

What can I say about Stacie? She is amazing, exciting, wonderful, energetic, comforting, and loving! She has adjusted very good at home in the past 3 months. Her smile lights up the room, and when she laughs she starts everyone else up too!! Everyone on my tennis team and all of our friends and family have been loving her unconditionally. It seems like everywhere we go she causes quite the conversation, they say how cute she is, and asks where she came from. We are working on not spoiling her too much, but that is the hardest thing!

Stacie is a wonderful baby, but she is like any other 15 month old. She is exploring her boundaries and wants a lot of attention. She loves to be with kids, but she has learned how to scream! She is getting better, but she still uses it once in a while.

Today I worked in Stacie's nursery room at church, and she does well playing with other kids, but when I went to hold another child, her jealousy showed up. She first made a pouty face, and then she started crying buckets. I shouldn't have been happy that she did that, but I was. It made me feel great that she loves me so much as to do that, instead of just going to another worker.

Stacie has changed our lives forever, and we love her so so much! She has been the perfect match for our family, and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Stacie's proud big sis,
~Stephanie