OK...I can't stand it any longer...

....the sight of my precious Izabella's blog untouched except a few "mistake" postings from my phone. It has been a really hectic, sometimes very stressful summer. But through it all...Izabella continued to have fun at just about anything--including playing happily by my side in my studio, and grow, and laugh and learn more than I think a 4-year old can learn in one summer. She has astonished us in so many ways.

We are creeping quickly up on our 2nd Anniversary Family Day--the most amazing day of my life, our lives. The day we met the most precious little girl anyone could possibly ask for--October 26. I will post an update soon and an anniversary post for sure. But, I just have to share some little things she's done and said recently.















This morning! Izabella said, "I have two Mommy's--a China Mommy and a Love Mommy!"














Over the summer she's become aware of her skin color--Izabella has recently been talking and asking a lot about skin color. The other day she came running into my studio and said, "Mommy Look. I have white skin on this side of my arm like you--and peach skin on this side." Big smiles.

You know how the inside of your arm is a lighter color than the outside--she was thrilled to have a little of us and a little of her all in one Izabella. 

We were at the park on Sunday--and there was just one other boy there. Izabella loves the sand box and was playing with her toys--when the boy approached. I told her she could share her toys with him--if he would like to play. This is the conversation that insued:

Izabella: Hi! My name is Izabella. What's your name?
Jackson: My name is Jackson.
Izabella: Hi Jackson. I'm from China.
Jackson: I figured as much.
Izabella: --giggles--and proceeded to pull out some toys from her bag--then she got to her sand dump truck "And I have a BIG TRUCK. Just like the one my Daddy has a work! It's really big! Do you have a Daddy?"
Jackson: No I don't have a Daddy.
Izabella: Oh? Who is here with you?
Jackson: My Mom. She's right there with my Dog.
Izabella: Oh! I'm here with my Mommy too. What is your Dogs name?

About 15 minutes into playing together--really sweetly--she yelled--hey Mom her Mommy is a Boy. Yikes what? Geeez....turns out--Jackson had two Mommies too--no Daddy--and the Mommy at the park was soooo nice and a very loving Mom. We had a wonderful conversation while we watched our children play. Later, I explained that Jackson had two Mommies too--she thought that was pretty sweet! 

"Mommy. I have a question." This usually means she has something to tell me. And usually it's pretty fun to listen to."

"Mommy. Did you know that when butterflys go to sleep and die they lay some eggs out. Then the eggs move and do the work and become brothers and sisters and do what their Mommy and  Daddy did all over again."

We went to the grocery store on Sunday. Izabella loves to help me with all things! And frankly--I love having her next to me to do it all. We opted to drive up for our groceries--as the parking lot is a pretty scarey place--trying to navigate the cart full of groceries and a 4 year old at the same time. But even without a cart--I'm always focused on getting us to the care safely--buckling her up--and answering her million questions as we go. I then made my way to the exit to go home--when I hear Izabella say, "Mommy! We don't have our GROCERIES." Oh goodness--God was so good to me to give me a 4-year old when I was 50 something! She fills in where my memory lacks.

"Mommy. I miss my lovin'!" This is the sweetest thing to hear. She--loves her Mommy and Daddy lovin' and can't get enough of it and we I can't love on her enough. Can you tell by this pic below--on our 12th Anniversary--September 25th.

I: Mommy. I want to go to be with God.

Oh Izabella, if you went to be with God, I wouldn't see you anymore and I'd miss you sooo much!
I: No Mommy. I just go to China and be with God and help him take care of all the girls and boys that don't have a Mommy and Daddy.
She talks about God and Jesus alot when talking about China. "God found me and took me to the Pink Castle. Then he found my Mommy and Daddy." "Jesus was with me in the hospital when the God fixed my heart." When I ask her if she was scared living in the pink castle with no Mommy and Daddy she always responds promptly and confidently, and I'd say even matter of factly, "No Mommy God was with me. I wasn't scared."

Playing with her play doctor's kit, she invented a oxygen mask--from 1/2 of a plastic easter egg shell. She held it up to my face and said, "Mommy. Breath. You feel better." I wondered how she knew this, so I asked her. She said, "Oh. Doctor tell me." I asked what doctor she was referring to. She said, "He look like me Mommy. You know black hair and black eyes." At the hospital? I asked. "No. At the Pink Castle."

We did our nighttime routine--she settled into her toddler bed--I into the couch to "sit for a little bit" (as she says to me every night) with her. It was pitch black--I was dozing off--when I felt little fingers on my arm and Izabella saying, "Mommy. Can I nuggle a little bit?" Absolutely. It has become a pretty regular thing now--we "nuggle" (snuggle) together on the couch for a bit. Then when she's ready she'll say, "Mommy. I go to my bed now?" and off she goes.

I: "Mommy. I want to be on the-X."
What's the X?
I: You know that show they sing on?
Oh. X-Factor.
I: Yes! Mommy. When I grow up. I'm going to be on the X-Factor and ALL the judges are going to say YES and I'll be a TV Star.

She does love to sing and dance! You never know.

We were headed to the Omaha Zoo--and just before we got there. Izabella said, "Mommy. I'm so excited! I'm so excited my eyes and my whole body are going to come right our my eyes!" Then as we approached the pumpkin patch recently--she said, "Mommy. I'm so excited my eyeballs are going to come right out of my head forever and ever!" As we got closer--to the pumpkin patch--she proclaims perched atop Dan's shoulders, "Is this cool or what Mom!? Is this cool or what?"


She was playing with her baby dolls on the floor directly behind my chair in my studio when I heard her talking to her baby, "Don't worry baby. It will be alright. I will NEVER EVER LEAVE YOU."

We were grocery shopping one day--after a visit from my sister Shelly and her husband Topher. Topher's favorite vegetable is Brussel Sprouts. So we had some during their visit. As we were gathering our produce she said, "Mommy. Can we get some Brussel Sprouts?" Ahhh...yeah...we can.

"But Mommy. I'm just a little girl. I can't do that." 


"Mommy. We need to have a little talk." with her hands firmly on her hips--looking up at me in complete seriousness.

"Mommy. I'm going to miss "tana" (our dog Montana) when she go to heaven to be with God. I don't want her to go to God yet." 

One Sunday morning we were all laying in bed being silly and just hanging out. We had just found out a few days earlier--one of her little friends still at the orphanage in China--had finally found his family. Izabella had been praying for her friend "Ma Teng" for months and months. After we received the good news--that night I told her she didn't need to pray for Ma Teng to have a family anymore. I used it as a way to show her God listens to our prayers when we pray--and He answers. Then a few days later--in bed that Sunday morning--Izabella looks at me and said, "Mommy. I prayed to God and asked him to let your Daddy and your Grammy out of heaven. And he said Yes!"

So many things to write down..so little time. More later...promise Izabella.