It's Finally Happening!!!!

I'm going PART-TIME!!!!

YAY!!!

I feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders! It's going to be tough...I've already dumped my beloved Chai Tea from Starbucks and switched to Dunkin' Donuts (they have The Great One-the biggest coffee on the planet!) and I will have to curb my obsession with shopping :( But at the end of the day, I will be much happier. I think I will be working 2 shifts a week when Ryan is out of town and probably 3 when he's here.
I can't wait!
I just have to make it until June.....

Nathaniel - Best Dancer EVER.

Ok, so while searching the crazy world of YouTube for Yo Gabba Gabba videos (our new favorite show!) I came across this little gem....

I seriously think I almost pee'd myself watching this!

Paging Doctor Trauma....

We went to the doctor today for our 12 month visit....it did not go well. Our nap schedule has been a bit in flux so we were tired & cranky...on top of that we had to wait 20 minutes for the nurse to come in with our vaccines and what-not..it was NOT pretty. We were pretty much in meltdown mode before all the poking and squeezing. It was awful but it's done and we have 3 fancy band-aids to show for it (oooh, exciting) and we are currently crashed out in the crib, sleeping off the afternoon trauma.

There was some good with this visit. I found out that we are not doing too bad a job as parents...she's up to 21lb 13oz and is 30inches tall and developmentally is right on target (yay!)

So, here are some cute pictures of her hanging out pre-traumatic event ;)

Hey kid! Maybe coffee isn't the best idea for you!

Grandpa!

Grandpa B drove all of the way from Texas to meet his granddaughter for the 1st time....I think they hit it off okay :)

Birthday Extravaganza! or I Never Knew That A Kid's Party Would Be So Exhausting!

The birthday party was a success!!

I was bummed at first because I couldn't find any good cupcakes that were close by and not a million dollars a piece (ok, I exaggerate a bit) BUT The Cake....oh, The Cake!! Fan-freakin'-tastic!! Thanks G'Ma for insisting on the Continental Bakery.

Anywhoo, The Party started out like this.....

with somebody not taking a nap and being very cranky & clingy.

And ended like this....

with a change of clothes and a belly full of cake :)

Here is the in-between!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

*Edit- I just realized that there are no photos of me with T! I think you can see my legs in one, and in another I am far in the background but there are NONE of me with my birthday princess. Oh well, the price I pay for making sure that there are photos actually being taken (Ryan would forget to actually take pictures)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Good Morning & Happy Birthday, my sweet little toddler!!!

Our new favorite bedtime book!

Lovin' it!! Thanks G'Pa Steve!!!

Click here for sample pages

i luv u coco

I know I toss you on the floor when I'm mad and don't wanna nap but I really do love you!

birthday blahs

I've been having a hard time with Tiny's birthday quickly approaching. All I can think about is her Mom and what she must be feeling with her daughter's 1st birthday so close. I also can't stop thinking about what this time last year was like for her. Was she uncomfortable? Was she scared? Was she alone? Who was with her? Who was taking care of her? Did she know that she wouldn't be raising her daughter? All of these questions I can't shake. The thing is, I don't really want to shake them. I just want to know the answers.
I've mentioned my "blah-ness" to a handful of people (who aren't adoptive parents) and I get the same response. "Oh, you'll forget about this." "You'll forget about her and move on." "Would you even want to maintain contact?" "Wouldn't that be confusing for your daughter?" "What if your daughter doesn't want to maintain contact with her?" Aaaaarrrrggghhh!!! I just want to scream!!!
I know that this stupid change with the US Consulars Office (read this for more explanation-D does a much better job at it than I could ever do) is making things worse for me this week. If I knew that I could just jot down a quick little note on how wonderful our daughter is doing and what a joy she is and here are some photos from her party, look at all of the people that love her so much and pop it in the mail, maybe this week would be easier for me.
Don't worry those of you who will be at her party-I will be happy, I will be very happy! How could I not? My baby is turning the big 0-1, but my heart may be a little heavy that day.

Oh, I am so going out for a martini tonight.

barf!

There is nothing worse than a dog puking in your bed at 3am. Trust me.

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!!!

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with Ethiopian food for lunch and corned beef n' cabbage for dinner....it was a yummy day but I am dreading tomorrow's diaper ;(

Tiny's Top 10

Tiny has been tagged by Makena!!!

Here goes (in no particular order)......

10. Favorite game is peek-a-boo. I especially like it if you hide behind something and peek around it. I think that is absolutely hilarious and I will crawl very quickly after you, squealing!!

9. I really like cheese. Any kind is fine with me. Cheese and turkey is even better but make sure it is the good organic slices (read: expensive) and not the slimy kind that you find at Jewel.

8. I don't particularly like to ride in the stroller anymore. I know that this drives my mom nuts.

7. I enjoy pulling books off of the shelf. I really like Fight Club and it is always the first one I grab.

6. I will dance to anything. Commercials on TV, cell phone ring tones, etc.

5. My middle name means patience but I really don't have any. I am becoming really good at "The Tantrum" or "Melting" as my mom calls it, and I have a flair for the dramatic.

4. I love to give kisses but only to mom, dad & the puppies. Sometimes I "accidentally" bite!

3. I have a great sense of humor and a great laugh to match ;)

2. My parents have a million nicknames for me! My mom calls me "cheesy mac" & "toothy mactooth" and I really don't know why.

