Ten Things

My daughter is wearing two different shoes and throughly searching and removing every item from the small purse that I use as a wallet. However, I have accomplished researching and purchasing a lightweight stroller for use on our trip this upcoming weekend. This seems like a fair trade since she doesn't know how to open lip stick containers yet. This past week has been wonderful - with good news, long naps, time spent as a family of three, and I started a Tom Clancy book (it's really a feat that I'm even writing a blog post. This book is so good that I'd rather not do anything else....even though I am at minimum still feeding the Squirms and changing her diapers) - so I thought perhaps a Ten Things post would be easiest.

1. R received a raise from work. It was a surprise, and out of sync with the company's normal evaluation and pay adjustment cycle. To us, it is more evidence that God is preparing our family for this adoption. (I believe I've already posted that we are now a Waiting Family!!)

2. We celebrated the anniversary of Squirm's Adoption Day! The Squirms and I met friends for lunch; and after R came home from work the three of us went to the toy store and chose a toy. Then we picked up a cake and Aunties H, L, and C and Mrs. MHJ watched the Squirms devour, and play with, the cake over FaceTime.
While she won't remember, she will have video evidence, and it helps continue the tradition of celebrating when she became legally, forever, ours. To us, it is a reminder of why we got background checks, were fingerprinted, filled out lengthly questionnaires on our childhood, extended families, beliefs, let strangers enter our home and lives, expanded our minds and hearts to consider what birth parents go through, researched insurance, tax, and grant information, and asked ourselves questions about our capability to accept and love that required honest answers. A reminder of the ache for a child, and a reminder that God has filled our days with a child more amazing than we could imagine. How could we not celebrate?

3. The next morning, while I was trying to open the toy for Squirms (more difficult than it sounds), R called to say he had passed the PE (Professional Engineering Exam)! He worked hard on his application, sought guidance and references from dear friends and coworkers, studied for months, prayed, and even memorized a map of the conference center where the test was taking place so he wouldn't get lost the morning of (the conference center, in Orlando, is probably larger than my hometown). After the eight hour exam, he had waited over a month for the results. Needless to say, he was relieved.

4.  The Squirms and I had our normal bi-weekly breakfast meeting with LF and this time she brought along her sweet, and very into Star Wars Legos, boys. We had a blast, learned a lot about Star Wars ships, and kept them at Panera for two hours. Even more lovely for me - the Squirms was ready for a nap after our "breakfast" meet.

5. We bought Squirm's her first life vest on Saturday. We were in the store, purchasing the vest so we could safely attend a pool party, when she got sick (Not the kind of sick that's nice to publicly write about). So, we bought a life vest and then didn't go to the pool party. Ah well.

6. I am flattered. MGH wrote a Ten Things post, and referenced this blog. This made me happy - mainly because I respect her, and because this means at least two people have read one of my blog posts. Shout out to Grandma who reads every post!
http://mandghall.blogspot.com/
You can also find MGH's blog link on the side bar.

7. Monday morning, Memorial Day and our 7th Wedding Anniversary, we went to the beach. R and ED surfed while Squirms and I played in the sand (well, really on a blanket, but with a one year old, sand gets on the blanket too). I was relieved to find out my tiny girl was okay playing with her sand castle toys without necessarily throwing, or eating too much, sand.

8. We ate fastfood on the way home from the beach. I was eating Wendy's fries when we passed three very slender girls, in their bikini tops and shorts, waiting to cross the road to access the beach and I thought it's so nice to be married and eating fast food.    

9. Grilled hot dogs. Hot dogs are just delicious. Dinner last night and lunch today. There's just something about a warm bun, raw onions, and mustard.

10. R pulled the living rug back last night. Glenn Miller and his band were playing. We danced.

Just Another Tuesday

Isn't there a clever saying about noise being a good thing, and quiet equaling trouble? I turned two pages of a magazine and turned around to find The Squirms happily playing in Tanner's crate, with his tennis ball dumbbell. Please keep in mind Tanner is a dog. So, what I'm saying is that The Squirms was playing in a dog crate.

I think she may think she is a puppy - like how Tanner thinks he is a human baby.

This face. It's difficult to limit how many kisses I give her each day. Especially when she's so pleased with herself for finding a new place to play. And her dress is soaked down the middle from spitting playing-like-she's-a-fountain with her juice.

Isn't this new play house so amazing?

She also had her 15 month check up today! I would feel sentimental about 15 months passing, but she gets better by the day so I just took pictures of her playing in a crate instead of weeping over the fact she won't be still for more than two seconds for me to rock her.

Just to be clear: dog crates. 

Then. She got in, she climbed out, she got back in. Then she decided she could no longer get out on her own and desperately needed help. Such a cutie when she cries for no reason.

I need my mommy. And she's just taking pictures of me. While I'm crying.

P.S. Don't mention this to Tanner. He would be really stressed out. Even more so than he already is - we did have a thunderstorm today and he tried to jump into the bed with me, which also means he'll need his arthritis pain meds tonight.

JCJ, JD

Yesterday we traveled to JCJ's law school graduation. To summarize yesterday: This morning Squirms slept until 10:30 AM. After being awake for an hour (11:30 AM) she decided to take a three hour nap. If that doesn't say Yesterday-Was-Fun, I don't know what does.

The lawyer's family and friend

I have a leaf! A leaf! Look!

All questions concerning this photo should be directed to JCJ aka Auntie C

So Happy!

A happy mom!

A proud dad!

Can you tell that they're all chanting "School is done. School is done."?

The proud (and handsome) big brother.

