Week 11 (and some of 12)

Today is the day after the election and I am very humbled by the outcome. While I know people reading this blog come from various backgrounds and typically I don't share my political views, I am extremely joyful that the first President elected into office on Gia's watch is someone who is not only intelligent, well-educated, and a leader, but has ancestral roots in Kenya, the country south of Ethiopia. I am pleased that she will have a leader that she can look up to in more ways than one. It is a blessing for us.

Last week and the early part of this week has been unusually warm in Minnesota, so Gia and I have been playing outside (nice). Halloween was a bust for us (long story not worth sharing), but we did get a chance to go the Grandma's for some M&M (mixing and mingling) time.

Gia's big developmental news is that she now has latched onto a "thing". We were hoping she would find a favorite blanket, toy, etc., to share her affections with and to help soothe her. For the past four or five days she has had her dolly in tow at all times (not ShangHai Barbie, which is the doll that Gia is dunking in the picture above. We did not buy ShangHai Barbie...a gift from a McDonald's Happy Meal. Pause.....wouldn't ShangHai Barbie have dark hair and skin? Just a question).

Additionally, today she stroked/petted/patted the hair of several children at the gym during playtime (obviously younger children who can't run), and she fed her cousin Addison Cheerios along with holding his hand (at which point Addison noticed that her skin was brown and his was white. I was pretty impressed at his use of PC language to describe her skin color). Her social, empathetic, and caring side is starting to come out. It's very sweet and fun to watch. You'll see it also demonstrated in the picture with Quinn. As always, enjoy!