One day we will be resurrected and be united as a family! Wonderful day!
And the promise of freedom from stain and sin - wonderful day!
Here are some pictures of Joy! They are fuzzy, but she is smiling! One of them she is playing with her feet. :)
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter!
What a joyous day! Easter morning! I love the hope and promise of Easter morning!
One day we will be resurrected and be united as a family! Wonderful day!
And the promise of freedom from stain and sin - wonderful day!
Here are some pictures of Joy! They are fuzzy, but she is smiling! One of them she is playing with her feet. :)
One day we will be resurrected and be united as a family! Wonderful day!
And the promise of freedom from stain and sin - wonderful day!
Here are some pictures of Joy! They are fuzzy, but she is smiling! One of them she is playing with her feet. :)
Friday, March 14, 2008
New Smilebox
Becca created a new smilebox for everyone to enjoy!
We were inspired from Victoria's oh-so-cute smilebox.
Enjoy!
We were inspired from Victoria's oh-so-cute smilebox.
Enjoy!
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| Make a scrapbook - it's easy! |
Thursday, March 13, 2008
9 Month Check-Up
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Joy went to see Dr. Sandifer for her nine month check-up.
We were able to say that she says dada and makes a smacking sound!
Yeah!!! Two developmental milestones (but I won't tell you out of how many :) )!
She is 16 pounds 10 ounces and a grand 26 inches long!!
She only had to have two shots - Heb and polio. She is doing great!
Joy went to see Dr. Sandifer for her nine month check-up.
We were able to say that she says dada and makes a smacking sound!
Yeah!!! Two developmental milestones (but I won't tell you out of how many :) )!
She is 16 pounds 10 ounces and a grand 26 inches long!!
She only had to have two shots - Heb and polio. She is doing great!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Lollipop lollipop Oh lolli lolli lolli Lollipop
Yesterday Joy discovered lollipops. Surprisingly, she likes them!!
Look - she's reaching for things now!
Grandpa Turpin and Joy with the Lollipop
Look - she's reaching for things now!
Grandpa Turpin and Joy with the Lollipop
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Favorite Phase
I love the stage Joy is in. She loves everyone!
We can almost hear her say, "OH! It's my Mom!" as she grins with her whole body!
She is a lover of people. The ladies at church just love her. Every week someone new tells me how cute she is. :)
My Young Women just adore her. They hold her every chance they get!
Here is a random picture of Sammi feeding Joy.
We can almost hear her say, "OH! It's my Mom!" as she grins with her whole body!
She is a lover of people. The ladies at church just love her. Every week someone new tells me how cute she is. :)
My Young Women just adore her. They hold her every chance they get!
Here is a random picture of Sammi feeding Joy.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
More therpay and musings
Here is Joy today enjoying Becca's flute practice. Sorry it's sideways, turn your head! :) Joy is the most joyful person I have EVER meet. We are so grateful to have her!
Friday was therapy. Here are more photos. Miss Carolyn says that "Joy's got it goin' on!" She is doing really well. She is thrilled that Joy is babbling and saying "Da Da." She also says that she thinks Joy will actually crawl earlier than most DS babies! I knew it!!!! Ya-hoo Joy!!
And last of all something I have been pondering about lately. All babies love babies. It is so cute to watch. But Joy, to me, seems to be different. She loves babies. She is so interested in other babies. We went to visit a friend of mine at the hospital after she had her baby and Joy practically leaped from my arms to be able to see this little guy. She was 5 months old at the time. Maybe it's just her very loving and sweet nature. I wonder if there's something more to it. She's never jealous if I pick up another baby. She just loves. There is a part of me that wonders if it's because she's a twin. She spent nine months with another baby, growing and developing. What is the "twin thing?" There is something about being a twin. There is a connection between twins that others don't share. I wonder if that isn't why she loves babies so much. Of course, I could be wrong. It could just be who she is, who she always has been, and who she always will be.
Joy and Jacob (who is ONLY 3 months old!!!)
Joy and her cousin, Michael (in July of 2007)
Friday was therapy. Here are more photos. Miss Carolyn says that "Joy's got it goin' on!" She is doing really well. She is thrilled that Joy is babbling and saying "Da Da." She also says that she thinks Joy will actually crawl earlier than most DS babies! I knew it!!!! Ya-hoo Joy!!
