This time last year

This time last year I received word that our referral was winging its way across the ocean. I can remember the nervous anticipation that filled my very soul as I tried to sleep on the eve of our referral. Thoughts of our Dreamsicle~would she be healthy, young/old, happy/sad filled the night time hours as I waited for morning to arrive.

The next day June 26th dawned bright and beautiful. I went to work since I had no idea when the phone call would arrive. McGyver called early afternoon to tell me that our adoption agency had left a message on his cell phone but he wanted me to take the call. I called from work and received all of the info on our precious girl. I could not stop crying as I heard the details of our newest family member. "10 months old, a little wisp of a thing but cuter than all get out" was how the person from the adoption agency described her. I had no idea how true that description was until I received her photos later that evening.

One year ago tomorrow, we saw the face of our precious girl for the first time. What a difference a year makes.

The final pics

Dreamsicle filling her Mama's shoes, sleeping after her long day of boating, daddy and Dreamsicle on the boat (notice the grill, yes it is attached to the floating playpen)

And Even More Photos!

Dreamsicle on the boat, corn on the cob, I posted the same pic twice,

I have too many photos to upload at once so here are some more!

Dreamsicle taking her baby for a ride, on the carousel at Disneyland, Chester's last meal before Iraq, just love her shirt, being carried around in U*Haul's work duffle bag

Pics A Plenty, Pics Galore!

Photos of Dreamsicle and Chester, Dreamsicle on the plane to see Chester, Dreamsicle's first corn on the cob, first trip on the floating playpen and various other sweet shots. Enjoy!

Memorial Day, Shoes and the Floating Playpen

Memorial day has always been a day of solemn remembrance in the McGyver household. Having Chester in harm's way this year gave the day an even greater meaning for us. We spoke to Chester this weekend which certainly helped but boy do I miss that kid. He is doing well and is bored. Bored! The whole time the boys were growing up I would shudder when they would utter that word. Now it brings joy to my heart. Stay bored the entire summer Chester. Please stay bored.

Reason 365,762 that I am certain the Lord matched us with the perfect little girl. Dreamsicle has started talking in her sleep. It is mostly baby babble but one word caught my ear that she kept repeating while I was listening to her through the baby monitor. She was happily exclaiming Shoes! in her sleep. Ahhh, I love that girl.

This weekend marked Dreamsicle's first time on the floating playpen. I have pictures to prove it but I can't find my blasted camera plug in thingy-ma-do to upload them to my computer so you will have to take my word for it until I find it or buy a new one. She was pretty timid at first but soon got her sea legs. She's not a big fan of the life jacket but does love her water shoes (imagine that). Anyway, we had a literal feast on the water with friends of ours. Shrimp scampi, ribs, corn on the cob~a great way to usher in the summer season. Let the fun begin!

Fun Interview

Sooo, my friend Susan picked me to interview. If you would like to get in on this, please do the following...

1. Leave me a comment saying "interview me"-yes all of you lurkers who never, never comment, this means you.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions-but I get to pick the questions!
3. You will update your blog with the answers to those questions.
4. You have to include this explanation and the offer to interview others
5. When other people comment asking to be interviewed you will ask them five questions of your own choosing.

Now-on to the fun!

1. In the last 6 months what single purchase has been the most important in your life?

This one was easy-the airline tickets that flew us out to California so that we could see Chester off when he left for the sandbox.

2. Do you change your bedding/curtains with the season?

Are you kidding me? Do people really do that? McGyver is lucky if the bottom and top sheet match most days!

3. If a movie was made based on your life who would play you and your husband and why

This one took a little thinking but I would have to say the Meg Ryan would be me. Most of the characters she plays are a little quirky but flawed which is true of me in real life. Clint Eastwood would have to play McGyver. Remember when he uttered the phrase-"Go ahead-make my day"? Enough said.

4. A close friend of yours is getting ready to walk out the door and the outfit she has on is totally hideous and looks awful. Do you tell her or pretend she looks great?

I totally would tell her. That's what friends do. If I didn't tell her I would be afraid that Karma would come around and smack me in the face one day. Something would happen-like I would have something hanging out of my nose and she would let me walk around knowing that I had a waver.

5. If you were to take a week long car trip with your family or friends what complaint are you most likely to hear from your fellow travelers? What complaint are they most likey to hear from you?

If I was traveling with my family they would beg me not to drink any liquid since I tend to have to visit the restroom alot and my biggest complaint about them would be to stop passing gas!

Happy Mothers Day!