Take a look around. You've been climbing for a while. Take in the view and breathe deeply - you worked so hard to get here. To this spot. Look back at the slopes you've traversed, step by step, not sure if you had what it took to make that next step. You did. Enjoy this view.

Look ahead. You're almost to the summit. It's not far. But it is steep - very steep. It looks windy and cold and beautiful. Look down at your feet, tell them you're almost there. Look back one more time to remind yourself how far you've come and let this view soak in. Enjoy the plateau, then take that next step. Tell the summit you're coming.

We are so proud of you JCJ! Good luck studying for the bar! We'll try to stay out of legal trouble at least until then.

Good Week

My first violin lesson was this week - don't worry - it didn't involve fire or anyone getting an appendectomy. I had been looking forward to this first lesson since April - I was thrilled that R got me lessons for my birthday and so excited about learning. I had ideas in my head of playing with KHA's husband and his guitar around the campfire next spring; and with my sister-in-law and her cello in my in-law's living room. Tuesday afternoon though, I felt like I was back in high school, about to play a basketball game - I was so nervous. R came home a bit early so I could be early to my lesson; and when I was about to walk out the door, R came out of our room, holding out the violin. Right. Supposed to take that with me.
The lesson itself was fun. My teacher is lovely, yet authoritative. I am going to enjoy learning from her. After lesson one, I'm not as afraid to hold the instrument and I learned how I'm supposed to play five notes. Shelby Ann and Tanner both agree that it doesn't sound like I know how to play five notes. While I am thrilled to be learning, the dogs adamantly disagree that I should practice at our house.

Squirms is amazing me with all sorts of new things this week. She has been trying to put her foot in my shoes, bringing me my shoes for me to put on my feet, AND she gave me a real kiss. It's possibly the cutest thing ever to walk into a room and see your one year old trying to put her tiny foot in your nude colored high heel. And R says I must be elated that she has been finding my house slippers and bringing them to me - my feet are cold 98% of the time. I think he suspects I trained her to do this.

Yesterday afternoon I baked cookies for our Life Group meeting, and like a good cook, I tasted one when they came out of the oven, because, let's be honest, cookies are always best right out of the oven with a glass of milk. So. I put a cookie on a plate, poured a glass of milk and a sippy cup of milk, and sat in the floor with Squirms. She didn't understand that you're supposed to take a gulp of milk after each bite of the cookie, but she did understand that she liked the cookie. With her second bite in her mouth and a third piece in her hand, she stood up, slowly stepped toward me, slowly leaned toward my head - at this point I was kind of afraid of what she was about to do - touched her forehead to mine and kissed the tip of my nose! 

She also put her beach tote over her head and tried walking around her room....until she ran into a toy basket full of stuffed animals....and fell over and started crying. R and I would have felt bad for her, if it hadn't been just so funny. Unfortunately, he had been trying to take a picture of her with the tote on her head instead of taking video. 

This week we've also been using the bike trailer as a jogging stroller - which I've really enjoyed and helps with time management. It's nice because it's gives her a smooth ride and holds juice, toys, and books without her being able to throw them on the sidewalk. Being able to exercise also helps keep me relatively sane. 

Oh! and before I write that I don't have anything else to report, we had a very funny comment from a Dillard's cosmetic counter worker the Saturday before Mother's Day. File this under funny-things-people-say-when-you-are-adoptive-parents. I was checking out, buying face wash, and R was standing with the stroller, and Squirms, behind me. One of the cosmetic ladies was talking to Squirms about how cute she is and how pretty her eyes are. Then, the lady looked at me and said You know, she doesn't look anything like either one of you. I laughed and said Yes, that's right. She's adopted. Then we talked a little bit about adoption and Clinique's new nail polish line. I told R and my parents later that I've got to be quicker on my feet in these situations - it would have been so funny, to me at least, to have replied Shhhhhh! He doesn't know! (while pointing to R). Ah well, maybe next time.

Time to go, the baby - Tanner, not Squirms - is crying.

Happy Mother's Day - keyword: Happy

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This means you Mom and Mrs. MHJ. And me.

Look at my teeth! And I didn't bite anyone today at church!

This morning at church we studied the letter to Ephesus from Jesus in Revelation 2:1-6. We are both enjoying learning and growing with our church family.

Then Squirms let me take a long, long nap.

If you're looking for a heartfelt, tear-inducing blogpost about adoption and Mother's Day:
http://www.kathylynnharris.com/dear-moms-of-adopted-children/

If you're looking for a funny and sweet video from the kid president:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ4Rnba85o8

Not the Best-Mom-Ever, but certainly the Most-Blessed

Good News

This box held a lovely birthday present from my in-laws. I'm not good at using ribbon, but I love when it's used well.

This showed up in our backyard after my in-laws kept the Squirms....the periscope is her favorite part, but I'm thinking eventually the slide will win.

The Squirms LOVES berries. Blackberries, strawberries, blueberries. LOVE.

And she likes to eat them herself, as you can probably see.

Our homestudy update visit was completed last week! This means we are almost ready to be shown to birth parents. The approval of our profile book (draft 2 is being reviewed by the agency) is our last step to be considered in the phase: WAITING.
Don't be alarmed by the name of this phase though - WAITING really means that R, myself, and our social worker have done the paperwork and are ready for what God's purpose is.
Because trying to follow God's purpose (R really likes Psalm 19:21) is scary and exciting, I thought I would share these two verses that the Squirms and I read yesterday (we read a verse in the morning together, and then she tries to eat the bookmark):

Children are a gift from the Lord; babies are a reward. Psalm 127:3

When I am afraid, I will trust You. Psalm 56:3