Easter

Easter with Bella.  She had a ball looking for eggs.  She can't believe they make bunnies that are made of chocolate.  This is a little girl who loves chocolate and Pez.  The day was filled with all types of goodies...from candy, to a beautiful mass, to peaceful family walk following a filling dinner/late lunch.  Jason then took the three older kids to opening day, Sox v Yankees.  Bella and I stayed home....this is where creativity comes in.

We watch old movies and decorated our journals.  I have been writing, painting, gluing, doodling, etc in mine every day as part of my morning ritual.  I have gotten Bella her own little journal and toolkit.  Her toolkit is filled with the same things mine is filled with but in the kid version.... paints, scissors, crayons, pens, etc.  She pulls it out and does whatever moves her.  I use mine to write  poetry, thoughts, hopes, quotes, scripture... It has been a lesson in awakening.  I wrote my first poem since high school the other day.  Now, I know this may be hard to believe... but I did not graduate a year ago... or even five years ago.  I use to love writing... and I just got away from it.  I want Bella to love writing, drawing, painting, or whatever speaks to her little creative self.  Here are our journals and an example of the pages inside... just a thought that may help shake the winter blahs away making room for spring...

Morning Ritual is Back

Something no one told me about adoption that took me a little by surprise was the fog that I entered after bringing Bella home.  It is not too dissimilar from the one I entered when I brought my older three newborns home.  Life was so crazy before Bella came home, from the preparation of paperwork, appts with social workers and doctors, preparation of Bella's room, packing, gathering of humanitarian aid, and preparation for a new member.  Then she is suddenly there (although, it did not feel so sudden.)  Life comes to a stand still in some ways and then picks up speed in others.  One of the things that fell to the wayside is a concrete morning ritual.  I don't think that I exercised or really read a book for 5 months.  For two weeks I have been reestablishing my morning ritual.  I can feel my mind and body reawakening.  Even though I am waking up 45 minutes earlier than I was...I feel more directed, rested, alive, nurtured, patient, and grounded.  Just putting it out there for whoever may be tired and feel like there is just enough time in the day...

This is what my routine looks like:
5:45 get out of bed to do a yoga routine, followed by my coffee in a special mug (see above-enjoying it on so many levels), bible study/daily devotional/prayer, and journal writing.  I usually have time to get  a sandwich or two prepared for lunch and even share a few words over a cup of coffee with  Andrew before he is out the door.  By the time Bella is up, I am ready to be fully present for her.  Okay, maybe not fully present...but I am working on that :)  On the weekends, my peaceful time alone is actually lnger because the teens are in bed until later.

Six months/3y old

Bella woke up to her room filled with balloons on her birthday. She loved the princess balloon the most. The following pics were from a picnic dinner at the harbor. She loved throwing rocks in the water and playing soccer and lacrosse with the older kids.

I can't believe it has been 6m. Bella turned 3 about a week ago, too. Truly, it is as if she has been with us forever...mostly (I'll get to that in a moment.) We had our 6m post placement visit, too. Our SW is shocked and amazed at how well she is doing...in language, in development, in attachment, and in confidence. All good news. A Bella story: When asked what time she goes to bed...Bella answered before I could. "After, American Idol." Oh well, I asked the SW can you lie and say 8? :)

Now keeping it real...there are small reminders that if fact she did not come to us without some wounds. When I leave her with Jason or the kids...she still asks me..."but you are my mommy, right?" It is as if she is making sure we aren't going to have a shift change. Then last night, I left her with Jason. they were having a ball running errands and just hanging around. Out of the blue, (so out of the blue that Jason thought she was kidding at first) she gets up in her chair at the table and puts her head down and starts to wail for me. Tears running down her face asking Jason get me. She has never done this before. Did she think I wasn't coming home? I don't know but she is def processing something. While she has been sleeping the whole night in her bed...the past several nights she has been coming in with us. It serves as a good reminder to me that while she is doing so well...there is an unknown. There is a hurt that will need to heal. She will come to trust that we are going nowhere. That in fact we are her mommy and daddy. How will we know that she knows. I don't know. Maybe she will stop asking before one of us is leaving her. Maybe we will just know. Or maybe not. i do know that when I start to get impatient with her because she is taking so long to get in her car seat, or my back is killing me because 30lbs is alot to carry...I think back to a year ago when we knew her but had never held her. What I would have given to have an aching back, then! What I would have given to be waiting for her to climb in her seat instead of on a court date! So, I am enjoying the waiting and the aching, now. I trust she won't want me to carry her when she is 100lbs:)

Six months home. She is doing much better than I imagined. She is doing better than the SW could have imagined. I have to give credit where it is due. I truly believe that she is doing as well as she is for a few reasons. 1. pure blessing 2. who she is 3. what she experienced at Gladney (there almost exactly one year) and 4. what she experienced with her ET family.

