Talking!

ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT, NOT SURE IF IT'S MY HEAD COLD OR TOO MUCH CAFFEINE, BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO CATCH UP ON MY POSTS.

YES, IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG AND I'VE MISSED DOCUMENTING MILESTONES AND SHARING STORIES. GUESS FACEBOOK HAS MONOPOLIZED THE LITTLE BIT OF SPARE TIME I DO HAVE. YEP, I'LL ADMIT I'M A PROUD FARMER IN FARMVILLE NOW, RAISING COWS AND CHICKENS AND HARVESTING MY CROPS. MINDLESS, YES, THERAPEUTIC...MAYBE!

OKAY SO WHAT IS MY TINY TOT UP TO THESE DAYS, HMMM. SHE CAN FINALLY OUT TALK ME! Now for those that know me it's quite an accomplishment to do that:)) she talks up a storm and it's very entertaining to hear my daughter try to talk just like me!

JUST A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS:

-MOMMY, I CAN'T LIKE THAT (rather than I don't) LOL
-STOP A TALKIN TO ME!
-I'M SO TIRED (gee where did she learn that)?
-Calls her Zhu Zhu "little Buddy".
-LOVES THE MOVIES MONSTER'S INC. AND BOLT! She thinks the green one eyed monster is an M&M and engages me in convo regarding the fact that he only has one eye and no nose!
- ENJOYS DRESSING UP, TAKING CLOTHES OFF IN THE FRIGID WEATHER AND PUTTING HER "SNOW WIPE" DRESS ON. YES SHE IS SNOW WIPE, WIPING EVERYTHING OFF THE FLOOR WITH THAT COSTUME THAT IS TOO BIG FOR HER, BUT OH HOW CUTE!

-ADORES TALKING ON THE PHONE AND YES SHE KNOWS WHO SHE IS TALKING TO.

I OFTEN FIND MYSELF BREAKING OUT IN SONG TO THE WONDER PETS THEME OR THE BACKYARDIGANS AND KIRA SAYS EMPHATICALLY, "MOMMY, STOP MAKING NOISE" or recently "STOP SINGIN". WELL I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HER ON THIS, I HAVE NO TONAL VOICE RANGE.

-MY DAUGHTER IS DEFINITELY A MOMMA'S GIRL AND A LITTLE SNUGGLE BUG. OH HOW I LOVE HER AFFECTION. EVERY NIGHT, AFTER SHE FALLS ASLEEP, I PLACE A GENTLE KISS ON HER HEAD AND JUST STARE DOWN AT THIS CHILD, STILL AMAZED THAT SHE'S MY DAUGHTER. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOND AND LOVE THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR AND ONE THAT I ABSOLUTELY CHERISH.

-SHE'S CERTAINLY A TODDLER BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS HERS!

I MUST LAUGH BECAUSE THIS IS A UNIVERSAL CONCEPT IN TODDLERHOOD, NOW TRYING TO INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF SHARING.

-OUT OF THE BITING PHASE AND OH SO POLITE STAGE! So cute to hear her say please and thank you and it was so easy to teach, go figure. Maybe potty training will be this easy:))

-I WUV YOU MOMMY! PURE MUSIC TO MY EARS.

I WUV YOU TOO BABY GIRL!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

STUDYING HER TINKER BELL TOY

OH SHE'S MY DAUGHTER ALRIGHT, STARTING OUT THE DAY WITH A LARGE CUP OF JAVA!

NOW WIDE EYED AND AWAKE FROM THE CAFFEINE JOLT (CHECK OUT THOSE EYES) WE WENT TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS! KIRA LOVES FOR ME TO TAKE PHOTOS OF HER, BUT ONLY WHEN SHE WANTS THEM DONE!

CAN'T DECIDE WHICH ONE IS MY FAVORITE! SHE HAS THE BEST EXPRESSIONS, BUT THIS IS DELIGHTFUL, LOVE THAT DIMPLE THERE BABY!

TRYING TO GET OUT OF POSING BUT AFTER A FEW BRIBES SHE CONTINUED ON.

NOW IT WAS MY TURN TO BE ENTERTAINED. YEP, SHE WAS WORKING ME ALRIGHT, BUT LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

ON JANUARY 20TH WE CELEBRATED KIRA'S THIRD BIRTHDAY! I HAVE BEEN DELAYING WRITING THIS OR I SHOULD SAY DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT OR HOW TO WRITE ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW. KIRA SHARES THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS MY MOTHER, SO I WAS SO SAD WHEN I WENT TO BUY KIRA A CARD AND SAW ALL THE MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY CARDS THERE TOO. IT JUST HIT ME THERE IN THAT HALLMARK STORE THAT I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SEND MY MOM ANOTHER CARD OR EVEN GET ONE OF HER SPECIAL CARDS WITH HER HAND WRITTEN SENTIMENTS IN IT. I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND CRIED, RIGHT THERE IN THE STORE. I PRETENDED LIKE I WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING ON THE VERY BOTTOM THERE, SO NO ONE WOULD CALL OUT THE LOONY TRUCK, BUT I SOBBED ALL THE WAY HOME.

