Dilemmas

Where have the past 7 months gone? I hate to say it but life has gotten in the way.  I have thought many times about ending this blog. I feel like a bad blogger. How much do I want to share about our adoption journey & our life as an adoptive family? Is it fair to us to put our life & Ava's out there? My first thought when I started blogging was that it was a way to share our story, our journey to adoption, & to have something to share with our child when the time came. It is still that, but unfortunately, my blogging has become so infrequent. Oh the dilemmas  face! lol

All that being said......

Over the next few weeks, I will try to update you on what has been happening in our lives over the past 7 months!

Three years ago

Happy Halloween!! Three years ago today, we met M for the first time. I remember when my niece called and said her friend wanted to come over to meet us and find out more about adoption.  Could they come over? Who would have guessed that that little baby would be our daughter! Thank you M and D for letting us be Ava's parents.

Time for a big girl bed or a really tall gate?

So, after Ava got through another major fit (3rd screaming fit of the day) & I got her calmed down, we read some books & rocked, (one of my favorite times of the day). I put her in her bed. She sang for a while & called for me. You know, "mommy are you? Mommy come up here. Mommy I can't find Bella. Mommy." About 11:20 pm, I heard a little thud. You know, the kind that sounds like a little girl climbing out of her crib. Sure enough, she did it. She's only done it when she is really mad. I went to check on her & she was hiding with a big smile on her face. I put her back in & at 11:45, another little thud & this time little feet coming downstairs looking for me. She had a big smile on her proud face as she said, "Mom, I climb out & find you!!" We need a really tall gate to keep her in her room.

Could be interesting if this continues...

Wait! There's more!!!

She wanted to play but I turned out the lights & she came running. I had to go back down to get my cell phone. She needed hers, too, sigh. She came down & found it. It's an old Palm that Paul had given her. We headed back up. Finally at 12:15 am, I had to tell her that it was her last warning, she had to stop talking to me & if she didn't turn off her "phone", I was going to come & take it away for good. It was turned off in a hurry & we went to sleep.....finally.

Realization

Been forever again!!!!

So, yesterday I watched my nieces little girl for a few hours. As I watched B play, my thoughts turned to our birth parents. It hit me that B is the same age that Ava was when we began our adoption journey with her. Because Ava lived with her birth mom, M, from birth, this will be mostly about her. M got to see so many of the "firsts" with her. Now, I'm not upset with that, I am so grateful that they had that time together, but I do get sad that I missed out on that stuff. I couldn't imagine, as I watched B & Ava play, how difficult the decision was for M to make an adoption plan. My heart breaks when I think about it. I remember when M left. I stood in the kitchen holding Paul & Ava & crying. I was crying for her pain & for our joy. I couldn't believe how something that gives us so much joy, could cause me so much pain! I know I can never fully know what she felt or thought. I hope someday we can sit down & talk more about it. I sometimes feel like a bad adoptive mom because I haven't sent letters & pictures like I should. I hope they know it's not intentional. I guess I need to put it on my calendar as a reminder. I hope they both know how forever grateful Paul & I are that they entrusted us with this wonderful little girl that we love so much. We love them both for that gift.

We started ECFE this fall. At first, I wasn't too impressed with it but after talking with some friends, I changed my expectations. We love it now! Ava & I get to play & do awesome art projects. We decided that since we have our birth parents in our life, we could share the artwork with them! Sorry M & D, now you know what you will be getting!!!! It has been neat to see how she is interacting with other kids her age. At this age, they seem to play next to each other versus with each other.

We took Ava to Disney world in June. It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!!! Paul & I had gone 2 years ago so we got to experience it as a couple but seeing it through Ava's eyes was even better! She couldn't wait to meet Mickey. We had to hold her back until her turn so she didn't get in someone else's picture! She still talks about seeing Mickey & "Mickey's" castle, (sorry Cinderella!) We drove & she did awesome in the car. She has even asked to go back, "We go see Mickey again?" Maybe next year!

May

We continue to travel back & forth from our house to our apartment. Ava does a great job in the car, most of the time! I usually try to head out right around her nap time. We are looking to move to a smaller apartment in the same building. We would be able to save some money & we really don't need the size we currently have.

I can't believe that May is almost over. Where did it go? We celebrated my 40th (yikes) birthday & Mother's Day. For my birthday, the three of us went out to dinner at Bucca De Bepo. I love their food. It's quite kitchy as far as decor goes but it was fun. I got a free birthday dessert that was really good.  When they bring out the dessert, they of course sing. They also bring out a table-top candelabra!! That was embarrassing! Ava loved it & liked blowing out the candles.

