New Camera

Grannie & Papa brought over an early Christmas present for us - a new camera! I was experimenting with pictures and was able to get some good ones of the kids:

Baby boy - he's just so smiley:







This picture cracks me up:



Depressed boy:



Sienna was showing off her Barbie Musketeer masquerade ball mask/tiara:

Santa

We took the kids to see Santa and while Ahren didn't mind having some strange person hold him the situation still confused him a little! We had to have a discussion with Sienna about requesting gifts from Santa instead of telling him what she was getting...maybe next year we'll do better!

Winter Singing at school

Sienna did very well at her school's winter song recital. She knew every song and made sure people knew she was singing-which was good since she had quite a little crowd there to watch her!

Christmas Photos

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas photo shoot. We are truly blessed!

Showing off

If I want to take Sienna's picture she is very recalcitrant, but if I want to take Ahren's picture she NEEDS hers taken as well (not that this is too surprising).

As you can see she pulled her pig-tails out so her hair has some issues, but she is SO proud of her wand skills:







She moved so fast I didn't get her whole face, but this picture cracks me up!



*I had to cut her nails this evening since she had scratches all over her poor face.

Skills

Ahren has been growing so much lately and he's been trying out some new skills. He can move (albeit slowly) while on his stomach. I think he just wiggles so much he is bound to move a couple inches every 15 minutes or so! Ahren has also been trying hard to sit up on his own. He almost does sit-ups while sitting on our laps! We've been working on him sitting up where he is near enough to something to hold onto when he can no longer support himself. He's getting there!

Attempting to crawl:



He gets his right leg up (which would be more helpful if he was on his knees):



Too cute:



Needing some support:



Almost:

Tough guy

My mom brushes Ahren's hair into a faux-hawk every time he stays at her house and the other day we decided he needed one. I think he pulls it off well.

Sick

Ahren ended up with an ear infection, too. That's his second ear infection in less than two months! I think we are on our way to tubes.

Sick

Both kids have been sick lately. After our family day dinner I felt Sienna and she felt very warm. She ended up with a fever and off she went to prompt care. Our poor little girl had an ear infection. She was very mad that we put her in pants (even though it was a VERY comfy track suit)! Seth and I thought she looked adorable!

You can tell our lovie just didn't feel good!

Musketeer

Sienna has becoming obsessed with Barbie and the Three Musketeers. She loves to watch the movie and will act out all the scenes. She found a kabob skewer in her kitchen set and it is now her sword.

She wanted me to take a picture of her with her 'sword.'

Sienna,

Three years ago today your father and I were nervously waiting for our cab to arrive while trying to decide what we needed to pack in a diaper bag for you. The entire ride from Hanoi to Bac Giang I worried that I would not recognize you and that I would be a horrible mother for not knowing who my daughter was. As we waited for ceremonial tea with the orphanage director (whose wife was terminally ill and in her final days) I could not help but wonder how our first meeting would be.
As we walked into the orphanage and I saw your beautiful face I knew all of my fears about not recognizing you were baseless. You were (and are) the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen!! I was amazed that you didn't cry or make a fuss; you were just curious about these new people entering your life and giving you toys and kisses.
We spent so much time at the orphanage because of the director's wife that the police department was actually closed when we arrived for your Giving and Receiving Ceremony so we didn't have an actual ceremony. You stayed in the cab with the driver while we went in to their office, had tea, and signed all of the forms. It all happened so fast!
You were enthralled by the lights of the other cars and the houses that we passed on the way back to Hanoi and you just stared out the window the entire time. We fed you when we got to the hotel and we made a MESS! You were amazed by all of the new sights and sounds of our hotel room (especially the TV). As we settled in for our first night together you didn't want to give in and sleep. You were confused and you cried. You kept bouncing your little body (it took us several days to realize that is how you put yourself to sleep in the bouncers at the orphanage), but you finally fell asleep on daddy's chest and that is how you spent almost every night in Vietnam.
You are not my little baby any more, but a big girl able to do so much for yourself. The love you have for others surpasses all expectations and that helps you be the best big sister to your little bear. You amaze me every day and my love for you continues to grow! Happy Family Day!!!

Showing off her favorite book (her teacher read it to the class):





Our angel on her special day:

Drool

Ahren is drooling horribly and the doctor mentioned his swollen gums (he is so cranky that they better pop through SOON)!!





Playing with his gym:







The big blue:



Mommy forever:

High Chair

Baby boy was enjoying his high chair the other day so we gave him a toy after he was done eating and he had a blast sitting up and really examining a toy he didn't also HAVE to hold:







He looks so old here:



Gotta love the drool: