First Day at The Beach

Hi Everyone,

Josie continues to adjust well. She slept through the night for 4 non-consecutive nights this past week. On the nights she woke, she was back to sleep within 10-20 minutes. Josie has not slept on the futon with either of us for over a week.

Sooo, feeling confident-- Yesterday, Wim and I decided to move the futon mattress out of her room and replace it with one of the extra twin mattresses we have from replacing the kid's beds this past Christmas.

Feeling even more confident in our little Dong Dong, we decided to try letting her sleep in her room alone, for the first time last night.

We had a few friends over last night for a cook out. Our friends Kathi and Robert brought their little girl, Angeline, also adopted from China. Josie had a good time playing outside on the blanket and holding court with all her loyal subjects. It was a late night for the Dong Dong Empress-- she didn't fall asleep until after 9:00 pm.

I'm sure you all know where this is heading . . .

All the excitement of the evening came back to haunt us in the WEEEE hours of the morning. Josie Dong Dong was up at 1:25 am. Since we had the baby monitor in our room-- both of us were wakened by our little Empress-- but Wim got to go right back to sleep-- it was my night to serve in Dong Dong Land.

She wasn't crying-- just very chatty and kissy face. I guess she wanted to talk about all the fun she had at the cook out. Josie didn't fall back to sleep (on the little twin mattress with me) until about 3:00 am.

Last night (Wim's night on Dong Dong Patrol) she slept through the night. It is my turn tonight, so we'll see what happens.

Below are pictures from last weekend.



Daddy and Josie Dong Dong watching the Red Sox Game.

We surprised Daddy by coming into the living room with Josie Dong Dong sporting her brand new "1st Red Sox T-shirt," because OF COURSE
the Red Sox are the Royal team here in Dong Dong Dynasty Land.

There is no routing for the New York Yuckies in this realm!

We also spent a few hours at the beach in Goddard Park, Josie's first time with sand and watching her siblings make the most of a lovely morning.



Xavier throwing a Frisbee at the beach.

He is really growing into a handsome young man.















Xavier found a clam while playing Frisbee and is showing it to Wim. Xavier later decided to eat the clam after he dug it out of the shell.

Is he a native Rhode Islander or what?










Gabrielle likes to play with Josie Dong Dong. One of Josie's favorites is when Gabrielle gives her a green rubber band as a bracelet.

Josie thinks it is the BEST!









A solid Emerald bracelet!


Josie really thought she was Queen of the Sand Castles!



"Pictures are fine, but no autographs please."







Josie was tentative about playing on the sand or touching the water, so Gabrielle brought a pail of water to her. She thought it was really funny that the water tasted salty.














After playing around being silly with Mommy, Josie Dong Dong started splashing her foot around in the pail of water. She thought it was the funnest thing in world to splash cold water on Mommy.







Josie settled in after a bit and decided to play in the sand on her own for a little while. But it wasn't long before Daddy threw a wrench into her playtime.


















Daddy decided to try on Josie Dong Dong's sunglasses. By the looks of little Dong Dong, she wasn't too happy by his initiative.











"Daddy! You look ridiculous!"


Things went from bad to worse when Daddy swiped her sunhat and added it to his ensemble.











Josie Dong Dong isn't one to take such threats sitting down. She quickly called upon her loyal subjects to wage war on her behalf and that of the Dong Dong Dynasty.



Bis Sis, Gabrielle, was hopping mad when she heard what Daddy had done!

She immediately came to lend Josie a hand.














Big Brother Xavier used a special wishing rock he found on the beach and knocked Daddy sideways.












She really looks like the little Sheriff in this shot!


With the help of her older siblings, it didn't take long for Josie Dong Dong to pin Daddy to the beach and retrieve all of her sun shields.












Waging war is tiring work and the little Empress and her loyal subjects were all ready for a nap on the way home.


Love,
Reena