Tooth #2!

Tooth #2 (bottom left side) has errupted, just barely poking up....but it's through!



Dean found me and Sakura sleeping like this the other night - it was the night we drove home from San Diego, I was exhausted and so was someone else, and obviously she likes KICKING Mommy while she's down - LOL! Dean thought it was funny and snapped some pictures while we were fast asleep.

Sleeping with Mommy

I LOVE to Stand....

Look who started standing up in her crib today?!

(Note: if you click on this picture you can REALLY see her tooth!)

This is what I found when I walked in to get Sakura from her nap....this is the first time she stood up in her crib!

"HI Mommy" accompanied by a raspberry!

This eliptical machine looks fun!

Can I pull this cord out of Mommy's work computer?

Hmmmmmm, I think I can get that cord out and Mommy will pay more attention to me!

Headed Home

We love going to visit family, but we have to admit, there's no place like home.

Almost there, just before landing in San Diego

Hanging out looking out the window at the ocean

Snacking on a bluebird foot...see Kumi just like you :)

Just a few pictures I took one morning of Sakura hanging out in the front yard in her

Halloween jammies!

We flew home yesterday and we're trying to get back into our normal routine...not as easy since Sakura is all over the place and wants to pull herself up on ANYthing she can get her hands on!

Lunch with Auntie Nancy and kids

I forgot about the "little camera" and there were some important pictures on it....

Peyton Sakura had her first taste of "not pureed" food.

Tofu and Udon noodles ~

We met Auntie Nancy, Tripp and Kira at Taro's for lunch on Friday and Auntie Nancy suggested that I give some Tofu and Udon noodles to Sakura and I did...

and she is happy that I did, as she LOVED both Udon and Tofu!

Trippy looking at his stickers

The girls at lunch - Sakura and Kira

Here are her first bites of each:

First bite of Udon noodle



First bite of Tofu

Auntie Nancy and Kira at lunch

Thank You for lunch Auntie Nancy!

Thanks for driving all the way down so we could see you again too!

Spending time with family

Miscellaneous pictures from our week with family.

Sitting outside in the grass...Sakura wasn't real fond of the feel of grass until she found a leaf that she could eat!

Touching the grass and quickly pulling her hand back

Sakura caught another cold while we were there...runny yucky nose that wouldn't stop!

Unfortunately Jichan got VERY sick on Thursday and Friday!

If this picture will enlarge, you can see her tooth!

Not feeling good baby girl!

I'm sick Jichan...

Happy girl with Uncle Mark

Auntie Linda

Happy Cousins - Jessamine, Stephanie and Peyton Sakura

Jichan and with all of his Granddaughters!

ATWA video day

These pictures we took by the pond after we were done with the video for ATWA.

Back several months ago, Lesley the agency director asked if we would be willing to do a short video describing our experience with ATWA, that she would use on the adoption website.

I felt honored to be asked and we agreed to do the video - if it wasn't for Sakura's Bio Mom, Taz, Okada San and ATWA we wouldn't have our daughter.

We owe all of them so much.

Sakura looked so cute I wanted to always remember this special day.

Meeting the Bashiri's

We were also able to sneak in a little visit with our friends that live in Oakland. Since we were headed back to the ATWA office Sunday morning for a video shoot for the agency we wanted to stay in the area and not have to do all the driving again. Alex and Iris are close friends and it seems like we never get enough time when we visit Northern California to visit them. They have the best kids - Neeki and Arya are great hosts and Sakura enjoyed playing with the big kids!

Arya, Iris, Neeki and Sakura

Visiting with Arya and Alex

Arya really wanted to hold Sakura....she wasn't too sure about it though.

Saying Goodbye to Arya and Neeki

ATWA Picnic Day

Ready for the picnic in Pleasant Hill

One of our reasons for heading to California was to attend the annual Across the World Adoption agency's annual picnic which was held on Saturday. We really enjoyed the company of everyone, loved getting to spend more time with Misty and Kumiko, Eryn, Gregor, Miya and Emi, and getting to meet the Handshoe family with their precious baby girl Ivy.

Sakura was also able to meet Lesley the director of ATWA for the first time.

Hi Sakura....Hi Kumi and Auntie Misty

Misty and Kumiko, Me and Sakura, Margaret and Ivy


Meeting the ATWA director Lesley for the first time

Auntie Misty and Sakura

Me and sweet Kumiko

Auntie Eryn and Sakura

Sweet Miya showing Sakura her kitty cat balloon

The Handshoe family

Miya and her kitty balloon

I had so much fun at the picnic....I'm exhausted (sound asleep on Daddy)!

Auntie Misty's sister Tina with Sakura

Visiting and 1st Tooth! (updated)

Let's go.....Leaving on a Jet Plane, first plane ride since coming home from Narita Airport!

We flew to California on Thursday and Friday we got together with The Cech and DeMetris families, which is always a highlight of our trips to California.

This trip was even more special, since we finally got to meet Misty and Kumiko Clark in person, unfortunately Daddy Shane wasn't able to make it - they flew all the way from Virginia to attend the Across the World Adoptions picnic on Saturday, and spend time with Nancy and Eryn. We feel like they are part of our extended family as we have been communicating with them since Kumi came home from Japan last year - it was just very special to be able to hold and hug sweet Kumi, she is SO cute and has the biggest smile, we can see where she gets it, Kumi is a clone of her Mommy!

Auntie Eryn fixed a delicious lunch for all of us, despite being extremely busy right now, and having a broken foot on top of that! We don't quite know how Auntie Eryn does all that she does for everyone - she is always so giving of herself! Auntie Nancy too...despite running Tim to the hospital for surgery, she was able to manage visiting too! These two are amazing! Peyton Sakura was showered with sweet gifts from everyone - thank you ALL!

Auntie Misty and Sweet Kumiko

Kumi and her little friend that she was toting around in her mouth - SO cute...I think she has taught Sakura this mode of transportation....as you'll see in another post!

All of this excitement makes a baby tired....sound asleep on Daddy

Sweet Kira and Auntie Eryn - Auntie Nancy had to pick up Uncle Tim from his surgery and Kira had a little Mommy gone melt-down, but settled down after several minutes.

L - R Kira, Tripp, Sakura, Kumiko and Miya all cuties from Japan!





Another bit thing happened Friday September 18th!


Yes it's true, the little tiny tooth (lower right) has begun to emerge....you can feel it and see it but it's not ALL the way out yet!