"Now my live here"...3/23/11

In the last couple of days, “O” has been saying (without prompting) that "When my was a little girl, mommy-mika take care of me. But now my a big girl, and my live here. Mommy and daddy take care of me now." And then we follow it up with..."And are you going anywhere else after this? No!!! This is your forever home!" She smiles really big.

We met up with her bio grandparents today at a park in Phoenix. We had met them one other time at the CPS office. This was a more fun and relaxing place. She did pretty well. She was excited to see them, it had been 6 weeks. Her grandpa is very old, and told Blaine that he will "try to hold on until the adoption is finalized" (meaning, he wants to be alive long enough to see it through and know that she is forever and finally safe). They teared up several times today, always thanking us and expressing how grateful they are. We told them we feel just as blessed.

Blaine is trying to teach “O” some lyrics to a song that was inspired by her "sayings". When she wants to have something, or have more of something, she'll say "just a little bit". So, he wrote a song entitled "Just a little bit". The left column has the correct lyrics, the right column is what “O” sings:

Give me just a little bit...................gimme just a little bit

I don't need a lot ...........................no my need a lot

Open up your heart........................open up your heart

and show me what you got.............show me what you got

sugar tastes sweet........................sugar is sweet

coffee in the pot............................coffee in the coffee maker

hahahaha! It's so cute when she sings. She also walks around singing "rusted!" from "Busted and Rusted". Oh, and "hallelula!!" all day long.

I just enrolled her in "Itty Bitty Dance Combo" (singing and dancing) and Beginning Gymnastics through the Chandler Parks and Recreation dept. They are 4 week long classes starting in April (mon/thursdays). She is so excited!

-joni

Shopping in cupboards Feb 24, 2011

Feb 24, 2011

“O” decided to go shopping in our cupboards today (I thought that only happened once they go to college?) and so she filled a grocery bag with various items.

Tonight at dinner time, Blaine was at work and we were listening to "Honey in My Coffee" album and the song "Coffee Eyes" was playing (about his dog, Missy). “O” was being silly and talking, but as soon as he sang the line, "she's the sweetest thing, always by my side" she stopped and said, "he singing about me!".

Today I discovered what Blaine has already enjoyed a few times...drinking starbucks while letting our child run free in the mall play area. Ahhhh....peace.

In these pics she is wearing the adorable dress/shirt that my friend, Lauren, got for her. She picked it out today and was very proud of it.

yesterday and today “O” skyped with Mika and her family. It went really well. She said a couple of times, "my wanna go to your house!" but wasn't crying, just stating a fact. It's good - good she still wants to see them. I'm glad she loves them and is connected to them. They enjoyed seeing each other, and I actually miss them quite a bit, too! They are great people! We are going to try to do a park date sometime soon. Going over to their house too soon might be weird or confusing for “O”.

-joni

ps - I don't know how full time stay-at-home mom's do it...I'm looking forward to going to ASU tomorrow:) We've had a couple of awesome days, I'm just ready for a break!

First Airplane Ride! March 4-7, 2011

March 4-7, 2011

“O” went on her very first airplane ride! We got a children's book from the library (written by Mr. Rogers himself!) with 1970s photos about going on an airplane. It had pictures of kids/parents packing, walking at the airport, security x-ray, waiting in the chairs, sitting in the seats, buckling up, the pilots, getting food, the bathrooms, etc. We read it every night during the week before we left on Friday to go to California. It really helped...she held my hand when walking around, and was SO excited about looking out the windows at the airport that she didn't even play with her special, new airport/airplane toys. We got snacks at Starbucks (as shown in the book, minus the "Starbucks", just a snack bar was shown). Each plane that drove by the window she asked, "is that our plane!? I want to get on!" or when looking at someone waiting near us, "him the pilot?". As soon as we got on, she sat down in her window seat and put on her buckle (thanks Mr. Rogers!) She checked out the tray table, the armrests, and loved the snacks. Flights really are exciting through the eyes of a 3 year old! She chattered THE WHOLE FLIGHT. I told the people in front, "sorry, at least it was only an hour flight!". They laughed and said she talked like their 8 year old, couldn't believe how well she spoke and the things she talked about.

The first meeting with Uncle Jeff was not so good - she got scared (was in the bathtub when he said 'hi') and she cried and wanted him to "go away". She insisted that he didn't live there, but that he had his own house. However, I knew she was intrigued with him because she kept asking where he was and wanted to see him. She also said later, "him a nice guy".

Before we left for California, “O” got to meet her cousin, Samantha, who was visiting from Illinois. The pictures of them in the red car and with Patrick are attached. After that, she kept playing (and still does) that she was Samantha. "My Samantha!" So we have to say, "oh hi, Samantha!".

She did really well at the shower in CA, was a real trooper with so many people. Kept asking everyone, "what's your name?". She was Rachel's little shadow and now wants me to include her in all of the family names at night time when I say, "who loves “O”" (I list everyone she knows).

“O” LOVED swimming in my parents' jacuzzi. She was so brave and put her head under the water several times. Can't wait until summertime! We're going to be in the pool everyday - a few times a day I'm sure. We're going to sign up for swim lessons through Chandler Parks and Rec.

Adopting a 3 year old means that we miss some of her "firsts"...first words, first steps, first solid foods... however, we get to have lots of firsts still...here are a few:

-first airplane ride!

-first time flying an RC airplane (thanks Pop-pop!)

-first time to sabbath school (which she liked..she wanted to shake the bells for every song and stood up to dance while the rest of the kids sat in their chairs to sing. She can't help but move when she hears music!)

