December 2006 Update
December has been a month filled with memories and warmth. It
started off with a trip to Disney World with Granmommy and
Grandaddy. A highlight of the trip for Zoe was having lunch with
the Princesses. She met Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora, and
Cinderella! She was fascinated watching them as they visited
with their guests but would get a little shy when they actually
spoke to her. Zoe also loved visiting China in Epcot. She had
front row seats as Chinese boys performed amazing acrobats,
watched a movie about China, heard the Monkey King tell his
story, and best of all, she met Mulan! Mommy almost cried when
Mulan called Zoe by her Chinese name and said to her, “Why, you
look just like I did when I was a little girl.” So special!
Zoe is not a big fan of Santa. Whenever his name comes up she
says, “That scares me!” And we know it’s not an act. Several
times, we’ve been to the mall and Santa has been sitting in his
chair visiting with children. We won’t say a word about it but
will find Zoe sitting in her stroller covering her eyes and
facing the opposite direction. She’s so nervous that we just
don’t talk about him much. At the beginning of the month, when
he would be on TV, she’d cover her head with a blanket. Now she
can watch Santa on TV from Mommy’s lap and she’s begun saying,
“Santa is a nice man who says ‘ho ho ho’.” But when we offer to
let her meet Santa, our suggestion is met with an abrupt, “No!”
Guess we won’t be getting a Christmas photo with Santa this
year. Oh well!
Instead, we are focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Zoe
reminds us daily that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. She likes to
practice singing “Happy Birthday to Jesus” and we are planning
to celebrate the day with a birthday cake in addition to gifts.
Our family of three celebrated Christmas this morning, on
Christmas Eve morning with our traditional Christmas breakfast
and gift exchange. Three is such a fun age for gift giving!
Tonight we pack our bags and tomorrow morning we’ll have to go
our separate ways. Zoe and Mommy will fly to Kansas City where
we will celebrate Christmas a second time. We’ll get to see
Granmommy, Grandaddy, Uncle Mike, Aunt Barbara, and Aunt Cathy.
On the 27th, Zoe’s cousins Jack, Nick, Sydney, and Charlie will
arrive. Granmommy and Grandaddy’s house will be filled with the
joy and laughter of five children! We are so excited as this is
the first time Zoe will meet her beautiful cousin, Sydney!
Rob will be heading to Washington DC for the annual APA
convention where he will network and meet some world famous
philosophers. Should be fun!
With regard to Lexi’s adoption, February is still in the review
room so we have nothing new to report. At this point, my heart
tells me that she is alive and growing. I imagine Lexi is either
growing in her birthmother’s womb or newly born. My prayer for
her this Christmas is that she feels safe and warm and that she
knows tenderness over the coming year as she waits, unknowingly,
for our family. My prayers are also with her birthmother.
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Riding Cinderella's Carousel at Disney World.
Zoe had her face painted to look like Cinderella.
Daddy surprised Zoe with a Magic Wand
mirror so she could admire herself.
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