10 Months Old!!!

My baby girl is now 10 months old!! I can't believe it, and I can't believe how much she has changed, and grown in the 2 months since she's been home!!

Her newest thing is pulling herself up, standing, and as of today cruising!!! I think she'll be an early walker. Ga-Ga is saying don't encourage her, as Ga-Ga will have to do most of the chasing while I'm at work... sorry Ga-Ga.

It started innocently enough last week with crawling over the entertainment center...(of course Mommy encouraged a little bit by putting her favorite ball just out of reach on the shelf)...

I get up on one knee to get started...

Then I get both feet up a little wobbly

I think I can reach it...

Okay... Mommy... enough with the camera I get it!!

That was all last week... now... she makes a bee line for the entertainment center, and pulls herself up. My theory is she wants to see how many times Mommy has to say 'Madalynn, No!' before Mommy comes over, and picks her up. Also, you can see in these pictures she's watching 'The Heffalump Movie' (BTW, I highly recommend this movie... it is just the sweetest). You can make out Roo in the pics. So, she has now also decided this is the best vantage point for watching 'Heffalump'.

So if there were audio on this blog, when you see this picture you would insert the sound of my voice saying 'Madalynn... No!', and if there were video you would see her give me this look, and then immediately turn back to what I told her not to do.

Mommy also bought a fun beach chair for baby girl, and she just LOOOVES it. The only drawback is there is no foot rest, and Madalynn loves to prop her feet up... but her hand works well too.

This week also brings big changes at our house as Grandma & Grandpa will be moving out & into their new house. They've been here the whole time Madalynn has been home, and I think she is going to be bored with just Mommy. As Ga-Ga has said it's bittersweet leaving as they're so excited to get into their own new home, and yet enjoy getting to experience every moment of Madalynn's life. Grandpa (who is an early riser) has told me how much he loves sitting his chair around 5:00am as she's begginning to stir, and just listen to her little chatter.

Amazing Woman...

I just saw this headline on Yahoo for this 98 year old woman who died today, and she is credited with smuggling 2500 Jewish children out of Nazi Ghettos... It is only a little blurb about her story. I would love to know more, and tried to find a biography on her, but to no avail... just thought I'd share. Plus, how cute is she??

I'm a firm believer in the fact that everyone has a story, and I always love it when I find another amazing story. These stories amaze, inspire, and humble me.

And the winner is.....

...PINK!!!!

Okay... there were 0 votes for the pink dress, but Ga-Ga wanted her to wear it, and since it was her Mother's Day too... she outvoted everyone else!!

It was such a wonderful day. I just loved every moment of enjoying my daughter (I love saying my daughter).

We had a picture perfect day in New England beautiful blue skies, and sunny weather in the 60's. Madalynn & I went to church with Ga- Ga & Grandpa, and then Aunty, Uncle, and the cousins came over for a little visit, and then we went to our favorite restaurant The Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton. Then we all came home for naps. It was a little too bright so the lighting in these pics is tough... another reason Mommy needs a new camera...oyyy.

It was such a wonderful day, and just the perfect way to spend my first Mother's Day.

This was the view from our table on the back deck.

This is Madalynn after I took her plate away so she didn't throw it on the floor...so tragic isn't it??

A happy girl, now that she has a waffle... who needs a plate??

Trying to get some cute pics...

Time for 'Mom' reflection...

It's Mother's Day weekend, and I keep telling my Mom that I already have all I want for mother's day. I don't need anything else. My heart still bursts with love for this precious baby girl.

Today, May 10th is Mother's day in Guatemala, and my heart is so heavy for Madalynn's birth mother. I've been trying to come up with a tradition Madalynn & I can do together to honor her birth mother every year on this day. I liked the idea of writing something, tying it to a balloon, and releasing it. Although, I don't know if I'd want some stranger getting it, and knowing my & someday Madalynn's thoughts & feelings. I would like to plant a tree, and then every year plant some flowers around the trunk... living in a condo that isn't an option. I think for now I'm going to write her birthmom a letter, and put it away somewhere, and then as Madalynn gets older let her write one too.

So often I'll be playing with Madalynn, or doing something for her, and think that her birth mother is missing this. I can't help but be sad that she doesn't get to see the delightful, happy girl that I know, and love as my daughter, and yet be so grateful for this indescribable gift she has given me. A woman I will probably never meet. There are so many things I want to share with her about Madalynn. All the new things she's learning. It would melt her heart to see Madalynn give Pooh bear a hug. Madalynn's goofy side that makes us all laugh, and her determined spirit that I'm sure will try my patience in the coming years, and reminds Ga-Ga of another determined girl she raised.

My heart is heavy for all the Mom's in process waiting for their babies to come home. I know that longing, and time just stretching out before you with no finite point to look toward as your finish line. I'm praying for all of you that this Mother's Day would bring peace, and that you would hold your precious babies in your arms forever in the not too distant future.

I also want to acknowledge all the 'Mom's at heart' out there who for whatever reason aren't Mom's yet, but so long to be. Whether it's years of struggling with infertility, or singleness, or whatever other reason. I know that pain very well, as I spent many a Mother's Day having a bittersweet day. Wanting to honor my own mother, and yet feeling the sting of my own empty arms. God has already given you a Mom's heart even if the fullfillment of that is yet unseen. God is working out His plan perfectly for you, and I pray the fullfillment of that desire comes to be very soon.

