Matched a Year Ago

A year ago, the day before Thanksgiving 2014, was the day we first saw Ella's picture and we were immediately in love. Even though we were trying to be cautious based on prior experiences, Matt and I both knew she was our daughter.  Ella was the daughter we had been waiting on.  She was the child we had been praying for; crying for. And we finally had a face and a name for that beautiful child.

Our first picture of our Ella Bella in 11/2014.

At home with her family in 11/2015.   What a difference a year makes!!

 It's amazing to think how much our life has changed in the last year. We went from a family of three to a family of four that day before Thanksgiving. We spent the next 6 months finalizing paperwork, preparing Ella's room, and waiting on travel approval.  In June we traveled to China to finally meet our baby girl. Since June, life seems like a bit of a whirlwind!  Ella is a strong willed, busy, independent, sweet girl. She keeps us on our toes every minute of the day.  Ella is also smart (really smart if you ask her parents ;)). Sometimes she uses those smarts to prove to us she is learning colors, numbers, names, and songs. But most of the time those smarts are used to test us with her orneriness. Little does she know, she has made us stronger parents over the last 6 months!

Ella has constantly proven how resilient and strong she is. She's transitioned quickly into her new role in our family. She's loving daycare and making friends.  She has formed strong attachment bonds to Matt, Ava, and I but also to her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She battled through surgery and amazed all of her physicians.

Ella you are amazing!!  And we love you so much!!

Holt Benefit 2015

Matt and I will forever be grateful for Holt International and everything they did to help bring our girls home.  We could not have done it without this amazing organization.  Not only do they do amazing things to help bring kids home to be adopted into their forever family but they also support thousands of kiddos around the world who haven't been adopted yet.  They provide food, shelter, and love to kiddos who so need and deserve it.  Holt is an amazing organization doing amazing things to make this world better.  

Last night we went to the annual Holt Gala and Auction in Omaha.  This event is so fun and will always be a priority for us.  We want to support and be a partner with Holt and all they are doing.   Not only in honor of our daughters but for all the other beautiful kiddos who are still waiting.

Me and my handsome date

Jenn, me, Laura, and Randa~ special friends who we've met along our journey

Randa, Celeste, me, Bonnie~our social worker, and Laura

Our table after the dessert dash.  We got Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Bud Light in our bucket!!  We may not have got the best dessert, but we had fun!

FIVE Months a Family of Four

Ella, we are so thankful for you!!  You can make me so frustrated and laughing all at the same time...you keep us on our toes!  You are a strong willed girl and even though your strong willed attitude can be wearing on this Mama, I thank God you have it.  Down the road I know that you will be able to handle the world, stand up for yourself, and make a difference because under that strong willed attitude is a heart of gold and a girl who loves people!  I can't wait to see what you accomplish in this life...just slow down a little with this growing business :)  Love you Ella Bella!!

1.  You are loving music!  This has been a new thing over the last few months.  You are starting to sing/hum along with the radio.  And you definitely know all the words to the Daniel Tiger theme song :)  

2.  Along with singing, you are also loving to dance to the music!  We love our dance parties in the Fuller Home.  You're getting a groove down now and it's not uncommon to walk in a room where music is going and see you at least bobbing your head.

3.  Daniel Tiger...still your favorite show.  We watch it on the Apple TV so we only have so many episodes (somewhere around 30) and I swear that we have seen them all at least 3 times!!  Since we don't watch TV that much that tells you that when you get a chance all you want is DT.

4.  You learned how to Trick or Treat during the last month.  And now you're a pro already!  You had several parties to practice Trick or Treating before the big night.  But you definitely have down ringing the door bell and asking for candy and you definitely have down the eating of candy!

5.  You are "all clear" after surgery.  The doctors think you're amazing and that you recovered really amazingly!  We agree!!  So no more soft diet for you (or the rest of us).  I was nervous to add back in foods like crackers but you're doing a great job of chewing them up really well so that they don't hurt your new palate.  Since surgery you've been snoring when you sleep too...but definitely a cute little snore :)

6.  You love to put together puzzles...you especially like the chunky piece puzzles so that you can do them yourself!!  You are miss independent and prefer to do whatever you can on your own!!  But you are really getting good at puzzles and are learning your numbers and shapes.  

