It is hard to believe but it has been two months already. What an amazing two months. The quiet scared little girl that was placed in my arms has been replaced by a toddler that does not stop. She just goes and goes and goes. She loves to laugh. And her laughter is wonderful to hear. She has started to grab a book and come over and sit on my lap and open the pages for me to read. She won't sit still for very long but she wants me to read. Her favorite right now is Toddler Two. I can recite it from memory. It is not difficult. "Toddler, toddler, toddler two, Two is the number just for you. Two hands, one, two. Two feet, one, two. Two eyes, one, two...." you get the idea. She also likes one about farm animals. She doesn't stop at each page long enough for me to read it - just long enough to tell her the animal and what sound they make. Once she tried to say "cock-a-doodle-do" I think. She will make the sign for "more". I think she thinks it means she wants a snack but she is communicating.

She is eating more and more. This weekend she discovered cinnamon bread and she loved it. She will eat yogurt now too. I just wish I could get some meat and vegetables into her but considering that it was only two months ago that she wouldn't eat anything she is doing great.

I am a very lucky woman to be the mother of such an amazing little girl.

Today is my day off so we have been running errands and as soon as Alexa gets to sleep I can start to clean. I have tried cleaning while she is awake and she wants to help. She likes to dust as you can see in the picture but she does not consistantly get all the dust. She also likes to dust her face with the dirty swiffer!

The baby gate at the top of the stairs has worked very well until the day after I took this picture. Twinkle and Boo were both sitting on the stairs and Alexa and I were upstairs. When Alexa saw them she decided she wanted to get to them so she started to climb up the gate. I got her when she was about half way up! I haven't used the gate since.

Yesterday I introduced her to a new food. M&M's. I had a couple and she wanted one so I handed one to her and she popped it in her mouth and chewed. She gave me a strange look and I handed her another. She decided to carry the second one around with her for a minute then it went into her mouth too. This morning I offered her another and she didn't hesitate to take it and stick it in her mouth.

We are working on showing two fingers so she can tell people how old she will be in a week and a half. She thinks it is hilarious when I do it but she hasn't grasped how to put up just two fingers yet. We still have a little time to work on it.

Twinkle and Boo have settled into being home. They still run when Alexa tries to get close to them and that is best for now. They stay out of her way for the most part. When they know she is occupied with a toy or eating they will come and watch her. They are still trying to figure out what kind of creature has invaded their home!

Well we made it through the first week of work. This picture was taken on our first day of daycare/back to work. Alexa is doing great at daycare. She isn't mad at me anymore when I pick her up. In fact she smiles and starts to laugh and runs into my arms. It is a wonderful feeling! She is gradually trying some of the foods the other kids eat and she is using her sippy cup. In fact she only uses a sippy cup at daycare. (On Friday when I picked her up she still had some milk in her sippy cup so we brought it home. Once we were here she wanted a drink so she turned her back to me and took a few steps away before she started to drink! I don't think she wanted me to know that she could use the sippy cup!) At home she still prefers a bottle and that is ok. When I get her home the first thing I have to do is make her a bottle. After that is done I can make a little supper and we both sit down to eat. (Or I eat and she throws her food on the floor!)

It has been very hot here (upper 90's and very humid) - much like Guangzhou - so Saturday evening we went to the mall so Alexa could run around. I stopped in the food court and bought some French fries and she ate about five or six of them! I may be the only mother in the world that is thrilled when her child eats junk food but I am so happy with every different food she tries. After the french fries we looked for invitations for her birthday party. We found some frog ones that she loved. Tonight I tried to teach her how to put up two fingers and say " I'm two!". I would put up her two fingers and she would laugh and laugh. Over and over. I don't think I will get her to say it but maybe I can get her to show people in two weeks.

Several times tonight she was saying something that sounded like "tickle, tickle". So I tickled her under her chin -where she is the most ticklish - and she giggled and giggled. She is making a couple signs also. At least I think she is. We watched a video on signs for baby over the weekend and I have been showing her a few. She has made the sign for "milk" and "more". Tonight I think she made the sign for "mommy". I am not sure if she really knows what they mean yet but she is learning.

Ok - I think you were all right. Alexa handled this morning better than I did. I didn't actually cry but I was really close. Alexa was so busy checking things out she didn't even know I left. I think she was a little upset with me tonight though. She did not want to look me in the eyes for a while but after she checked out her toys to make sure they were still here she wanted to be held. After I gave her a bottle and played with her for a while I got a few big smiles and everything was ok.

And I can add a new food to the list. She likes Colorado peaches (but only if they are mashed up and mixed with pudding). So we are up to four fruits now. I talked to the dietitian at work today and she was really impressed at how well Alexa is eating considering that seven weeks ago she had only had a bottle. Yes it has been seven weeks since I held her for the first time. Time is flying by. I need to start planning a birthday party too!

Tomorrow I go back to work. I am getting very nervous about it. I dread the thought of dropping her off at daycare. I know she will be fine but ..... This weekend I am trying to get everything done that I wanted to get done during the last month at home. I might be able to check one thing off the list by the time I go to bed tonight! The important thing is that I have had some quality time with Alexa. We have had a good month.

I had to take this picture. She loves to play with the phone and in this case it is the TV remote - doesn't matter - it is a phone to her. Other things that work as a phone include the mouse for my computer! I wish you could hear her "talk". It is so funny. It is not real words but she has a conversation. She talks then waits then talks some more.

She has been a little clingy the last few days and had a runny nose but yesterday when she openned her mouth wide I saw part of a new molar so I believe she is teething. The dentist said she had one more set of molars to come in. I haven't been able to see if it is more than one. She won't open her mouth for me very often. I think she is afraid I will put some food in it! She did eat part of a french fry the other day so we are still making progress and she also took a few sips from a sippy cup. Well I think I hear her waking up so I had better go check on her. Wish me luck tomorrow. Who do you think will cry more when I drop her off?