We bought a new laptop! I love it but....we didn't even have it for a month when I dropped it. Yep, I broke it. Bad. The screen was broken. I cried. And cried. And cried.  Paul was not happy. Ava did my hair...with her new garden tools. It was not a good day. That goodness I am married to a computer geek. After taking with my brother, who had recently replaced a laptop screen. He told Paul about a site to buy a new screen. My wonderful husband replaced the screen & the computer is as good as new!!! Actually, it's better because he bought a nicer screen! Thank you, honey!!

Recap

I've been forgetting to update! Let's see, what's been going on..... 

I spent the last week with the worst cold I have had in ages. With Paul gone during the week, my mom came over to help me take care of Ava. I was so exhausted & I don't know what I would have done without her help. 

This is the first weekend since Jan 1 that we haven't had something going on.  Last Sunday, we finished our 13 week course on Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. It was so worth the time commitment & I would highly recommend it. 

Yesterday, the weather here in MN was so nice. The snow is melting fast. We are so sick of the snow & ready for it to be gone! We were able to go for a nice long walk & the three of us had a little snowball fight. Ava had so much fun trying to throw snow at mommy & daddy.

Each week, Ava & I pack up & head to our apartment an hour & a half away to spend time with daddy. We usually spend 2 or 3 nights there. (Paul stays there during the week so he doesn't have a 2 hour commute to work & a 2 hour commute home) It's so hard to be apart. Ava LOVES it when daddy walks in to the apartment. She becomes a total daddies girl. She helps him make dinner & wash the dishes. She loves it when daddy gives her a bath. He is the one she wants when it's time to go to bed. She wants to snuggle up with him & read books. I usually wake up to her yelling "Oh Daddy, where are you?" : )

 

In loving memory of my brother Paul
Sept 8,1961-Feb 10, 2010
I love you & miss you.

-The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,
and I say it's all right
It's all right

New Year, New goals

Since it has been forever since I posted again, my goal this year is to post more often. Feel free to remind me if I haven't posted in a while. :) I would love to post pictures as soon as I get them loaded on this computer.

We finally found a place to rent so Paul doesn't have to commute as long. He still drive 30 minutes but it's better than driving 2 hours! Ava & I try to get down there a couple nights a week to stay with him. Ava loves the "new house". Paul tries to come home one night during the week & he is home on weekends. It's not ideal, but it's what we have to do right now. It's kind of nice being at the apartment even though we have nothing in it yet. We sleep on an air mattress, Ava is in the pack n play, but is outgrowing it fast. We have one bar stool & a shelf. LOL I feel like college students starting out with nothing!! We don't have a TV or radio yet either. It's really nice not to have them. we can spend time as a family with each other without distractions. There is a TV in a community room that we can watch but we don't spend much time in there unless we want to use the WiFi. Ava loves being there in Friday mornings because they have fresh baked cookies!!!

Ava's birth mom was here last week. It was great to see Marlana again. We skype with her quite often so she we get to see her but having her here in person was better. I loved seeing her with Ava. They both just love each other. Every time Ava needed a new diaper, she wanted Marlana to change her. That was fine with me!! We didn't get to spend enough time with her since she also had family & friends to see.

Ava got a kitchen from Santa so we spend a lot of our time "cooking". We also spend a lot of time watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She is growing more & more everyday. She is turning into a big girl, no longer the little girl we adopted. She sings for us & loves to dance. She LOVES to help Paul clean. I'm starting to think we should hire her out!!! She is still very much a daddies girl.

Lots going on

So the bad blogger is back! There has been a lot going on in our house. We finalized our adoption on August 27. We were lucky & had a judge that was a good family friend. That made the day even more special.

We have spent almost every weekend looking for a place to rent so Paul doesn't have to commute as long anymore. Right now is driving 2 hours each way!! With Minnesota winter here, the drive can get even longer with weather conditions. The good news is that we finally found an apartment the we both like!! It's huge & we will start to move in next weekend. We are keeping our house so we can come back home on weekends & whenever Ava & I feel like it. Paul's commute will only be 30 to 40 minutes.

We celebrated Ava's second birthday. Wow. I have a 2 year old! She wasn't interested in the singing or cake & candles. The candles were "hot" & she wouldn't blow them out & she didn't want to touch the cake. She just licked it. She looked bored while we sang to her. LOL.

