HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here's my cutie in one of her Christmas outfits to celebrate New Years Eve!! :) (she's sitting in her new big girl chair!) Happy New Year everyone. I pray for a blessed 2008 for us all. If you are parents already, congratulations! If you aren't... hang in there. It will happen. And when it does... it will be amazing!!!

Love and Peace to all.






Again, Peace.

Lil M today

We stayed in today. Lil M and I have had a very big week, indeed!! Here she is playing with the dog-dogs. She even *almost* said "bye" today when we were in the kitchen. It just might be her next real word. :) She always waves "hi" and "bye", but hasn't said either one yet.


Here's a little video of Lil M from today. It's not the greatest quality. Not sure why I can't get this camera to video very well... but it was still cute. :) And I'm NOT biased!!! haha.




Peace.

Christmas vacation, 16 mo

We've been on vacation this week. Lil M has also been teething. Oi. She's doing well, but was definitely cranky today. You know, regardless, she is just an angel. I just love it when she giggles and laughes...and when she knows she's done something I don't like and tries to correct it before I get upset. What a girl!!! For example, tonight she found a tiny little christmas tree piece on the floor... instead of putting into her mouth and freaking me out, she brought it over to me to throw away! Amazing. :) I just love her so much.

I thought I should finally try to share some videos of her, so, here is a short one from when we were in China of her and Aiyee Mimi. :) I hope it turns out ok!!!

Oh, Lil M is 16 months old today!! She was likely exactly 10 months old when this video was taken. My how time flies!!! Lots and lots of love, babykins.




Happy New Year!!!

Peace.

Christmas

Wakey Wakey, it's Christmas MORN!!!!! (sleepy Mama and Lil M!!)
Happy Mommy Mimi, who got a pretty bracelet from her Chasey-man
Lil M wanted to play with Aiyee Mimi's pot.... clankety, clank!!!!
Chase got a very cool camera/video cam!!!
Aiyee Mimi and Lil M, trying to pose for Mama!

That's better! :) Oops, Lil M still isn't looking at the camera!!Gramma and Grampa got Lil M an Amazing Doll!!!! See the resemblance? She was touching her *nose*... that doll must have looked pretty real!! lol

Yes, I subject my poor child to torture, such as this!!!!! hahaha She was too cute!
We're playing chess in the background, and Lil M is laughing at someone about the Silly Reindeer ears MAMA put on her!!!! :) (ok, maybe not, but she's laughing at something!)
Mama Mia is tired again... I could have slept this way all night. Lil M had a BIG, HUGE, ENORMOUS day...and she was having a little trouble settling in for the night. But she gave me loveys and kisses before she went to sleep. Ahhhh, Mommyhood. I wish she (would/could always be so happy and easy-going!!!

Our first Christmas was just amazing. Her first thing that she learned was how to pull the name tags off the presents... She seemed to enjoy most everything about the day. She didn't open presents, so much, but she did like to play with everything! Paper, boxes, the toys... it didn't matter! :)

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

Peace.

Getting Ready

Ho, Ho, Ho!!! We're getting ready for Christmas!! :) This is my first Christmas as a MOMMY!!!! This is also Lil' M's first Christmas. Woohoo!! She's just a joy. I'm so excited about this next week. I'm off all week, and into the new year, too.

I promise to post pics soon!!

Lil M has been walking more and more! Oh, let's see, we got to see Auntie Ellen and Dave on Thursday. They got her the cutest little rocking chair!! Oh, and lots of clothes!!! She's set for a few weeks, haha. :) We went to Bob Evans and Lil M did so well. She drank out of a straw for the first time. All these firsts.... !!

Last night we hung out with my friend S. She's getting used to going to a restaurant, I guess! Two days in a row... crazy stuff! We've not been out like that in so long! Lil M showed off for him, too!! She's a hoot!

Lil M loves her little chair. She's rocking in it right now!! I'm going to have to try to get it on video. :)

I've wrapped quite a few presents... but not everything. So, gotta get ready!

Peace.

Miscellaneous

Well, it snowed this weekend, so we've stayed in mostly. We went and got a couple groceries yesterday, and salt. Lil M seems to like her new shoes! She is wearing some purple ones that we got in China right now. I wonder if she's gonna be a shoe lover! haha.

