Tea Party Anyone?...

The weather here Saturday was awful. It rained most of the morning and then mid morning it turned to sleet and then early afternoon it turned to snow. A good day to have a tea party. The pictures below were taken Sunday morning of our deck.

It looks pretty as long as you are warm and cozy inside. Ok it looks pretty no matter where you are.

Let me introduce the hostess with the mostess, Jocelyn.

Isn't this the best tea mama?

Here let me pour you some.

I think our color scheme is is terrific don't you?

Jocelyn and I had a lot of fun at our tea party. We will definitely have to have many more of them.

Mommy's Little Cupcake.....

This outfit was bought by a friend of mine and it was finally nice enough outside a few days ago that she could wear it. I love her in this color. I wanted to get a picture of her in the new outfit and she wanted nothing to do with it. I had to stand her in front of our refrigerator so she couldn't move away. This is her "cheese" grin. I just love this picture. I wish she didn't have the gash on her cheek though. We were leaving the house to go to Dee's (day care provider) house and I told her to tell Grandma bye bye and to give her hugs and kisses. She teasingly said "uh uh" so I pretended like I was going to chase her and she tripped and fell and hit her cheek on the hardware on the kitchen cabinet. It is healing nicely though.

This is the before picture from above. Told you she didn't want her picture taken.

This is Jocelyn just chilling and reading her new Elmo book. She is in the recliner in our living room

Soon I will post pictures of our first tea party with Jocelyn as our host.

Happy 1 year Gotcha Day Anniversary...

One year ago today I got to hold Jocelyn for the first time. I got to comfort her for the first time. I got to physically touch her for the first time. I got to give her a kiss for the first time. I got to feed her for the first time. I even got to change her diaper for the first time. I will never forget Gotcha day. I is burned in my mind forever. When Jocelyn was given to me for the first time she looked at me with a scared look in her eye and then started crying. Nobody in that room had a dry eye. When we got back to the hotel room and unlayered her and got her something to eat she was a happy baby. She was so worn out from all of the excitement that she fell asleep a little while later and slept the whole night through. This is the first picture I have of Jocelyn sleeping. She looks so content and happy but most of all she is loved soooo much.

We decided to celebrate the anniversary by going out to breakfast with a friend of the family Maureen and her husband Bill. We had biscuts and gravy. Yum Yum. Then I had to go to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Jocelyn fell asleep on the way to the dentists so she and Grandma stayed in the truck while I was with the dentist. Then my mom and I got our hair cut. After dropping my mom off at home Jocelyn and I went to a park just down the road from our house and had a good time swinging.

And blowing bubbles...

And going down the slide..

And riding the pony..

Most of all just enjoying the day together as the family we have become.

Happy 1 year Gotcha Day Anniversary to all of Travel Group 132!!!

23 Months old today...

Jocelyn is now 23 months old. Where has the time gone?? Some of the new things she does now are she loves to help mama and Grandma with anything and everything, we have started potty training, some of her words are becoming clearer and easier to understand, such as Elmo (she used to pronounce it melmo, we have dropped the m now) She is now trying and somewhat succeeding to dress herself. She is wanting to sit and look at a book for more than 2 minutes at a time. She is now starting to "shampoo" her own hair. She likes the feel and look of the "bubbas" on her hands and in the water. An example below.

As you can see she gets it in more than just her hair. Her face gets quite a few as well.

Rooms and updates......

First the updates. The 12 month post placement visit went really well on Monday. Nikki (the social worker) stated that Jocelyn looked happy and healthy and was a normal 22 month old. Full of energy and always ready to play.

Now unto the room. My mom and I have been working on Jocelyn's room for quite a while now and it is just about finished. We have 4 pictures to hang and a few other little things to hang up and it will be done. HORRAY! I thought I would so you some pictures.

This is the bookcase that is just inside the door to the room. As you can see she has many to choose from. Most of them are the Beranstein bear books as I loved them as a child and I wanted to pass that on to Jocelyn.

This is the new dresser that we got specifically for Jocelyn as only one drawer can be opened at a time and the drawers can't come all the way out so it is much safer for her.

Here is her toybox that mama put together (boy was that an experience let me tell you) Jocelyn loves to take the toys out and put them on the floor.

Here is the shelf that I painted and the dresses are just ones that we found at thrift stores but doesn't it make a cute display for her fragile ladybug figurines??

This is a closeup of the "flower garden" that I created on her wall. I think that the butterflies add just the right touch.

This is a quilt the 3 ladies at my church made and gave to me at the baby shower the church threw after we came home. I LOVE LOVE it!!!

Here is a picture that shows off my mothers talents of which she has many. Let me explain. The cushions that are on the rocker were made entirely by her she even had to cut the foam to make them. She sewed the curtains that you see. Last but not least she did the mosiac on top of the table next to the rocker. You can't really see the design but it is the Chinese character for daughter. Told you she was talented.

Here is her kitchen that she got for Christmas. It is just inside the door.

Here is a closeup of the decals that are all over her room. I think that they are adorable.

Here is a picture as you are standing at the door to her room looking in.

This says it all. I bought the wooden letters at Wal-Mart and painted them in bright pearly colors.

Thanks for your prayers for my post placement visit. I felt very calm while she was here so I know that my prayer warriors were hard at work.

Prayers needed...

Tomorrow is my 12 month post placement visit. I know everything will go well but I still will worry until it is completed. My appointment is at 5 pm central time. Also be in prayer as we have started potty training this weekend. Right now Jocelyn is getting comfortable sitting on the new "potty" and has tinkled in it once. She is now taking off her diaper by herself if it gets wet or she has a stinky so I know she is ready to potty train. Please help me be patient with her and that it will be easy for her to catch on.

I will post tomorrow to let you know how the home study went