Cabela's -- Tailgator Gas-Powered Blender


I know that I should probably write about the significance of this day now that Dreamsicle is in our lives. I should say something heartfelt about her first mom and the incredible gift she gave us but it is still too new and too personal to share with everyone out in Blogistan.

Instead I wanted to share my gifts.

From X*Boy I received a very nice card and a half gallon of Moose Tracks Ice Cream (my fave)

From Chester I received a 5:00 am wake up call from the Sandbox wishing me a happy mother's day.

From U*Haul and Pixie I received a singing card that Dreamsicle insists on carrying around, opening up and getting her groove on to, a full length mirror and a hanging planter.

But Dreamsicle knew that her mommy needed just the right thing for the floating playpen and got me the gas powered blender shown at the top of this post. This babe knows her mommy well.

Not All Sunshine and Rainbows

We have had a fairly easy time with Dreamsicle and her transition into our family. We've hit our first major bump in the road and it is tearing my heart out. There have been some changes at her day care providers home and I think they have rocked her world. Her favorite friend had to have a tonsillectomy so she was gone for two weeks. The very first day her friend wasn't at day care a brand new baby was added to the daycare fold. Our Dreamsicle loves order and has a hard time with change. Being not yet two, I'm not sure what she processed when one day she went to daycare and her *friend wasn't there but there was a new baby in her place. Did it trigger something from her past? Since that time she has had a difficult time sleeping at night. She wakes up multiple times and cries big my -heart- is -breaking sobs which require me to actually pick her up and rock her to get her to calm down. She has also started to be too friendly. Which of course has me convinced that all of the work we have done to promote attachment has failed and I. am. the. worst. mother. in. the. world. therefore she cannot attach. The right side of my brain knows this is not the truth, she certainly knows who her parents are. Attachment is an ongoing process. It doesn't happen over night, or even over the course of months. But the left side of my brain cringes every time she waves hi at every stranger she sees, asks to be picked UP by random people in the grocery store and will blow kisses to anyone who looks her way. Dudes, that bothers the heck out of me. The two of us are hunkering down this weekend, spending a very low key weekend at home. We can just gaze dreamily into each other's eyes, have ticklefests and feed each other cheerios while reading books. And if that doesn't help her to feel more secure I just may **tie her arms to her side when out in public to help her resist the urge to want to please those she doesn't know.

*her friend came back to daycare last Wednesday

**no, I really don't intend to tie her arms down

Fun, fun, fun!

I had to go to DC this past weekend for work. While there I met up with one my of blogging buddies. Can I just tell you that I had an absolutely marvelous time? You know how when you meet someone for the first time your half afraid that they will end up being a freak? I'm happy to say that meeting S was probably one of my most non freakiest encounters ever. She totally rocks! We stayed up late, ate good food, did all of the touristy DC things and had a splendid time. There was one little problem though-it had been a long time since S had been to DC. I was great at being able to show her the landmarks most of the time. Some of the buildings just completely escaped me. I could not for the life of me remember what some of the buildings were. So I'd tell her to take a picture because I knew it was something of historical importance and hoped that her husband W would be able to identify them. We joked that she could post the pictures on her blog and do a "Where in the world is S" just to see who could tell us what the names of the buildings are. That would be fun. I'm hoping to get her and her fabulous family up to the mitten state sometime this summer so she can experience the "floating playpen" for herself. Can't wait!

I'm Not A Gunslinger, really

McGyver loves to watch old western movies. You know the kind-with the showdown on the one street that runs through town and the crazy music in the background. I'm getting a little worried about myself. I can actually hear some of that music in my head now. You see, since Chester left my Blackberry is attached at my hip. Literally. I carry it with me every where I go since I'm never going to know when or where he will call (please God, don't let it be while I'm using the restroom, I would have no choice but to answer it!). Anyway, having the darn device attached to my hip makes me feel like I'm packing some heat. Instead of drawing my gun, I'll be drawing my phone out of its holster. Ready to fire by pushing the answer button. Oy it's going to be a long 7 months.

I sent his first care package out today. That was pretty fun. I actually giggled a little at the things I put in there because he will think they are funny and I know he will be comforted.

