This is how they roll.

She is her mother's daughter.

Sasha picked up a football today. She said, "Look, mom, a baseball!"

Wait, that's not the funny part.

And then,


She tried to bounce the "baseball" that was really a football.

Sorry, Daddy. You win some. You lose some.

Naptime

She WOULD NOT go to sleep for her Daddy but he showed her!

That's how she rolls.

Sometimes like this:


...and sometimes like this:

Daddy's Little Girl

Look what I do, Daddy, when you aren't home!

Sleepover

Sasha has been having "sleepovers" all over the house this week. She got up to get a drink during her most recent sleepover and Murray decided to steal her bed.

A New Smile

She started this smile just the other day.

It's a big cheesy grin just like her mommy!

How about that hair?

What About Mur?

Sasha and I took our Gift Crad from Build a Bear and made a Maltipoo for Eliana. I guess we should have gotten one for Murray too. Or, he's just upset that another dog was in his "bed".

Nothing screams "I AM A MOTHER" more than:

1. Walking around all day with a sticker on your butt. Yep, I did that today. I was at Lowes, Target, got coffee at Barnies and took Sasha to her acting class.

2. Greeting the UPS man at the door in a t-shirt, no pants, just a t-shirt. THANK GOODNESS this wasn't me but I won't mention who did it!

3. Able to make up songs about getting dressed/eating/brushing your teeth/ etc. at the drop of a hat.

4. 24 hour pony tail.

5. Able to catch spit-up/vomit in your hands.

I'd add more but number 6 is definitely not "Able to think of funny things to write after 8PM".

What can you add?

Please move over and make room for my head!

I got this email the other day and it made me feel so good. That same day, a girl on one of my adoption forums said that I "spread sunshine" to that board. This is certainly not the way I think of myself but I guess we always see others differently than they see themselves.

Hi XXXX,

I went to XXHS with you. I wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your blog. I came across it one day when I was looking on the XXXX website. I was sucked in and read from the beginning of your postings. My heart went out to you and by the end I felt like I knew all about your family.

I still look at your blog on occasion to see what your girls are doing and how they are growing. Your posts and outlook on your kids inspire me. You are so excited to be a parent and love it so much. It makes me realize that I take for granted what I have and makes me take a step back and remember to enjoy my kids.

.......It’s so easy to get caught up in our busy lives that we forget to be thankful for what we have.

I can’t say I understand adoption, I can only imagine the roller coaster ride it must have been. I can say I know what it’s like to raise and love kids that I didn’t give birth to. I do it every day with my step-son and step-daughter. I can’t imagine life without them.....

Best Wishes with your Girls!

So Sasha

Matt was outside cleaning the fence today and Sasha wanted to watch him and play on her swingset. By the time, I realized it was raining, she was soaked. Daddy told her that it was ok to keep playing in the rain. Click here to see Sasha IN HER GLORY!

I AAAMMM THE CHAMPION! I AAAMMM THE CHAMPION!!

Matt and I have been competing to get Eliana to say DADA or MAMA first.

Watch this video and let me know what you think.

Today, she also climbed up 3 steps like it was nothing. (I couldn't record that because I was too busy following close behind her.) What's happening to my baby???

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte--on my back porch--not so terrific.

I have to admit though, it was fascinating to watch. I hate spiders. They give me the heebie jeebies but I had to videotape this so I could show Sasha.

Charlotte was gone in the morning but came back again the next night.

Florida Animal Lovers Unite!

Pet Rescue By Judy is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue cats and dogs. Many of them come to us with medical needs. They are doctored to the best of our ability and resources. We do not have a shelter, but, instead, house our rescued animals in private homes until we can find loving homes for them.

Judy lost her kennel due to zoning issues so someone contacted ABC's Extreme Home Makeover about building a shelter for these animals. They are actually considering it because they have never done anything like it before.

They have set up a petition to show support for Pet Rescue by Judy. Please click here to sign it and show your support! All signatures are accepted but only Florida signatures are valid.

Manipulation

This may be the last year that we can talk Sasha into what she should be for Halloween. Last night, Matt and I helped her decide to be Wonder Woman for Halloween. Oh yes we did! How perfect for Sasha?!

