Birth, Birthdays, Ballet & Babbel

We've been having fun around here! From fun to firsts, here's what's been going on...


We finally received Zane's Certificate of Birth in the mail on Saturday. We know we're Zane's parents, but now the Office of Vital Statistics knows too and we like seeing it in writing.

February is family birthday month! Today our nephew, Elijah (Zane's cousin that is also from Fujian), and our niece, Riley, celebrated their birthdays. Next Monday is our niece, Ami's, birthday (also from Elle's home Province of Jiangxi) and the following Monday, Elle turns four. We are celebrating these precious lives!


Today was Elle's first ballet class. She had a wonderful time and can't wait to return next week. She has been talking about wearing her pink leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes for a couple weeks now. And this morning she wanted to add pink pigtails and a pink barrett to the ensemble. She was adorable! Her teachers are godly women with incredible character, oh, and they can dance too. :) We're thrilled that Elle has a fun time with other girls from her church and community under the skill and loving care of these instructors. What a privilege for Elle to see even more examples of faithful women using their gifts.

Zane also had a first this evening. I showed him how to use the spoon last week, but he wasn't all that thrilled about it. I tabled the idea, but tonight he picked up the spoon with determination and got down to business. He doesn't have it mastered yet, but he's coming along. So proud of our boy - he works so hard!

Zane also said 'Mama' today. He said it very purposefully with a playful anticipation of my response. Of course I went bonkers and so that brought more 'Mama' from his lips all day long. Quite a few times I got a 'Mama' at my request. It actually sounds more like 'la-na', but I know what he thinks he's saying and this Mama is happy to hear it! :)


That's Harry Connick Jr. playing in the background.