Lots of Firsts

This blog has just turned into "Awww, my child is so cute," and, "Look at the latest food my daughter ate."  Sorry.  I understand if I lose some readers!

This was us the night before Kyle went back to work.  Not happy campers!  We didn't want our joyful bliss of every moment together as a family of three to end.  It couldn't last forever, though!

Daddy's first day back at work.  I may have cried like a baby.  However, I enjoyed time with my girl.

We facetimed of course!

She loves talking into things like they are phones.  "Hello, hi, okay, yea, bye bye."

Don't worry; he came back...

First reach for the phone pic...

First smushy faces on the playpen while Kyle was at his first day of work.  She was cracking up and still laughs at this particular photo when I pull it up.

We have had maybe three or four family dance parties with the three of us.  She loves Brown Eyed Girl!

First brave steps into the green grass without a hand to hold for security...

First times petting the dogs.  She wants their heads far away while petting them!

First time sleeping in the playpen.  It lasted only about 45 minutes.  Now we can transfer her after she falls into a deep sleep (but not before).  She has slept almost two full nights in there and not in our bed.

First times to reject food!  She has decided baby food is for babies, and she'd rather have the sweets than good old fruits and veggies.  Come on, Willow! You were such an awesome eater in China!  Don't throw food off your tray, girl!

First time playing stacking cups with Gigi!

First time to over-accessorize and not care a bit!

First snow cone after her first swim in the states.  I couldn't feed her fast enough!

First car trip just us!  I was nervous, but she bobbed her head to Louis Armstrong like it was no big deal.  Then there are her first peekaboos with Uncle Austin during her first car trip in the U.S. without Daddy.  (Her actual first car trip in the U.S. WITH her daddy was to see the Robinsons!)

First time to meet extended family members: Great Grand Uncle Lee (100 years old) and Jameson, Naomi, and Addie James...

4 generations...

First time to experience ice.  Confused and a little scared...

First pictures taken by a professional, Oliver Martinez Photography...

SECOND pigtails...

First flower from Daddy... (There were also some for me since Kyle proposed to me 8 years ago on 7/11.  He's so good to us.)

Oh, maybe they were her second flowers actually!  Gigi and Grandpa got us these gorgeous peonies upon arrival in the USA!

First time rocking in a Willow-sized chair (that happens to be the one I had in my room as a kid)...

With some help from Grandpa of course!

And first time in an old red antique car that I also used as a kid.  My dad is great at restoring things!

First piano exploration and dinner at the James residence...

She did not care to get into that thing, but she was happy to put the doll in for a ride!

That evening she also enjoyed her first hot fudge sundae... Yum!

First time to go to church!

After introducing her to people, I stayed with her the whole time in the toddler room while Kyle listened to a good word from the Lord.  She will love it there!!

First time to Bible study with our life group.  There was a welcome Willow sign!  She did so well even without a nap that day and just hung out playing with the toys.

First time visiting Daddy at work...

...and first Chinese-ish food while not in China!  Pei Wei!

Blowing food as we have taught her...

First time Mom outsmarted me.  She refused to eat baby food anymore, so I decided if I brought it out as a snack when she was watching Elmo, she wouldn't be able to resist!  Who could?!  Way to eat apples and spinach again, girl!  Elmo makes things better.

First Lego creations... With some assistance.

First neighborhood stroll...

First spaghetti face...

First time to play with model magic or play doh...

First time she has let us hold her like a baby after bath time.  Aww!!  The towel wrapped around her usually makes her nervous.  Thank you for trusting us a little bit more every day!

We love our little lady so much.  It's so much fun discovering her!  I remember before meeting her, all I wanted to do was just behold her.  That was an amazing moment of course, but I believe love is action.  Every day, just watching her grow and blossom, watching her gradually open up and trust us, and learning her quirks and sense of humor is a dream.  There are very hard and sad moments, like when she wakes up from a nightmare and is inconsolable.  However, anything hard she has been through is a part of her and makes her who she is.  She wouldn't be as wonderful without the hard stuff.  

Our daughter is treasured.  Thank You, God.

(Oh no!  She's waking up right now.  Good timing!)