11 months home...

Florie has now been home 11 months.  She is 2 3/4 years old.  She is loud.  She is busy.  She is strong-willed.  She has an amazing giggle.  She loves to imitate.  She is working on decreasing her whining :)
She is learning to control her impulses.  She is a great eater and a good (though light) sleeper.  She LOVES her brothers.  She loves being outside.  She can throw a really good tantrum, complete with jumping up and down.  My favorite time is when I nap with her and she thinks I am asleep, and she rubs my cheek so softly, then kisses me, holds my hand, puts her nose next to mine, and dozes off.

Captured by my photographer friend Vickie Pewitt

Hanging at one of Mommy's board meetings....looking for Mr. Greg with his iPad

She likes to travel....walking to the park, leaving in the car, riding on an escalator, flying in an airplane.  She loves to get dressed by herself and picks out most of her own clothes.  She likes to wear her dresses backwards so SHE can button/snap them.  She likes to buckle her own car seat (after I remind her that she cannot ride in the boys' booster seats that she races to, buckles, and sits in, not looking at me and hoping I will let it go THIS time).  She does not mind if I say no...because she tries to ignore it the first three times. "Florie, do not touch that." TOUCH.  "Florie, Mommy said do not touch that.  Please do not touch that."  Attempt to TOUCH.  "FLORIE, what did Mommy say?"  "Do not touch that."  "SO, what are you doing?" TOUCH.  She is learning what the time in chair means.  She is learning what quiet means.  We are in progress currently!

Collecting flowers outside

No yellow, just purple

All in one place

Now to "replant"

She does NOT like me to leave.  At all. I have had to learn (through William) how to be very matter of fact when I do leave (and not coddle her to much) and this has helped a lot. William is a saint...she throws a mega FIT usually until she hears the garage door close, and then she will tell him, " I all done." and move on with life.  She is a smart cookie, and also a teensy weensy whole lot manipulative.  I hear this is a girl thing and not just an adoption thing, but, we are working through it.  I am a bit of a sucker, so she works me sometimes :)

Vegetables are still not high on her list.  She likes edamame, roasted broccoli, and um, that is about it.  A few beans and some corn have made it in her.  She is a meat eater trapped with a near vegan gluten free Mommy!  She loves orange juice, and popcorn is her favorite snack.

She will go to preschool 2 days a week next year.  She wants to ski when she is three. She cannot wait for the pool to open. She could spend everyday at the park. She can work my iPhone better than me. Florie loves to go to soccer games and cheer for her brothers.  She loves baths.  She wants pjs that match, not some hodgepodge like the boys would wear.

Trying on shoes with Amanda....Florie found her NEW favorite place....DSW shoes!

It is hard work holding a tunnel up!

In her element

Being the boss....

Go brothers!  She cannot wait to play HER soccer!

We met her on Easter Day last year....it has almost been one whole year since we became FAMILY.

Life is busier, life is crazier, life is louder, but I cannot imagine life ANY OTHER WAY.

“A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living.”  ~ Chuck Swindoll

Psalms 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.