Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mason!
Val and the boys came over tonight for a little while. Norah took this opportunity to say hello to her best friend Mason. She was sooooo cute! And she loves her Mimi too!
Body Guards....
Cole, Tanner and Elias laid some smooches on Norah tonight. That poor girl doesn't have a chance in the dating world. I feel really sorry for the boys that show up on our door in 12 (or 25) years!
I was in the middle of cooking dinner last night. I had meat in the pan cooking, mashed potatoes boiling, and I was also peeling and cutting up apples for an apple pie. Elias was running around the house like a wild man, and Norah was playing with her babies. Well, wouldn't ya know. As soon as I have all eight of my hands in food/apples/potatoes, Norah wants to be held. And she wants to be held NOW, not 5 minutes from now. Great. She kept pointing to her bottles, so I thought I would make her a little bottle and she could sit on the stool and have a little snacky-doo while I finished up things. It was a good try, but a no go. She got weepy and walked into the living room. I am stirring the potatoes and I notice that the house is quiet. It is NEVER quiet unless someone is doing something they aren't supposed to do. I look over the counter and this is what I see....
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
It's been a while...
Yes, I know. It has been a while! We have been a busy bunch!
I took a few pics of Norah today since she was in an incredibly good mood and she was just as happy to be in front of the camera. She is such a ham when she wants to be!
Things are just getting better and better with her. She has been having a really hard time with her tummy. After several trips to the peds office, we are now going to see a GI doctor tomorrow. I cannot wait to finally get everything straight with her. I know that she is in so much pain sometimes, and after the 15 minute scream fest yesterday that ended with her shaking and pulling her hair we are going to the doctor tomorrow. I will keep you posted on that situation.
Her appetite is not as good as it was when we got home, although I expected that. We try to keep cheerios or goldfish out so she can "graze" and that has really helped with her stressing out anytime food is concerned. She is still taking one bottle a day (night usually) and she sleeps very well! She is down for a nap right now, and those usually last about 3 hours... I'm lucky... I know!
Her personality is coming out day by day and as the minutes go by I fall more and more in love with that child. She is surely a blessing to us and to everyone she meets. She was placed in our family for a reason and I couldn't imagine a day without her. Both of my kids are amazing, and if you don't believe me ask their dad! :) Norah has turned into quite the daddies girl. Her little eyes light up when she sees him. She runs to the door squealing when he comes home. It is precious. I am so glad they have finally connected. It was really hard in China because she wanted nothing to do with him. But now... She is her daddies girl for sure.
Elias is doing awesome! He has learned about recycling in school so we are now a recycling family. We should have done it sooner, I know. But there is nothing like a 6 year old telling you to get a move on. He is incredibly smart and funny! Football season is over for him but I know that he is very much looking forward to playing next year.
I gave him the Toy's R Us big toy book that came with the Sunday paper. I told him to circle some things that he might want Santa to bring him this Christmas. Of course, every toy that a little boy might dream of was circled. But as I looked closer, there was girl stuff circled to. And I noticed that within that circle he wrote an "N"... for Norah. What a sweet little boy he is. So very kind and precious to my heart.
My kids are amazing, and I really dread the day they grow up and move out. We have so much fun when we are all together.
Here are some pics that I took of Norah today! Enjoy! :)
I took a few pics of Norah today since she was in an incredibly good mood and she was just as happy to be in front of the camera. She is such a ham when she wants to be!
Things are just getting better and better with her. She has been having a really hard time with her tummy. After several trips to the peds office, we are now going to see a GI doctor tomorrow. I cannot wait to finally get everything straight with her. I know that she is in so much pain sometimes, and after the 15 minute scream fest yesterday that ended with her shaking and pulling her hair we are going to the doctor tomorrow. I will keep you posted on that situation.
Her appetite is not as good as it was when we got home, although I expected that. We try to keep cheerios or goldfish out so she can "graze" and that has really helped with her stressing out anytime food is concerned. She is still taking one bottle a day (night usually) and she sleeps very well! She is down for a nap right now, and those usually last about 3 hours... I'm lucky... I know!