Eliana is going to be a flower. At first I wanted her to be a pink poodle but Matt insisted she is more the flower type.

Where Were You?

Two years ago today (or it might have been 2 years ago yesterday but it was one of these days!), we got THE CALL about Sasha. I actually remember exactly what I was doing when my cell phone rang. (Most of you know background to our story but if you don't, you can go back-back-back to the beginning of my blog for more information.)

I had left work a little early to come home and pack. That night, Great Nanny and I were flying up to PA to see my 2-day-old niece (or one day old depending on which day it was---haha). I was walking into the house from the garage when my cell phone rang.

It was our caseworker and we made small talk for just a minute and she said, "Are you sitting down?" Maybe you heard me gasp at that moment because it felt like the world stopped moving for just a second. Just a week before, we had been told that we would probably not be going on our first trip to Russia for a long time and we had already been waiting 6 months to go meet the children we had been referred. When she asked me if I was sitting down, I really did think that she was going to tell us that our travel arrangements were being made. So, shaking with excitement, I sat down.

And then she said, "It's not what you think." Maybe you heard my "Oh!" at that moment because I felt like someone had punched me. She then went on to tell me about a 3-year-old little Russian girl who was available for adoption and she was living only 4 hours away from us. As I furiously took notes on everything she said, I was silent and at that moment, my heart felt ready to explode with excitement. She said she would email me pictures and that they wanted Matt and I to go meet her that weekend.

I ran upstairs to the computer. Send/Receive...Send/Receive...Send/Receive...Send/Receive... And there it was. With shaking a hand I opened the first picture and this is what I saw:

Again, another earth stopping moment. That is Sasha with a maltese dog. We have two maltese.

All I can say is THANK GOODNESS I could reach Matt on the phone because I WAS SO FREAKING OUT! I still went to PA to visit my niece for just two days. Then, I was back on a plane to go meet Sasha.

Boy has life changed so much since then. I wouldn't trade a single second.

Eliana VS. Crib

Eliana--12+
Crib--0

Please do not suggest that I get one of those plastic things for the crib because they only make them to fit one type of crib. Our crib is not that type.

Any other suggestions?

More Shout Outs to Build-a-Bear

This is just amazing. Yesterday, I received a $25 gift card from the company. Today, our Maltipoos were returned and I couldn't believe what I found when I opened the box. They were both wearing hospital gowns and ice packs on their heads. Sasha's "Tail" had a new baby. They also sent a cute pink doggie carrier. My favorite part was the handwritten "doctor's" note letting us know how well our dogs did and how we should take care of them to help them get better.

Soooooo Big!

Yep, she's learned it. For some reason, she doesn't want to learn any of the baby sign language we are trying to teach her but Sooooo big is soooo fun for her.

PS--Yes her onesie is too small for her but we had to wear it at least one time.

PPS--Matt wanted me to point out, in case you didn't notice it, that it is a Terps onesie.

2 Years

It's taken almost 2 years but Dudley has started trusting Sasha enough to comfort him during thunderstorms. Of course, I'm still his first choice, but if I'm not available, he turns to her. He even passed up Matt for her! Now that's progress.

Now listen to the lullaby she made up just for him. It's a little hard to hear because you may be distracted by the mess in the background and the football game that had to be on. From what I can tell, the lyrics go something like this:
It’s almost over.
It’s almost over, Dud.
I don’t know what’s gonna happen.
You’re gonna sit on my lap.
~~and then some humming~~~

The Problem with Girls

The problem with girls, or at least my problem with a baby girl is that the clothes are just too darn cute. And I'm a clothes horse as it is. So I was at this cute little boutique by my house the other day. I was there to buy baby gifts for friends but I couldn't resist this outfit. The largest size they had was 6-9 months which I know very well will only fit her probably through next week but we had to have it. You'll be happy to know that it was on sale for $7.99! Maybe I'll wash it tonight so she can wear it again tomorrow. I'm sorry, but I have to go now because Gymboree is having a big sale tomorrow!

You have got to be kidding me! Guess what today is?

