Adventures of Little Dottie

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Nineteen Months! 09.23.08

Dottie's blossoming into a sweet, friendly, and adventurous girl. Her words string into sentences at times, and she likes making the sound of different animals when asked. She's pretty good with her manners ("Please" and "Thank You"), but she's also independent ("No" and "Mine") and sometimes impatient ("I Need That!"). She especially likes her books, neighborhood walks with the dogs, and playing in the water. We had a great time with family in Texas this summer, and Dottie got to meet her cousins from Louisiana! Check out her 17th, 18th, and 19th monthly pictures.

Summer Fun. 07.08.08

Summer's been hot, and full of adventure! Dottie loves keeping cool at the beach and spashing in our little backyard pool. She demonstrated her princess wave when we marched with our dads club in the Pride Parade, and we had a great time playing with friends at the annual picnic for adoptive families. She's full of expressions and tries out new words and sounds every day. She loves her playtime with the dogs out back and laughs with arms high watching them run and wrestle. Her 16th month pictures: month by month page.

Uh-oh! 05.25.08

At 15 months, little Dottie is blossoming into a sweet, sassy toddler who loves to play play play. Her favorite phrase is "Uh-oh!" when she drops something. She knows one sign ("more") and also says "Pees" (please), "Taku" (thank you), "Aaa-pl" (apple, pear or lemon), "Jusss" (juice), and "Dadeeee" (either parent). She loves her dresses and tells them goodnight before hugging her stuffed animals and falling asleep. Dottie's 13th, 14th, and 15th month pictures: month by month page.

One Year and Walking (sometimes). 03.09.08

We can't believe Dottie's first birthday has already come and gone! She looks more grown up every day and seems satisfied racing through the house and chasing the dogs off their bed. Her Nana from Texas came for a visit and taught her how to walk! She wobbles, but we can tell real trouble is just around the corner. Dottie had a fun birthday party at home with friends, family, and yummy mini-cupcakes. We also celebrated with a weekend trip to visit her birthfamily and had a great time catching up with them. Dottie's 11th and 12th month pictures are up: month by month page.

A new year. 01.17.08

Dottie is more fun everyday. She's always on the go and although she's not walking yet she quickly crawls from the back of the house up our long hallway through the kitchen to the front door. Dottie loves gobbling finger foods, and says da-da and ba-ba. Anytime we get home, she's immediately waving hello to the dogs looking for some fun (she likes to catch their tails). We had a great time with our family and friends over the holidays even though we all three got sick with non-stop sniffles. We're better now and are enjoying the new year. We have fun with her hair and are teaching it new tricks. Her ninth and tenth month pictures are up: month by month page.

Mooooo! 11.02.07

Dottie turned into a cow. We don't mind. Her mooo sounds strangely like mum-mum-mum, her favorite sound at the moment which she makes when she's crawling for a toy, pulling up on the couch, or cruising sideway from the chair to the table to grab a sock or her favorite book. She loved her dog book for a couple weeks, and now she's hooked on her colors book. We read and she turns the pages (sometimes). She loves to twirl her curls and to stick her left thumb in her ear. Her eight month picture is up: month by month page.

On the Move...! 09.30.07

Dottie's motor skills have blossomed and she enjoys every discovery! After a few days of backing and rolling onto her side and face, she got her hands and feet to move her forward and ever since she wants down to crawl and explore. We set up a padded play "pen" in living room where she can safely practice and play with her many toys. When she's not trying to eat her books, she loves when we read to her. She laughs when she sees her favorite ("The Foot Book") because she knows we're silly when we read it. She eats in her high chair now, and her favorite jarred baby food is winter squash. We expect some teeth to peek through her gums any day now. This last week, her most exciting game has been to pull up to standing with our help then smile and laugh laugh laugh and spit bubbles at us. She's takes "steps" while standing, but she's satisfied practicing up and down for now.

Six Months on All Fours 08.23.07

Dottie can roll across a room in no time flat! She practices her new moves in the middle of the night when no one's looking then shows off in daylight. She likes sleeping on her stomach and two weeks ago she started pulling knees under her belly. Now she pushes up onto her hands and knees and bounces. No crawling... yet. Sometimes she'll rise up on all fours with her rear in the air! Her Papa named this her "Leaping Lizard" yoga pose. She's eating mushed sweet potatoes, bananas, and avocados from a spoon and she feels free telling us what she does and does not want.