In Dreamsicle news...she was an absolute dream on our trip. She ate like a big girl, slept great and was a happy, happy little girl. The way she pronounces Chester's real name would melt even the coldest heart. They bonded so strongly during this trip. Chester kept asking her to please remember him which broke my heart. We went to Disneyland where she thought riding in the stroller people watching and listening to the music was much more fun then having her daddy and mommy put her on the carousel. We got a few pictures of her with characters but she wasn't too thrilled with the whole idea of having a couple of large mice next to her. She did go crazy over Donald Duck and Chip and Dale though. She thought they rocked the house and kept yelling Chip! Chip! Chip (which ticked Dale off since she kept calling him Chip! too). I think she wants to marry Donald. That's how enamoured our girl was with the crazy duck.

Please don't say you're sorry

We just returned home today from California. The purpose of the trip was to see Chester off. Our son is a Marine. A very proud Marine. He enlisted into the Marine Corps with his eyes wide open about the Iraqi conflict. He knew that he would be called to serve over there at some point in his career and this is the time. As much as this mother's heart hurts for the danger that he will face, it pales in comparison to the pride that fills my chest over the man that he has become.

Our family and friends were alerted to the fact that the time had come for Chester to go and many offered words of encouragement. Some, however, did not. They offered their sympathy instead. To the parents of a Marine, Soldier, Airman or Sailor who is serving their country~telling them you are sorry that their child has chosen to serve is much like slapping them in the face. If not for these brave men and women, where would our country be? I gladly passed along the well wishes from back home, told Chester of the many, many people that asked us to convey their thanks for his service, but kept the offers of condolensce to myself.

So our countdown begins. Every day that he is gone is one day closer to his return. We will pray for his safety, load him up with as many comforts from home as we can along the way and be there to grab him when he lands back on US soil. At that time I hope the only thing he ever hears is "Thank you and Welcome Home".

Once A Klutz Always A Klutz...

We went out to dinner with friends this past weekend. I was wearing some cute spiky heeled pumps and thought I was "all it". Right up until the time the hostess was seating us at our table and my heel got caught in the floor register. Yep, sashaying through the restaurant, me leading our party of four and McGyver in the back and I get stopped by the evil vent in the register. Thinking that I could save face if I could get my shoe out quickly, I tugged on my foot, hard. The shoe didn't budge but I did manage to pull the register vent right out of the floor! Still stuck to my heel I might add. I realized the gravity of the situation and did what any one with my past history would do-yelled at McGyver to "get it off me!!" McGyver came to my rescue once again, dislodged the evil vent from my shoe and we proceeded to our table, where I promptly turned 7 shades of red and my husband just sat and shook his head. When I asked him why he was shaking his head he told me that when he noticed the hole in the floor (where the vent used to be) he knew he had better look for me, I must be the one wearing the vent.

The Pretty, Pretty Princess

Dreamsicle had a ball this past weekend with all of the girls that came over for Chester's Sandbox Sendoff party. She had received quite a few dress up outfits for Christmas that she has shown absolutely no interest in until now. She was the bell of the ball to about 8 twenty something girls and 6 little girls. Here's proof of her in all of her glory, and proof that a girl can only stand so much attention.....

New Pic's Because It Has Just Been Too Long...

Picture one is Dreamsicle and McGyver in Texas on the beach, Picture two-Uncle Butch and Dreamsicle in Texas, Picture three-Dreamsicle enjoying some IPOD music, Dreamsicle being a country girl, reading with Daddy

Aahhhh Sleep...

It is amazing to me how much I worry about my kids. In ways that I don't even realize. Chester is home and is sleeping under our roof for the next week. Last night X*Boy decided to spend the night as well. I have all of my kids here, the first time in an awful long time that everyone is here at the same time, and I slept. like. a. rock.

I am the first one awake this morning and have spent my time going from room to room with my cup of coffee and just staring at my children as they lay there sleeping.

I am so blessed.

Jumbled Thoughts

I have so much stuff running around inside this ol head of mine that it is hard to get it out in writing. Wierd stuff. Stuff like-I had a few blouses that had an asian style to them that I used to wear back in the day. I like that style. Now I feel funny wearing them. I feel like I'm trying to hard to be asian since I adopted if I wear that style clothing. Told ya it was wierd.

And-Chester is coming home for his predeployment leave soon. He has requested that we throw him a going away party. I have decided to call it the Sandbox Sendoff party. With a name like that, what kind of decorations would be appropriate? Do I buy a bunch of little sand pails and have people drink out of those instead of glasses? Do I really want to see a bunch of grown men drinking out of plastic sand pails?

And-watching the weather report, hoping furiously that we would get slammed so hard with ice that I could take the day off just to spend it with her.

