February 26 '06 Christmas, New Year, Valentines catch up

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentines day! Sorry so sorry it has taken us so long to post an update. Life as we knew it a year ago – is magically over. We stay so busy and as Lacie gets older we get busier. We try and stay one step ahead of our fast, smart and busy girl.

Christmas was absolutely wonderful. Lacie enjoyed her first official Christmas with all her grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins. She does not like Santa – and maybe that will change and maybe not. She liked him from afar – but once we got near him, she withdrew. Mommy sat with Lacie to get her first Santa picture done. On New Years we went to an early dinner with friends and played at their house for a few hours afterward. The movie of choice was Babysigns (a far difference from a year ago when we did not have to pay attention to ratings or 14 month old entertainment). We were in bed before the NY ball dropped.

We enjoyed celebrating Chinese New Year with our local Families with Children from China. The food was great (Lacie loves to eat of course) and the entertainment was fun too. Special friends joined us (they are beginning their paperchase for their Chinese angel) and we had a wonderful time.

Lacie had chronic ear infections and runny nose since she began school. In January Lacie got tubes in her ears. They gave her loopy juice before they took her back and she got silly before she relaxed enough for them to take her. She cried for a long time post op but did well after that. She is amazingly better and we are glad we went ahead with the tubes. She has not had a bad runny nose in over a month now and her ears are clear and we have not gone to the doctor since then. Before tubes, we went every two weeks and were on antibiotics for 10 of each of those 14 days. We are now off all medicine pre tubes, including antibiotics, Zyrtec, Singulair, Triaminic, and oftentimes – breathing treatments.

At her 15-month check up in January, she was 30.5 inches tall and 22 lbs. The doc said she is right at 50% height and weight. We are yet to be concerned at the amount of food she puts away – until she is 50% height and 95% weight. Ha Ha.

Speaking of food – an average dinner for Lacie involves one to three veggies, one to two fruits, a protein or two (chicken fingers and cheese usually) a grain, and then yogurt to top her off at the end. She loves carrots and asparagus - steamed, sweet and regular baked potatoes – microwaved, green beans and most any type of meat, cheese, and grain. We are constantly amazed at how well she eats and that she loves to eat.

Lacie’s signing vocabulary is growing larger with each passing day. She has about 20-25 signs. We really can’t keep up. Her ability to communicate with us helps a lot and decreases the frustration factor. She can now verbally say: mama, daddy (both very new words), ca= cat, bah = book, ball, blankie (very new), hi, bye, eye, and uh-ooh. She can point to or show us her eyes, nose, ears, mouth, belly, hands, and toes.

Lacie loves school. Have I bragged on her school since she began? My earlier concerns (those that were the pre-pre-school days) were just concerns. This is the best and most wonderful place. They love Lacie; she loves them and loves to be there. She does not cry when we drop her off and runs to her teachers in the morning or the director. Any time I have a concern about Lacie and I share it with the director (who I call the “mother of 5000”) she will share with me her experiences, or thoughts or observe Lacie for a time and always responds positively. Generally it is a new mommy concern – but the wonderful director never treats me as if they are out of the ordinary. She is very warm, loving and if I could, I would go to school there myself! Heck – sometimes the lunch menu makes me want to attend. Ummmmmmm. Lately they have reported Lacie to be mischievous. I heard that she will grab a binkie from another toddler’s mouth and run away with it. She does have a funny sense of humor.

Well – this is enough for now – there is so much more to share, especially since we have not posted since Thanksgiving. There is still never a day that goes by that we do not Thank God for our dear sweet blessing! Here are some pictures:

Santa and Lacie

First Haircut

Brushing teeth with mom

December school activities