4 Months in the S Family...

Nyah continues to keep us laughing and smiling, and well, searching. She is into everything and has earned a reputation for being a kleptomaniac... in a blink of an eye she can make things she knows she should not have disappear. She keeps us on our toes.

Here she is with Doug's cell phone...

In just the past week she has seemed much happier... more settled. She also, finally, is trying to say new words; while she seems to understand eveything we say, she had not said any new words in quite some time.

Here are a few outside shots. She is crying in the one because she wanted to take her hat off and mean mommy said no. It looks worse than it was since her eyes are so large and therefore hold lots of tears. She quickly recovered when she was allowed to snap the football.

Nyah helping me cook... crazy hair and cheesy grin!

The kids with Santa... as expected Nyah would not sit on his lap but was very interesting in his basket of candy.

Here she is in her crib and just waking up. She was so still and quiet. It was a rare moment.

Posing. I took a group shot of the kids in front of the fireplace and while the rest stood there, she would run in and out of the picture. Now when I pick up my camera she runs to that same spot. Or if she sees me taking a picture of more than 1 child, she rushes to get in the picture but only stays a second before giggling and running to me.

All the other kids have school pictures on the wall so I needed a similar one for Nyah... wouldn't want her feelings hurt.

I came out from behind the camera for a picture with my baby.

This month Nyah started yelling, "MA!!!" in a deep, loud voice if she realizes I am not in the same room. It is pretty funny. She continues to show us she is pretty close to two but we have started time-outs with her (but we are still within her view) and they help her stop what she is doing. I think she is frustrated because she can't communicate her views on the world around her.

Nyah still cries if she thinks I am leaving her and if she sees me put my shoes on, she runs to find her shoes and poncho. Early in the month she would only go easily to Doug if she could tell he was going somewhere. Now she goes to him often and thinks he is fun to be around.

More in 2009... Happy New Year!