Ready for Christmas

Miss Ali is all ready for Christmas. She helped mom and dad decorate the tree. She went to see Santa at our Christmas party and sat on his lap and didn't cry or complain and she went and helped pick out and buy presents for her cousins. We are all looking forward to spending time with family and friends over the next couple of weeks.

Halloween 2008

Ali really enjoyed Halloween this year but it was a long day for her. She was up early because she had school (daycare). She enjoyed giving treats to her little friends and received many in return. After school Ali and mom went trick-or-treating. They visited 5 houses (mostly relatives near by) and showed off her 3 costumes. She looked so cute in all of them that we just couldn't decide so she just kept changing and wore them all. Everybody had their favourite which were all different. Daddy liked the elephant. Mommy liked the skunk and Ali liked the monkey so they all worked! It took an hour and a half. By the time Ali got home and had some supper she was wiped out. She spent the rest of the evening checking out the little ones costumes at the door and headed to bed early and exhausted!

End of Summer

We couldn't believe how Ali is pointing at Abby in this picture. It made even more precious.


Grandma & Papa Loebach's house for 2nd birthday.


The Loebach cousins - Trevor, Jacob, Meghan, Melissa, Rachel and Ali


Riding Grandma Loebach's horse. Ali was using her cousin Melissa's riding helmet. We remembered safety first!!!


Ali and Papa watching Elmo together and sharing some cuddles.

Ali turned 2 on September 12th

Miss Ali is 2. We can't believe it. She is such a joy to have around. Her dancing continues to get better and her love for Elmo is even stronger. She now just doesn't give you a hug but gives you a pat on the back as well. Ali continues to enjoy daycare (still cries when I drop her off but as soon as I am out of eye sight she goes and plays happily). We have had a few minor medical problems but are getting them taken care of. Ali had a lot of ear wax build up but we now are seeing an ears, nose and throat doctor. We are hoping this will help with her delayed speech. Even though she is not talking much she has no problem communicating with us and continues to be her happy loving self.

Next week we are planning her birthday celebration with family. We will post more pictures then.

First Hair Cut

Ali got her hair cut for the first time on Aug. 6,2008 at 10 A.M. at Yvette's Salon. It was a long time coming and not much came off but she can see a lot better now. She had to gear up the night before with a healthy portion of chicken lasagna.











Ohhhhhhh, Pretty! Pretty!

CELEBRATING OUR FIRST YEAR

NOT ONLY CUTE BUT CANADIAN TOO


DO YOU LIKE MT PONYTAIL?


FIRST YEAR REUNION GROUP


FIRST TIME EATING CORN ON THE COB


WAGON RIDE WITH FRIENDS


A RIDE IN THE WHEEL BARROW

Miss Ali is a CANADIAN!!!!!! We got her citizenship card on June 5th ( a present from her big sister Abby). We can't believe it has been a year since we got Ali. Time sure flies when you are having fun. She is such a joy to have in our lives and we can't imagine what our lives would be like without her. We just got back from a reunion with our travel group. The girls and Zach really enjoyed playing with each other. The kids all seem to be adjusting well ( and so are their parents.) We did have a problem taking the group photo. The children weren't so cooperative this time.

First week of Daycare

settling in on the firetruck



playing outside



blowing bubbles



nap time



finishing snack



Ali has just finished her first week of daycare. Ali is in the toddler room. The children are from 18 months to 2.5 years. Ali is one of the younger ones in the room. Tuesday was her first day and she did really good. Played with new friends, enjoyed her food and fell right to sleep at nap time. At circle time she was excited to go a pick a fruit. She picked a banana and tried to take a bite. However, it was plastic so she gave it back to her teacher.
Wednesday she also had a good day until mom picked her up. She saw me on the other side of the door and started to cry. Thursday, she cried when I dropped her off and when I picked her up but the rest of the day she did really good. Her favorite time is outside time after which she has no problem letting the teachers know she does not want to go back inside! She has some amazing teachers; Mrs. Barb, Miss Rachel and Mrs. Alison which I know helps Ali and mom.
How did mom do the first week? Well, mom didn't eat much and didn't sleep well either.
I only went to see her when she was asleep. The rest of the day my spies did a great job of keeping me informed.

Mother's Day

My first Mother's Day. I believe meant more to me then it did to Ali at this point in her life. The day was spent with my family at my parent's house. I would just like to THANK all of the ladies in my life who have guided me and supported me into Motherhood. Your advice and wisdom will also be greatly appreciated. I hope that I to will become the amazing mothers' that you have all become. Thank you once again ladies and "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY"

We just want to let everyone know that the recent earthquake in China did not cause any damage to the orphanage Ali is from.

Getting together with Friends

On April 26 we had a chance to get together with many of the families who travelled together with us to China. It was a fun and interesting experience to see how all of the kids have grown and changed. In our minds and I'm sure in some of the other parents minds as well this would be such a special day for the kids. As they were all together we thought something magical and special may happen. A discovery of a special connection and memory of their past. Well... not exactly. At this stage in their lives it was just a bunch of other kids that they really didn't even know except the few that live close and get to see each other more often. They were more interested in the new toys and play things than each other. Ali liked going in and out the doors on the stair and playing in the rocks outside and going down the slide. It was a great day for the moms and dads to get caught up though. The kids have been with us now for over half of their lives. We are their families and the people around us are their friends and the people they know. Maybe someday when they are older they will understand the special connection they have with each other and decide to get to know each other better.

40 year old daddy

Ali and daddy spent his 40th birthday together on April 17. The nice weather is finally here!! Eczema is still bothering her and now possibly allergies but she is growing fast through it all.

Waiting for Spring

It's been a long cold snowy winter filled with colds and battles with eczema and a little bit of asthma but Ali has survived her first winter in Canada.



On Good Friday Ali received a visit at our home from her friend Samantha from Toronto. She came home from China with her mommy and daddy the same time as we did. The girls had fun together for the day. Ali taught Samantha how to turn our T.V. on and off. Gotta nip that habit in the bud.





On Easter week-end Ali enjoyed the holiday at Grandma and Grandpa Galbraith's house with her family. Ali had lots of fun and especially enjoyed the chaos of the Easter Egg hunt.





Today we just got back from the neurologist in London. Ali has been seizure-free since late last November and everything looks good. We don't have to go back now until November '08, which is the good news that we have been anxiously awaiting. We are now all ready and waiting for spring weather and looking forward to Grandma and Papa Loebach to come home from Florida and getting outside to play and enjoy the sunshine.

Hangin' with friends

Saturday was our first time getting to see our new forever friends since coming home from China. It was just with Kaia & Amelia and their mommy's and daddy's but the girls sure had fun at Adventures on Wonderland in London. I think the mommy's and daddy's were more excited to see one another as for the girls they just wanted to play, especially in the germ infested balls. (Ali now has a cold) Ali would get mad every time we took her out. We really got to see the girls' little personalities for the first time which are just adorable. The girls seem to be about the same when it comes to milestones. All are walking and talking a little. Some words more clear than others. After playing we all went to Swiss Chalet for lunch so mommy's & daddy's could visit more. It was a short visit but very enjoyable and we can't wait until April when we plan to get together with the rest of the group.






On the left- Miss Ali- Very busy adorable little girl!!! Favorite saying "What's that?"

In the middle- Miss Kaia - Very cute with a very adorable smile!!!!Little shy around strangers but talks alot with mom and dad. Loves her doggy and mimicking him.

On the right- Miss Amelia - Very cute with an adorable smile!!!! Is a official Canadian and has had 2 hair cuts since coming home.