Bria's 1 Year Photos

We postponed Bria's pictures until after her cast came off, so she was actually 13.5 months in these pictures. Unfortunately, Bria clams up the moment we walk into Aunt Mandi's studio! She gets so nervous. I can't imagine how bad it would be if she didn't know the photographer!  Mandi still caught some amazing shots though. Here are a few of my favorites...

A smile!

She's such a drama queen!

Chinese New Year {Year of the Rooster}

We celebrated the Year of the Rooster with our friends! 

Our Asian sweeties~ Brielle, Sadie, Beilyn, and Brennan

Beilyn & Brennan were neighbors in the foster home apartments at the same orphanage.

Proud big sisters!

They said a little prayer for their sisters waiting in South Korea and China.

Passing out hong baos (red envelopes) for a rich new year

On Friday, Brielle had the opportunity to share about Chinese New Year with her Kindergarten class too. We read a book called "Lucky New Year."  Then she passed out hong baos and mandarin oranges (for a sweet new year).

The kids tried writing the character Fu (福). It happens to be part of Brielle's Chinese name but is also popular on decorations during the New Year because it means blessing or good fortune.

Perhaps her classmates hadn't realized before then that she had been adopted (I've volunteered in her classroom before.) because one of her little friends asked one of the dreaded questions...

"Are you her real mom?" 

Brielle and I talked about it after school. I am her real mom. I LOVE her, feed her, bathe her, snuggle her, care for her ouchies, and tuck her into bed at night. We share the same last name and the same family. I knew what the little boy meant and I answered him kindly, but it makes me sad that Brielle would ever think that we aren't a real family. Because trust me... she is mine. ♥

Cast Free

Little Miss was finally done with the giant pink cast on January 16th.  Her calm demeanor through it all reminds me so much of Brynna. She tolerated the cast removal and x-rays so well.

Bath time! And she actually likes it now.

Squeaky clean and finally reunited with her footie jammies ♥

Start of a New Year {January Recap}

2017 is off to a great start!

We visited Alex's grandma on New Year's day and I snuck a quick picture.

Not a great way to start out any New Year's diet plans...we went to Dairy Queen on Jan 1. ha!
(I like how Alex's office is seen out the window.)

Typical Beilyn...running non-stop and then crashes in the middle of whatever she was doing.

January 4th~ 13 months!

Jan. 7th~ Evidently, Beilyn's pony needed glasses to read the fine print in her Bible. 

Improvising- when you want to wear cute heels but you have a big cast on your foot.

Big Big News! Beilyn attempted to copy her name! First and only time she has done it, but she did an amazing job! (If you ask her, she has no idea how to spell her name but has recently realized it starts with a B! I haven't gotten her to attempt this again. She's so hyper and lacks interest, but it's exciting to see she is capable!)

She left out the e but I'm so impressed with her 1st try!

Jan. 8th~ My Grammy moved to an apartment at the beginning of the month so we had to check things out!

Jan. 9th~ I told Beilyn the noodles must be too spicy because Bria didn't like them. She said, "Not too spicy for this China girl!" 

She loves her noodles. She'll say, "Me yike noodles cuz I China!"

Jan. 10th~ "Cooking" with dry rice helps meet some of her sensory needs. She makes a mess but at least it's an easy one to clean up!

I said, "Beilyn! What's on your face?!" She happily yelled "may-up!" :)

Jan. 14th~ The BR vs Loogootee game is always fun!

Earlier in the day, my big girls went to a nail salon with Aunt Trista. A Girls Day Out with her with their Christmas gift! They had an absolute blast!

Braylee with some of her band friends.

Jan. 18th~ I walked into Braylee's room and the view on her bed stopped me in my tracks... Phone, laptop, textbooks, headphones, current novel (She flies through them!), and backpack all scattered on her bed while she was at church. I feel like she went from a spastic 1st grader to a mature Middle schooler overnight. 

Jan. 20th~ We were busy playing when daddy came home with a surprise for the girls!

New golf clubs! Brynna had outgrown her old set and Brielle was so pumped to get a "lefty" set! They immediately went to the basement to practice. 

Jan. 21st~ Playdate with her friend Aleena

Jan. 22nd~ Unseasonably warm weather allowed the girls a chance to go out and try their new clubs.

Jan. 23rd~ 100 days of school complete!

An apple a day... Bria is trying hard to stay healthy, or claim them all for herself.

Jan. 24th~ Braces are gone! (For now. She'll need more work when she's older.)

Those eyes! ♥