New Glasses and Hiking in the Snow

Wow, it's been a while since I've updated! I have a lot to catch up on. First off, Sofia got new glasses! They are so cute on her and fit her better than the goggle glasses.

She looks so much more sophisticated ;)

Yesterday (Friday) we didn't have school and me and Sofie got to spend the whole day playing with each other - just us. Alison and Jenna got to go skiing. 

Sofia and I played trains for a while in the morning. 

One thing that I've noticed since Sofia has been home is that she smiles and poses for pictures much more often now :)

And since we got a ton of new snow, me and Sofie went on a walk down to the river. She absolutely loves the snow and she was such a trooper on our long walk.

Before our walk, I told Sofia she had to wear snow pants. So she put them on but didn't like them, so she took them off and wanted to wear jeans. I told her that she had to wear her snow pants or else she couldn't go outside. So she put them back on, smiled, and shouted, "I LOVE them!" :)

 Sofia made her first snowman today! She named her Carolina and was very sad when we had to leave her behind to go home. But to make it a little more fun and not as sad to leave her, she kicked her and then laid on her... she still talks about how she destroyed Carolina :)

Sofia's first ever snowman!

Sofia was a cow and kept saying, "Moo!" 

I took this photo (below) yesterday on our walk. 

It reminds me of this picture I took just one year earlier with a different Latino princess.

Sofia and I both were very cold when we finally got home from our hike, so Sofie got in the bath while I made grilled cheese sandwiches and rice for lunch, which she loved! 

Then I helped her get ready for the day. This afternoon she had the opportunity to check out her new school classroom (where she'll start school on Tuesday). She dressed up really special and I french braided her hair around the back of her head into a side pony. She thinks that this outfit was her school uniform! :)

I can't stand this smile! So precious.

Sofie had fun checking out her new class. She especially loved the box of puppets and the play kitchen.

Sofie is consistently saying the English words hat, tie, dog, cat, fan, please, oh my gosh, I love you, stinky, splashing, fish, star, stop now, scarf, it's funny, 

and some more. She also learned the phrase, "I don't know what you're sayin'!" but I don't think that she really knows what she is saying when she says it. She isn't quite as scared of the dogs anymore and sometimes actually reaches down to touch them. 

We took Sofie to church for the first time for our Friday night service. I was going to stay back in children's ministry until she could settle in, but I ended up staying the whole time with her. She was the most hyper I have seen her in a long time! Oh well, she'll calm down as she gets use to yet another change. :)

Sofie and I continue to bond quicker and easier than I ever imagined. She is such a blessing to me.

Bonding with life saver rings :)

Here Alison is before her basketball game! Another precious Ecuadorian :)

Please continue to pray for Sofia as she starts school this upcoming week. And please pray for everyone in our family as we adjust to all the new changes. Thank you! :)

A Fashion Show and Cookie Dough :)

Our past few days have been full of excitement and many changes. Sofia is learning how to live in a family and we are all learning to adjust to having one more little Ecuadorian princess in our home. Alison had a basketball game yesterday (Saturday) and Mom and Jamie went to watch her. We decided that Sofie wasn't prepared for a basketball game (nor was the basketball game ready for her ;) so I stayed home with Sofie and Jenna while my dad worked. We had a blast together! Our morning was filled with more dancing and we even had a fashion show! Jenna and Sofia got dressed up in their favorite dresses and I curled Jenna's hair and even put a little make-up on the both of them :) Sofia got her doll Ebony ready for the fashion show as well. Then we took pictures :) 

She was determined to keep her hat and coat on for pictures :) 

Aren't these girls just gorgeous?!

Afterwards Sofia wanted to listen to music. So she sat on my lap as we rocked back and forth to the music. Soon, she turned around and wrapped her little arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder and fell asleep. For twenty-five minutes she lie there on my chest, the first time she had ever fallen asleep on the lap of a sister before. Oh, those precious twenty-five minutes. I never wanted it to end. 