-first time pooping in her own toilet! (which she LOVES and will do over and over again, 3x in a row!)

-first time pedaling her trike (2 weeks ago!)

-first time meeting her forever cousins

Here are some funny sayings that she uses a lot: When asking her if you can do/have something, she'll say, "of course!". She uses "probably" and "actually" a lot when talking, very adult-like (thanks to me, I didn't realize that I say those words so much!). She calls Cash "Cashy-boy". When she means to say, "what's that?" she says "who's that?" so it can be confusing sometimes to know if she's talking about a thing or a person. Her favorite fruit: strawberry/ favorite vegetable: green bean/ favorite veggie food: choplets (she discovered them this weekend at my parents' house).

-joni

Spring Break March 12-17, 2011

March 12-17, 2011

“O” got to meet her Texas cousins, Eva and Julian! The house was of full of people and activity for Spring break. She was in heaven - a true extrovert. We filled our week with going to the Scottsdale Arts Festival to hear blaine play with the band (the kids danced down in front on the grass). We also went to the play area at the mall, parks, flew Pop-pop's RC airplanes (each plane named after a grandchild), painted, played with toys at home, swam in the 73 degree pool, searched for easter eggs, ate/played at Peter Piper Pizza, and baked cookies. Eva was very good with “O”, teaching her things and being very patient. Julian cracked up at things that “O” said ("iI love you Julian, It's ok!").

She was exhausted after everyone left and easily got back to her "routine", but definitely asks about Eva, Julian, Aunt Jill, and Uncle Reni often. She was concerned about Chico being sad when he went home. She also got excited when she saw the top of an RV poking over our block wall in our neighbor's yard..."that Pop-pop's RV??!"

I got to talk on the phone with another adoptive mother. She and her husband adopted 2 brothers (3 & 4 years old) about 10 months ago. It was nice to hear that some of the things we are feeling and going through are perfectly normal (and healthy). I can't imagine getting TWO toddlers at once!

She likes to sing the songs that my mom left for her (cherub choir songs) and sings "Brother Nona!" for the song "Brother Noah". She also says "all-lay-lu-la" for "hallelujah". However, I think her favorite phrase right now is, "My will do it!"

-joni

Mommy & 'O' are sick..Feb 16, 2011

Feb 16, 2011

“O” has a cold - wet cough, runny nose, fever. Poor little thing, she wants me to carry her around everywhere. My upper body is getting quite the workout, but my lower back isn't too happy.

Daddy and “O” did some painting yesterday. Blaine had to put his paints on his own separate plate because the first day they painted together she wanted to mix all the colors, which really got to him. So, the next time she got to do what she wanted and he had his nicely separated paint colors (see pictures).

“O” picks up on everything people say, and will even use an expression correctly after hearing it only once. She is a mirror to our actions (whether we like it or not!). Apparently I clear my throat a lot because she has started doing it. Also, Blaine says "big time" to emphasize the importance of something. Tonight in bed she was recapping her day and telling me about the doctor putting a q-tip up her nose to send out a sample to check for the Flu. It hurt and made her cry. So in bed she said, "the doctor picked my nose and my cry big time".

I also told her about when Julian was here a few years ago and fell on our cactus in the backyard, he cried and got hurt a bit. She talked about it several times in bed tonight. "Julian come and fall and hurt hisself on the cactus? Him cry?"

Last night was tough because she was feeling crummy with her cold and started saying that she wanted to go to mommy-Mika's house. We called Mika (for the first time since she moved in) and she started crying saying, "my wanna go to your house!". Oh! It broke my heart to see her so sad. It didn't really make me feel bad or jealous (I'm actually really happy and relieved that she was able to make such a close connection/attachment to Mika), but just felt bad for “O” and Mika. That must have been hard on Mika, too. We'll try to skype with them later in the week, hopefully when “O”'s feeling better and in a happy mood.

No work again tomorrow. This whole working 10 hours a week is pretty nice. Only a few weeks of it, though:)

Joni

First Dental cleaning Feb 21, 2011

Feb 21, 2011

“O” had her first dental cleaning (it wasn't technically her first visit to the dentist, since she had gone back in April with Mika to get her crowns on her top teeth). This was a follow-up and then a first cleaning. She did so well! She laid in the chair, opened her mouth, followed all the directions, and didn't get scared at all! They had her wear sunglasses because the light they shine on their face is bright.

She's finally feeling better and now doing some albuterol inhaler treatments a couple times of day to get rid of her cough. She doesn't like the taste, but still does it like a big girl! I'm starting to feel better, but being sick and a new mom is NO FUN. No fun for ANYONE. Blaine is the greatest daddy ever (well, after my dad of course:) He has a way with her, man, it's amazing. He had her all day on Sunday when I spent my Nyquil-induced coma in bed from 9am-5pm.

Today he took her to the mall to play, Starbucks for a cookie and milk, Joann's fabric to buy t-shirts and iron-ons (which he also ironed on when she was in quiet time), lunch, and naptime, all before 2:30. Oh, and apparently she had a "blow-out" in which she didn't quite make it to the toilet and Blaine had to clean up (hands, toilet, floor, body). He ended up just putting her in the shower to wash her off. hehe. I'm glad I was at work:)

Check out her cute picture that they took of her at the dentist, and the hygienist wrote a little note on a card for her. The other pictures are of us in our "eckercise" outfits. Oh, and she loves to play in our shower, so one day she took 'lion' in there with her to play.

-joni