7.  You got to spend lots of time with your cousins over the last month.  We saw them in Manhattan and at the farm.  It's fun to watch your relationship with them grow.  Playing in the dirt, riding on the 4 wheeler, and just running around with them.  They love you and I love to watch you play and learn with them.

8.  You would eat all the time if we let you.  In fact you don't often stop unless we make you!  Part of that is because you are so pokey at eating.  It seems like you're still working on the last meal when we're ready to start the next meal.  Ok, that's an exaggeration...but close :)  You love crackers, cheerios, apple juice, turkey, hot dogs, fruit snacks, mandarin oranges, and apple sauce.

9.  Your speech is starting to come along.  Since your surgery you are making more syllables and you're speech is louder.  You're able to mimic more words and they sound more like they should: baba, mama, Ava, elephant, monkey, Daniel Tiger.  And you're saying more words on your own: mama, baba, more, chap stick, no, yes.  There's lots more but those are the basics.  We are currently working with the school system to get you set up for speech therapy.  Then there won't be any stopping you!!

10.  You like to help around the house and we love that!!  You've been helping by taking small things to the trash, folding wash rags, and helping wipe up messes.  You're such a big help and we appreciate it!  

Halloween Festivities!!

It has been a week of Halloween Parties!!  I'm exhausted!  Thank goodness the time changes tonight and that should mean an extra hour of sleep tonight.  Let's hope the girls got the message regarding the extra hour of sleep ;)

We started on Tuesday night at Kidz Academy~Ella's daycare.

Ella and Miss Brittany

 Ava and her good friend Liliana.

 Ella says, "I can do this!"

Ava and Miss Shelby, her teacher from last year.

Ella then went trick or treating with her daycare friends on Wednesday.  

Ava had her school party on Friday and both Matt and I were able to go to help.  I have signed up as Head Parent for Ava's class and had fun planning the party.  Ava was so excited that we both could be there!

 Ava, Mama, and Baba (this is her "I'm happy" face)

 Ava's class with Mrs. Roth and Mrs. Mittlieder

 Parade time

Mr. McGee~principal

Friday night we all went to Lil' Spooks at QLI for lots of games and trick or treating.

 Walking the plank to stay away from the alligators

 Trick or Treating with our AL Residents

Saturday~Halloween, we went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch in the morning since we hadn't been as a family yet this year.  It was cool and cloudy, but we had a great time.

 First responders handing out candy

 Pig races

 "Mama, we can't carry those!!"

 Sweet girl

 Fun on the big slide

 Turkey leg for lunch...yummy!!

 Our green pumpkin

On the hayrack ride...Ava not cooperating :)

And finally we made it to Halloween Night~Trick or Treating time.  Our dear friend and neighbor Darlene joined us for chili and then we headed out.  Ella's first official Halloween...she's a pro at this trick or treat business already!

 Darlene with the girls

 Love them~Princess Elsa and Princess Ana

The girls with Jamison and Chase...our former neighbors but still great friends!

 Loves from big sis

 LOVE

 Ava with Sergio at Darlene's.  He's always dressed for the holiday.  This is Ava's impression on him ;)

 Our sweet friends Jax and Maci

 Our sweet friend from down the street, Jocelyn

 My heart melts

Trick or Treating

Checking out the loot!!

Ella's First Haircut

Ella had her first haircut this week.  She did great!  I think it helped that big sister went first and is a pro at this already...monkey see, monkey do :)

Ella's hair has always been pretty long, but you could tell that her hair had most likely been cut at home.  It was uneven and a little straggly.  But her hair is so much more healthy now and she is much more comfortable in new situations...so it was time for a haircut.  Dawn cut about 2 inches off!!  She looks adorable!

