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.

Goosebumpy

Today is referral day. Lots of people whom I have never met are posting on various websites that they have received the referral for their daughter (or son!). I love this day of the month. When you can almost physically feel the love oozing out of the computer as people post with such excitement and joy after having waited so long. This time it is making me cry. I have no idea why but this month's posts have reduced me to a blithering idiot. I think because I am so happy for these families. The joy they feel today when they first lay eyes on their new child, is nothing compared to what lies ahead for them. It is giving me goosebumps. Congratulations to everyone!!

Dreamsicle has been sick for the past week. Runny nose, cough, fever...last night we ventured out to a restaurant for dinner, she seemed to have been on the mend. Right after she ate some of the appetizer she decided maybe it would be better if that food wasn't sitting in her stomach but rather in mama's lap. Even through all of that, I can't get over how much I love this child. She can throw up on me and I'm still smiling. I can't wait for all of these new families to experience the same thing...

Because I Need To Smile

Pictures of Dreamsicle just because. The Fisherman's brother (McGyver's uncle) passed away this weekend. 2007 has not started off on a positive note so here are some pictures of the babe just because I need to smile.
The one of Dreamsicle with the other little girl has a cute story behind it. That little girl is Dreamsicle's cousin who lives in Chicago. She was dying to meet Dreamsicle because she thought that having a cousin from China made her part Chinese.

Well Hello!

Long time no blog, eh? We have been in Texas for the past few weeks. The southern most part of Texas. You know, where people from the Mitten state go in the winter to get away from the cold temps. The only problem we encountered was that the cold followed us. It was 30-40 degrees for the majority of the time we were down there. Blech. We were not down there for a vacation though. My father in law (who hates to have his name mentioned on that "dang internet" so will now be referred to as the Fisherman) had valve replacement surgery. McGyver, Dreamsicle and I (along with Aunt Genious) traveled down there to be with him. The surgery went fine but he developed complications afterwards which caused him to teeter on the brink of never being able to fish again for quite some time. Thankfully he has recovered and is now at home. Dreamsicle handled the disruption to her life like a pro. I had purchased a pack and play and a stroller while we were down there and on our last day I packed them up. She became quite upset as she watched me. I felt horrible. I wonder how much her little mind remembers from her days in China. She was really upset, I kept holding her and reassuring her that it was okay we were going to go home but it really made me pause. I wish she had the words to verbalize her feelings at that very moment. I had made the critical mistake of leaving her lovey in the car when we left for Texas. I bought her a substitute lovey while we were down there and I thought it had served its purpose until we strapped her in her car seat once we landed and I gave her the old lovey back. For the next twenty minutes she kept kissing that crazy little blanket, squeezing her eyes shut and hugging it with all of her might. Big lesson learned for the mama-never, never leave the lovey behind.

Happy New Year!

From the McGyver family!

From Left to Right-Chester, Dreamsicle, Mr McGyver, Mrs McGyver, U*Haul and X*Boy

Time Flies

I can remember when we first submitted our dossier to China. The time between our LID and when we received our referral for Dreamsicle seemed to crawl. The pace between referral and travel picked up. Then we met her. And now I want time to stand still. She is now 17 months old. 17 months of giggly, silly, up-up-up-up goodness. I scheduled our 6 month post placement home study visit today. That is absolutely amazing to me. Next month she will have been a part of our family for 6 months. I think back to when we brought her home. She has made such tremendous strides and I am so proud of her. But oh so sad. She is becoming so independent. She walks by herself, insists on feeding herself, brushes her teeth, is beginning to entertain herself and can mimic the Wiggles entire Yummy Yummy DVD. A part of me still wants her to remain a teeny tiny little girl who insists on being carried everywhere and needs her mama and daddy to help her with everything. But the sensible part of me knows that she is progressing at warp speed and that is a good thing. A huge thing actually.

Where has the time gone?

Cuteness Abounds

Christmas Joy!

My heart is so full. I can remember last Christmas when all of our thoughts were on Dreamsicle and wondering where she was. Wondering if she was warm, and well fed. What a difference a year makes. We now know that she is warm, well fed, well loved and oh so funny. Dreamsicle received a Tickle Me Elmo doll which we can't figure out if she loves or hates. She sort of laughs/cries as he rolls around on the floor, but she will ask you to press his belly again and again. She does seem to enjoy him more if she is safely ensconced in her daddy's arms. We started the morning out in our Christmas PJ's. The festivities began at 7:30 am. Grandma and Aunt Genious came over to watch the opening of the gifts for the babe as well as having the boys, Princess and Pixie present. We may have gone a little overboard in the gift giving dept but I put about half of her gifts away and will bring them back out over the course of the next year.

We all opened gifts, ate breakfast and changed into our clothes. After about an hour of downtime it was on to Grandma's house for lunch with Grandma, the cousins and aunt. She received more gifts, ate lots of green beans (my girl is a veggie lover, that is for sure) then we left for home and nap time.

Once Dreamsicle woke up, friends of ours came over for a Christmas night bite to eat and much frivolity ensued as the little kids played with the big kids and made me laugh until I cried.

It was a great day but I now think I had better make friends with my eliptical machine fast.

Christmas pictures!

More pictures soon, I promise!

So Much To Say, So Little Time

I am sitting here with butterflies in my stomach. Chester just touched down at the airport we use that is an hour away from home. His fiance, Princess, will be bringing him home. I am giddy like a school girl. He will be home until January 1st and I honestly am considering sewing my fingers together to make a continuous loop of my body. That way I could throw my arms around him and he could just drag me around wherever he goes over the course of the next week. I can't get enough of that kid when he is home. OH! And he finally gets to meet Dreamsicle for the first time. Cannot wait.

Gramma's in 'da house! I picked my mom up at the airport (she has been enjoying herself in Texas this winter but came home for Christmas) two days ago. When we entered the house, she yelled Dreamsicle's name. Dreamsicle RAN into her arms and it has been a mutual love fest ever since. She loves herself some Grammy, that is for sure. The three of us spent the day shopping and she would just fall into little giggle fits whenever she made eye contact with her Grandma.

What was supposed to be a "smallish" Christmas-intended because Dreamsicle is still so tiny and the boys are now men (ha! I just called my boys men! or would that be boys to men??) I was going to take it easy on the pocketbook this time. But the tree is big and looked sorely forlorn without many pretty, pretty packages underneath it so that problem has now been rectified. Bring the day on!

Much cooking will be done tomorrow and much feasting the next day. Pictures early next week, I promise!

Merry Christmas everyone!