JULY

Testing out her new tent on a hot summer day.








First hair cut with Andrea (all done)
















Wearing Daddy's hat





Stefanie has changed a lot and her personality is really starting to come out. She is full of smiles, laughter, hugs, kisses. Recently she started to become a lot more affectionate with Jon. On July 21 (yesterday) Jon came home and she said, "Hi Daddy" and gave Jon a kiss. This is a big difference as she would only kiss him when she wanted and would push him away even if he was holding her.

Stefanie had her first hair cut this month and points at absolutely everything. She is working on the word: artwork and paintings, although she knows what they are and points at them. She seems to be picking up things quickly even though she cannot say the words just yet. Stefanie is obsessed with lights and her newest word is "Chives" yes the herb. I cannot believe our daughter has managed to say Yeah, Daddy, Hi, Chives and is starting to work on fifth word artwork before she even says Mama. She and I work on pictures as I walk her around the house and show her pictures of family explaining who everyone is. Everywhere Stefanie goes she practices her wave hello saying hi to everything from people to food. Its really cute and I am always laughing.

Stefanie and I continue to work on bye bye and yesterday she said bye. I have started to work on colors, letters of the alphabet and words associating them with physical eye contact and touch depending on what I am showing her. We have lessons on fruit and vegetables when we eat or I am cooking. Stefanie loves to walk around the house while I hold her touching the leaves on my artifical trees very gently. She is still confused when I show her real house plants or flowers with leaves as she seems to understand leaves on trees. We will continue to work on this.

Stefanie does not really watch television as she will glance over but will dance at the sound of music. She dances when we are out shopping and dances to television commercials, anything with music she absolutely loves.

Jon and I finally purchased Stefanies bedroom furniture and the room looks great. This month has gone by so quickly. Fourth of July was spent indoors as it rained. On July 24 we will be celebrating Pioneer Day and I will take more photos.

Here are some photos of this month.

OUR FIRST MONTH AT HOME

Hanging out at home


Do I have to pose?


Our one month anniversary


Father's Day with Daddy



Father's Day Brunch



Princess Stefanie and Charlie






Bath time and a visor that did not work!



Salt Lake City Arts Festival before dancing with Dad.







Stefanie's Live TV Appearance with Jon

Life with our little princess has been wonderful and we could not be more blessed. We have had a difficult time trying to get adjusted taking care of Stefanie and still managing to get things done. I will do my best to post weekly, but for now I will do my best to post everything about our first month together. When I have time I will try to go back and update our Journey To Me Blog, and finish our entries.

Little Miss Stefanie is a wonderful baby, and as I type this our little princess should be taking a nap but instead is screaming hysterically in her crib and calling for me as she does not want to take a nap. I find it hard not to run upstairs and pull Stefanie out of her crib. I have a monitor and I am watching Stefanie right now. I have been sick for a few days so everything is a lot more difficult.

Stefanie is bright and absolutely beautiful. We made a pretty smooth transition from me sleeping in Stefanie’s room with her at night and a few weeks later moving back into my own bed. Stefanie sleeps straight through the night unless she has a wet diaper. She lets out a few screams at night and we lean in her crib and either rub her back and kiss her, or say ssshhhh, and she rolls over and immediately goes to sleep again. She eats pretty much whatever we feed her and we are still working on drinking more water. Stefanie started the month by not really walking and now uses her walker to push in front of her. She now pulls herself up holding on to furniture and loves to chase me around the kitchen with her walker.

Stefanie's first word was "Yeah". Her favorite shoes are white squeeky shoes from China, although she loves all shoes including Mom and Dads. She is definitely an accessory girl. Our first week home Stefanie met and spent the week with Grandpa Carlos and Grandma Rosie who were taking care of our home and cats for us while we were away. Stefanie was a little distant at first and struggled to hold back her smiles but eventually could not help it. She loved her Grandparents and had a wonderful visit with them. Stefanie also made her first live Television Appearance on "Good Things Utah" with her Dad. Jon modeled a suit and Stefanie wore a beautiful red dress.

Stefanie took three portraits our first month and had her ears pierced too. She met with her Doctor, took four shots all at once without much of a problem, and as soon as she started to cry we gave her a Cheerio and that stopped all the crying. Cheerios are truly amazing!

Stefanie loves music and is still perfecting her wave to say "Hello". She says "da"
"ah", "yeah" and "mama". I have taught Stefanie to stick out her hand and shake yours if you say it's nice to meet you Stefanie. She will shake your hand and I tell her it is a pleasure to meet her and she gets a big smile on her face when I do this. She is starting to understand when I tell her to wait just a minute to get something and we are off to a wonderful start. Stefanie met everyone at Jon's work with no problem and loves to be out observing the world around her. Some of her favorite things to do is look at herself in the mirror, try and walk, dance with Mom and perfect her waive "hello". Last week for the first time she waved hello to a woman in a wheel chair. I was so proud of her. The woman in the wheel chair was so happy to see Stefanie waving at her and had a good laugh with me and her family. Stefanie pulling herself up on her own is a great accomplishment and she gets such a big smile on her face.

Tigger pretty much keeps his distance from Stefie. Charlie on the other hand considers himself Stefie's best friend. He loves her and cannot stand to be away from her. I no longer call Stefanie “Ying Ying” but Jon and I will either call her Stefanie, Stefanie Ai Ying and/or Stefie. Stefanie responds to her name. Stefie’s favorite song is “Yeah” by Usher although this would not have been my first choice. She and I listen to a Musical CD by baby Einstein when we are in the car. Life with Stefanie is amazing and experiencing everything through her eyes has been incredible. We are so happy to have her in our lives and for her to share her life with us. We do not know how the CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) managed to match us with the perfect child for our family. Stefanie is very much like us and we have no idea how this worked out the way it did. The match was perfect as we were all destined to be together.

Thank you again to everyone for being so supportive to us during our long wait to bring Stefanie home. We cannot thank everyone for all of your help to make this adoption possible. We love you all and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

A wonderful thing happened, Stefanie received a letter from The President of The United States. A letter from The White House welcoming Stefanie to The United States from President George W. Bush, and her Certificate of Citizenship were received. What a proud moment to receive the document so fast! Jon and I were told it may take six months to one year to receive the documents. We are now looking forward each day and what new experiences each day will bring. Receiving Stefanies Certificate of Citizenship and letter from President Bush brought tears to my eyes. Stefanie on the other hand had no idea what was happening as I read this letter to her. This is a day we will cherish for the rest of our lives!

So many things took place I do not have the time to write them all down. We have had wonderful experiences with Stefanie, and we look forward to sharing so much more.

Here are photos of our princess!