Special Delivery

About a month ago Aliya received a very special package in the mail from her Grandma Sylvia and Papaw Tom. Sorry it's taken me so long to post these!! She looks absolutely adorable in her outfit and matching shoes!








Thanks Grandma and Papaw!!

Weekend visit with Grandma and Grandpa W.

Mom and Mike came into town Saturday morning for Joel's game! The kids love it when they come! They stayed the night and went to church with us this morning then to lunch, then onto Joel's game. Below are a few pictures from their visit. (these photos are out of order, sorry)

Aliya wearing her new princess sunglasses. Sadly they actually fit better upside-down, she has the smallest nose in the world.



Joel relaxing Saturday night in our "new" pool! We were super blessed by friends for their hand-me-down gift!!!



More swimming



I love Aliya's face in this one, she LOVES the water!



She loves it!



Smiles after another victory! Joel got the game ball and found out he made the All Star *A* Team!


With dad


Posing with her portable potty seat. No nasty porta-potty seat for our little one.


Sleepy girl


Target practice in the garage

Email Returned!! Sucess!!!!

I was beginning to think I wasn't going to hear back from Adoptive Families magazine...I had emailed two different contacts and until this morning heard nothing!! Below is the email I found in my inbox this morning!!!!!!!! It's really sad, but I actually teared up a little bit!


Dear Ms. B,
We would be pleased to offer your OBGYN a free subscription to Adoptive Families magazine. Please email the name, mailing address, and phone number and we will get it under way.

Thank you for your support of Adoptive Families!

Warm regards,
Paula Grande for Marie Kiernan
New Hope Media, LLC
39 West 37th St, 15th Fl
New York, NY 10018
p:646-366-0830 f:646-366-0842
www.additudemag.com
www.adoptivefamilies.com

Happy Birthday Grandma H.

Yesterday would have been my Grandma H's birthday. After dinner Aliya and I ran to Cub Foods and she helped pick out a yummy cupcake to take to grandma's grave site. Aliya has been with me both times I have visited grandma's grave since her passing. I told her that today is GG's birthday and we were going to sing Happy Birthday to her. Now, since grandma passed I've told her that GG (great grandma) is with Jesus, so I think I completely threw her for a loop when I said we were going to go sing to her.

Once at the cemetery we walked around trying to find grandma's stone. The last time we were there they hadn't laid the sod yet, so her plot was very easy to find, this time, not so much! We walked right by it three times before I finally had to call Jon AND my Uncle to ask for help locating her spot. Aliya walked around yelling, "Dammaw, are you?" it was super cute! Once we found it we each took a seat on the grass and I lit the candle. Aliya and I sang three rounds of "Happy Birthday" and Aliya blew the candle out all three times. I cried as we sang.

We left the cupcake and candle by her name. I hope to make this an annual trip...I want Aliya to remember her GG so badly it hurts. I miss her so much.

Happy Birthday Grandma! We love you and miss you!!!

Speaking Up

As I was in the waiting room scoping out the magazine selection, a beautiful family walked in. Mom (at least 7 1/2 months pg), her husband and their 2 year old daughter AND their infant in a carrier. REALLY GOD? It's like she was showing off how good at making babies she is! Of course this is all in my head, but I couldn't stop staring at them. Two Beautiful blonde children that look just like both of them. As I sat there waiting my turn all I could think about were my two beautiful kids and how the world needs educated about adoption!

Then it was my turn...

Thankfully the shot was easy again, but the scale not so forgiving this time! WOW, either it's way off or I've gained a lot of weight in a month! I'm thinking it's me. Anyway, still no negative side effects from the shot! WOOHOO!!!

So, as I was checking out I asked the nurse who decides what magazines they provide in the waiting room. She just looked at me, I think she thought I was going to try to sell her something. Not so much. She looked at the other nurse and said, "do you know how we choose them"? Then the Nurse Practitioner chimed into the conversation telling me they put out whatever magazine is sent them free through promotions, then got the same puzzled/questioning look on her face as the other two woman sitting there. I casually said, "I'm an adoptive mom and Pregnancy Magazine advertising breast pumps and stretch mark cream don't pertain to me and I can't imagine I'm the only patient that has never been pregnant". The nurse to my right said, "Do they even make an adoption magazine"? "YES!! Adoptive Families Magazine", I excitedly replied. The Nurse Practitioner said she thinks it would be great to have that magazine available for the women they serve and she wonders if they would provide them a free subscription?

SO.... guess what's next on my to-do list!?!

"I Potty Training"

"I potty training" is Aliya's new phrase! She uses it at least 5 times a day while we are going potty. It really is cute! She woke up dry from her nap yesterday and dry this morning!!! WOOHOO!!

Now, since this is my first time doing this, I'm asking experienced moms out there if this is normal: Yesterday and this morning Aliya has asked for a diaper, I guess I shouldn't say asked, more like pouted and cried about it. I kindly remind her she's a big girl and offered her "new" panties. This seems to do the trick, but is this normal? To go from one day adamant that she is not wearing a diaper, to crying for one the next?

She did it again!

She went #2 on the potty again (same song and dance between the two potties, but no asking for pull ups this time) AND she was dry all day (except nap of course). WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!