Tomorrow I will celebrate my first Mother's Day with my daughter, and I'm already crying... I'd suggest buying stock in Kleenex... it's going to be a 10 hanky day.


Happy Mother's Day everyone.




BTW, I've narrowed her dress selection down to 3... anyone care to vote?? See the poll at the top of the page...


Pretty In Pink





Cream Dream



Polka Dot Fun

'Non'-Mom???

I don't know if anyone has seen the 'Today' show is doing an 'America's Favorite Mom' contest, and they've divided the Mom's into categories... military Moms, Single Mom, working mom, and the COE (chairman of everything) Mom, and another category.

This is what their website had this afternoon...

The non-mom mom; Grandparent, stepmom, or mom to adopted children, each one raising and loving a child. A priceless gift for everybody.

Are you kidding me????? What the he#l is a 'Non-Mom Mom'????? How am I a "Non-Mom"??? Adoption is a verb which means it's an action, and has a beginning and an end. Madalynn was adopted... the adoption is done, she is now my child, my daughter, and I am her Mom. PERIOD.

They have since changed it to say 'The Adopting Mom'. I'm sure they've heard quite a bit from all of us Momma bears!!!

I think as a stepmom or Grandmother who is filling the 'Mom' role in someone's life I would also be offended by this label as 'non' Mom.

One year ago today...

I was looking back on my other blog, and it was 1 year ago today that I got the notification that all my paperwork had been approved, and I was now officially on the waiting list for a baby girl.

"I was in the grocery store when my cell phone rang, and I got the news. I then proceeded to try to make it through the rest of my grocery shopping without bursting into tears. Then when I got in my car I called my Mom & burst into tears with her :-). "

12 weeks, and 5 days later I saw Madalynn's picture for the first time. It all seems like a distant memory now. All my years of waiting, and longing were for God to work out leading me to 'my' daughter. She was conceived in prayer, and a dream in my heart. Look at my little peanut at 2 weeks old!!

Just Living Life...

This weekend was rainy & raw in New England, so Saturday was a cozy day at home with Madalynn & I... just hanging out. She is crawling all over, and now really picks up steam when she sees something she wants. She also will now hug a stuffed animal if prompted. It is so sweet. She was holding her classic Pooh bear, and I took him, and gave him a hug, and said 'Aww... hug Pooh', and handed him back to her, she put her little arms, tiny chubby hands around him, and rested her chin on top of her head, and gave him a squeeze. Too much cuteness for Mommy.

Then Sunday we went to the nursing home to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday!! It was a very nice day for Grandma Betty. While we were there my nieces Kassie & Jessica taught Madalynn how to clap.

I'm seeing great signs in her attachment. When she first came home, and I would hold her front to front, she would always arch her back, and her legs would curl back too, away from me. Gradually she stopped doing this (almost without me noticing), and now she will form to me Just within the last week when she's really tired she'll snuggle her head on my shoulder. I love it.

Here are just some random pictures. They convince Mommy it's time for a new camera. My film camera has hit the skids, and I've even sent it out to be repaired with no success. Yes, I still shoot film and will be dragged into the digital age kicking & screaming. I LOOOVE film, I know film, I get how to manipulate film... digital not so much. I did buy a point & shoot digital a few years ago just so I would have a small camera to carry when I go out, etc, but I've always hated it. Most pics I've put on my blog have been from that camera, or my Mom's digital camera. However, I think it's time to get the big guns with a digital SLR that I can use all my fun lenses with, and get back to shooting pictures I can be proud of.

I would open this up to suggestions of which digital SLR to purchase as I know photographers are loyal to their brands. That said, I am no exception, and will be sticking with Pentax. I've always loved my Pentax, and I'll be able to use all those fun lenses with it. Now, if I could just find a store that carries Pentax...

You can see her new rug in this picture that I picked up last weekend. Every time her cousins came over they told me that she needed a rug to go over the hardwood in her bedroom. Apparently this is one of those deep philosophical truths that only kids know because they told me EVERYTIME they came over. After we got it put down Madalynn wasn't too sure. She'd sit there, and didn't want to put her hands on it. She'd start to lean forward to crawl, and just couldn't put her hands down... it was so funny. Then she'd just sort of tap it with her open palm. Which is funny because she always loves touching & feeling new textures.

Okay, Mommy... I'm bored with the camera... I'll see you later.

Hanging out with Grandpa before the party... don't worry Grandpa... I have a pretty dress to wear... these are just my sweats.

Notice Madalynn's Buddah Belly!!!

I can't believe tomorrow is 8 weeks we've been home, and 9 weeks we've been Mommy & baby girl. I keep telling people that this is better than I imagined it would be.

I know several families through my agency in particular that are still in process anxiously waiting for their little ones to come home to their forever family. Please keep these families & their adoption cases in your prayers if you think of it. Living in that time is like being a state of suspended animation.

I've also just heard that Vietnam will be closing to adoptions in September. This just saddens me so much as it seems as if adoptions are getting more difficult. It disheartens me when I hear of any country closing or increasing adoption restricitions. I know God holds each of these precious little ones in the palm of His hand, but they need forever earthly families too.