It is Day of Conception in a region of Russia. I'm not kidding. It really is.

Russian Region to Host Day of Conception

The Ulyanovsk Region is giving couples the day off to procreate. If they give birth to a child exactly 9 months later on Russia's National Day, June 12, they will can prizes. What? I guess they have no idea how many children are in orphanages.

"There are some 700,000 children and teenagers living in state institutions, according to Russia's Health Ministry. Some 15,000 young people graduate from the state-run orphanages every year. And at least 40 percent of these graduates eventually end up in prisons, while one tenth of them commit suicide." Source: according to Russia' Health Ministry, 2003.

I just don't know what else to say.

WOOT! WOOT!

A GREAT BIG, GIANT WOOT WOOT to Build a Bear. Last year, they released a Malti-poo. You know I am dog crazy, especially anything that resembles Maltese. So I waited for these to be released and that weekend, I took Sasha to build one. I couldn't resist and I ended up making one too.

The dogs, for some reason, had metal in their ears so you could pose their ears. For some reason, one of the metal pieces in my dog's ear broke and started pusing through the material. I wrote Build-a-Bear just to make them aware of the problem.

They immediately offered me a refund, a new dog, or said I could send both dogs to their Furry Friends Hospital (they paid for shipping):
We will ensure your maltipoos go to
our World Famous Furry Friend Hospital
and come back to you in hospital
gowns with good doctor reports.
Of course, I chose to send them to the hospital. Sasha and I carefully packed them up and sent them on their way.

I got this email on Monday:
Just wanted you to know that your
maltipoos arrived safely at our World
Bearquarters today. They are currently
awaiting inspection by our Quality
Assurance Team and then they will be admitted
into our Bear and Furry Friend Hospital for surgery.

And this email today:
I am advised that your maltipoos are doing very well.
They had their surgery and will be leaving soon to return home to
you. Just wanted to drop you a note to say that they did just fine.
I understand they were beary good patients.

Talk about customer service! You can be sure that I will continue shopping there.

It's not A Mommy Brain. (Transferred from Musings)

It's just plain stupidity. Someone should put hidden cameras in my house. I truly believe I have been losing IQ points. I really have. People say that it's "Mommy Brain" but I really don't know if I'll ever get them back.

Today, I picked up the phone to call my sister. At the same time, I picked up my coffee. I put the coffee to my ear and the phone to my mouth. I did not pour the coffee in my ear. I did not drink the phone. It's a good thing I wasn't using a knife.

As I was washing my face the other night, I thought to myself, "Did I even wear makeup today?" I think I probably wore clothes but I can't gaurantee anything anymore. There has been several instances when I have actually started walking to the door without shoes.

And now let's talk about my new singing career. While giving Sasha and Eliana a bath, we sing "Gonna Wash Your Body" to the tune of Justin Timberlake's "Gonna Rock Your Body". Eliana enjoys the songs I sing about her food. I just make up tunes as I go along. I'm so creative. People just don't know. My Dining Songs always end with either "Last Bite" (to the tune of Last Dance) or "Oh Ellie, save the last bite for me" (to the tune of Save the Last Dance). I am currently looking for an agent.

Playing peek-a-boo doesn't require much thought but it sure it a lot of fun. The older Eliana gets, the more involved our play becomes. So, I sit on the floor all day and play. And it's worth every single lost brain cell.

Toot! Toot! (previously posted on Musings)

I was making Eliana's baby food. I know, I know, there are perfectly good jars of food on the shelves at the grocery store but it was just something I wanted to do. I had planned on using the organic foods and then I kind of got caught up while researching and thought I'd do better making my own. Do you know that Gerber recalled their rice cereal a few months ago? Yeah, they did.

I was going to toot my own horn because of making her food. Toot! Toot!

But, then I quit. Well, I halfway quit. So I'm a baby food maker almost drop out. The turning point was after I drove 30 minutes to our closest Whole Foods to buy organic fruits and veggies. I bought organic peaches. I consider myself a peach connoisseur. I LOVE peaches and growing up, my small hometown in PA had THE BEST peaches. I spent about 5 minutes picking the best 4 peaches. At $85 a pound, or something like that, I had to get the perfect peaches. They smelled so good and they felt just squishy enough, but not too soft, to eat right away.

