OSU Game Day and Halloween 2006

Create Your Own!

Fall Fun!

Create Your Own!

Finally, beautiful autumn weather has arrived! We are enjoying the cooler temperatures, the change in wardrobe, and the orange all around us (ha, ha!).

Thursday we returned to the airport where Sarah was welcomed home just a few weeks ago, to welcome home Annabella from Vietnam. She is adorable! Her two brothers and her sister were very excited to see their parents and new sister and Bella did great. Our local group is almost complete with just two more to travel soon....until more referrals, of course. After the airport Sarah, Avi Joy and Lukas went to McDonald's (with parents, of course) and Sarah had her very first Happy Meal. She has now truly experienced America! After that, we made a quick stop at the local Vietnamese market where we were reminded of the sights and smells of VN. The only thing that Sarah and Luke found facinating about the market was a cardboard box to sit in.

This weekend was OSU's homecoming, so we hit the annual walk-around in Stillwater Friday night. For those of you who don't know much about O-State, they boast of having the largest and best homecoming celebration in the country. The fraternities and sororities create multi-story lawn displays made out of welded frames, chicken wire, and tissue paper (similar to parade float construction). This is the main attraction for the walk-around, but there is also music, food, and other carnival festivities. Sarah seemed to really enjoy her first visit to my alma mater, and maybe she will follow in her mother's and her grandparent's footsteps and go to school there. We are working on surrounding her with lots of orange!

Saturday we visited a local pumpkin patch with my parents. Sarah loved seeing the animals and taking a ride in the wheelbarrow.

Sarah continues to surprise us with how quickly she is adjusting and developing. When we first got her she was only rolling around on the floor. She quickly went to army crawling. Now she is getting up on her knees to crawl and will take (wobbly) steps with us holding her hands. She'll be walking before we know it!

More Fun Pictures!

Create Your Own!

No place like home!

Create Your Own!

We've been home just over a week and already Vietnam seems like a distant memory. We've all settled into a routine at home and are back on a normal sleeping schedule. Sarah is sleeping 12 hours a night and taking decent naps (we know we are spoiled!). Michael and I are finding that by 9:00pm we are wiped out - not sure if that is left-over jet lag or simply being parents. Michael went back to work last week and I have settled into my temporary life at home with Sarah. I'm enjoying my days of playing with our daughter and dare I say - even doing daily laundry and tiding up. Well, I did have a whole month off! It just feels good to be home!

We took Sarah to the doctor on Monday. She weighed in at a whopping 20 lbs. and measured 29 inches long, putting her in the 15th percentile for her age (15 months). I bought her a pair of booties at Target and she needed 0-6 month size - tiny! The doctor was very pleased with her health and appearance. We will go back soon for more immunizations and the rest of her physical exam.

Our week has been full of wonderful visits with family and friends. Sarah is a real sweetheart and seems to enjoy every bit of the attention she is getting. So far, so good...sometimes we just have to pinch ourselves and ask, "Is this for real?" And we praise God that it is!