Sparkle Sprite

She has a style of her own and it always includes accessories!

I finally got the pumpkin candy holder away from her this week but only because she has now latched on to these angel wings.

We had so much fun tonight. We went on an errand to the mall and she was thrilled to see the giant outdoor Christmas tree and ride the little train around. She was given a little pair of paper reindeer antlers which I know she will wear until they fall apart. Over our pizza dinner Abbey reached over and patted me on the arm and said "I love you" 3x! She has said those words many times, at bedtime or in response to me saying them to her, but this was her first "out of the blue" utterance and my heart soared like it did the first time she said Mama. After dinner it "snowed" all around the giant tree and she was completely in awe. I couldn't help crying, it's so wonderful seeing her delight in each little treat of the season. She loves every light and ornament and has been practicing her snow angels on the carpet and singing about baby Jesus lying in the hay. She more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Turkey and Cranberries and Stuffing, Oh My!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

We have SO much to be grateful for on this special day.

Tiger Lily

Squirrel Nutkin and Her Fall Crafts

Sweet Muffin

Thank you so much for all your kind words. Our on-line family means so much to us and is a constant source of support!

Forever Family Day

Abbey and I went out to celebrate our one year anniversary yesterday at the wonderful Chen's Restaurant. We had Chen's fried rice and fried soft noodles that include beef, chicken, shrimp, and veggies. Abbey did great with her chopsticks! She was so happy to sit in a booster seat, she does not want highchairs when we are out and about any more but she'll do it for me at home because I insist.
This has been the best year of my life and the joy and excitement continue day by day. Our new nightly routine is singing Skidamirink-a-dink-a-dink, I Love You LOUD over and over. I am fully aware of the difficult times many have had with adjustments and bonding, my heart really goes out to those families, so I hesitate sometimes posting our experience out of respect for them. But can I just say...it hasn't been that way for us, it's been wonderful. I kept thinking it was a honeymoon phase, but I really know in my heart that it's our reality. I sometimes feel that it will bother people that I'm not more "real" or don't have tons of struggles to share, but the truth is we are So Happy. Maybe it's waiting all those years, but the hard things about being a single mom that I prepared for don't seem hard in the light of Abbey Zhuozhuo.

Treats & Thank You

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So Much Fun!

Abbey and I had so much fun at the Harvest Carnival we attended. Abbey was in awe. As far as she is concerned, the bigger the party the better, and this was huge. Fabulous food and fun. Check out the band Abbey rocked too - Moi. She loved the music! The Trunk or Treating was really fun, I love all the creativity in the themes. I think my favorite was Curious George and Abbey's was a crazy soccer dad. It was so cute because Abbey thought she could do all these really hard games. She doesn't realize that there are limits to what she can accomplish, and I love that. She had fun with the baby games (toss the bean bag in the pumpkin, go fish, etc). We were able to hook up with old some friends and meet some new ones. I met a gal that lives in China and is working with the babies and orphanges so we are going to connect further. I saw so many Chinese girls with caucasian families, I couldn't believe it. I had no idea there were so many adoptive families here in our town.
She's gone to bed the past two nights with the pumpkin full of prizes and candy next to her bed (and then I sneak it out). It's her treasure.