Her personality is coming out day by day and as the minutes go by I fall more and more in love with that child. She is surely a blessing to us and to everyone she meets. She was placed in our family for a reason and I couldn't imagine a day without her. Both of my kids are amazing, and if you don't believe me ask their dad! :) Norah has turned into quite the daddies girl. Her little eyes light up when she sees him. She runs to the door squealing when he comes home. It is precious. I am so glad they have finally connected. It was really hard in China because she wanted nothing to do with him. But now... She is her daddies girl for sure.
Elias is doing awesome! He has learned about recycling in school so we are now a recycling family. We should have done it sooner, I know. But there is nothing like a 6 year old telling you to get a move on. He is incredibly smart and funny! Football season is over for him but I know that he is very much looking forward to playing next year.
I gave him the Toy's R Us big toy book that came with the Sunday paper. I told him to circle some things that he might want Santa to bring him this Christmas. Of course, every toy that a little boy might dream of was circled. But as I looked closer, there was girl stuff circled to. And I noticed that within that circle he wrote an "N"... for Norah. What a sweet little boy he is. So very kind and precious to my heart.
My kids are amazing, and I really dread the day they grow up and move out. We have so much fun when we are all together.
Here are some pics that I took of Norah today! Enjoy! :)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
I do want to let everyone know that we are alive and well apologize for not posting as often as I would like. I have every intention of putting pictures on here, but honestly by the time I get around to it I am pretty exhausted! Life with a 6 year old and an almost 2 year old, work, football, homework, and wifery and I am pooped! I wouldn't trade it for the world though! So where should I begin....
Elias is doing awesome in first grade! He loves his teacher and is doing well academically. He comes home and talks about stars and the moon, does math like nobody's business, and is eating us out of house and home. His football season is over on Saturday and I know that he is already looking forward to next years season! He has the most amazing personality and says the funniest things! He is an old soul. He loves having a baby sister and on most days they get along. He torments her and takes her yaya (blanket) on a daily basis, but he will defend her at a seconds notice. He told me the other daym, "Momma, I hope that we never give Norah back. She is just the cutest little thing!" Like giving her back was an option. He gets very concerned when she cries, and tunes her out when she screeches. He is a great kid.
Norah is getting better and better everyday. For a few weeks there it was pretty rough, I'm not going to lie. I thought for sure the attachment wasn't happening for us. I was getting stressed out and I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. There were a few days that I cried... alot. Then it seemed overnight she was the same little girl that was making so much progress again. We have had a fabulous last few days and everyday it is a step in the right direction. I know that she was probably mourning a bit those few weeks. She just wasn't herself and seemed so irratated. But just as quickly as it came, it left. She is such an amazing child. And funny! Her personality is so much like Elias. THIS is going to be fun! She loves to help me clean the house and is so funny when you give her "jobs". Anything that goes into the trash can usually gets there by way of her. She is telling me now when she goes #1 in her diaper. She will get a diaper and lay down in front of me and throw her legs up in the air. She HATES poopy diapers and usually puts a quickness behind the diaper change. I am thinking that she is too little to potty train! Do they even have panties that small???
I love my life. I love my friends and family. I am thankful that I have a job and a roof over my head. We may live paycheck to paycheck but we have an over abundance of love and memories to keep us warm. I am thankful for the gifts that I have been given, large and small. I am thankful I haven't had to work at loving Shannon. We just mesh. I am comfortable in his arms each day.
I am thankful for His grace and for trusting me with these two beautiful children. I will forever be greatful that he chose me to be their momma.
