Grace laughs :)

This is so funny. At least Phuong and I think so.
First, Phuong teases one of our cats (in this case, Mozart)with the string from Grace's Leap Frog toy. Then Grace starts to laugh hysterically as Mozart tries to get the string.

Enjoy...we did!

Family Vists

This past week, Phuong's brother and his family came to visit. Grace had a good time and we did as well. We must have watched Curious George 100 times. The kids love that monkey!
Here are a few photos from this past week:


Grace and her cousin Zion watch Curious George...again!



Phuong, Olivia (Phuong's cousin) and Grace at TGI Friday's



Mommy and Daughter :)



We went to the mall right before they closed and had the play area all to ourselves. Grace and Zion loved it!

Grace and Zion wanting to drive already...we can wait a LLOONNGG time for that!





Phuong and her cousins take a break in the play area while the Dads watch after the kids.





Uncle Matt and Zion spending time with Grace.





Father and son dressed alike...how cute is that?!



Double trouble...just kidding!
:)

Grace's first steps!

Today we went to a friends home to celebrate their daughter's first birthday. This is their third daughter and second China adoption. A very nice family. They also used the same adoption agency and had the same log in date as we did, only they traveled a week or two after we did.

We stayed a little after the party to talk and spend some more time. During this time we were sitting on the floor talking and playing with the kids when Grace decided that this would be a good time to try walking.

She took her very first steps today! :)

More of..who else...but Grace!

Here is Grace about 2 weeks ago. I know I am late posting but it gets really busy with a 13 month old :)






Phuong did not think anyone could enjoy this video but us. I thought it was hilarious so I just had to post it :)



Here is Grace "scooting" across the sofa in her "play area." Towards the end you can here her use her "DRAGON" voice. She was doing this is China as well as some of the other babies in our group. We thought that she stopped this after a while, but every now and again that little dragon comes out :)



For some reason, Grace loves the jelly inserts in my shoes. We tried to stop her a number of times. Sometimes you just have to pick your battles.

Visit to the Dojo

Today, Phuong was nice enough to bring Grace to the martial arts dojo.

Everybody was happy to meet her and Grace seemed to get comfortable pretty quickly.
She enjoyed crawling around on the mats and watching people practice Kata.
She seems to be getting more comfortable with being around more people. Our little girl is growing up so fast :(

I hope to bring her more often so that she can get familiar with martial arts enough to help make it part of the routine. She really does seem to like it as she watched it intently

Grace and Daddy at the Dojo:



Grace crawls on the mats and watches Kata:




Mommy watches Grace...Grace watches the martial arts:



Grace crawls in the mats...does she say "da da?"

Grace back at Church

OK.

Tonight we decided to see how Grace would do at the church nursery while we went to the service. The last time we did this Phuong stayed with her and even then Grace cried. Now Grace is a bit more comfortable with other people and she can sit up and crawl.
When we went to drop her off she just was clinging to me and as soon I was able to hand her over, she started crying. I was heart broken to do that to her and Phuong was the strong one.

We went to the service expecting to be called out to get Grace but she lasted the whole 1.5 hours!
When we went to pick her up after the service, the kind people attending to her said that Grace did well for the first half hour then she got cranky but she loved the stroller.
As soon as Grace saw us she started to cry big tears.
I wanted to cry too :(
Actually, I think that I had a harder time then she did. I can now tell that when Grace starts going to school, I will be a mess.

Just goes to show that growing pains also happen to the parents :)

Fun at the local mall playground

Today we went to our local mall. They have a little "playground" area inside for kids to run around and climb on and through things. Phuong comes here often with Grace on hot days and Grace just loves it. Here are some photos and video of Grace having a good time.

This is Grace crawling through the "log" tunnel:





Grace likes to spin the wall blocks:






Grace climbing and crawling around:







Grace knows how to stick out her tongue:



Grace plays in the warped mirror: