Birthday Weekend

My Mom threw a fabulous shin-dig this weekend to celebrate my thirtyish-uhhhum birthday.

No b-day pics as I was the b-day girl, and couldn't capture myself without a tripod.

But, I did get some pics of my baby girl all dressed up (this dress was an ebay find!!) This also brings to a conclusion the sundresses... she has now worn each of her sundresses at least once, and now that I think of it I don't think she's worn the same one twice.

This was before we left... she thought she was a big shot on Mommy's bed.

 

 

1st Time Ever I Saw Your Face...

It was one year ago today that I held Madalynn in my arms for the first time. 

All the memories from this trip are so fresh, and vivid... I can recall many details with minimal effort.  This was my blog entry from our trip.  Reading it again makes me teary still.

We weren't in our hotel room very long before the call came to come down to the meeting room where Madalynn was. I walked into that room, and just started sobbing. All the wishing, hoping, and praying was in that moment fullfilled... I'm even teary now writing it.

Madalynn is a darling baby. She makes wonderful little noises almost all the time, and being a neurotic first time Mom this reassures me in the night that I know she is still breathing.

I can remember this tiny hot crowded room in a side hallway off the lobby where families were meeting, giving back, or taking home forever their babies.

She slept quite a bit (and thankfully still does).  I just fell in love with her.

Of course giving her back to her foster mother was heart wrenching, and I couldn't even look at her picture for days after coming home.

Now, I'm here a year later with this bright, goofy girl fillng my life with such love, and joy that is beyond what I had hoped for or imagined.

I feel blessed.

This is my attempt today of a self portrait photo session...

 

She's Published!!!

If you get Adoptive Families magazine you may see a familiar face in the 'Family Album' section....  I haven't seen the finished magazine yet, but I hear it's already out... I'll try not to stalk the postman!!

 

7 DAYS!!!

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!!

The BOYS are coming back in 7 days!!!

Prison Break 2 Hour premiere September 1st!!

Let's hope it's better than last season!!!

Look at this!!!

Oh my gosh!!!  I've been online looking for Halloween costumes for Madalynn, and I saw this Princess Leia one... I'm not considering it, but it JUST CRACKS ME UP!!!

No Plans Weekend...

I love it!!!  Madalynn & I had no plans on the calendar for the weekend.  I love weekends like this.

The weather was beautiful.  Yesterday after Madalynn's nap we decided to go see Ga-Ga & Grandpa (I don't drive there enough the other 5 days of the week).  Anyway, we were having a nice visit with them, when all of a sudden a stampede of the cousins came into the house... all smiles & hops (my nieces & nephew can become airborne when excited enough).  So we had an impromptu family get-together.  Which was fun.

Today we just stayed close to home.  Played, cleaned.  We set up the outdoor toys since the nice weather weekend days are probably waning.  She went in her pool, played with her water table, her swing & her slide.

For some reason she's been extra clingy with me this weekend.  Now that she's walking she'll walk up to me, and wrap her arms around my legs, and bury her head in them.  So sweet.

I've also discovered digital scrapping!  I bought the software Friday & I am now a full on addict. I re-did the header of my blog, and have started an album for Madalynn.  It's not quicker like I thought it would be vs. paper scrapping, but I love the flexibility of it. 

Ok... just a couple pictures from the pool time.  She thought it was great fun to sit on the edge, and bounce...

Getting ready to sit....

Walking & Picking Up Speed.....

 

 

 

... And ohhhhhh so proud of herself!!!!

She was playing with this hat that Ga-Ga got her the other day... she kills me in it!!!  She's a goof!!!

 

And a Happy Birthday to my Amy friend!!!  If I had a picture uploaded  from 'back in the day' I'd post it!!

Happy Birthday Ga-Ga!!!

Happy- Happy Birthday Ga-Ga!!!

My amazing Mom is celebrating her birthday today!! She is amazing for many reasons. She always puts her families needs before her own, she always views the world, and life through a God filter, and while she struggles with a lifelong illness that causes chronic pain she won't allow herself to be defined by it.

Happy Birthday Ga-Ga!!! Madalynn & I hope you have an extra special day!!

How many calories???

Okay... I'm watching the Olympics (and by watching I mean it's on the background while I get other things done).

Anyway, they just showed a profile of Michael Phelps, and said that he's 6'5, and yet can't break 240 lbs.  As if THAT's not enough his trainer (or his dr... I can't remember which see previous paragraph about watching), say he should be eating between 8500-10,000 calories per day!!!!  I can't even imagine how you'd begin to eat that many calories in one day??

Just a couple other observations on the Olympics...

1)  Can the beach volleyball athletes not afford an entire bathing suit?

2) Can someone design some 'fun' hair accessories for the gymnasts??  I mean I get that they have to have it out of their face, but there's no reason that can't be a little fashionable in the process.

Just my thoughts.

Fun Website...

In my quest to organize & simplify I came across this fun blog....Org Junkie  check it out for some great tips!!

I'm going to tackle this organizing one project at at time!!!

REFERALVERSARY!!!!!

Today is our referalversary!!!  It was one year ago today that I saw the face that would change my life forever.

I still remember waiting, waiting, and waiting for 'The Call'.  12 weeks & 5 days to be exact.

This was my post from 1 year ago in the morning BEFORE I got the call

Getting Closer

August 8, 2007

I'm really close to the top of the list with my agency, and am anxiously waiting for that phone call. I really think it could be any moment!!

I do okay at work because I'm so busy, but the evenings when I get home at night it is much harder. I think because I'm not that busy, and as the day draws to a close I realize the call is not coming today.

I am so anxious to see that face for the first time.

No matter what the story of my daughter's early life, and the circumstances that led her birthmother to place her for adoption, that will be HER story. Those details I will keep close to my heart, and share only with her when she is ready.

Hopefully my next post will be to introduce you to my baby girl.

Reading above cracks me up, b/c the nights at home no longer have an emptiness in them.  They're now filled with noodles, sippy cups, food on the floor,  getting wet at bathtime, hunting around the house to gather up all the bedtime pals, trying to get some housework done, and falling asleep to the hum of a monitor.... I wouldn't trade ANY of it!!!

This was my post announcing her arrival

A Visit from the stork!!!

August 9, 2007

She's here!!! She's here!!! She's here!!!!

I got the call yesterday afternoon at about 4:00pm while I was at work. Then I drove to my parents house so we could all see her for the first time together, and we all cried!!! Then we drove over to my sister-in-law's parents house where she & the kids were having dinner so we could suprise them with the news!!!

12 Weeks & 5 days of waiting & she is officially here.

Grandma, Grandpa & I booked our flights today for August 30th- September 4th for a visit trip.

There is still a long road ahead of us, but at least we all have a name & face to put with our prayers.

I remembered too after leaving Jill's parents house that night we saw a rainbow, and last night there was a rainbow at my house.

Pictures  from today...

This was the hair I woke up to this morning... every morning I say 'What happened to your HAIR??

My sweet girl!!

 

Getting ready for her nap... feet propped up!!!  She KILLS me!!!  It's kind of hard to see but she's lying on her back with her feet propped up on the bumper toward the wall in back of the crib.

Steven Curtis Chapman

Steven Curtis Chapman tragically lost his youngest daughter in a car accident in May.

His family did an interview on Good Morning America, and this is the link.... grab a box of Kleenex...

Chapman Interview

They have done so much for adoption with a foundation to help people trying to adopt....Shaohannahs Hope with a special fund dedicated to their daughter Maria.

Many of his songs were also an inspiration to me while I was waiting for Madalynn.

They will also be on Larry King Live tonight.

WFMW

In keeping with my 'borrowing' ideas from other blogs I read... I saw this at my friend Amy's blog awhile back, and am now going to give it a try... again b/c I don't know the 'official' rules of this I'm going to do my own b/c after all... it is my blog.

So this is my first 'WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY'... Since it's my first I'm going to do 2!!

The first one is the Pampered Chef pizza cutter on an episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 they talked about all the e-mails they got about cutting pancakes for the kids with a pizza cutter.    BRILLIANT!!!  Since I'm always rushing to get meals ready after getting home from work I can attest that it works for grilled cheese & chicken too!!

Second, is 'Windows Live Writer'.  I've only used it for a couple posts so far, but I love it.  Editing & uploading pics is so much faster & easier!!

So... that's it that is my first WFMW!!! 

To Simplify....

I am on a quest to simplify my life.   I've always been about the simple things. Small little things delight me.  A firm belief that relationships are the most important thing, and our relationship with Christ comes before all else.  I've strived to structure my life that way.  I hope my family and friends know that they come above all else in this earthly realm.

With that said, I am attempting to live a simple life in a 21st century, fast-paced, demanding world.  Living on the East Coast I think that is just compounded even more. 

How do I raise my daughter to appreciate, and value simple things?   How do I raise her to not always be chasing after the latest trend, only to quickly tire & bore of it so she looks for something else? 

Anyway, on to my simplification.  My main goal presently toward simplification is to get my house organized.  The irony I'm finding in doing that is you have to run around to all these stores to buy more things to help organize the things you already have.  Not helping with slowing down the pace, or the de-cluttering.

So, I'm making this my resolution ( I know it's not New Year, but I always get more reflective around my birthday than New Year... so this will be my Birthday resolution), I will get this house organized, and find ways to de-clutter.

A big thing I've been toying with for a long time is getting rid of cable (just having the $13 reception package).  There is NOTHING on (I can get my 'Boys' both Pats & Prison on the local channels), the rest of the time when I go to watch something there is NOTHING!!  I would miss 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' though, but I'm sure I can get it on DVD or online.

If I bite the bullet on that I'll let you know how it goes... I'll also let you know how the organization goes.

PS- Any organizational tips please post them!!

I found 99 ways to organize in the June 2008 of Real Simple magazine.  I put 2 into practice today, and have several more circled for the future.  The one I did today that I loved is to take a 'Vintage tray' to organize desk essentials.  I had a tray I had decoupaged that I put next to my phone in the kitchen with the pen basket, pads, etc.  I'll try to post a picture.

Favorite Foto Friday

Okay... I've seen this on other blogs, and never done it... so today is my first Favorite Foto Friday!! Since, I'm way behind in this I'm using more than one foto. I'm not sure what the specific rules are on this... is it just supposed to be one picture? Are you allowed to journal about it? I'm not sure what the official 'blog' rules are, but since this is my blog I'm going to post more than one, and journal!!

I got Madalynn this fun water table b/c she LOOOVES to play with water.

Madalynn loves to point... especially when Grandpa has her.

Giving Piglet a sweet kiss...

Oyyyy.... the day I've had... if you only knew!!!

This one captures my goofy girl!!