An Adoption Post

Today was my little class “holiday social”. In true preschool style, the room mom had everyone over for crafts and cookies after school today. It was really a delightful time for kids and moms (and 2 dads!).

As the kids played in the basement, the moms talked around the table. Moms and 1 grandma–1 grandma on duty b/c mom and dad are in China going through the adoption process. Once international adoption came up, then the mom next to me piped up and talked about the fact that the two oldest of her three kids are internationally adopted. Just amazing that in such a small group (9 families), there were so many connections to adoption. It just makes me feel that M will not be alone when the time comes for her to start at Montessori.

Also on the adoption front, in browsing Target yesterday, I noticed an end cap with several adoption related-items, all with the theme “I am chosen”. A little more internationally themed, but still nice to see any sort of adoption items at major retailers, IMO.

Thirdly on the adoption front, I spoke with J and G Saturday. We haven’t been able to set up a date for a Christmas visit yet, but we were able to speak for a few minutes. J was sorry to hear that M is slated for tubes on the 21st–she herself had 3 sets of tubes as a kid! I myself am glad to know that that sort of thing. And since we’ve had several rough nights in a row, I’m thinking tubes will be a VERY. GOOD. THING.

Halloween Fun

Our Second Halloween as a Family of Three

We had a fun and festive Halloween here……first, on Sunday, we went to the pumpkin patch with J, G, and Z. We had a grand time, Baby Girl got to go on her first hayride and pick out a pumpkin, see farm animals, walk a muddy corn maze, etc. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time. Of course, we couldn’t believe how big Z is getting, and they were amazed with all M can say and do!!!

Our next visit will be around Christmastime. Lately we’ve been doing emails say, about 2x per month, and then just calling each other the week before the visit to firm up details and so forth. It seems to be working for all involved, and you can’t ask for much more than that. Thankfully, M loves everyone she meets, so she warms up to them quickly each time. We also have photos that we look at, so the faces can continue to be familiar.

(minor detour from halloween details) She’s enthralled with pictures right now–she looks at her little albums all the time, as well as photos in frames around the house and on the fridge. She points and I name everyone, and she’s getting to know the people in the pics. I try to keep the pics of the cousins current (they are all under 5), because just like her, they keep growing and growing!

Tuesday M’s daycare had a little “party” for the kiddos, which was hysterical. They all dressed up, had a little parade and then had a bigger than usual group snack in the large-motor room, complete with Halloween paper products and such. Completely unessecary, but fun. The most exciting thing?? M wore her boots the whole time!!

Later that evening, we went down to the Governor’s Mansion and got a treat bag from the man himself. Say what you will about his politics, he was a darn nice pirate and was very sweet to M!

You can see M in all her cowgirl glory here.

Better click soon though–L’s other photoblog got cancelled by TextAmerica. Apparently, you can only have 50 pics on a “free” account. Soon, he and his pics shall be moving to flickr. I’ll update links as needed. Also, please don’t mind that M’s jeans are undone in some of the pumpkin patch photos—sadly, she’s out grown her Old Navy Flair jeans. Apparently they run small even for kiddos. I didn’t realize that everytime she sat down she popped the snap until we were already at the Pumpkin Patch, and of course, it was impossible to keep up with her and her runaway jeans!

What Else is Happening?

Not too much that is really blog worthy, I don’t think. Our laundry is spontaneously generating. I didn’t do much during the week last week, so that this weekend, I think I did six full loads. And guess what? By TUESDAY it was full again. How does that happen? And, seriously, how do large families cope? Short of installing a second washer/dryer, what, exactly, do you do??

Our time change here was non-eventful, thankfully, M was relatively unphased. We are keeping her up a little later so that she continues to sleep long enough in the morning to allow me to get ready for work before she wakes up. It seems to be working. And we are loving driving to daycare and work in the sunlight for a few more weeks.

There was lots of good reading in the snail-mail today…Pottery Barn Kids, BabyTalk and Parenting all came today. Of course, I haven’t read much of any of them, because I was too busy reading Hop On Pop. Or, more accurately, reciting it verbatum as M turned the pages, pointed at assorted things and made the sound effects she’s deemed appropriate for each page. We will have to video and post our dramatic reading on YouTube sometime soon.

I am counting down the days to Thanksgiving….I could really use a looooonnngg weekend right about now!

The Happy Shopper

The “new mom” thing hasn’t really worn off on me yet (most days)…I still LOVE shopping for the wee-one, especially for things she hasn’t experienced before, like mittens and mitten clips. That was today’s mission. I found cute fleece mittens (well, thumbless mittens, if you can picture that) with a matching hat (sears), along with hot pink mitten clips (target). I got her the next size of Target brand Robeez knock offs, and a cute hooded zip-up sweater with a pom-pom on the zipper (sears).

While shopping at Target and Sears, I looked through the holiday dresses. Last year she had a Santa Dress, and then another very pretty dark maroon velvet number. I’m thinking two holiday dresses are a good thing to have, with multiple celebrations and all, a girl has to have choices. We came by 2006’s dress number one via her cousin Anna–it’s the cutest thing with fur cuffs, matching hat and everything. Perfect. So here’s question–do we go for another Santa dress this year or do we branch out??? There are beautiful velvet dresses with pink or white tulle skirts, burgandy dresses with drop waists, traditional Christmas plaid, and many other options. Any and all opinions and advice will be considered!! I looked online, but Target.com didn’t have the selections that I saw in the store today or I’d have ya’ll check ’em out.

Madonna

How could you not post about Madonna today?? I had to say I was disappointed that it was a video feed and not a live interview, though if I’d thought about it long enough, I would have come to that conclusion before turning on the TV (Oprah: Chicago, Madonna:London). So here’s what I noticed: a) The Material Girl really did go through “the process”–she had a Social Worker and a Homestudy just like us!! (who knew i’d have something in common with Madonna??) b) She actually has an open adoption, since she’s met David’s first father and all. c) I think she explained her situation quite well, and I’m prone to believe her.

All that being said, I noticed that most of her pretty face really didn’t move. I think in addition to a Social Worker, the Material Girl also has a Botox worker, don’tcha think??? That said, she looks fantastic for a mom of 3!!! Also, me thinks she’s affected the accent of a Brit.