Later, Sofia got to experience making cookies with her Papí. She was scared of the KitchenAid at first. She loved sampling the cookie dough and spending special time with her Papí.

Later, Sofia and Alison cuddled up in Sofia's bed and watched VeggieTales on our old VHS television. Sofia loved VeggieTales and thinks that it is hilarious! 

Sofia had fun with her new big sister Jamie. She sat on her lap for awhile and they played puppets with some oven mitts. 

Sofia and I are bonding really well already. I love just holding her and playing with her in my lap. I love praising her for her good decisions. When I tell her no to something but she still tries to get away with doing whatever it is she wants to do, I tell her to look in my eyes. Sometimes I have to direct her head towards mine. When she looks in my eyes, I repeat myself, "I said no." And she says, "Okay" and doesn't ask me again. She is making such good progress. When she is taking off her shoes, I ask her where they go. She then brings them over by the door and says, "Right here!" She's so smart! I can't wait to see what God has in store for her. I know whatever it is, it is going to be so amazing! She has so much potential and I'm already so in love with her. 

Welcome Home, Sofia!

Praise the Lord! The family is back together again!

Our friends sneaked into the house while we were all away and totally decorated the house for Sofia's arrival! There was a chocolate cake, candy, a present for Sofia, and a sign welcoming Sofia to her forever home. We are so thankful for the love and support that they are showing us through this adoption journey.

Sofia was so excited to explore the new house and meet Alison, her Ecuadorian sister! She was especially excited for all the balloons just for her :)

Sofia was terrified of the dogs and of the dove. She is slowly starting to touch the dogs, but quickly runs away after she does! She still tries not to look at the dove at all... she's so funny! 

Even though it was very late at night, we let her explore some of the rooms. She loved her Cinderella bed :)

Sofia woke up at 4:30 the following morning, which means she got approximately 5 hours of sleep in 48 hours. I'm not sure how she can keep running! 

Jenna helped Sofia find a princess dress that would fit her. She looked so gorgeous in it! But it was covered in chocolate as soon as she finished eating some chocolate cake :) 

More dresses! 

We also had movies in the backseat!

The next morning, I stayed home from school for a couple hours to take care of Sofia while my mom went to a meeting and my dad was at work. Sofia and I had a great time together! We danced to music together for a long time, which helps to calm Sofia down. Part of the time she just sat on my lap as we rocked back and forth to the music. I'm in love with this precious little monkey :)

She wanted to take a bath, so I told her that she could as long as she didn't splash. She absolutely LOVES the bath and sometimes she carried away . She agreed to no splashing, and surprisingly she kept her promise! I kept praising her for not splashing and she was so proud! 

As we were heading home from school, Jenna admitted, "I want to try and rebuild our relationship", referring to Sofia. They kind of got off to a shaky start; Jenna realized this and was disappointed. 

Alison and Jenna showed Sofia around our farm.

They blew bubbles with her.

They cleaned out an old play car together just for Sofia! 

Sofia discovered the tire swing.

                                               

Sofia keeps talking about the snow. She thinks that there is so much! But in reality, we have very little snow for this time of year. 

We went on a walk down to the barn. Well, most of us walked...

If this didn't make her feel like a princess, I don't know what will!

She had a blast!

After our walk, Alison introduced Sofia to "Just Dance for Kids" on the wii. Sofia was thrilled! She danced and danced. 

I took this precious video of the two of them dancing. Alison picked the song "I Am A Gummy Bear" in Spanish! Sofia loved it. Soon after, Jenna and I joined in on the fun!

Tonight Jamie came home for the weekend. We really did have the whole family together! Sofia was excited to meet yet another sister! 

Today was a very, very good day. Sofia is learning house rules like only eating at the table, putting her shoes by the door, putting dress-up clothes back in the bin, and putting her dishes in the sink. She is picking up some English words here and there. The progress that she is making is incredible. We could still use your prayers as we learn to adjust to our new life as a family of seven! Thank you!