Mia has been gaining weight ~ she actually has little rolls by her thighs ~ too cute! I think you can tell in the pictures below, her cheeks are really filling out and you can notice her ONE dimple on her cheek!

Mia is really into her shoes and actually tells me which ones she wants to wear!! Well, she calls them "boo, boo" for boots ~ yes, all shoes are boo 's!! I've been trying to find a dress up shoes for her that do not have the heals, just slipper-like shinny shoes; but I haven't seen them yet. She also seems to understand when I tell her to "go get...the cup" or "give daddy the...." I'm so glad she understands us! Her "screaming mimi" fits have been less and less ~ I guess I am understanding her more too! Don't get me wrong, she's girl who knows what she wants and most of the time will not stop till she gets it! She has a strong will and is a toughy ~ I guess she had to be!

I've been reading the book "China Ghosts", which Meaghan Grace's mommy lent me (thanks Michelle!) and I have seen so many similarities between "Jin Yu" in the book and my Mia! Jin Yu is very "into" her food, almost gorging herself ~ most likely an orphanage-thing where they want to eat before someone else comes along. I was laughing because when Jin Yu walks from a rug to a bare floor, she has to stop and contemplate 'what to do' ....bend down and pick your leg up and over to the other side! This is what Mia did all the time in China! The babies are thrown-off by different textures...

The book has also "forced" me to think about Mia's birthmother and what she went through ~ I'm embarrassed to say I haven't allowed myself to think too much about her. I'm not sure why. I completely feel like Mia was born to be my daughter and I guess I'm not ready to "share" her right now. I'm sure once her birthday comes around it will hit me. I KNOW her birthmother truly loved her, she kept Mia for 3 months (I'm sure she wanted to keep her, but probably got pressure from her husband and inlaws to give her up) and then left her right by a hospital in hopes that she would be taken care of... she also left a note with with her ~ I know this information will mean the world to Mia in a few years.
**On further thought, I lied; I do think of Mia's birth mom when I hear her sweet little voice, when she giggles and when I hear her belly laugh; when I see that one little dimple on her cheek and when I see her wonderful smile. I guess I didn't realize it or want to "go there" just yet...

Anyway.............. I posted some pictures of the kids from this weekend ~ it's getting chilly in NY ~ Fall is here:




















~ Concentrating ~




















~ Chubby Cheeks ~

























~ "These 'boo's' were made for walking...." ~




















~ Silly girl ~




















~ Just... Happy ~





















~ "I'd love to go outside with my brothers" ~




















~ Playing army ~




















~ Wrong Way! ~




















~ "Weeeeeeeeeeeee" ~




















~ Saving Private Eddie ~

~ "ahhhh, it's good to be outside" ~