Future conversations????

As any adoptive parent knows, the future conversations with your child is an uncertainty. The first time I was struck my a kids point of view was several months after bringing Lexi home. We were in Kroger and an African American little girl started to talk to herself asking questions like "is that little girl Chinese" and "I wonder if she speaks Chinese". The little girl was so small and intuitive that I never got offended and began to speak to her and answer some of her questions. It was actually as if she wanted to ask questions but yet knew her parents would not approve. Over the last few months I've come to wonder how to handle such situations. We are so PROUD of Lexi and at this point really don't worry about sharing our story of our journey to get her. But we also have to wonder if in the future Lexi will want to keep this to herself. After all, we don't know her family history. We just know hers with US and we hope and pray with all our being that our love and commitment will be enough to fulfill her questions.

And then a few weekends ago, we stood in line at a Food Lion behind a Mexican family. The little girl was much the same. Only this time she had "deeper" questions. She asked me if I was Lexi's sister. I told her that I was her mom which confused her very much and she even said taht she did not look like me or Geoff. Then she wanted to know more. As I told her I was Lexi's mom and that she was to live with me forever, the little girl got more confused. She wanted to know why I did not take her to her mom and dad. When I told her that she did not have a mom or dad, the little girl was even more concerned that we take her back to where she was "lost" so her mom could find her. Her father tried to explain but he knew he could not provide the answers she sought. Her older brother tried to explain what an orphanage was and that we were good for Lexi but the little girl just could not understand.

I hope our little girl will grow to understand and know that we wanted her so badly that we traveled across the world to get her. I hope she knows that we loved her from the very day we decided to adopt from China.

I keep finding myself thinking what to say to people once she is older and KNOWS exactly what we are talking about. With my brother he always knew he was adopted and it was never and will never be an issue. But what will Lexi want to know. I really believe there is a difference between cultures and situations. But in my heart I want to believe that love is all we need. This may be naive thinking but at this point, love is wonderful... love is our life... love is Lexi and our family together.

I know it is good to ponder these things. It's only in Lexi's best interest. Both Geoff and I would never want to be a source of disappointment for our beautiful daughter but yet we desperately want to be great role models as well.

Sorry for thinking so deeply but every parent does the same, it's just ours is more public.

Double Doodie?

If you follow our blog, you know we lost Patches a few months back. Every since then I've been more attentive to Sable wishing I had done more with Patches. Well, after my trip last week, mom told me that she suspected Sable was deaf after she came to let her out one day. I was shocked and in disbelief until I began to watch her more closely and now we can plainly see it. Our dog cannot hear what seems at all! She otherwise acts normal although she has been having more frequent seizures lately (she's always had these). I've been watching and she reacts to movement, not sound. People can ring the door bell, knock on the door, drive up and nothing. I know she's getting older but it's hard to watch. Mom did remind me that at least she can see. I can certainly see how lack of sight would be worse than lack of hearing. Well, Lexi just loves to play with her but now I have a new worry that she will not hear Lexi sneak up on her and will react and accidentally hurt her. I guess we'll be more diligent in looking out after both of them for now.
Lexi trying to give Sable some sugar (with prompting of course!).
Lexi putting Sable's toy out of reach! (NO Prompting!) She loves to pick on Sable!

So this afternoon when I arrived home to find Sable poop on the hardwood floor in the middle of the living room (apparently Sable had a seizure today and when she does she looses bowel control) I tried my best to just go with it. My biggest problem was keeping Lexi out of the way while cleaning it up and then as I did this Sable ran out the front door that I left open. I then realize, I can't call her. She can't hear me! So I grabbed the leash and the baby and once Sable saw us, she came to us thinking we were going on a walk (NOT). We came back inside and I began cleaning up again as Lexi played with the sanitary wipe container. She was pretty happy with this. But as I was cleaning up the mess... I heard Lexi Jayne... she was making her own poop! Thanks Lj! Just what a tired, stuffy nose (thank goodness I couldn't smell at this point!) and just ready to relax Mommy needed right? Awwww "NO-WAY", instead I got double "doodie". I cleaned the floor, then Lexi and then back to the floor to make sure it was all up and then I cleaned it again (3 times should do it right??)

So when is Daddy coming home???? And what is for dinner??? I just don't think cooking a big meal is in the cards for tonight!

Lunchtime Stress Release

Of course, taking a moment during lunch to scrapbook a quick page of my darling can relieve some stress. These are a few photos I snapped of her last Friday night after I returned home from my conference! I didn't have time to go shopping for her so I gave her "treats" from the vendors! She was very happy about them especially the keyboard!

More Halloween

My Welcome Home

I returned home on Friday anxious to see little Lexi. We played until bedtime and then after rocking her to sleep I went back to the recliner, grabbed my pillow and sat down only to keep going... and going... and going... until this...



I've noticed our recliner is showing some wear but come on! If it does this to me again, it'll be on the curb!

And of course, instead of running to my aid, Geoff ran for the camera as he hysterically laughed at me!

Mommy's still learning at the Tech Conference

This was the highlight of the day! Lexi and Geoff on Skype! I had another long day at the tech conference. I was "okay" with the first session this morning but then then things started rolling in the second and then by lunch, my head was spinning with new things I've learned. The problem is not just seeing the new stuff but learning it! I've got so many resources to pick through it is not funny! But to come back to this little face after a long day is AWESOME! She wasn't really all that interested in doing anything but pushing buttons but she would stop and sign and say "Mama" and blow me kisses from time to time. The funniest thing was when I called her a little "booger". She cracked me and Stacey (my hotel roommate) up when she VERY CLEARLY repeated it very loudly! She is certainly beginning to pick up on her speech!


So after finishing with Skype, I took one of the pictures I snapped while talking and cartoonized it on BeFunky.com just for fun. I guess you can tell by the huge banner that I used the freebie version!

Anyhow, tomorrow we leave around lunch to come home. As Stacey would say "bless our bones" we finally get to go home to some extra special loved ones!

Still Learning and Playing!

I love it when I learn something new!

Playing With Picasa at the Tech Conference

And Lexi is my favorite subject so of course I had to play with one of her pictures. I'm at the Tech Conference in Atlanta. I left my little Lj with Mama and Geoff. Geoff is getting her at night and I'm missing her. Tonight I hope to Skype and get to talk to her. Can you tell I miss her? I'm actually learning by the way as I do this. It's part of the class I'm taking right now!

Halloween Highlights

We did end up doing some of the Halloween plans we had with Lexi (runny nose and all). She is still conjested and has an awful runny nose but has been with a temperature since Wednesday. It' snow Mommy and Daddy who are fighting off sickness. We had a fun first Halloween regardless and look forward to many more. We went trick-or-treating with Sara and the boys and brought our niece Brittany along. I can't wait to do some Halloween layouts of our fun but for now here are a few tidbits!

A bee-utiful Bumble Bee...
A Bewitching Brittney...
A lazy cowboy... (who lost the hat early on and really did NOT like all those strange looking people young or old)
An adorable lion... (who was completely content with the stroller ride)

A Happy Family! (even if I was the only one who could manage to smile for the camera!)

Potty Princess??

Blogging on my lunch break...I love to upload at school because it's so quick! I actually started this layout on Monday before I realized how sick Lexi was. This picture was taken last weekend while Geoff was on the computer in the study. There was a potty in the accumulated mess there that we bought for Lexi this summer. I hate it! It's not nearly as nice as the boxed picture looked and it's too tall for her to sit on it comfortably so I've just tossed it in the study. Well, Lexi went in there and sat on it in her pj's and proceeded to go "shewwwwww". She told Geoff by saying "shhheewwwww". I walked by to find her and Geoff said, "she's stinky". She sure was!

Later in the weekend, she did it again but his time it was on her new potty that we bought at Toys R Us. We really didn't intend to potty train her until Spring or at least when she can pull her own pants down and clearly tell us she needs to go but at the same time, she is showing signs of "getting it". She even comes to us and tells us when she is wet and has had several nights of waking up dry or at least mostly dry. So we are going to start slowly with mostly putting her on the potty before her bath. Honestly though, I'm NOT ready for my baby to reach this milestone yet! We've only had her 9 months!

2nd Dr. Visit

I had to take Lj back to the dr. yesterday. Her fever went away but her other symptoms got worse. I'll never understand why it is so hard for doctors to go ahead give some antibotics these days. She had to take them when Sable accidently collided heads with her and cut Lexi's lip with her tooth but yet when I brought her in with fever, coughing, sneezing, running nose, and diahrea I was told to let it run its course. Just two days later, we had all of the above still just no fever but we had a blistered hiney and red ears and throat. Had we waited through the weekend, she would have been in bad shape! This time we got antibotics and she is already showing signs of getting better! The waiting just caused 2 co-pays and Lexi a lot of discomfort.

Today we were going to take our little Bumble Bee out to downtown and go trick or treating at an event down there and then head to the church fall festival but seeing how she is only beginning to feel better, I don't think we will spend much time outdoors at all. We will probably spend a little time during daylight hours downtown and then head home. I don't want her out in the damp night air even if it is still 85 degrees here! As far as going trick or treating with Brennen and Christopher on Saturday, we shall see how it goes.

I've totally neglected my computer at night this week which is why there are no pictures. I've been so worn down by Lj that I go to bed after she goes to bed. So hopefully, I can get some cuteness posted again soon.

I'm blogging and Lj is awake!

And why is that significant? Well, she's been sick since Monday (the first time since we got her 9 months ago). I took her to Mom's with a cough on Monday morning. I had heard her cough a few times during the night and my mommy instincts kicked in. So on the way out I grabbed the ear thermometer, Tylenol, and Zyrtec. When I got there I was showing mom how to take her temperature with the new fanged technology and found she had a 99 degree temp. Of course, I wanted to turn right back around and take her home but I knew she was in good hands. I called and checked on her. The fever was gone, she was eating, and all seemed fine. Then Mom called about 1:00. Her fever was up to 100.

So long story short... I've been home with her yesterday and today. We went to the dr. yesterday to make sure it wasn't the dreaded flu! (Thank heaven it wasn't!) But we have had one little miserable pitiful little girl on our hands. Her fever never went over 102 but it still worried her daddy like crazy. On Monday night when it was so high he couldn't stay out of her room making sure she was breathing. At one point she woke up while he was in there and then he had to do the whole walk to her sleep routine again. I was almost to the point of putting her in bed with us but I knew the way she sleeps none of us would rest.

We really didn't know what to expect from our little precious girl during sickness. We know now... she's just like ME. Pity the day Geoff has to stay home with the both of us sick. She would not let us rock her to sleep. It had to be walking. She wouldn't sit on your lap to play, read, or do anything. We had to be in the floor or walking. Let me just say it is exhausting! So even though she still has a slight fever that comes and goes today, she is doing better and is acting like herself again. She had a respiratory viral infection so there was nothing to give her but at least it's running its course and she is getting better. There's nothing worse than seeing your child in pain and not being able to do anything to help.

Last night after an afternoon of walking the floors holding her I welcomed her daddy to come help. He brought home chicken from Kroger and I fixed a few things to go with it. After dinner I was emptying the dishwasher and putting away ALL the dishes from the day since I could not do anything but help Lexi. Geoff had her in the living room and very kindly asked if I wanted him to do the dishes. I burst out laughing... NOT A CHANCE BUSTER! LOL! Normally, I hate emptying the dishwasher... but my back needed a Lj break!

Now I'm off to see if I can get the little sweetie to nap. Wonder if it will be walking or rocking???

21 Month Cupcake Fun

I don't know who had more fun last night... Lexi blowing out the candles and eating her first chocolate icing cupcake or US watching her and laughing our heads off!

These cupcakes are fabulous! Geoff gets them from Mabel Francis Potter's Cupcake Emporium in downtown Savannah. They are so delicious. My favorite so far is the Key Lime. Their cupcakes are the real deal!

21 months old!

Gosh... time is flying! Wasn't it just yesterday that we were at 20 months and practicing blowing out candles??? (We did that tonight again... more details later!) Today when I picked up Lj my sis was there with new black rubber boots for Lj. Her little pink suede ones are adorable but not practical for puddle jumping and running in wet grass with Papa T. The only ones anyone has been able to find in her size are black ones... so black it is! She LOVES them!!! Carolyn is going to add some decorations to them to make them more girly but you know ... our girl is a good mix of girly-girl and tom-boy! This picture demonstrates it perfectly... black boots... capri jeans with just the right amount of girly girl... Elmo shirt that could pass for boy or girl... complete with pink girly girl sunglasses and girly hat worn silly! She was a sight to behold! I should have video taped that little munchkin running to her Daddy's truck as he came home from work!

We had a lot of "birthday" fun tonight. I can't wait to scrapbook some of her funny cupcake pictures! She was even more fun this month! And for now we think "chocolate icing" is the favorite! Let's just say.... cupcake + candle = bath!

So is this our "quirky girl" or a glimpse of her teenage rebellious years??? LOL! Right now it's pretty darn cute!

Cool Tool!

(Click on the image to get it full screen and for printing your own.)
I found this website today and played around using Lj as my subject. This is something fun I could do in the lab with my students! There were lots of cool things to do with pictures on this site.

Our Visit to Poppell's Pumpkin Patch

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I've waited for this moment...

when Lexi and Brennen would be best friends. At first Lexi didn't want to share us at all and actually neither did Brennen. It was hard to be in this position when we first got home. Once they figured out that they could "share" us, they mostly played "around" each other but not with each other. However finally they love to play together! This past weekend we had to take 2 cars to get the kids to the Pumpkin Patch and Brennen road with us. On the way home, I turned around to check on them and this is what I saw! They held hands almost the whole way home. I teared up with joy. (I know I'm a big crybaby!) It's true what they say about the little things in life matter the most.

Tiny Ballerina

Remember this post? While searching through the boxes of clothes we have for Lexi last Sunday in search of long sleeve pj's for our cooler weather (short lived!), I came across these pj's that we bought in Las Vegas. Here it is almost 3 full years later and she is finally is here to wear them! They are a little big but our girl is certainly growing! She certainly was a beauty to see! And it IS just like everyone said it would be... the wait just melts away with your heart as you fall in love with your baby!

Fall Fun Teaser...

We've been having so much Fall Fun! I just haven't had time or the energy to keep up with it. I am going to have to resort to making some slide shows of all the fun pictures I've taken lately. Then I'll pick some favorites and scrapbook them. These were taken at the Pumpkin Patch. I quickly through this layout together at lunch today. So... more to come as time permits!

Blankie

The washclothes that were Lexi's fav in China were replaced with bibs soon after we returned home. The beloved bibs have gone to the wayside and now we are fixated on blankets. She loves this brown polka dot one but she also has a pink one that she likes. This morning when I picked her up out of bed, she never let go of the blanket.

Her new thing is eating my breakfast. Everyone morning, Geoff fries me an egg or makes me an egg sandwich and I'll eat it on the way to work. Sometimes I break off a piece and give it to Lexi. Usually she is still so sleepy she just holds it until she gets to Mom's. Well this morning, before Geoff even got in sight of her as he was helping me get packed and on my way Lexi said "ah-uuummm" (that's her yum). She didn't even know for sure he had anything in his hand but I guess she knows we are creatures of habit and she has the routine down pat!

This is WHY I can work worry-free...

I do enjoy my job ALOT. I am a teacher at heart and a life-long learner however, without knowing Lexi is in good hands would I be any good at work. My Mom is doing an awesome job with Lexi. Every now and then she does something new and Geoff and I get puzzled and then agree "Nana's been at it again"!

Polka-dot Princess