HOW FAST SHE HAS GROWN, SEEMS LIKE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT HER ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY, YET NOW SHE'S SPEAKING LIKE EVERY OTHER 3 YR OLD. IN FACT KIRA WAS RECENTLY EVALUATED FOR THE 3RD TIME BY A PRIVATE SPEECH THERAPY CLINICIAN WHO WAS AMAZED AT HER COGNITIVE, RECEPTIVE AND VERBAL SKILLS. WE'RE THRILLED SHE DOESNT' NEED SPEECH THERAPY AT THIS TIME.



NOW I LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL CHILD AND THINK HOW FAR SHE HAS COME, HOW MUCH LOVE AND JOY AND MOTIVATION SHE BRINGS ME EVERY DAY.

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KIRA, OUR DAUGHTER, MY INSPIRATION!

Two Years ago today I became a Mommy!

HUNAN, CHINA 2008

I HONESTLY CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN EXACTLY TWO YEARS WHEN WE TRAVELED HALF WAY AROUND THE WORLD TO MEET A TINY BABY NAMED MENG. BY THE NEXT DAY WE OFFICIALLY HAD ADOPTED HER IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND NAMED HER KIRA ISABELLA. IT TRULY WAS AN AMAZING JOURNEY THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET!

IT WAS THE END OF A WORK DAY FOR ME IN THE CARDIAC CATH LAB AND MY HUSBAND CALLED AROUND 5PM TELLING ME "YOU JUST BECAME A MOM", I GASPED, RAN OUT INTO THE HALLS (WHERE MY CO-WORKERS WERE) AND SCREAMED "I AM A MOM!" THEY ALL THOUGHT I WAS OUT OF MY HEAD, AFTER ALL NO ONE KNEW ABOUT THE ADOPTION AND THEY ALL THOUGHT MY DOG HAD PUPPIES! I THINK MANY WERE SURPRISED. ACTUALLY I HAD NO IDEA WE WOULD GET A MATCH AFTER WAITING OVER A YEAR AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER 6 MONTHS TO ANOTHER YEAR, BUT WE CHOSE TO ADOPT THROUGH OUR AGENCY'S CHILD OF PROMISE OPTION AND THIS TINY INFANT NEEDED A CLEFT LIP AND PALATE REPAIR.

AS WEEKS WENT BY, I KEPT GOING OVER THE DETAILS, MAKING SURE ALL THE PAPERWORK WAS IN ORDER, VISAS, ETC. TO THOSE WHO KNOW ME WELL, THAT WAS A FEAT IN ITSELF BECAUSE I AM NOT THE MOST ORGANIZED PERSON IN THE WORLD AND IN FACT, I WAS LATE FOR MY OWN WEDDING! BUT IN JANUARY 6, 2008 I WAS UBER ORGANIZED AND EARLY.

THE MONTHS PRECEDING THE ADOPTION WERE FULL OF EXCITEMENT AND ANTICIPATION. WHILE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME FOR ME OVERSEAS, I JUST COULDN'T GET TO CHANGSHA FAST ENOUGH. MY HEART WAS IN LOVE WITH A PICTURE WE RECEIVED IN LATE OCTOBER AND AT THAT TIME SHE WAS ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD. I STARTED TO WORRY LIKE ANY EXPECTANT MOMMA, HOPING SHE WOULD BE OKAY AND NOT FALL OUT OF HER CRIB OR WONDER WHETHER SHE WAS BEING HELD IF SHE CRIED OR IF SHE WAS STANDING, WALKING. WHAT WORDS WAS SHE SAYING? SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE REALLY NEVER HAD ANSWERS TO UNTIL WE SAW HER AND THEN THE MONTHS OF WAITING AND HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS JUST FADED AWAY AS MY EYES WERE FIXED ON THIS LITTLE GIRL, BUNDLED IN FOUR LAYERS OF CLOTHES AND SMILING AS WE APPROACHED. SHE COULD STAND WITH HELP, BUT WASN'T WALKING YET. SHE HAD TWO TEETH AND A SOFT VOICE. HER FEATURES WERE PETITE AND DAINTY, SHE WAS SIMPLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILD I HAD EVER SEEN AND I WAS INSTANTLY IN LOVE! MY HEART WAS BEATING FAST BUT SO WAS HERS, MY EYES WERE FULL OF TEARS; AND SO WERE HERS. I HELD HER TIGHT BUT SHE WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH ME AND KEPT LOOKING AND REACHING FOR HER CARETAKERS. I TRIED TO COMFORT HER, BUT SHE SCREAMED EVEN LOUDER. IN FACT SHE CRIED FOR HOURS TILL WE GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND I PUT IN A CHINESE LULLABY CD AND SHE LISTENED INTENTLY TO IT. IN FACT SHE STOPPED CRYING AND STARTED TO LOOK AROUND AT HER NEW WORLD. FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, ALL HER NEW EXPERIENCES WERE ALSO MINE!