And last of all something I have been pondering about lately. All babies love babies. It is so cute to watch. But Joy, to me, seems to be different. She loves babies. She is so interested in other babies. We went to visit a friend of mine at the hospital after she had her baby and Joy practically leaped from my arms to be able to see this little guy. She was 5 months old at the time. Maybe it's just her very loving and sweet nature. I wonder if there's something more to it. She's never jealous if I pick up another baby. She just loves. There is a part of me that wonders if it's because she's a twin. She spent nine months with another baby, growing and developing. What is the "twin thing?" There is something about being a twin. There is a connection between twins that others don't share. I wonder if that isn't why she loves babies so much. Of course, I could be wrong. It could just be who she is, who she always has been, and who she always will be.
Joy and Jacob (who is ONLY 3 months old!!!)
Joy and her cousin, Michael (in July of 2007)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Babbling
Joy babbles!!!! All babies babble, right? Nope.
Babies with DS usually start babbling around 10 months - IF they babble.
And babbling is a very good indicator that the child will be verbal later in life!
Wahoo!
Our therapist was telling me about one of her clients who is five and now talking. She was very excited - 5 years old and now talking???
Anyway, I think (I could be wrong)that Joy will be talking way before then. We'll see.
But.....she's babbling. She's making all the sounds she's supposed to - the vowels, the d, the g, the b, occasionally the m. She also says da-da!
She may be a little delayed on the normal charts, but she's ahead on the DS charts!
She is her own little human - and she's wonderful!
Our pictures today are of Joy gnawing on a pizza crust from Lizzy's 5th birthday and outside on her swing. Enjoy!
Babies with DS usually start babbling around 10 months - IF they babble.
And babbling is a very good indicator that the child will be verbal later in life!
Wahoo!
Our therapist was telling me about one of her clients who is five and now talking. She was very excited - 5 years old and now talking???
Anyway, I think (I could be wrong)that Joy will be talking way before then. We'll see.
But.....she's babbling. She's making all the sounds she's supposed to - the vowels, the d, the g, the b, occasionally the m. She also says da-da!
She may be a little delayed on the normal charts, but she's ahead on the DS charts!
She is her own little human - and she's wonderful!
Our pictures today are of Joy gnawing on a pizza crust from Lizzy's 5th birthday and outside on her swing. Enjoy!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Latest therapy pictures and a personality change
Here are our latest therapy photos.
Joy is working on sitting up. She can do so for about a minute - sometimes. Other times, she just flops over. :)
She loves to stand - no, she isn't standing all alone there. She is leaning against a chair, but it's a great picture! She likes to stand up against things. You have to be really careful, though, because she has no balance! :)
And the third picture she is working on looking up and on extending her arms. She has to learn to extend her arms and bear weight on her arms before she can crawl.
And the personality change..........................Joy has always been the sweetest, best, and easiest baby. Her cry sounded like a little kitten's mew. She was always so undemanding and pleasant. :) Well, she turned 8 months old and that has changed. She is a very spoiled, loved, catered-to little baby girl. Her sisters adore her! She can't go very long without being covered in little girl kisses and hugs. If she whimpers, they rush to her side. But Joy will have it no more! She is determined to have us hear her voice! She has become loud! If she doesn't want that bottle and she wants the green beans on your plate, you will hear about it. If you are making dinner, you will hear Joy announce, "Hello! You're not worshiping me!" :) She is something else! We love this new side of her personality. She knows what she wants that's for sure! :)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
You are a gift!
Someone gave us a small plaque that sits on a shelf next to Joy's shoes. It reads, "You are a gift!"
Joy is our gift! She is a wonderful, happy baby.
She does not like the camera, though.
So today I had Becca talk to her while I used the camera to try and capture some of her happiness. Enjoy!
Oh! Her newest thing - she has discovered her feet! It is so funny to look over at her holding onto her feet.
Joy is our gift! She is a wonderful, happy baby.
She does not like the camera, though.
So today I had Becca talk to her while I used the camera to try and capture some of her happiness. Enjoy!