  

Parent/Teacher Conference

Today was our first parent/teacher conference for Ava.  I'm always amazed when we do something for the first time that 1. the girls are old enough for it and 2. Matt and I are old enough for it!!

Ava's report from her teach was top notch!  She is making a lot of progress and doing very well in school.  And her teacher loves her~but who wouldn't??!!!

We learned that Ava is one of the youngest in her Pre-K class.  Socially she likes to play by herself more than some of the other kids, but Mrs. Mittlieder assures us that is normal and that she'll start playing more with her friends by Spring conference.  Ava also struggles with problem solving at times.  If she's asked a question she's not sure of the answer, she'll often tap her index finger on her chin and say, "hmmmmm".  It's actually pretty funny!  Not sure where she learned that.  But if she really doesn't know and gets frustrated she'll often start crying instead of asking for help.  Again, age appropriate and something we're working hard on at home and at school.  Ava is doing better than average with knowing and recognizing letters and numbers.  She's also great at classifying items and identifying patterns.  She's doing really well with writing her name too.  So, all in all she's doing great!!  Keep it up Ava girl!!

Ella's Been with Us for FOUR Months!!

Another month has flown by!  It's been a busy month with lots of new adventures.  Ella continues to amaze us... and test us with your orneriness, resilience, wit, and spunk.

1.  You had cleft palate repair surgery on October 9th.  It was a big, scary surgery but you have rocked the recovery like only you can!  You are taking her medications like a pro (as apposed to needing to be held down by both Mama and Baba).  Your pain is decreasing every day.  You are eating better and getting in more nutrients.  And you are talking more every day!  I love hearing that voice more and can't wait until you feel more comfortable talking to us.

2.  Ella, you continue to be a good eater.  You like yogurt, fruit snacks, granola bars, hot dogs, turkey, eggs, applesauce, popcorn, pretty much everything.  But you LOVE Chinese Noodles!!  If ever you have a few days where you don't eat well we order Chinese Noodles to get you filled up.

3.  You are loving KState Football games!  All the hustle and bustle, the music, the clapping, and of course time with Lau Lau and Pappy.  In the hospital, we were watching the KState game and it was getting late so I laid you down in bed.  In your own way, you asked for me to raise the head of your bed so that you could see the game better!  We were so proud :)

4.  You are ornery and keep us on our toes all the time!  You are always pushing buttons, especially your sisters.  You just love to see what you can get away with and can put on quite the drama show if you don't get what you want.  Although you are learning your boundaries, you continue to test.  One day I'll miss this stage ;)

5.  As much as you like to pick on your sister; she is always your favorite!  You can be having a rough day but she can always get you laughing.  I love how you girls snuggle up together to watch a movie and how you giggle together as you dance around the house and how you tackle each other because your hugs are so vigorous!!

6.  You occasionally will watch TV or a movie.  But even if you do it's not usually done sitting still.  I love that about you!  The movies and shows you act more interested in are: Daniel Tiger, Madagascar, and more Daniel Tiger.

7.  But you do love books!!  You are constantly looking at books or bringing books to Mama and Baba to read to her.  Her favorites are Stinky Face, Celebration City Express, I Love You So, and all the books that talk to her or have buttons to push :)    

8.  Favorite toys and possessions are: Sofia Blanket, Ella Blanket, Tigey, and puppy she received from the nurses in the hospital.  Other favorite toys are cars, car track, pushing babies around in the stroller, and the shapes ball.

9.  You spend hours coloring and putting together puzzles.  You are one smart girl and are getting down your numbers, learning colors and letters.  We even bought 2 new puzzles this month since you've mastered the ones we already have.

10.  You are a daycare pro!  You don't always want to get up in the morning and get going (but who does?) but you know the routine.  When we get to daycare you give me and Ava a kiss and hug as quickly as you can so that you can run to your teacher and grab breakfast.  You're usually already sitting down for breakfast and waving good bye to us as we walk out the door.  You have great days at daycare but you're always ready to go home at the end of the day.  I love walking in and having you run to me with a squeal and big smile!