We tried to get a family picture during Thanksgiving. She was a typical 2 year old. Thirteen pictures, one kind of good one....with her laying on our laps...not really looking at the camera.

Now the Holidays are upon us. Do I start putting up decorations here at home (since we'll be back here) or do I start packing? It's going to be a challenge deciding what we need at the apartment & what to leave here for when we come home. When will I get my shopping done? What about my baking? I guess I'll just watch some TV & then decided what to do!

Driving

Grandpa Bob & Ava both like small cars.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Where have I been??? Well, let's see. Life with a toddler is busy.

Ava is doing great. She is almost 21 months. There are times when I forget that she has only been with us for 4 months. She just bring us so much joy & happiness. We have had all our post placement visits with our social worker. Our paperwork is in & we have a court date for our finalization!!!!

Ava is learning new things all the time. She is climbing on everything & chattering all the time. Some times we know what she is saying & other times, we have no idea! I bought her an awesome set of DVD's. "Baby Signing Time" has become the new favorite DVD for our little girl. She loves to watch the babies & is learning sign language. It's amazing what she picks up. She can sign eat, more, milk, car, shoes, hat, cereal, frog, mom, dad, baby, grandpa, coat & so many more. She is growing like a weed. She is wearing 24 months clothes & size 5 shoes. I can't believe how fast she outgrows clothes. She loves to snuggle in the morning with me. This past week we had some thunderstorms in the evening & she loved watching the lightening. She kept wanting more & laughing when she saw it. How do you explain that mommy & daddy don't control the lightening? Some of her favorite foods are dill pickles, milk, ranch dressing, raisins, and animal crackers.

The big news is that Paul accepted another job. We will be moving sometime after our adoption is final. I hate to leave our small town where I grew up & where my family lives but we have to do what's best for our family. Paul will be moving from being a school principal to chief information officer at a high school. Basically he will be in charge of all the technology. It's his dream job. He started his job in July & has been commuting 2 hours each way to work. We need to get closer for him! After 4 hours on the road & a full day of work, he comes home happy & ready to play with Ava. There is such a change in him. The stress level has dropped. We have spent a lot of evenings & weekends looking for a place to rent & at different areas to live in. I am getting tired of looking. Hopefully we'll find something soon.

Wow!

Wow! Am I a bad blogger or what? Where do I begin??

On February 19th, just four days after my brothers funeral, I got a call from our social worker. She said that M, the birth mother that we were matched with back in November of 2008, wanted us to adopt her little girl who was now 15 months old! Thank goodness I was working at my husbands school. I went right down to his office & put our social worker on speaker phone. We had a match meeting on March 26th. Just a couple of hours after we left the meeting, we got "the call". M did want us to adopt Ava!! On April 6th, we met with M her mom & sister, & the birth dad & his mother. First we did the cooperative agreement with M & her family. She then went to sign papers while we met with the birth dad. He signed his papers when we were done.

The next day, April 7th, we began the transition with Ava. She spent time at our house with us every day. That went so much better than we expected. M & Ava stayed overnight on the 13th & 14th. I really LOVED having M here! She is so much fun. On April 15th, we had a Blessing ceremony for Ava. That began our life as full time parents. We were still in legal risk until the 20th. Our social worker has been here to visit us once since we got Ava. She was so impressed with how well Ava is doing.

Ava is now almost 18 months old & the joy of our lives!! She is so much fun. We have already been through some teething with her! She is learning new things every day and so are we. When we started the adoption process, we said that we would accept a child from birth to 4 years old. As our wait got longer, we increased that age to 8. I never dreamed that we would have a toddler. We didn't have a lot of time to prepare for her. Thank goodness for great friends who came through in a hurry with clothes & other things we needed. We love Ava so much & are reminded every day about the sacrifice that M made in order for us to be parents. We love & miss M & can't wait to spend time with her again soon.

It's a.....

GIRL!!!!

We have a beautiful 16 month old little girl named Ava Marie. We are in legal risk right now which means that up until 4:30pm on April 20th anyone can change their minds. I know we won't change our mind!!!

Awesome new Movie

Check out this awesome new movie called Babies. It comes out on Mother's Day.

Well....

Still waiting...

Still Maybe...

Still keeping my fingers crossed.

Maybe?

Keeping my fingers crossed!

There is so much I want to share but I can't

I deleted all of my posts. I think I am going to end the blog for a while. There is so much going on that I want to share with you all but I can't. I may start this up again so don't delete the address just yet. I just need to get through some things first. Check back because you never know when I might post something. Thank you all for your support & understanding.

Laura