She got a Vtech toy for her birthday that she seems to really enjoy. I finally got the batteries in it and hooked it up to the TV, even. Yes, I realize that her birthday was at the end of August. I'm slow, ok? Not really... it's just that she has toys she loves, and I thought I'd wait until later so that she really paid attention to this one! :) This is the toy she got from Uncle Joe and Gramma/Grandpa. We had 3 games for it, plus she can play with it without official games.

She's still walking, of course, but the shoes do make it tougher, so she doesn't wear them all day. She's been giving kisses... puckers her little lips up and goes mmmmmmsmooch. haha. She's also been giving hugs. She has learned how to climb up on the couch and onto the little ottoman stool that I have. She moves my foot off the stool, then the pillow, then climbs up on it and laughs. haha. Very cute. She's standing here laughing at me typing, right now, and just shsh-ed the dog.

She's got two more teeth coming in... so she's almost got 6 full teeth. Let's see, is there anything else...? hm. Guess not. Oh, she still loves her swing. When I put her in it she laughes with GLEE!!! She cracks me up. She likes to stand next to it and push on it, too.

Ok, that's it for now. I just can't believe how much she can do at 15 months, now!! :)

Peace.

Stride Rites

I got Mia her first pair of "real" shoes last night...We went to the Stride Rite place and they measured her and I got her some pink tennies. :) Cute.

She moves to the next room up next month. They said she has to wear shoes. I don't make her wear them much, because I wanted her to get used to walking without them first... but she needed something. So, there ya go.

She has other shoes, don't get me wrong. Cute shoes that Auntie Ellen gave her. But every time I put them on her for Daycare they end up off before the end of the day. Not sure why. But it is ok.

I finally took a couple of my rings that I go myself *last* year to get sized! I'll get them back on Tuesday and can finally wear them without fear that they'll fall off! haha. If they do a good job, I need to take a couple more over there. The place I get my rings is online, and they only do a size 7, which is 1-2 sizes too big for me. Last year I went through a stint where I got some 'fun' jewelry. Nothing expensive, really, just fun. None of the big 4, but more like citrine, green amethyst and garnets.

Anyway, Christmas is fast approaching!! I think it will be fun. :)

Peace.

Comments

First, thank you all for having my back and sticking up for me. :) Blasting poor Scott isn't the answer, though. He is really a very nice guy, and I didn't mean to put blame on him. Don't kill the messenger, as they say. He was just verbalizing the thoughts that some people around here actually do have. Which is sad. But just because someone says it, doesn't mean they themselves feel that way. So. Please don't blast him anymore... k?

Now, as far as the actual idea of single motherhooddom, what is the big F'ing deal? I mean, if you think about it... we've got to be even more organized and with it than most couples do. ALL the pressure is on us. One person. Not two. But to discriminate against someone who is single with children would be to discriminate a TON of people!

I think part of why Scott said something to me in the first place is that he sees my plight at work. And was trying to tell me he understood. And I really appreciate that. I am quite the sensitive girl, apparently... even though, my Sis tells me to LIGHTEN UP! LOL. (this is over lots of stuff, btw... SO, no blasting of Sis either... k?)

I really do appreciate you all. :)

Peace.

Single Mother by Choice

Hrmph. Ok, I was talking to my friend Scott tonight (sorry Scott), and he said that some people in the "Midwest" look at me as an "Un-wed Mother". ???? What? Insinuating that I'm not as good as a married woman. :( What??

I'm a Single Mom By Choice. No one who goes through the adoption process, for 3 years or LONGER, is an "Un-wed Mother". We get special status, IMO. And I don't care what others think, mostly. But, it sort of hit a sore spot, I guess.

I realize he didn't mean anything bad by it...but the idea just sticks in my crawl. Sorry. Yes, it is true. I'm un-wed. That is by choice. I mean, no I couldn't just go out and get married this second. But, I have had the chance, and I passed it up (for very good reason). Would I get married? Absolutely... to the right man.

Anyhow... anyone who has the idea that I'm an "Un-wed Mother" can kiss my un-wed-mother-ass. That's how I feel about that.

Peace.

Walking

It's official... Lil M is walking! She took a couple steps for the Dr. on Friday...and has really been trying today... She's taken 6 or 7 steps at a time 3 or 4 times today! Woohoo! The Dr. suggested I practice with her a bit, so that's what we've done. But she has been walking by herself. :) Very cool!!! I'll get pics when I can!!

