She is walking on her own!

Isla started walking on her own the last couple of days (sorry no pictures yet). She of course falls down a lot but she will now walk by herself from our living room to the kitchen (which entails a couple corners usually).

Since she is now past the walking milestone I am thinking of waxing up the kids skis! Just kidding. :)

Skiing over presidents day

Here are some pictures from this last week. Last weekend was beautiful and we got out skiing on Monday (presidents day).



In other news Isla has three new teeth as of a week ago. She is still drooling and pretty cranky at times so we think more molars will come soon. She now understands 20 or so words including Peek-a-boo, Doggy, Bear and "more". She knows how to sign more and gets the hang of using it when eating but I haven't seen her use it without us asking if she wants more. If she is babbling and I ask her to "tell us more" she signs more. Cute.

She is still not a full blown walker, but she is progressing each day. Recently she started increasing the walking distances. She regularly walks 15 or so steps between us and furniture. Today she even put in a record 25-30 step walk.

Ok. It is snowing here again. We expect another couple of feet. Hope everyone is well. Love, Mama, Baba and Isla.

Gotta wear shades...

Since the sun finally decided to shine a bit around here we went out and bought Isla here first pair of shades. We didn't find anything for a 13 (almost 14 month) old but with a pair of croakies to tighten them on these seem to do the job... and are cool.


In other news Isla officially now has five teeth and two more just about to to come through. We thought she was only working on her next two top teeth just on the side of her two front teeth. Yesterday we noticed something else coming in in the back and today she has her first molar (or at least that is what I will call it).


Hope everyone is well. Love, Isla, Mama and Baba

First time on a swing

Here are a couple pictures of Isla on a swing. She almost immediately started laughing and was pretty upset when I finally took her off the swing. Sorry the pictures aren't so good, but they were taken with my phone.

Chinese New Year Celebration

Here are a couple pictures from the Chinese New Year celebration that we attended a couple weeks back. After the show all the kids ran around the stage area. Isla was most interested in that part of the evening, even tried to run a couple times too.

Saturday morning ski

We had a fun morning yesterday. It was our first weekend back with full sunshine. We started the day with a ski with our friend Chris. Isla was fully ready with her shaded goggles on!

Isla Ready. Check.

Chariot Ready. Check. Mama ready. Mama? Are you ready?

After our ski we sat down for lunch at the Free Heel Cafe with the Cameron kids. Isla was the only one brave enough to try the gerber lunch surprise.


Wow, now that is a treat.
Isla in green pea bliss.

China orphanages need help

As you may know Southern China is experiencing horrible winter weather. Many places that do not ever see snow have been hit with snow and freezing rain for nearly one month. The orphanages are being hit hard as prices escalate and supplies run out. Here is a link to an exceptional US agency/charity that provides support to orphanages and can immediately provide assistance to many of the affected orphanages. The site has good descriptions of the problems each orphanage is having and what items they are requesting.

Half the Sky Update

More snow!!!

We awoke to three new feet of snow on Sunday. I guess February didn't want to let January have all the fun!

Isla is doing great and exploring new things daily. We had been reluctant to bring her into the snow just yet since the climate here is so different from where she is from in China. That reluctance may have been unnecessary though since she liked being in it a lot on Sunday.

One small step for Isla, one giant leap too

Isla rebounded well from her first set of immunization shots here in the US. She surprised her baba and momma by having an extra energetic afternoon after a slower than usual start to the day.

Our good friends Ed and Sue came over and Isla decided go all out strutting her stuff... literally. She took her first independent steps today. She would start from one of us and take up to five steps to reach the other... or go for the all out body lunge.

Tomorrow morning she should be able to walk in another couple feet of fresh snow. We think this may finally be the last of the storms for a while (a week maybe??). Hope everyone is doing well. Love, Isla, Momma and Baba.

PS Momma says that Isla says "Go Patriots". Baba abstains.

Isla styling the new ski hat from Tyler. Thanks Tyler!



Isla playing with her good friends Ed and Sue.