Of course, when I got home, I had to try one before pureeing them for Elliana. I leaned over the sink because that's how you eat a ripe, juicy peach and took a big bite. It tasted like a wet sponge. The next one tasted just the same. I threw them all away. Supposedly, making your own baby food is cheaper than buying it. But, when you throw away a pound of $85 peaches, it can't possibly be cheaper.

So the next day, I decided to try to make squash. Squash smells very good when it's cooking. If you are trying to sell your house, cook some squash and then have an open house. I cooked my squash for 45 minutes until soft. I was pleased at how good it looked and as I started to scoop it out for more pureeing, I noticed the strings. Are you kidding me? How do you puree strings? Isn't that a choking hazard?

I really don't want to be on the news as the next recall. So, I quit. I ate 1/2 of the sqaush, I drove to Publix, and I bought a few jars of organic baby food squash, peaches, and carrots.

I am still making a few things that are not available in jars. Toot! Toot!

Actually, your greatest danger is coming from China. (Previously posted on Musings of a Momma)

Can you believe all of these recalls? It is so sad that we pay good money for supposedly quality toys for our children and yet I'm having to go through all of them to make sure they won't posion or hurt my children? What has happened to our country that would allow this standard of toys to be the norm?

So this year, for Christmas, anyone who has been bad will not get coal in his/her stocking. They will get toys and jewelry made in China.

This is actually pretty scary and I just wonder what our government is going to do about it.

Left, Right, Left (Transfer from Musings of a Momma)

I was thinking today as I was making a left turn onto a busy road where there was no light. I was thinking that I was taught that MY GREATEST DANGER IS COMING FROM THE LEFT, so I looked left first. Then, I looked right and thought, hmmmm, I disagree because my greatest danger is coming from the right. Eliana sits on the right.

I took an extra long look out the passenger window and then remembered, MY GREATEST DANGER IS COMING ON MY LEFT. And as I was looking left for the second and supposed to be last time before I turned out, I remember that Eliana was sitting on my right. Crap. Thank goodness Sasha wasn't in the car because she sits on the left. At the rate my mind was going at that moment, I would still be sitting there.

This is why both of our girls have ridiculously expensive carseats. Eliana's new big baby carseat actually has side impact protection. Yes, it cost extra. It didn't come with cruise control but seriously, 'side impact protection'? But we bought it. Oh boy, did we buy it!

Equal Opportunity (Transfer from Musings)

My daughter Sasha is an interesting character. She has such a fantastic personality and we try our best to promote her good humor.

Long story short:

The other day, Great Nanny was here and was laughing at something Sasha was doing outside. I was feeding the baby and didn't see what she was doing. Great Nanny "told" on her. She was taking the stagnant rainwater off the cover of her sandbox and pouring it into her boots. She then put her boots on. For some reason, it was fun for her to walk around in rubber boots filled with dead bug, Florida sun-warmed, who knows what else water in her shoes. Better her than me.

I decided to take that time to not stifle her good personality. Would you call that creativity? I'm not sure but I do know I never would have done that. Needless to say, she needed new boots. (Sasha and I both have those rubber rainboots for taking the dogs out at night when the grass is wet. Well, that's what I use mine for. Sasha just has them because they are cute.) Anyway, she needed a new pair.

The choices at Target were, cute pink boots with cat faces on them. She could also pick pretty light blue boots with cherries all over them. I could deal with that. Another option was some sort of greenish/yellowish bug type boot.

Sasha chose the 4th option. Camouflage.

I changed my mind.

I'm cancelling my Musings of a Momma blog and just adding the posts to this blog. You see, I've realized that I really don't have time to write down my musings. I don't like having a fairly empty blog because it makes me feel like I have to do something. I'm just too busy "reading" to Eliana (she prefers to chew) and playing and singing and dancing. Sometimes I even get to go to the bathroom but it's Speed Potty because I have to finish before Ellie crawls into the shower, eats the carpet, or tries to play with the toilet brush. Can you see that I'm just too tired? So when I do have some random musings, I'll be sure to TRY to post them for you here. Don't be surprised if you don't see too many.