Elias is doing awesome in first grade! He loves his teacher and is doing well academically. He comes home and talks about stars and the moon, does math like nobody's business, and is eating us out of house and home. His football season is over on Saturday and I know that he is already looking forward to next years season! He has the most amazing personality and says the funniest things! He is an old soul. He loves having a baby sister and on most days they get along. He torments her and takes her yaya (blanket) on a daily basis, but he will defend her at a seconds notice. He told me the other daym, "Momma, I hope that we never give Norah back. She is just the cutest little thing!" Like giving her back was an option. He gets very concerned when she cries, and tunes her out when she screeches. He is a great kid.
Norah is getting better and better everyday. For a few weeks there it was pretty rough, I'm not going to lie. I thought for sure the attachment wasn't happening for us. I was getting stressed out and I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. There were a few days that I cried... alot. Then it seemed overnight she was the same little girl that was making so much progress again. We have had a fabulous last few days and everyday it is a step in the right direction. I know that she was probably mourning a bit those few weeks. She just wasn't herself and seemed so irratated. But just as quickly as it came, it left. She is such an amazing child. And funny! Her personality is so much like Elias. THIS is going to be fun! She loves to help me clean the house and is so funny when you give her "jobs". Anything that goes into the trash can usually gets there by way of her. She is telling me now when she goes #1 in her diaper. She will get a diaper and lay down in front of me and throw her legs up in the air. She HATES poopy diapers and usually puts a quickness behind the diaper change. I am thinking that she is too little to potty train! Do they even have panties that small???
I love my life. I love my friends and family. I am thankful that I have a job and a roof over my head. We may live paycheck to paycheck but we have an over abundance of love and memories to keep us warm. I am thankful for the gifts that I have been given, large and small. I am thankful I haven't had to work at loving Shannon. We just mesh. I am comfortable in his arms each day.
I am thankful for His grace and for trusting me with these two beautiful children. I will forever be greatful that he chose me to be their momma.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Shannon and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone again for all of the gifts, dinner, visits and calls since we have been home with Norah. It means more to us than you will ever know and we appreciate it so much. Norah is the apple of our eye and such a dream come true. She has grown so much since she has gotten home and her personality is amazing. We are so very blessed!
We would like to ask a favor of all of you at this time.
For the next few weeks we will be living a very quiet life with limited trips out and few visitors in for a little while. Social workers and psychologists tell us that when children are first adopted, they may be overwhelmed, scared, and nervous. By keeping our lives very boring for a while, we'll be helping Norah feel safe. This does NOT mean that we do not want visitors!!!! We do not want family to stay away from us. We just can't pass Norah around for everyone to hold a lot and we will have to be mindful of overloading her with new things.
We know you'll all want to hug and kiss on her, but it is recommended that we be the only ones to do that at first to improve her chances of attaching strongly to us. Until we feel she has attached and clearly knows we are her parents, we will need to feed, change and take care of her. I know that missing out on some diaper changes will disappoint many of you. Have no fear, there will be many more once she becomes comfortable at home! But right now she needs to feel secure in us and we need to make sure that she has a firm foundation with us.
As strange as it may seem, adopted children who act very outgoing and affectionate with strangers is not a healthy thing. It is called "indiscriminate affection" and can mean that they haven't really attached to anyone.
Things are just a little different when you are adopting a baby rather than having a biological child. She is adapting to a lot of new things right now . . . new parents, new family, new home, new foods, new time zone (totally opposite what she's used to). That's a lot to swallow at one time.
We appreciate your support and love in bringing Norah home. We feel confident that everything will smooth out over time, but our main concern right now is making Norah feel secure and loved and that this is her forever family.
We feel that we have encountered a few set-backs with her attaching and adjusting and these changes are things that we should have been doing from day one. we were so wrapped up in the moment of getting home, being exhausted and also wanting all of you to get to know this incredible little girl that is now part of our family. These small set-backs are nothing major, but our main priority is for her to adjust and to feel completely safe with us and for her to know that we are not going anywhere.
Thanks so much for your support and for your love. We would have never been able to get through this journey without it.
For any of you BTDT adoptive parents, we welcome any and all advice and thoughts!
Much Love to all,
Shannon, Penny, Elias and Norah
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