Hope & Ella

I started writing this post on the 8th and now I see that I never published it. Sorry - enjoy the video. ;)

First of all - HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE MARK!!! (disclaimer...sorry this is being posted so late. :( I really thought I hit publish that night. I know we sent you cards, but I wanted to wish you a special day here, too. We miss you guys!)

Remember the other day when we had Hope and Ella in the car together? Here is some video we took during the ride. Hope is learning to sign a few words and the patting on her legs is her sign for puppy. She really loves Ella. I think that the feeling is pretty mutual.


Other sign vocab for our little girl? Her first sign was MORE and she did that one before we left China. She can also sign ALL DONE, MILK, and the beginnings of DADDY and MOMMY. Her handshapes will come, but we can definitely tell what she's saying. Pretty impressive for only knowing us for a little bit longer than a month!

Spoken vocab you ask? Hope has 3 words that are pretty recognizable: "Mama," "Dada," and (are you ready for this?) "Jesus." When we were in China we were always singing "Jesus Loves Me," and "Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World." It wasn't long before Hope would sit with her "Jesus Loves the Little Children" book, rock, and sing "Jesus." It is so cute! She can also say "Ella" which we recognize. Once in a while it comes out pretty clearly. I just love listening to her babble. It is so fun when she really starts telling stories. Hope also has some pretty distinct sounds that I'm sure have some meaning in Mandarin. There are definitely times that I wish we knew more of her native language. I think she thanked me in Mandarin the other day! She is one brilliant little lady and we just LOVE LOVE LOVE her so much.