I will transfer my posts over when Eliana is finished gnawing on my arm.

Oh! And I'm definitely keeping my shopping blog. Just like there is always room for dessert, there is always time for shopping.

Bragging Rights

While shopping at the mall today, I ran into a PTA mom who I hadn't seen since I left teaching when we adopted Sasha.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a woman look at me, look at Eliana, look at me again, and look again at Eliana. I don't always pay attention because, let's face it, Eliana is gorgeous and always gets stares. But then, all of sudden, I hear, "You have another one!?" As I started to talk to her, I saw another woman look around a rack of clothes at me and realized I knew her too. It was a former co-worker who had left 2 years before I did.

New people to listen to me brag!

Just a few random thoughts

Green Beans baby food stinks.

Are babies allowed to chew on rawhide bones?

Why don't babies like to have their faces cleaned after eating? Do they really want carrots and green beans up their nose and on their eyebrows?

Just what is that smell in my car?

ATTITUDES!!!

Sasha has learned a new word at school. Cool.

It's not a one syllable word, anymore. I bet you didn't know that.

Everything is KEEWEWLAH. Everything.


Miss Eliana has decided that she can have an attitude, too. Today we were at the bookstore. I picked up two books for her. I gave her one book to look at while we were paying. When the saleslady was ready to scan the book Ellie was reading (chewing), I quick switched it for the other book. Do you know what that little diva did? She thew it on the ground. No, she didn't drop it, she THREW it. We'll just blame it on teething.

At least someone is getting some sleep around here!

Somebody help!

Get me out of here! Anyone! Anyone! Please!

Multi-tasking

Eating cheerios, hiccuping and pooping all at the same time. Now that's talent!

No, I'm not talking about me, silly.

Eliana is doing all those.

I'm not so sure I could handle that and I don't really like plain Cheerios anyway.

Love

I love love love love love Sasha's teacher. We had Curriculum Night tonight.

Do you know why I love her? She teaches JUST LIKE ME and that is just the kind of teacher Sasha needs!


Wahooooo!

Just giving a shout out

The wonderful, wonderful woman who was our adoption coordinator for Eliana's adoption is now involved in a new project. Amy is an Adoption Specialist for the Florida division of Options 4 Adoption, Inc.

Options 4 Adoption, Inc. is licensed in the State of Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee as a non-profit child placing agency. Our main focus is to help you with your paperwork both before and after your adoption. We are able to start and finish your paperwork in a timely manner as we are able to begin your home study as quickly as 48 hours after receipt of your application.

Danielle Funk, LMSW, Founder and Executive Director of Options 4 Adoption, Inc., has been working with families and children for over 15 years. She understands that the home study process can be a stressful one, yet she also believes that the same level of commitment and dedication is needed through the post placement process.

Options 4 Adoption services include:
· Domestic Home Studies
· International Home Studies
· Post Placement Reports
· Counseling

Definitely check them out!

8 months

8 months old! Can you believe it? She's climbing all over me right now. She can clap and wave bye-bye or say wave hello. She's crawling and pulling herself up to stand. She's talking and spitting and eating solids.

How did my teeny tiny little nugget get so big, so fast?

The Greatest Murray

I think that Murray really wants us to have more babies so he can have more fun stuff. Why shouldn't all dogs sit in pink bouncy seats. He climbed up all by himself and as I laughed, looked at me like I was the crazy one.

Eliana's discovery of Murray in her chair here!

The Greatest Nanny

With her Greatest Grandkids!

Cherry on Top

So we're so proud of her about the great note from her teacher. Then, yesterday in the airport, she says to me, "Mommy, I love you for as much as my heart beeps."

Of course, there were other moments in between there that didn't really melt my heart but after things like these, who even remembers things like that?

Sasha's first note from the teacher

And it's a good one!

"Sasha is a joy and everything is exciting for her. She is working hard and is a good friend to everyone...even our hermit crabs!"


That's my girl!