Sara makes EVERYONE smile!!

Our 16 yr old niece wrote this for a blog class she is taking. I can't wait to show it to Sara when she can understand! It's so true, all you need to do is look at her and it brings a smile to all!

Sara Makes Me Smile.

The one thing that can always make me smile is this special little girl. I love her to death.
After months of waiting, when I finally got to see Sara, I was too happy for words. Every minute I spend with her is a blessing. I have never been so grateful. Whenever I see her, even if I'm in a bad mood, everything just goes away and she just brightens up my world. I love spending time with her and her parents. She is simply just the cutest thing. I've had many great memories with her. She is so smart! She knows how to use a cell phone. She has taken pictures with my cell phone and has even (accidently) called my mom. My phone background is her picture because she means so much to me and makes me happy. I show it to her and ask her, "Who's that? Is that you?", and she just smiles and shouts happily. Just being around her is like everything is alright and good. I don't know exactly how to explain it. We have all (my family) just waited so long for her to finally arrive and we couldn't be more thrilled. Sara is very independent. She doesn't like to be held for a long time because she loves to move around. She loves music and dances. My other cousins and I are extremely fond of her. On Thanksgiving, they were so excited to play with her since this was only the second time we had seen her, they tried to wake her up from her nap! Sara gives special kisses. We call them "Sara Kisses". She doesn't always give them out. But she is just too amazing. I'm so glad that she came into our lives, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I am crazy about this kid and I try to spend every minute I can with her. She makes me smile, laugh, and forget about all my troubles.

Happy Tet!!!

Tomorrow is the Asian New Year! We are so happy to be spending it with Sara! Today we went to story time at Barnes and Noble. The story was about the New Year and they had a parade with a dragon. Unfortunately, Sara slept through the entire thing! Friday, we are going with some friends for a celebration at a Chinese restaurant. Next Sat, there is a gathering for local parents with children from Vietnam with a big celebration. We will really enjoy sharing Sara's culture with her.

Sara is doing amazing. We've been so busy, we don't have any new pictures! She is doing fabulous with day care. She has a new "partner in crime" and she's really starting to talk a lot. She says "thank you, gotcha, that (she just points to what she wants and says "THAT"), and babbles constantly. She's quite the little climber. She climbs completely into her high chair.

Tough Week!!

It was a VERY tough week with Mommy going back to work! Sara loves going to the sitter's house. She has a partner in crime that she can run around with all day. Mommy doesn't like the fact that she's not with Sara all the time.

This weekend was nice. We had lots of time together. Sara was VERY clingy! She threw up for the first time ever on Saturday night, but she didn't seem to feel sick at all and did not have a temperature. We are still trying to get her adjusted to one nap a day. She seems to adjust so well to everything. We are so lucky to have this precious gift!

Our busy little girl!!!

Sara went to the Doctor on Friday and had 6, yes 6, shots !!! Of course, she hated being restrained and I had to hold her while the shots were administered, but they didn't slow her down for a minute. She was her normal self the rest of the weekend. The Doctor said she is doing great, but she hasn't gained any weight since we were in Vietnam. She looks much bigger to us, though. The Doctor wasn't at all concerned, she could tell how active she was and said that was probably why she's not gaining weight even though she eats a TON!!!

Sara will start her regular day care this week since Mommy is going back to work full time. It's hard to believe it has been 12 weeks already! It's going to be a very tough week. She has basically been with her Mommy 24/7 for the past 12 weeks. Sara loves the sitter's house, but Mommy is VERY sad!!!

Here she is trying to feed herself yogurt!
Here's our future Doctor, just collecting a few samples.
Here she is at Grandma and Granpa's with a friend's grandson. They both liked "GAGA".
We are taking Sara to My Gym weekly. It's a class where she can play, sing songs, and tumble.

Citizenship!!

What a week it was! On Friday we received Sara's official certificate of citizenship! YEAH!!! We took our first car trip this weekend to Sue's parents' house in Toledo. Sara didn't like being in her car seat for such a long time, but she did great. She slept there more than she does at our house! Of course, she was into EVERYTHING at Grandma and Grandpa's house, but they really enjoyed showing her off!

The letter from George Bush:

Readoption!

Yesterday we had Sara's Ohio adoption! Now she is officially Sara Elizabeth Thao Macklis. Before her official name was still her Vietnamese name. We should be receiving her Birth Certificate shortly. What a great day it was!!!

The judge gives all adopted children one of these bunnies. They are actually made by 2 prison inmates as their community service.
A typical American kid!Sara still LOVES balloons!
SO HAPPY!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!! What a roller coaster 2007 was. We hope 2008 isn't quite as exciting for us as 2007. We are just looking forward to all the amazing things Sara will do in 2008 like talking! She already says a few words. All animals are GAGA, because her dog is Gigi. She also says the usual Mama, Dada, and I think now she's saying thank you.

Oh! This is the LIFE!!!!!!!

New Year's Eve. She even let our friends Hanh and John hold her!!