September Update

Look who's blowing kisses! Well, sort of. She's actually licking her hand, but it's so cute noone knows the difference...she's trying! Here's Emily with Daddy in her "Baby Barracuda" swim class. Babies have to be "triple bagged" since any, er, accidents close the pool for 12 hours. So, Emily's sporting a swim diaper, plastic pants, and size 18-month swim suit. She's still wearing 9-month clothing, but we couldn't squeeze all those layers plus her into a tiny swimsuit!

Emily Kicks for Daddy. Emily's teacher is in the middle. She's very nice and so patient with the kids. Caroline's parents came to class, as did our friends Dave and Beata, who were down visiting from Philadelphia and meeting Emily for the first time.

Daddy takes Emily to pool class on Saturdays, and Mommy takes Thursdays. Emily really enjoys herself, as you can see from the photos. Emily is learning to kick and paddle, and go under water...well, she already had that part down thanks to Daddy! The teacher warned us that the fathers could be a little rambunctious in class, so I had to make Kevin promise not to do a cannonball into the pool and forever traumatize the little ones. He behaved beautifully, although I think it's because he was the only dad in the pool!

And She's Still Eating!

Here's Emily enjoying her Yo Baby yogurt! She's been eating regularly since last week, and enjoys such Gerber baby food as Pineapple Glazed Ham, Carrots, Peaches, and Oatmeal. Daddy thought it would be fun to torture Mommy by buying a jar of Gerber mashed peas, but they're still sitting in the cupboard. Noone but Daddy will be feeding Emily those evil vegetables...BLECH!! :P

Yogurt is Emily's favorite, and Yo Baby makes some great flavors, including Pear. Yes, I taste everything to make sure it's ok, which is why I'll never feed the poor child peas...or lima beans. Emily still doesn't care for Cheerios, and only eats a couple of the Gerber Fruit Puffs (a melt-in-your mouth version of Cheerios). But she's eating, and that's great.

We now weigh 18 pounds, 4 oz and are 29 1/4" long! See my "Grandpa Loves Me" bib?

Getting Busy With Daddy

Here's Emily in her baby backpack. She took her first hike with Daddy, Dave and Beata. How do you hike in Florida, you ask? Well, you wear sneakers and you walk along a boardwalk. It can be very hot and buggy, so it's a real challenge! Poor Emily brought back two mosquito bites on her little face. That's a heck of a lot fewer bites than poor Uncle Dave, who was covered with welts from the tiny but lethal No-see-ums. Everyone enjoyed the hike anyway, and spotted Bobcat scat (pooey), which was cool. Kevin said Emily often leaned forward and rested her cheek against his, whether to make sure he was still there or for affection, he didn't know...but he loved it. Well, that and her little hands repeatedly smacking him on the head. Now that's love! :)

Let's see, what else is new with Emily? She took two steps this week, which we couldn't catch on film, but that's ok, because she refused to do any more! She's zooming around in her walker, making the cat, dog and us jump. She still loves to brandish wooden spoons in each hand and wave them as she sails by. We think she said "Ma Ma", "Da Da", and "hi", but aren't sure. She likes to wave her hands crazily over her head and grin, and she still giggles excitedly and shakes her feet whenever we pick her up first thing in the morning.

She loves to watch "The Wiggles" on tv, and dances along with the songs. Her favorite toys are soft shape sorters, singing flowers, and a sleepy Winnie the Pooh. She cuddles next to her giant soft Panda bear at night, and loves when Daddy (not Mommy, waaaahhhh!!) reads to her. Mommy rocks her to sleep some nights. She's afraid of the ocean, but loves the pool and bathtub...and mirrors are just a delight.

Other Important Mentions

Kevin's niece Elizabeth turned 1 year old on September 1st! Here she is with sister Kellie and birthday girl as well. Next, Elizabeth with her brother Kyle and sister Kasey. Happy Birthday, girls!





Thanks to Uncle Jack Whalen for the weekly nudge to update the website! And a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Florida friends Scott and Melissa Braun for the referral of their new daughter, Kate Hai Yang Braun from Guangxi (Emily's province--and she's only a week younger than Emily!), and Natalie and Ernest Duncklee on the referral of their new daughter, Ashly Pei Duncklee (notice the middle name) from Guangdong province. She's only 6 1/2 months old!! Ernest is being sent to Washington, D.C. with the Army reserves for 18 months, so they're hoping Ernest gets leave to travel to China and get his daughter in October. Please keep the Duncklees in your thoughts. Natalie will have her friends and family here with her, but that's a hard start for a young family.

And a big HELLO to Caroline's nephew Tony, who started military high school in Virginia last week. We think of you daily, Tony, and love and miss you very much. Your handmade jewelry box is being put to good use with Emily's things! See you in November!

Take care,

Caroline

---

On a somber note, best of luck to Todd and Nancy Gilbertson of New Orleans, one of the families in our Chinese travel group, as they struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Todd and Nancy adopted beautiful and lively little Ella Grace, and happily returned home only to have to flee New Orleans last week. Our entire travel group worried about them, but now know they are safe in another state, and that their house escaped flood damage. They're in our thoughts, as are everyone affected by this horrible disaster.

---