THIS CHILD, MY DAUGHTER HAD GIVEN ME SUCH AN INCREDIBLE GIFT, THE GIFT OF MOTHERHOOD.

I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO HELPED, INSPIRED AND KEPT MY DREAM ALIVE!

YOU ARE SO LOVED MY DEAR CHILD. I HOPE YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW THAT!

LOVE,

MOMMA

A trip to Disney

NOW FASCINATED BY FACIAL MAKE UP FROM MY CHANEL COLLECTION, SHE EASILY WAS PERSUADED TO SIT FOR A WHILE AND HAVE HER FACE MADE UP, EVERY OTHER DAY.
THESE TWO SISTERS ARE JUST AS PRECIOUS AND LOVING AS I KNEW THEY WOULD BE. ELLIANA HAS THE CUTEST LAUGH AND SO LOOKS UP TO HER BIG SISTER BELLE. AND SWEET ISABELLA HAS A HUGE HEART AND PATIENCE EXPLAINING TO KIRA ALL SHE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT DISNEY. I JUST LOVED HOW ISABELLA LEAPED INTO MY ARMS WHILE WE WAITED FOR DINNER ONE NIGHT. I ADORE THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY!

EPCOT OR MAGIC KINGDOM? ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LET THE PARENTAL UNITS KNOW! KIRA LOVED RIDING IN THE DOUBLE STROLLER WITH HER NEW PAL AND ISABELLA LOVED STROLLING WITH US.
FIRST SECURITY CHECK! IT'S ONLY DIAPERS LADY! LOOKING COOL RIDING HER MICKEY BUS.
PRETTY ISABELLA ACTING SILLY THE DAY WE MET.
CHECK OUT MY NEW SHADES!
PEEK A BOO!
DANCING IN THE STREETS

MESMERIZED BY TINKER BELL
AS YOU CAN SEE, KIRA LOVED CINDERELLA AND TALKED ABOUT HER FOR DAYS.

SHE'S BEEN WEARING THAT DRESS TO BED EVERY NIGHT AND THE BOTTOM IS SHREDDED!
DADDY BRIBING KIRA WITH A JELLY BEAN TO GO ON ONE MORE RIDE WITH HIM!

Playing Catch Up

This week we will celebrate two years since the day we met and held our daughter for the first time. I find it so hard to believe that so much time has already gone by, however when I look at this child I see her changing every day. She is so curious and loving and still struggles a bit with speech issues. She has a great sense of humor and loves to get messy! She's a girly girl alright! One day she walked over to me with smeared red lipstick all over her face and make up foundation on her clothes. Well, I tried so hard to not laugh and just told her how pretty she looked! She continues to insist that I put make up and lipstick on her, but doesn't realize that I can't afford my Channel facial products anymore so I substitute chapstick:))

Last month we finally took her to Disney and met up with my dearest friend Natalie and her family. Natalie and I have known one another before the adoption of her second daughter and it was pure joy to finally meet in person. What an amazingly wonderful lady, mother and friend. Our girls just clicked and became immediate friends and it truly was a magical time there. I'll be posting those pics later. Guess I have a lot to catch up on.

In the meantime, my blogging has been seriously slacking. Honestly I've not had the energy to write, then think that I owe it to Kira to keep this going as a keepsake for her. I've been trying hard to get my new business SIMPLY CANDID PHOTOGRAPHY promoted and indeed December proved to be a busy month for holiday family shoots. I was thrilled, as I got to meet some great clients and it kept my mind occupied (well sometimes).

It's still a novelty to hear myself say "my daughter" or to hear her call me "Mommy". During the last few months, I clung to Kira, needing her more than ever as I tried so hard to figure out how to cope without my mother. I would look down at Kira and tell her the same stories my mom would tell me and then I realized how good it felt to remember those stories, the tenderness of my mothers' touch and her sweet voice. I still struggle through the days and nights, but realize how happy my mother was that I had Kira in my life. So I hold onto precious memories now and try to create new ones for sweet Kira.

So here's a little glimpse of the past few months.