V is for Vietnamese dinner

I chaperoned Daddy and Mommy on date night.  They are having good smelling Vietnamese food for dinner while I get my own bottle of formula.  Daddy's Thai tea does look good.

I love FAA

Daddy got a teddy bear from his working place.  Teddy's name is "Fah" spelled FAA on his blue shirt.  FAA is very soft and I like sleeping with him, he keeps me company at night in my crib.

 

Cookie time

Daddy took Cookie, Mommy and I out for dinner at Wolfeys Bistro & Pub in our neighborhood.  Cookie says I'm growing really fast and that I am much heavier than the last time.  That's because I love to eat.

MILESTONES: 4-month vaccinations

Mommy had to take me to another town to get my shots today.  Mommy and I missed my appointment because she had it on the wrong week in the calendar.  That means we have to wait in turn as people come in and sign-up.  We didn't have to wait too long and I got to see my placement nurse who remembered me. 

I had about 4 shots and one of them really hurt!  I screamed really loud but I settled down right away.  Mommy said I did a great job and that I'm a trooper!

Practicing my crawl

Mommy puts the roller under me so I can feel what it's like to be up on my arms and to use my knees.  It feels weird.  No more tummy time?

Hmmm...

A Girl's Day Out

Dear Tutu,

Daddy took Cookie, Mommy and I out for some pampering today.  First we had brunch at the Feve (his favorite Oberlin restaurant).  I don't remember going there; Mommy said I slept through lunchtime.  Then we walked (got carried) up the street to Adeva Salon and Spa.  That's where Mommy and Daddy get their hair done.  Cookie and Mommy got pedicures today.  Daddy and I hung out in the spa with them instead of walking down the street to the bike shop.  All the ladies came to say hi to me.  They think I'm so adorable.

Wish you were with us!
Love, Alia

Grandpa alert

Grandpa Rick came to visit me today!

Y is for Yummy

 Look at me! I'm sitting up in my booster seat!

Cereal is yummy!

Feeling better and playing in my room

 My Dumbo makes a twinkling sound

 I got Honu from my siblings

MILESTONES: Eating veggies

Mommy and Daddy started feeding me vegetables today.  I still get some cereal and my formula bottle too.  Today I tried sweet potatoes.  It tasted funny at first but I think I kind of like it!  Yummy!

Ear infections are not nice

Dear Tutu,

Mommy took me for my 4-month check-up today and the doctor discovered I have an ear infection in my left ear.  Mommy didn't even know I was sick, probably because I didn't complain about any pain and I continued to be my ol' happy self.  The doctor thinks that's why my hearing assessment was off too.  She concluded that my hearing is fine and I don't have to go for more tests.  Yay!

Mommy and I are home for the holiday today.  Now that I'm on antibiotics I am sleeping a lot.  I got up for a bit and played with Dumbo and my Jamaican roller.

Hope you have a nice day!

Love,
Alia

Let's sleep in today

I don't wanna get up!

 Just let me sleep!

Today I don't want to play with my toys.  Can I go back into my crib now?

Look who can sit in a high chair!

 Dear Tutu,

Mahalo for the beautiful outfit you got me for Christmas!  I love my fuzzy sweater.  It feels just like Keala.  It matches my panda booties I got from Aunt Peggi.  No matter how much I kicked and kicked, those booties never came off.

Love you,
Alia

Mangiamo!

We had dinner with Uncle Michael and Aunt Lorraine tonight.  Mommy said her food was delizioso!

Welcome to my Office

 Dear Tutu,

I like hanging out in "my office" activity walker.  I get to play with the toys in my tray and exercise my legs by kicking and standing up.  I can even move into the kitchen to watch Daddy cook or in the dining room to be with Mommy.

Love,
Alia

Hangin' out with my classmates

Me and my peeps on the blanket playing with our toys.

It's a Songo kine of day

 Dear Tutu,

I love to suck on my hands and fingers.  Mommy thinks I'm going to have teeth soon.  This is my favorite onesie because it has cute monkeys on it.  Mommy says I'm too big now so I can't use it again.  Oh well I guess I'll have to check out my drawers for my new favorite outfit.

Hope you have a nice day!

Love,
Alia

 

 

 

Happy 4 months!

A lot to do and see but I can't get around yet.  Best I start practicing the crawl!

V is for Variety

I have a lot of toys to choose from on my play mat. Today I played with my colorful blocks and mirror. I wasn't even interested in the hanging birds, butterflies and monkey.

Z is for Zerberts

Like Daddy, like Daughter

W is for Wire Me Up

Dear Tutu,

I had my hearing assessment today. Since I'm still an infant I had to be hooked up with wires on my forehead and on my skull in the back of my ears. They even placed tubes in my ears. But Daddy said I was a trooper because I slept through the whole test. And it was an hour in a small room in the dark! So the pediatric audiologist said one of my ears is not responding normally so Mommy and Daddy will need to speak to my pediatrician on how to proceed. Hopefully it's because I'm a little congested and it will clear up on its own.

Love, Alia

 

Playing dress up

What is this get-up, Mom?  It's poofy and it has netting under my skirt.

And what the *hula* is on my legs and feet?

ADOPTION QUEST: Final hearing for Temporary Custody (TC)

Lisa: When children are removed from their home or family immediately they are taken into an emergency temporary custody (ETC). LCCS has a certain amount of time to present their case to the courts in order to change the status to temporary custody (TC).

This process started in September and only now a court decision was made.  We believe the biologicals dragged it out.  Since they are homeless they could not be properly served.  It took about a month and were finally summoned via a posting in the local newspaper.  During the first court date, one biological asked for a lawyer while the other was incarcerated.  They had another court date where the other asked for a lawyer.  The next court date they contested the charges of physical abuse and neglect, although their lawyers advised them it was clear cut because Baby was born positive on drugs.  So today, the biologicals agreed to the charges.  LCCS now has temporary custody.  Finally.

This court date also mandated the case plan that the biologicals reviewed a while back.  This means the biologicals have 6-months to work on getting rehabilitated, to deal with mental issues through therapy, find jobs and to keep them, get a home they can hold on to because they can no longer live with relatives, and show they can provide for Baby if they got her back.  Not an easy feat if the courts hold them to it. (I say this because our last placement's biologicals didn't meet their entire case plan and yet they still got all their children back.)  The biologicals technically have 1-year to work on their plan but LCCS suspects the courts will give them the lesser time frame since they were already given the same case plan for their other children and they did nothing then and still hasn't done anything since.  Baby's siblings live with a relative however.  And Aaron and I suspect the biologicals are making efforts now because strangers have their child.

Oh well, at least we finally see some progress made.  The 6-month wait period begins now...

MILESTONES: Legs and feet

I get a kick playing with Mommy when she's changing my diaper because all I want to do is lift my legs and hold on to my feet.  She asks me nicely to put them down so she can secure my diaper but I hold on tight and laugh because Mommy's face gets all funny.

Mommy says I have strong legs because I love to kick her tummy or on her hands during play.  Now that I have a walker, I like to stand up on my legs.  I don't know why they call it a walker because I push on it really hard but it doesn't go anywhere.

Photo shoot of the week