Week three over

Week three! Last Sunday we had her a 1st birthday party for her. She had a Hello Kitty Cake. It was small because I did not want to many people to scare her. She is a sweet girl. She hates to be left alone. Naps are an problem because when I rock her and she wakes up every time I try to put her down. We took her to the Dr. Wednesday. The Dr. referred us to a Nero Dr. and a eye Dr at Riley Children's. The Dr said that she did not think she will need a Cranial Release. This is great news. She has met all our family. I have a Baby carrier and she likes to be carried around in it. We take long walks in a stroller. She eats well. The other day we were at my moms and she went to get my sun glasses. She looked at them like she new she should not tough them. When I said no she ran to me and gave me a hug. Tonight we went to "The Whistle Stop" for my uncles engagement party. We have several weddings to go to in October. One of her favorite things to play with is my purses. She has several of her own. My mother gave her a key Bord the other day that did not work. She loved it. She wants to be a big girl. She hates sip cups. Today she acutely used her big girl potty!

14 months old today.

Wow yesterday it was two weeks to the day that the foster mom put Ally in my arms! They change your world for the better! Today she turns 14 months old. I love to hear her laugh and see her smile. The last few days have been full of lots of stroller rides and long walks. She loves ice cream and the swings at the park. She is sleeping through most the night. I can't get over how beautiful she is. She hates people telling her good buy. Most likely because most of the people important to her have said good buy. She is doing so well. I am amazed at her adjustment considering everything has changed in her life.

Church for the first time. Week one home.

Ally is doing great! She is really adjusting well. She slept in her crib all night last night. Yesterday Ally went with me to a baby shower, we had a great time mother daughter bonding. Well we did until I ended up making a fool of my self and fell on my rear end ha ha (call me miss grace). The main thing was the baby was OK. I did not hurt anything but my pride. Today we went to church with Ally for the first time. She did great! After church we ate at Bob Evens and took a bike ride. We ended up at river scape and took a paddle boat ride. It was great except for Ally did not like the life jacket. When we got home our little princes was exhausted. She loves to explore and see new things. Likes the outdoors. I am amazed at how well she is adjusting to US time.

Korea Time/ homecoming

Wow I am still very much on Korea time. We have been home one day and I think we are all still geting used to things. It was so sweet, my dad, Tevin, and Gram Rhea met us at the air port. They held a big sign that said Welcome home Allyson Lynn Yu-min Marshall! Everyone is in love with her! She has now met all her Grandparents. She loves her big brother and is ajusting well. She loves her stroler. So good to be home!

Getting ready to leave Korea very soon, this am in fact. My daughter gave me kisses three times yesterday. She is slowly warming up to all of us. I met several adoptive families in the lobby last night for pics. One family just had Got ya day! They picked up their one year old son and bought him a cake. Of cores we had to get pics of all the kids. I will add pics when I get back to the US. The mom and dad of the one year old picked up a cake. They gave everyone a piece of cake,with the exception of my daughter. Well my one year old did not like that and crawled over the seat and grabbed moms so fast. It was sweet! Yesterday we went to Seole Tower. It was neat for Justin to see, but I think he got tired because he had to hold the baby the whole way. She would not let him out of her sight, but has long has she is in his arms she is a very happy baby.

US food and bathrooms and baby kisses.

My daughter is so sweet. Today she gave my a kiss twice! I love her! She is growing more used to us every day. She loves my husband more than anything! She cries and clings to him. I joked with him that she has an off switch and he needs to let the rest of us know where it is. She is sleeping more, thus a much happier baby. The foster mom said several things. Some I agree with and some I wander about. She said the baby was a genius, that I agree with. She loves to imitate us, she drinks from a straw, and she reached for her hair Beret after only hearing the term once. She has the sweetest personality. I will forever be thankful for the sacrifice Ally's 15 yr old birth mom made.
We went in the subway in Korea and I had to use the bathroom. Well the Korean bathrooms are not the same has US restrooms. They have what is more or less a porcelain urinal for women to squat over. Needless to say I waited until we got back to the hotel. Another big difference I notice is the food. Ice cream is the equivalent of 9 US dollars for a small thing of Ben and Jerry's, butter is 5 US dollars for three sticks, and baby food is 3 dollars a jar! Much of the food they serve is different. McD's serves corn instead of fries and one of the menu options is shrimp burgers. Today we shopped for a while in a traditional Korean market. I saw bird, octopus, and bugs being sold for food!

day 2

Wow, I love being a mom. Ally is getting more used to us every day. She loves Justin. I think she takes to him because of this skin tone. She is sleeping right now and I can't stop staring at her. She is amazing. I love it when she laughs. She cries when she is tired, but when she is awake she is all over the place. We took her shopping today. It was a great experience. The people in Korea are very cordial with each other. Every one has an umbrella because it rains all the time it seems. We have met several other families hear at the Somerset that are going through the same thing we are. We all have baby's that miss their foster moms and cry because they are getting used to a new life.