And-worrying constantly that I'm scarring her for life every time I have to go out of town on business and she stays home with McGyver. (Not because McGyver doesn't do a great job with her but because I'm leaving her)Last week it was Vegas. McGyver didn't feel Dreamsicle was old enough to appreciate all that Vegas has to offer so he stayed home with her. Once again I was met with the cold shoulder for a few minutes when they picked me up from the airport.

And-we have it so easy with Dreamsicle. I read other people's blogs and read about the challenges they face and tend to question our happy little existence. Some bloggers seem to think that those of us that write only good things must either be in denial or lying. But really. It has been so easy with her. I'm not sure if it is because we raised 3 boys each a year apart from each other so I've known the meaning of chaos and utter exhaustion. And that after that experience having one wee lil' non demanding girl is a piece of cake. Part of me tends to panic in the middle of the night though. What if we do have it too easy? What if she is really still so shut down that she doesn't feel comfortable enough yet to give us her opinion? But then she will do something like start crying in the middle of dinner because she wants "dat" while pointing to a pickle and I am somehow strangely reassured.

Dreamsicle will be 19 months old tomorrow! 19 months! Wow. Her vocabulary is still growing. I love, love, love it when I ask her what sound a horse makes and she neighs. It is hysterical. She has begun this week to take our hands or pull on our pants to get us to go where she wants us to go. And she does not take no for an answer. Last night I had a pair of yoga pants on (relax people I didn't go out in them, just wearing them in the house) and she wanted me to go with her. She grabbed hold of my pants and started walking. Since we have a slight height difference while she was pulling I could feel my pants slipping further and further down my waist. Glad we didn't have company!

Decision

We have decided not to pursue a 2nd adoption. Although it would be wonderful for Dreamsicle to have a sibling closer to her age, the reality is that that isn't the right reason to add another person to this family. Dreamsicle sort of lives this charmed life right now where she is constantly surrounded by love. Even the few hours each week she spends in daycare are filled with harmony since the other 3 toddlers seem to be pretty mellow and she never comes home with bruises, cuts or bites.

We had our 6 month post placement homestudy done last Friday and the social worker brought her daughter who was adopted at the same time as Dreamsicle. Her daughter cold-cocked Dreamsicle with a block at one point and then pushed Dreamsicle off of my lap at another point. Seeing this behavior, which is typical toddler, really brought it home that Dreamsicle is such a happy little girl-who definately has the most loving and kind spirit of any child I have ever met-deserves to keep her "love circle" for as long as she can.

Rewind...

McGyver and I attended a charity event this past weekend. There was an auction scheduled for the evening but during the day the hall was open so that people could walk around and look at the items up for bid. We had Dreamsicle with us and she was walking in between the two of us. We had stopped to look at something and out of nowhere an Asian woman ran up to us demanding to know what country Dreamsicle was from. I asked her where she was from and she told me Korea so I told her Dreamsicle was from China. She immediately threw her arms around me and told me that I was so lucky-everybody knows that the Chinese are the. smartest. people. out. there.

Huh?

She Makes Us Laugh

This kidlet makes us laugh every single day. I know I say that often, but it is the truth. I had no idea a now (18!) month old baby could have such a sense of humor. She has a picture of McGyver and I that is in a photo frame. This past weekend I asked her to show me where mama was in the picture. She got the most impish grin on her face, pointed to McGyver and said "Mama"! She immediately started laughing and then pointed to me and said "Daddy"!.She now thinks this is the funniest thing she has ever come up and calls us by each other's name. All we can do is laugh.

So if you see a family that has the daughter calling her daddy mama-you will know it is the McGyver family.

She got a ride on car for Christmas, the seat opens up and she likes to keep all of her treasures there. She realized that not only could she keep her treasures there, but she could actually stand in there as well! Now that is the only place she will stand while she watches her Wiggles videos.

The dog was sniffing her Lovey the other morning and this caused her to become extremely indignant. Keep in mind that we have a large Rottweiler-she rarely goes near him. But! Because he was sniffering her Lovey that she had left on the floor, she marched over, pulled the Lovey away from him and made a hrrmph sound. Guess she told him.

Our travel group is in the process of making plans to get together in early 2008 at Disney. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see all of these people again! Our group really clicked and it will be a thrill to see the changes in all of the girls.

...Speaking of travel groups...I'm really starting to feel the itch to adopt again. I've broached the subject with McGyver who swears I must be smoking crack, but I'll let you all know how it all turns out. There is such a big age difference between Dreamsicle and the boys, it would be nice for her to have a sister and a companion. Time will tell.