1. I have a love/hate relationship with the Dyson. I love to look at it. I love to talk to it. I even love to chase it BUT if it comes anywhere near me I scream & skedaddle!

*I tag the following: Aiden D, Charlie F, Micah Y (when he's feeling better!), & Zinabu

Walking!!?? Already??

Nora took her first steps today-4 of them to be exact!!!

The 1st one was this morning-she let go of the bed frame, took 1 step towards me and fell flat on her face. Then this afternoon, it was the same scenario but I was sitting closer. She took 3 super fast shuffling steps towards me and fell into my lap!! Wow, I can't believe she is almost walking! Where has the time gone???

Hmm...in light of her birthday coming up next week, lets recap her accomplishments!

• she cruises everywhere and is now taking steps on her own
• she can stand without holding onto something until she realizes that she isn't holding on anymore, which at that point she falls :)
• she says Mama, Dada, Dot, No & Wow. She also says something that sounds like Touchdown, and holds her arms above her head.
• She can clap on command and if she sees someone snapping their fingers she will try to snap hers.
• She loves to dance! If you tell her to shake her butt, she will. She can also head bang like an ol' heavy metal pro! Slayer is one of her favorites (yeah, we don't listen to kid music in this house)
• She now has 3 teeth and I think a 4th is on it's way
• She loves to feed people, but watch out! She also tries to take whatever bite she gave you back!
• She can wave and blow kisses :)

Everyday is something new & exciting with this kid! I love it!

Goofing around

Cranky baby

Poor Coco always pays the price when Nora doesn't want to nap.......

She gets booted to the floor :(

Crunchy crackers on the floor

Sometimes snacks are best eaten off the kitchen floor

Nature Museum

t was a beautiful day in Chicago and Nora & I took a trip down to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to meet up with some other families from the IEKC.

They have a butterfly room-where the butterflies are just free.....not contained AT ALL!! If you know me, then you know how DEATHLY AFRAID I am of ANY bug.....ANY BUG!!! Well, I went into that butterfly room and did really well...I managed not to smoosh any of them and actually enjoyed myself. I have decided that butterflies are not really bugs. Of course I didn't take many pictures because Nora wasn't digging the stroller so I ended up carrying her and pushing the stroller which meant I didn't have a free hand :(

But, here are a couple.....

Here is Nora hanging out in the under age 7 area

And here is Nora with an old pal from Ethiopia...these 2 always seem to be fighting over something. First the turtle and Rick Bayless (the stuffed mole) and now a camera case!

Goin' somewhere??

Tag!!

Rules of play:
Post 10 random things about yourself
Choose 5 people to tag and a reason you chose each person (can be totally nonsensical)
Leave them each a comment directing them to your blog so they know they are it .
You can't tag the person who tagged you (you'll have to make new friends)
As a courtesy to the person who tagged you, please let them know when you have posted so they can have the sheer delight and extra work load of reading your answers
Play!!


Random facts and habits...10 of them (not 4 or 7 or 8...10...that's the rule):

1. I used to have a bunch of piercings. Not just my ears but my nose, eyebrow, tongue and belly button. I always wanted to pierce my lip but was too chicken. Now I don't have any except my ears and I never wear earrings.

2. I was a vegetarian for almost 10 years. When I first started dating Ryan he made me a dinner of grilled vegetables and a rare steak for himself. Mmmmm, that steak looked sooo good. So good in fact, I had to have a bite. Yeah, I'm not a vegetarian anymore.

3. I have 3 dads. My dad, my ex-stepdad who I speak to everyday and my stepdad. All 3 were at my wedding :)

4. My eyes don't focus together. For instance, if I am looking through a microscope I have to cover 1 eye or I don't see anything at all.

5. Speaking of eyes. I have a serious problem finding anything that is within plain sight. Just today I thought we were totally out of butter but when Ryan went to check there was a big tub sitting front and center in the fridge. This happens ALL the time and it makes my husband crazy!

6. I can eat alot. I mean, I can really eat alot. For those of you who don't know me personally, I am kind of a small girl...although I think it's catching up to me.
People at work make fun of me for my ability to down a giant meatball sandwich in 5 minutes flat. Oh, and there is always room for dessert :)



7. I love anything to do with roller skating and wish I could "roller dance" like in the movie Roll Bounce. I also wish I was a roller-derby girl and even almost tried out for a team except I had to have surgery and couldn't make the try-outs :(
I even had my name picked out if I made the team....Betty Rage ;)

8. I love a nice tall glass of ice-cold milk and I will drink it with anything. Milk & pizza? Yum, there is nothing better!

9. I have become one of those crazy mall walkers. Y'know, the ones that walk the mall before it opens. Yeah, that's me.

10. I have an almost irrational fear of fire & tornadoes. My biggest fear is that one or the other (or both!) will happen when I'm not home and something horrible will happen to my dogs.


And the nominees are...5 of them (not 3 or 8 0r 10...5...that's the rule):

Stacie- because I think we would be friends in real life. Plus, Micah is just so darn cute!

Heather-because I am interested in your responses and Mallory is an awesome name!

Christina- because you couldn't possibly be busy enough with a new baby and school!

Jamie- You're hilarious. Enough said.

Tasha- Your blog makes me laugh everyday :)