Happy 18th Mimi!

Today our little Mimi is 18 months old. Its hard to believe that we have only been home with her for six months. We know our little angel so well. We love her so much. She is us and we are her.

Although the wet Spring was never ending, the time did pass and with summer finally here, we are enjoying all our outdoor activities. Marin loves to be outside. She loves to ride in the back pack, swing on her swing, cruise in her jogger, and play in the pool. She can't get enough dancing and she shakes it everywhere from the kitchen to her car seat. In reality, there isn't much Marin doesn't like to do and she is game to try something new. Mimi is always in the middle of the action with her ready smile and sparkling eyes.

We have had a busy couple of months. Most notably trying to raise a toddler and a puppy while keeping a four-year-old happy, entertained and still feeling important. For the most part, the sisters get along great. Marin does like to push Helena's buttons, but they also manage to have a lot of giggles together. And the phenomenon of wanting to try everything your big sister does is well underway. Marin always does these things with her little Mimi flair...for example climbing up on her sisters chair, but not sitting on it, but rather turning around and precariously dancing on the edge like some sort of bar floozy.

A word on her physical and cognitive development...Still in solid 12 month clothing, her motion makes up for her lack of stature. Marin doesn't walk, she sachets. She moves her hips and lower body from side to side, while keeping her upper body totally still. She can do this at a very rapid rate and it is impressive to watch and very difficult to try and emulate. We will miss it when it goes, but for now it keeps us grinning. Her vocabulary is growing rapidly and so is her comprehension. Her latest words are "Lena", "hi doggie", "up", and "damn-it Ping" (just kidding). She had ear tubes placed about a month ago and we haven't seen any complications. Her speech is starting to reveal some challenges in the movement of air through her mouth and nose and we will soon be addressing this. For now, it is just so precious, especially when you hear that little voice singing "ashes, ashes, we all fall down."

As an involved family member, Marin has hit the ground running --taking part in all our adventures. In addition to lots of bonding with her Nana, Granddad, Aunt Kelly, Uncles and cousins, she helped us co-host a reunion for Helena's orphanage travel group. It was fantastic weekend and Mimi did her part to make all our out of town visitors feel welcome.

Oh Mimi...where would we be without you?