Firsts

We are on the eve of a big first. Bella's first birthday home. Bella Zenash will be 3 tomorrow. Tomorrow is also the first day we saw our sweet girls face. A year ago we got her referral. She has been home for almost 6 months.

Here are some other firsts:

First time she has been sick...double pneumonia.

First time she went on vacation with us as a family of six.3

First time she played in the sand at a beach.

First time she surfed:).

First time she met one of her poppies.

First time she went swimming (and she LOVES it).

First time she slept away from her bed.

There are too many to list. All the more reason to adopt a toddler...so many firsts even when they come home at 2 1/2. The more time she is home the more we get to know this little girl. She is confident, she is loving, she is pretty easy going, she loves to sing and dance, she loves to swim, she loves to try new things. She is so much a part of who we are that we can't imagine what life would be like if we had not adopted.

I seem to have trouble uploading images... once figure it all out I will post pics. Meanwhile I will post on facebook.

Learning

How to shave???? This is what you get when you have a 2 year old and an 18 year old...

Bella loves her big brother. When he is home...and that is not much, she wants to just hang around him. This time it was to watch him shave. Before we knew it she had cream on her face and was using a popsicle stick to "shave." If she every grows a beard, she will be prepared:)

February with Bella

I know I know...three weeks and no post. Life happens.

Bella was really sick. Had double pneumonia. It was shocking how quickly she went down hill...but also, how quickly she returned to normal. Both were sooo fast. She is doing well now.

Some Bella-isms:

"I like my shower cold, mommy likes her shower hot." (unfortunately she likes to take a shower with me...so guess who has been taking cold showers:)

After getting frustrated with the cat jumping on the counter, and pushing the cat off, my 2 year reprimands me.... "Gently, mommy." (ew...I guess I better be nice to the kitty.)

Her favorite greeting..."Hello, Bombshell" (Victoria Secret add??? What has she been watching?!!!!! and then egged on by the older kids who think she is sooo funny)

Lining all her dollies up on the couch...telling them "shhhh" and then singing Amen ( a la gospel music style).

She is awesome, smart, giggly, funny, and simply fun to have around. The frenetic play that I wrote about has all but disappeared. We have not seen it for so long I am not sure if we will again. She sleeps in her crib. She still is an iffy eater but she ha snow grown 5 inches in the 4 months she has been home. (now in the 20% ) She has maybe gained a half of a pound. (50%)

We had her hair braided on Friday and the beautiful black woman confirmed what I was learning...her hair is soft so won't hold the style so well. It is best for her to wear it down or in little pony/pig tails. I attached pics of her hair being done though.

My dear friend Emily gave me this award. Have not been a good blogger lately so....I decided I would try and do it. One word is all you need. Shouldn't be so hard. Well, here you go. My answers to the questions that required one word answers- more difficult than you think. :)

1. Where is your cell phone? counter

2. Your hair? toolong

3. Your mother? Gentle

4. Your father? Strong

5. Your favorite food? Indian

6. Your dream last night? Frightening

7. Your favorite drink? Coffee

8. Your dream / goal? better me

9. What room are you in? Office

10. Your hobby? Cooking

11. Your fear? Mice

12. Where do you want to be in six years? serving

13. Where were you last night? Idol

14. Something that you aren't? type B

15. Muffins? Cupcakes

16. Wish list item? great boots

17. Where did you grow up? Europe/Asia/Virginia

18. Last thing you did? texted

19. What are you wearing? Jeans

20. Your TV? On

21. Your pets? Willow, Jasper, Cinderella, Lucky (wish I could do just one word...)

22. Friends? Gifts

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? prayerful

25. Missing someone? Mom

26. Vehicle? Tahoe

27. Something your not wearing? Shoes

28. Your favorite store? Bookstore

29. Your favorite color? Pink

30. What was the last time you laughed? Lastnight

31. Last time you cried? Today (watching the news)

32. Your best friend? Jason

33. One place that I could go over and over? Martha's Vineyard

34. One person who emails you regularly? Michele

35. Favorite place to eat? City

I pass the award on to:

Michelle: Like Emily, she is a friend that I made through the blogs...but has become so much more. She has wonderful insight and is a great mom. She is smart and articulate and if you have not checked out her blog...you should.

Katy: Has the most beautiful twins. She and her husband are great. At the risk of sounding 15...they are really cool. He is in a band, a really good band and she is smart and funny. I can tell you, that she makes having twins look easy.

Maribeth: Passed court today and is now the parent to two beautiful brothers, in addition to the to sweet children she already had. It has been great watching the journey from afar and I thought you may need something fun to do other than pack:)

Heidi: Heidi just received her referrral for twin 2 year old brothers. They are sweet little boys. I can't wait until thet are home.