Oh! Her newest thing - she has discovered her feet! It is so funny to look over at her holding onto her feet.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Joyous Joy
I've been trying to record happy Joy - but she's not very fond of the camera.
Here she is happy, but hungry!
I also wanted to post a great picture of Joy. Sammi took it during her bath - it's too close, but it's great to get a really good look at her eyes!
Here she is happy, but hungry!
I also wanted to post a great picture of Joy. Sammi took it during her bath - it's too close, but it's great to get a really good look at her eyes!
Friday, January 25, 2008
What is Joy doing now?
Joy is not sitting up by herself quite yet. (Despite what the pictures look like!)
She is still a wiggly little thing. She needs support. But she is doing SO well!
We are truly pleased with her efforts. Really, that's what it boils down to. She wants to sit up - yeah! Isn't that half the battle with anything? Everything from sitting up to gaining your own testimony starts with desire! And Joy has desire - yeah!
She loves food! She wants a bottle (6-8 oz) three times a day. But milk just doesn't cut it anymore. She also wants a jar of baby food with each of those bottles - there is a reason for those rolls! :) She is usually satisfied with a jar of Stage 2 baby food, but occasionally she'll look at me with a where-is-the-rest-of-it quizzical look. She is a very expressive little girl. My personal favorite baby food right now is Beech Nut. The texture is a bit more thickened than the Gerber. It's easier for us. (And it's just a little cheaper than Gerber - added bonus! :))
She has started bringing toys to her mouth - huge! She bonked her head the other day with a rattle and looked at me with such surprise. :) She just cracks me up! She has no teeth yet. I'm looking forward to that so we can start working on finger foods. I really want her to be able to sit, eat, and drink (from a sippy cup) by the time she's 18 months old so she (and the nursery leaders) can enjoy nursery! The therapist recommended we get a Nuby sippy cup. They have 2 - the $1 plastic ones you get everywhere and then a $2 one that has a softer spout. Yes, it is early for a sippy cup. But if we start getting her used to it, she'll be ready when it's time to use it. We put some water in it and put it in her mouth. She promptly chopped down on the spout and got a mouth full of water. She had no idea what to do with all of that water and it fell out of her mouth and all over her. :) I guess her bottles don't give her that much liquid all at once. All the things we learn.
:) We love this little girl so much!
She is still a wiggly little thing. She needs support. But she is doing SO well!
We are truly pleased with her efforts. Really, that's what it boils down to. She wants to sit up - yeah! Isn't that half the battle with anything? Everything from sitting up to gaining your own testimony starts with desire! And Joy has desire - yeah!
She loves food! She wants a bottle (6-8 oz) three times a day. But milk just doesn't cut it anymore. She also wants a jar of baby food with each of those bottles - there is a reason for those rolls! :) She is usually satisfied with a jar of Stage 2 baby food, but occasionally she'll look at me with a where-is-the-rest-of-it quizzical look. She is a very expressive little girl. My personal favorite baby food right now is Beech Nut. The texture is a bit more thickened than the Gerber. It's easier for us. (And it's just a little cheaper than Gerber - added bonus! :))
She has started bringing toys to her mouth - huge! She bonked her head the other day with a rattle and looked at me with such surprise. :) She just cracks me up! She has no teeth yet. I'm looking forward to that so we can start working on finger foods. I really want her to be able to sit, eat, and drink (from a sippy cup) by the time she's 18 months old so she (and the nursery leaders) can enjoy nursery! The therapist recommended we get a Nuby sippy cup. They have 2 - the $1 plastic ones you get everywhere and then a $2 one that has a softer spout. Yes, it is early for a sippy cup. But if we start getting her used to it, she'll be ready when it's time to use it. We put some water in it and put it in her mouth. She promptly chopped down on the spout and got a mouth full of water. She had no idea what to do with all of that water and it fell out of her mouth and all over her. :) I guess her bottles don't give her that much liquid all at once. All the things we learn.
:) We love this little girl so much!
Friday, January 18, 2008
6 Month ECI Outcomes
Joy has meet all of her original ECI goals!
Her new goals include working on sitting and continuing our progress with eating.
In six months, we hope that she'll be sitting for 10-15 minutes and eating finger foods!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Six Month Mark
We have now had our sweet baby for six months!