Peace.

Temperature

Lil M has a fever today, about 101.5 or so. We were going to have her pic taken, but I'm thinking we'll wait. I'm worried she'll continue to have it overnight. She did pretty well yesterday, but woke up with it today. Please pray her fever goes down and stays down or I won't be able to take her to daycare tomorrow.

Peace.

Shots - 15 month

We went for Lil M's 15 month check up today. She's doing great. She's saying her requisite 3-6 words (Mama, Dada, Baby, DogDog and Shhhh - yes, she Shsh's the dogs!!!) She's also 29" long, 21lbs and head circumference is 17". She is still in the 40th percentile. She took 1.5 (or 2) steps at the doctor's office by herself!! WOOHOO. 2nd time ever!

She had FOUR, yes 4, shots. :( boohoo. We were supposed to go Monday, but I thought it would be best to go today since I got off work early. Now, we'll have the weekend for her to recover. Oh, how I hope she doesn't feel bad like last time.

Peace.

Santa pic

Here is Lil M with Santa!

Peace.

Santa

I took Lil M to get her pic taken with Santa last night. My friend Lenore went with us. Definitely another first. :) She did well. She didn't cry, but she didn't laugh either. I will post the pic as soon as I get it scanned!

It snowed here overnight. I decided to stay home from work today with Lil M. We've had a good morning so far. I had an appointment at 1pm, but I decided to move it. A lot of schools and such were closed today, even though it wasn't that bad out. Oh well. It it is nice to have some extra time here!

Peace.

Tagged

I've been tagged for the first time in a long time, thanks to Tom!!! :)

Instructions:Each tagged person must post 8 random facts or habits about themselves on their blog. At the end of the post, choose 8 people to be tagged and list their names.

Don't forget to leave a comment telling them that they are tagged and to read your blog. Have fun!

Here are my 8 random facts / abnormalities:

1) I'm 36 and have never been married. Some people find that odd.

2) I've completed 16 full-length marathons (26.2 miles), in 9 different states. Again, some people find that odd, or over-the-top. I don't think it is weird at all.

3) I don't believe you have to *birth* a child to be his or her Mom. To me, it is equivalent. To most, it isn't.

4) I'm a "believer", baptised Southern Baptist. But I couldn't be further from the Right Theologically... so, I'm a *born again* Liberal United Church of Christ member. (don't egg my house, please.)

5) I believe it takes people 30 or more years to figure out who they are and if they *like* themselves. Some people never grow up, or grow into the person they could be, and I find that sad. And I wish everyone could like themselves for who/what they've become, because we all go through stuff and shouldn't be martyrs or islands.

6) I have a big need to help people.

7) If I hadn't taken the *long hard road* to where I am today, I would be a completely different person. And I like who I am. I'm proud of myself for staying the course over time. And, believe it or not, that doesn't mean I'm *conceited* or full of myself. Quite the contrary.

8) I have this desire to try new things and to continually learn. I'm still considering how I can manage to get my MBA, while not sacrificing Lil M time. Someone said I wasn't "organized" one day, and I nearly fell over in disbelief!!!

I'm tagging:
1. hobbhungry
2. macey's mom
3. gone fishin' (sbixler)
4. carol adopts
5. trip to emily
6. maylings mama
7. happy hoppes!
8. three peas in a pod!


Peace.

Women's Basketball

I got tickets to the city cross-town shoot out women's basketball game yesterday. We cheered for UC and they won! :) It was a lot of fun. Sis, Chase, my friend Scott, me and Mia went. I love college basketball, but I do like men's better than women's. More action, I think. lol. Apparently, it was the 30th annual crosstown shootout. Fun! Then we did a little shopping. I got a UD sweatshirt, which is odd, since I'm quite far away from there... and there isn't anything of MY school in the stores down here!!

We did our Christmas cards today. Basically, it was a fairly laid back weekend.

This will be Lil's M's first Christmas (with me)....and I'm starting to get in the spirit. Chase helped put out Christmas lights last night. I have reindeer and 2 lighted trees outside, along with some lights on the hedges. It is starting to look like Christmas! lol.

Here are a couple of pics from yesterday's game.

Peace.