9 months old and healthy!

Remi had her 9 month check-up today and Dr. Emily was very pleased with her progress.  She is very healthy and growing, growing, growing!  She now weighs 18.9 pounds (59%) and is 28.5 inches long (74%).  I think she just went through a growth spurt; she's been eating a lot more, enjoying some new foods and taking better naps.  I think her 4th tooth will be popping through anytime now.  She was quite miserable for several days while teething this time.  I hope this is the worst one and her other teeth won't cause her so much trouble. 

She can wear some 12 month clothes now.  She's been able to wear bigger shirts for a couple of months, but now her little legs are finally catching up!  Her new thing is to immediately roll onto her tummy when we put her down on her back.  Then she gets on her hands and knees and pushes herself backwards.  Maybe she'll figure out how to go forward soon!

My birthmom rocks!

I'm feeling very grateful lately...like overwhelmingly so.  I had a moment the other day while I was feeding Remi.  I looked down into her little face and realized (for the umpteen millionth time) how blessed we are to have her in our lives and how she came to be our daughter was definitely the most perfect plan God could've created.  I know, of course, we wouldn't be a family without Rachael, our birthmom.  I keep trying to think of ways to let her know how awesome she is and how important she is, and just how often I think of her...at least 20 times a day!  I love the fact that we still talk and that she loves to see pictures of Remi. 

When we first decided to adopt, one of the many things we had to decide was if we wanted an open adoption.  I have to tell you being open was a terrifying thought.  After meeting Rachael our feelings changed and I can't tell you how happy I am that our adoption is so open.  There is a picture of Remi as a newborn with her mommy, daddy, and birthmom on her dresser.  She has children's books about adoption that we read to her.  She will know from the time she can understand such things that she is adopted and will know how cool her birthmom is.  A lot of adopted children don't have that chance. 

I don't know a better word than thank you, so I'll go with that for now.  Thank you, Rachael, for thinking we were good enough people to be Remi's parents, and thank you for still being involved!

9 months old!!

I can't believe Remi is 9 months old already!  Can it really be true?  She is showing us her little personality as she continues to grow.  Her third tooth has appeared and she is so very close to learning how to crawl.  She gets up on her hands and knees, but hasn't figured out what to do next.

She has also had a major change as I have gone back to work four days a week.  I am very, very thankful for how well she has adjusted and how much she enjoys being with her amazing babysitter, Nicole, and her doggies!

Nicole and Remi with Daisy and Roxie

It is certainly hard to imagine that Remi will be a year old in a few short months, but we are loving every minute with her!

Likes:

*Every vegetable she has tried...green beans are her absolute favorite

*Watching and petting/grabbing dogs

*Cartoons

*Remotes and cell phones

*Standing up

*Being on her tummy (for short periods of time)

*Listening to the radio while she naps

*Talking (she says ma ma now, but only every once in a while!)

*Spitting her cereal out at Mommy

Doesn't like:

*Getting dressed

*Having her nails clipped

*Bananas



A nickname for Remi?

When we decided on the name Remi for our little girl, I never imagined that she would have a nickname, or several actually.  I mean, it's usually long names that are shortened, right?  Well, not our Remi!  Here are just a few...
*Remmers
*Remilicious
*Remster
*Remistiltskin
*Remsicle
*Remoulade
Pretty creative, don't you think?  :)

8 months old!

Remi is 8 months old and is growing up so fast!  She now has two teeth and cracks us up with the things she does!  She loves all of her vegetables, especially the orange ones, would much rather be standing than doing anything else, and thinks it is really fun to drop things on the floor and then stare at them for a really long time.  She sits up and plays by herself very well.  And she has also been talking a lot.  Her favorite thing to say is da-da.  She says it all the time...sometimes it is whispered and sometimes it is a high-pitch squeal!  I'm just "patiently" waiting for her to say ma-ma.  We've been practicing. :)

 Watching her favorite show, Peep

 Learning to pick up and eat puffs...So cute!

 2 teeth!

I dropped it...Now what? 

Likes:
*Orange veggies
*Peep an.d the Big Wide World (It's a cartoon on PBS in the mornings.)
*Bouncing in her jumper
*Standing up
*Watching fish in the fish tank
*Bathtime
*Sitting by herself
*Our cell phones (She will twist herself around and crane her neck to figure out where our phones are!)
*Her glow worm that plays music and lights up
*Touching everything to feel textures

Doesn't like:
*Her teeth coming through (It's painful!)
*Taking long naps (They are typically 30 minutes long.)

Christmas 2011

It was fun to watch Remi "try" to open presents and just be together as a family this Christmas.  We can't wait to do it all again next year!

She really liked chewing on the wrapping paper and she liked the crunchy noise it made.  Maybe next year she'll be interested in the presents too!

Our first Christmas morning together as a family of 3!

Remi and Daddy in their Purdue gear. (Merry Christmas to Daddy!)

David and Bryce

Remi and Dalayna

Grandma Judy and Remi

Aunt Bonnie and Remi

More Christmas 2011

Christmas with Remi was so fun this year...for us!  She will be far more interested next year, I'm sure. :)  It was just exciting to have her be a part of the celebrations with our families.

Mandi and Michael

Ashley, Eric, and Isaac

Eric and Mandi (He's such a loving little brother!)

Aunt Mandi and Brayden

Aunt Mandi and Elise

Aunt Mandi had to sneak up on Audrey to get a picture with her!

Grandma Susie, Remi, and Grandpa Dan

Eric, Isaac, Mandi, and Remi