Texas Trip! 08.18.07

At the end of July, we flew to Texas so Dottie could meet her Texas family and friends. Her Nana already had a head start spoiling her from her CA visit, and her PawPaw, Aunt Jennifer, cousins Renae and Kendall, and Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Alex did a good job catching up. Dottie was in someone's arms most of the weekend, smiling and playing with each new admirer and she had lots of fun watching her Nana and PawPaw's new puppy Ginger.

Watching Dottie Grow is Fun 07.03.07

Now that she's four months, Dottie has taken to partying with Pooh in her crib at about four in the morning. They talk and talk while we try to snooze. She's 50th percentile for weight and height and was very brave for her shots. She's rolling over from her back to her tummy now, her grip and swinging aim are getting better, and she's working on her balance for sitting up.

Father's Day 06.20.07

We began our first father's day with an outdoor brunch with Joaquin and his dads, who also became dads this past year. Then we lounged at home and played with Dax and Zhaan. Dottie's very curious nowdays, enjoys watching the beagles, and is always squirming for a better view. She loves the outdoors, especially during our trip to the LA Zoo with friends and to Malibu. She's growing more coordinated, is holding her head up well, and is the verge of rolling over!

3 months in... 05.23.07

Dottie has grown so much in the last month! She's had welcome parties, and spent time with the beagles and cousin Ashlyn at the dog beach. Her Nana from Texas came to town and spoiled her real good. On her third month birthday she discovered the joys of her tagE*blankE from Auntie Kari (Sleepyhead Paper Designs) and she's been happily chewing the tags. She also loves her elephant "Mathilda" from her buddy Joaquin. Her grip is more determined every day and she pulls everything right to her mouth.

Happy Easter 04.11.07

Dottie's more interactive all the time, and has even started to smile! She's gotten so many great gifts, clothes, and toys and we've almost finished the converstion of our office into the baby room. Dottie had her first trip to the dog beach and had fun with family at her cousin's one year birthday party.

One month down 03.25.07

Somehow Dottie's a month old! She enjoys laying on her back and swinging at the animals in her "jungle gym". She enjoys being held by friends and family and likes looking over our shoulder.

Welcome home 03.19.07

We are so happy to be back home in LA with our little one, even though we are sad to be far from Dottie's birthfamily. Our beagles Dax and Zhaan were curious when they first met her and are growing more accustomed to baby cries. Our California friends and family have been coming by to visit and we love showing off our little girl!

Peace Out 03.07.07

We're getting better at giving Dottie her bath. We got stir-crazy in the hotel so we drove to the coast one day and enjoyed Wilmington and a visit to the chilly beach.

Time with my dads 03.02.07

We've enjoyed getting to know our little Dot. She's still so small, but we're getting more comfortable in holding her and knowing what she needs. She travels well, which is good because we are always off to the store for something else we didn't realize we'd need.

My birth family 03.02.07

One of the best parts of staying in North Carolina for two weeks was getting to know Dottie's birthfamily! Her birthmom loves her so much, and enjoys holding and talking to her. Dottie has a brother who turned 15 the day after she was born and a six year old sister who loves holding her hand. They came over a few times to our hotel so we could kick back, eat together and pass the baby around. We knew immediately that they had become part of our family.

Home at the hotel 02.27.07

We survived our first night alone with Dottie! Daddy and Dottie watched the Oscars hosted by Ellen that first night. We got take-out and talked a lot with friends and family. Sleep is so overrated.

My first day 02.24.07

We had two exciting weeks getting to know Chamisa before we got her call to "come now... it's time!" We took a red eye to North Carolina and arrived in time to meet Chamisa (while in labor!) before our daughter Dorothy Alden was born at 5:05 pm on Feburary 23, 2007. Papa (Philip) gave Dottie her first bath and Daddy (Doug) had fun with her first diaper and bottle. We couldn't have made it without Chamisa and the nurses who gave us a crash course in infant care.