Quick update

Life at our house is chugging along. I have returned to work (this is week 2), Natalie is adjusting to day care, we have already been taken down by our first day care bug - the stomach flu - this past weekend, and I'm learning how to get two kids, two diaper bags, two blankets, hats, gloves, and myself to the car and in/out of day care. Overall it is going well - you never know how much you can do until you have to do it! Natalie has decided that she is done with anything resembling baby food and is chowing down on all types of table food. And she keeps trying to walk and today took five steps! She is getting braver and a lot steadier on her feet. Will she be walking by Christmas? We'll see!

First steps!

She's been working on it since she came home and tonight she did it. Natalie took 3-4 steps all by herself, walking from me to Paul. It was awesome. Now, I know, everything changes once they are mobile and especially once they are walking. But, Paul and I were afraid that Natalie would take her first steps in Korea (in fact, it was the first question we asked our social worker on our way to Natalie's foster home) and so are very glad that we were both able to experience this first with her instead. Natalie loved all the attention - the big smiles and yahoos that she was getting - so she decided to try it again and repeated her achievement two more times tonight. We were able to get the picture above just before she sat down the last time. Andrew wanted to be part of it all too and was a great big brother, helping to hold Natalie's hand. It was very touching. A great way to end the day and the week.

A weekend away

We visited Andrew and Natalie's cousins and parents this weekend. We explored the Milwaukee Zoo on Friday and enjoyed a family hike on Saturday. The weather was unseasonably warm but the fall colors were glorious. It was quite the experience with 4 kids (which included 3 10-month old girls), two double strollers on Friday, four baby carriers on Saturday, 4 kids in highchairs (that was only because Andrew decided that since everyone else was being fed in the highchair, he should as well), lots of diapers, toys, and fun. Natalie had a good time playing with her cousins and trying out some different toys. She didn't seem to mind sleeping in a pack and play or being in a different house. She did wake up a number of times Friday night, but then again, so did Andrew. All in all, Natalie's first overnight trip after coming home went very well. Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Ready for the zoo!


Three girls, one pancake. Sometimes it is just easier to bring the tray to them.


Four adults, four kids, four carriers, one hike.

5 weeks later and now 10 months old

Natalie is now 10 months old and has been home 5 weeks. It is hard for us to believe that it has been 5 weeks already but at the same time, it seems like she has always been here. I have really enjoyed time with just her while Andrew has been at day care and Paul has been at work, but I also love and look forward to the time when all four of us are together. There are ups and downs, but Andrew is becoming a great, loving big brother (though like all big brothers, he has his moments of wanting all the attention and all the toys, but as the oldest child myself, I can relate to that) and Paul and I love to hear our children laughing together. I also love watching Natalie move. She is quick! Her favorite destinations are the cats' food, the kitchen cupboards, and my leg. I love looking down and seeing her holding on to my leg and looking up at me. Tickling her and hearing her laugh is another favorite.

Natalie playing


Natalie showing us that she can do two things at once


Since my last post, our computer decided to quit on us and we are now MAC users. We are still figuring out some of the kinks (like sending e-mail) and bookmarking all of our favorite websites again. In addition to the computer adventure, we went apple picking last weekend with my sister and family. The last time we went apple picking was a few weeks after Andrew came home and my sister was pregnant with my nephew. This time, Andrew and his cousin Davin were enjoying the apples with us and carrying their little bags of apples and Natalie enjoyed watching it all from the ergo.



After apple picking with my sister and her family