Our agency in California said that they will be sending consent for us to finalize her adoption soon! We have sent our paper work to the adoption attorney. Each step gets us one step closer to finalization! Wahoo!
The following three pictures are of Joy in her swing, Joy doing her dreaded tummy time, and Joy in her jungle.
Our agency in California said that they will be sending consent for us to finalize her adoption soon! We have sent our paper work to the adoption attorney. Each step gets us one step closer to finalization! Wahoo!
The following three pictures are of Joy in her swing, Joy doing her dreaded tummy time, and Joy in her jungle.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Flat Head vs The Helmet
Today was our follow up appointment with the Pediatric Plastic Surgeon. We were visiting to see what to do about Joy's flat head. A lot of babies have a flat spot on the back on their head because of laying down on their backs. Joy's is from the middle of the back of her skull to her right ear. The left side of her skull is nicely rounded and the right side is at a 45 degree angle.
In August her forehead was protruding on her right side. Today there is marked improvement with her forehead. It still sticks out a little, but not bad.
What's bad is the back of her head. That is still the same.
So the recommendation is for a helmet to round out her skull.
The drawback to this wonderful device is it's cost. It's $4000 and it's considered cosmetic by insurance companies. So we should know by Monday if our insurance company will cover it or not. Sigh
Today's stats:
14 lb 4 oz
25 1/4 inches
WOW!
In August her forehead was protruding on her right side. Today there is marked improvement with her forehead. It still sticks out a little, but not bad.
What's bad is the back of her head. That is still the same.
So the recommendation is for a helmet to round out her skull.
The drawback to this wonderful device is it's cost. It's $4000 and it's considered cosmetic by insurance companies. So we should know by Monday if our insurance company will cover it or not. Sigh
Today's stats:
14 lb 4 oz
25 1/4 inches
WOW!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Rolled Over
Joy hates a couple of things - pacifiers being one, but tummy time being her ultimate dislike!
Today during tummy time, she was so mad she rolled over!
I rolled her back to her tummy, and she rolled over again!
Miss Joy does not like her tummy time! :)
But - SHE ROLLED OVER!!
Yeah, Joy!
Today during tummy time, she was so mad she rolled over!
I rolled her back to her tummy, and she rolled over again!
Miss Joy does not like her tummy time! :)
But - SHE ROLLED OVER!!
Yeah, Joy!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Latest Thoughts
Our Joy continues to develop and grow so beautifully!
She is smiling now all the time. These precious smiles fill our hearts with warmth and such wonderful love! She is the "Joy" we were looking for!
How we love this sweet, sweet girl!
During this Holiday Season, I wanted to share this video a fellow adopter put together.
Be forewarned - it's beautiful and made me cry.
I am thankful that Joy has brought such love to our family!
She is smiling now all the time. These precious smiles fill our hearts with warmth and such wonderful love! She is the "Joy" we were looking for!
How we love this sweet, sweet girl!
During this Holiday Season, I wanted to share this video a fellow adopter put together.
Be forewarned - it's beautiful and made me cry.
I am thankful that Joy has brought such love to our family!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Therapy for Joy
Joy has OT - occupational therapy to help her with her development. She works so hard. She is the best little baby! She needs "tummy time." She has to develop those neck and shoulder muscles. She has a problem (on top of everything else) where she leans her head to the right and holds her head at an angle. You can see it really well in the 3rd picture of the July Pictures below (the one with Becca). This could be a problem later on if we don't work hard to correct it now. Today I'm including pictures of her working with her therapist. Yeah Carolyn!
I have been trying to get a good picture of the five girls together. Here is the latest attempt:
And, happy days, Joy is starting to grin and coo! It just melts my heart. We are seeing some of her wonderful personality begin to emerge. We love you Joy!
I have been trying to get a good picture of the five girls together. Here is the latest attempt:
And, happy days, Joy is starting to grin and coo! It just melts my heart. We are seeing some of her wonderful personality begin to emerge. We love you Joy!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sunday, July 01, 2007
1 month old
Joy is now 1 month old and is the pride and 'joy' of the whole house. She is fairly content and does not cry much. Still feeding a couple of times throughout the night but we are all happy to have her here.
Happy one month Joy!
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