Preparing for our one year anniversary

It's been over three weeks of new beginnings and busyness in our home. B. started a new job, still in town; and I started teaching fall classes without much of a break between summer and fall classes. I've been overwhelmed by the amount of "kick-off" work I think I need to do and how the home schedule (feeding, playing, sleeping) is with Iris. I'm truly leaning on God's power through the Holy Spirit to help me accomplish what I can. Needless to say, transitions are usually tiring and uncomfortable.

It's noticeable how Iris is starting to respond to verbal commands with understanding of what we're saying. For example, I ask her to get her shoes before she goes outside and she goes over to where the shoes are. She is fascinated with her shoes, as well as her parents' shoes. She wants to put them on and take them off multiple times. Her other concentrated effort goes into buckling herself into things- high chair, car seat, stroller. This would make it easier for us to get her ready to go somewhere (or eat). She points a lot to things and makes a noise that sounds like a request to get something to her. We (the parents) just have to guess what she really wants through trial and error (e.g. a book among her large piles of books). She is starting to use Da-da and Ma-ma when we are around, as well as for other things or people, but I'm going to take the "Ma-ma" enthusiastically as her calling for me.

As she gets closer to two years of age, she definitely shows signs of temper tantrum-like crying and refusals to do something she can (e.g. walking somewhere) because she doesn't want to. Still, overall she is a very happy, sociable, smart, and active toddler. Iris's appetite is also doing well, and here is proof at the strawberry patch (the strawberries were soooo sweet!) we visited:

Some August events:
Iris was stung by a bee! Dada acted quickly and took out the stinger, soothed her and put a baking soda paste on her finger as a salve for the poison and pain. Iris screamed very loudly! (Mommy was gone at the time).

Iris met her Uncle J. and Aunt L.C. for the first time. They'll be visiting us soon, so I hope she can get to know them better.

Brian had a week off between jobs and completed outside chores that was probably equivalent to three months worth of pruning. We now have a rock pathway in the backyard that leads to our vegetable garden.

Ho Gao (our dog) continues to sleep a lot and is pretty much deaf, but Iris is starting to pet H.G. more.

Iris is starting to drink from a plastic (non-sippy) cup without totally spilling the liquid down the front of her torso. She smiles almost after each swallow.

Active Iris

We've been thinking about what we were doing one year ago: The Summer Olympics began, Cindy was in hot Visalia drying peaches (YWAM), Brian was busy getting the final documents and money in order for our trip to China, and we were waiting for our travel date to meet our dear little Iris. A year makes a big difference!

Lately, Iris continues to show signs of understanding us, but not saying words that are distinct. The most adorable thing that she started doing a couple of weeks ago is before meals with Mom, she puts her hands together and a speaks "quiet words" as if praying. I wish I could capture it on camera, but I'm praying along with her. You'll just have to imagine this. Afterwards, I say "Amen" with a fond smile to her.

Another of her new habits is trying to put on her own shoes, as well as mom's. She even can walk with mom's shoes/slippers at times. Here are a couple of pictures: