Oh crap

Read yesterday's post first.

Makenna played dress up with Safiya today.  She was not amused.  I giggled for awhile.

And then......this happened.


So, with Makenna, her first steps were choreographed.  We had the whole thing on tape.  This time, not so much.  We actually looked at each other as she let go of the foot rest and walked to the couch and said "I think she just took her first steps."  6 hours later, we got the camera out.  Thus is the plight of the 2nd child.

xoxo

A little quiz

What is going to happen next in this photo?
a) Safiya will fall
b) Makenna will push her
c) Kiva will get in the way
d) Safiya will walk

xoxo

The sound of silence

Benjy is off playing poker with his friends tonight.  Makenna asked me where he was and I said playing games with Uncle Jay.  She asked what games and I said tag and hide and seek.  And chuckled for quite a while.  Just picture that for a moment.  Don't worry, I told her the truth.  So, I get the house, TV couch, and even the bed to myself for awhile.  Aaaaaah.

xoxo

Oh Sh*%

Guess who learned how to climb stairs?  Guess who sits down when standing on the stairs?  Guess who took a tumble, bounced on her head, and was caught upside down by her mommy?  Guess who just spent $100 on the ugliest baby gate EVER for the bottom of the stairs?

xoxo

Friends

I've never been the type of girl who had a ton of friends.  I have never had a big group of girls I hung out with.  I've had 1 or 2 close friends at a time at various times in my life.  They are the type of girls where we don't speak or see each other for years and can pick up right where we left off when we see each other.   When I went to work on Wednesday my friends handed me a bag of peanut butter cups (my favorite) and three tulips to celebrate Friday.  It's no secret that I love peanut butter cups.  But I honestly didn't know they knew my favorite flower.  I guess that is the definition of a good friend.  So, thanks ladies.  I wouldn't be here without you.

xoxo

It's heeeeerrreee!!!!

The long awaited car seat has arrived.

xoxo

Eating with a spoon

I thought maybe I would start giving Safiya a spoon.  And I thought maybe mashed potatoes would be a good place to start.  And I thought I would put them in a bowl.  And then I thought, damn that was stupid.  Bowl on the floor, spoon in her lap, gritty mashed potatoes in her very very curly hair.  And a baby in the bath.

xoxo

Music Together

Safiya and I have a music class on Fridays.  I was singing one of the songs with her on my lap.  Which made Makenna insanely jealous so my mom sang with Safiya and I sang with Makenna.  Gotta say, 45+ pounds/bony butt is much more difficult then 18 pounds.

xoxo

FINALIZED!!

Today was our court finalization.  In was an amazing day.  I guess I didn't completely understand what would happen but it was so wonderful.  The judge was fantastic, and the entire experience was one we will not forget.  And she is ours.

xoxo

A site I never thought I would see again

Seeing this made me throw up a little in my mouth.  I'm not gonna lie.  He has 2 classes left to finish his degree.  2 classes required by his major.  2 classes no longer offered at the university.  Figures, right.  So he is taking one on-line with the community college.  We are both soooooo not into this. He bought the book at 6:30 last night with the first assignment being due today.  I guess this is technically called "cramming."  One thing is for sure.  You will never see either one of us in college again, unless it is to see our kids graduate.

xoxo

Sleeping and gymnastics

I had to wake Safiya up from her  morning nap to take Makenna to gymnastics.  This is what I found when I went in.  Look at that little bear butt.  She's usually standing up and/or screaming when I get her from nap so this made me happy.

Makenna loves gymnastics and she's pretty good.  The other day she said "want to see me to a backwards roll?"  And proceeded to do a backwards summersault.  Oh, apparently they are no longer called summersaults.  They are called forward rolls.  Then she put her hands on the floor, walked her feet up, and did a hand stand.  Crazy.  She wants to take swimming lessons but I know she won't get in the damn pool and it will be an exercise in not loosing my mind and I am sooo dreading taking her out of gymnastics for it.  But, I'm calling tomorrow to see if there is room.  And to find out the cost of private lessons because if left in a class with other kids, swimming will not occur I guarantee you that.


xoxo

Shoes!!!

In my previous blog I talked a lot about Makenna's sensory issues.  One of which is her utter hatred of shoes.  I  have spent so much time, money, and alcohol (just kidding Dad) trying to find shoes that this girl will wear.  And the minute she puts a pair on she starts to cry and says they don't feel good.  It's heartbreaking and takes an extraordinary amount of patience.  A couple of years ago I found a brand she would wear.  And this week she out grew the last size they make.  So, yesterday I told Benjy I had to take her shoe shopping.  His response was "I'm sorry".  We started at the one store that has been the best for us. It's a used kids store but she sells new shoes.  She knows us and when we walk in she just waits and tells me to tell her if I need anything.  After shoe #1 yesterday she asked why they didn't feel good and was able to give me another pair that didn't have the issue.  And halle-freaking-lujah they were fine.  I made her wear them in the store and at home the last 2 days to make sure so that I could take them back when she inevitably broke down in tears.  It never happened.  She wore them today without complaint.  She has the straps so damn tight they leave marks in her little foot.  But she doesn't cry.  And that was worth the $54. That's right.  How much do you pay for not spending 2 straight days shopping for shoes?  $54.  The last pair of shoes I bought for myself was $20.  Granted, I'm crying at the end of the day because they hurt, but they are damn cute and cuteness hurts.

xoxo

xoxo

Love,
Makenna and Safiya

xoxo

Oh the weather outside is weather

It is soooo beautiful right now.  Makenna and I had a "date" at the park and then we all watched the waves.  She actually rode her bike by the ocean without falling.  Which is HUGE.  Maybe we'll be able to take the training wheels off by the end of summer.  hahahahahahahahahahaha.

xoxo

17 days

I stayed up waaaayyy past my bedtime for this.  But, I guess it was worth it.  I remember doing this 2 years ago.  Staying up to watch the games.  But 2 years ago, I was able to sleep otherwise.  Now, not so much.

xoxo

My time

I neglected to post the incredible milestone we hit on Monday.  Beginning on Monday Safiya has officially been with us longer than she was in the orphanage.  For some reason this day has been in my mind as a significant milestone.  From Monday on, I feel like I'm not making up for lost time.  Even though adoption specialists say that for every month in an orphanage there is 2 months of "catch up", I feel like I'm on my time now.  And that feels really good.  Here is a photo of the first night we had her.

xoxo

Baby alive...literally

Makenna calls this doll "Baby Alive to go potty".  Looks like she's one wink away from killing us all.

xoxo

Angel

Look at that face.  Seriously.

xoxo

Don't let the cute smile deceive you

She spent the better part of today screaming.  Didn't want to be held, didn't want to be down.  Didn't want me to give her crackers, didn't want to get her own crackers.  Wanted a binkie, but not attached to a binkie holder.  Wanted to play with her toys, but not THOSE toys.  God bless nap time.  It was invented for days like today.

xoxo

Hair cut

Financially, it pays to have a child with a social anxiety disorder.  It means I never have to pay for a haircut.  It also means she gets the mommy haircut.  Which I'm sure I'll hear about when she is 13.

xoxo

Falkor

The dog makes me crazy.  But does she not look like the flying dog thingy from the Neverending Story?  Oh, that's right I brought out the 80's reference.  And don't pretend you don't know what I"m talking about.

xoxo

Oh yes, she's from Santa Cruz

You know the outfit is special when people make a comment when she enters a room.  Like "oh wow, I like your boots."  or "That's a wonderful outfit".


xoxo

Ethiopian rain

We traveled to Ethiopia during the "rainy season".  Which does not do justice to the rain that occurs during this time of year.  It's not rain.  It's like the sky opens up and water dumps in a solid sheet.  Accompanied by thunder and lightening.  And then it ends and the sun comes out.  And then you repeat a couple of hours later.  The rain here lately would put the "rainy season" in Ethiopia to shame.


xoxo

The downside of a new kick ass washer

mounds and mounds and baskets and baskets of clean laundry.

xoxo

I'm a good multi-tasker

I'm all bragging to my mom how I can talk on the phone, start dinner, make a bottle, and feed the baby.  And then I smelled something horrible and realized I had put the noodles on high on the stove and not low.  And now the bottom of my pot is black.  Like really black.  Like there is not a scotch pad rough enough to get it off.  It is soaking.  I am not hopeful.

xoxo

please pause for our regularly scheduled blog

so tired so much going on benjy has a full time job until april (yay) girls started day care for 8-9 hours today i started working on mondays and wednesdays not even time for punctuation i'll catch up on photos when i can catch my breath although i missed one day ok maybe 2

xoxo