Vacation Time

Well, after over 2 years home...Leila and I finally took a vacation. Since it was our first vacation together...I wasn't sure what to expect, but let me say that it was probably one of the best vacations I ever took, and Leila had a fabulous time too.

We left COLD Virginia, and headed down to WARM and Sunny Florida to stay with our friends, who live in Orlando. We went to Disney World, Epcot, and then spent the rest of the week at the Beach. What was great about it, is we got all the walking and exhausting stuff done first, then spent the rest of the week relaxing at the beach. It really was the perfect vacation.

My friends in Orlando have 2 kids, 11 and 13, and they were wonderful with Leila, and took her on all the dizzy round and round rides, that I would NEVER get on!!! I was totally prepared for Leila to wimp out on going on any rides...but she was amazing and is a Disney Ride Diva!!! Because we stayed at a Disney Resort, we got to stay 3 hours longer at the park, which meant, rides until 2am. My girlfriend asked if Leila would make it that long...and I didn't have a clue...so we rented a stroller, and just played it by ear. At 1am, when my girlfriends kids' had had enough...my little trouper was saying "more rides, more rides". Leila never used the stroller!

We hit Epcot the next day...but we were all still exhausted from the Magic Kingdom the night before...so we kinda dragged through it all...and Leila wasn't overly excited about the rides there...guess she's more of a thrill seeker...and prefers those crazy teacups and the speedway at the Magic Kingdom!!!

Next, we headed to Daytona Beach, and Leila's first sight of the ocean. She was enthralled with it all, and luckily, my girlfriends kids and their friends took Leila off into the water, and let her help them build sandcastles. While I reclined on a beach chair and read a book...perfection!!!

Anyhow...I would say our first vacation together was a huge success...and if I have anything to say about it...we'll be doing it again soon. There's nothing better than having a friend who lives in Orlando, and has a beach house...and 2 built in babysitters!!! HAHAAHAHAHA

And Nicki and Noah...if you read this...you two are the BEST...and did a great job taking care of Leila and entertaining her. You were so very kind, and gentle with her...although Noah is still the "monster"...but she loves you both so very much.

Debbie and Mike...THANK YOU for the hospitality and opening your home to us...we had a great time! Madeline...thanks for the YUMMY dinner on our final night there...Your, from scratch, Caesar salad is TO DIE FOR, and lived up to my memories...thanks for making it for me, upon request!

Now...here are some pictures of our adventures:

Leila's favorite guy!!! She wouldn't pose with Minnie...because she had a dress on, and she was wearing diapers (she was wearing bloomers...but you couldn't tell Leila that)!!!

Her next favorite guy, Goofy.

Pluto...another favorite of Leila's!

Leila and I at Epcot

Leila and Nicki...Nicki is sharing her frozen banana...it looks like Leila didn't like, but she did and ate it all...poor Nicki...Nicki...I owe you one frozen banana!

Leila in China (Epcot)!

My little surfer!

The BEST babysitters!!!

Beach shots of Leila and I together. Thanks to my friend Leiha for taking these pictures. I'm often the picture taker, so there usually aren't too many shots of Leila and I together.

Beautiful Child

First let me say my apologies for being so lax in my blogging. My little petri dish has been sharing her germs with me, and I've had 4 colds/flus/virus' in a row, since Christmas. I think I definitely need to start eating better. I did start taking vitamins, so this last bout wasn't as bad as the first three.

Anyhow...this post isn't about that...it's about what a beautiful child I have. I honestly wonder, everyday, how I was so blessed to be given this child. She has such a beautiful soul, such a beautiful sense of humor, and such a beautiful love that she shares with me. Everyday I get at least 10 I love you Mommy's from her, and hugs and kisses galore. So the other day, I worried that maybe there was some inner reason she was saying this so much. Maybe she was needing some kind of reassures from me. So I asked her "why do you love me?", and all she could say was "because". So I said to her, well, let me tell you why I love you...you make me smile every day...your sensitivity for me and others, makes me love you...you listen to me when I ask you do to something...you help me so much around the house...and because you are beautiful inside and out. So she says to me, "well, I love you because you take good care of me, you tuck me into bed, and you play with me when I take a bath...you make me laugh, and you are silly...and I love you because you are beautiful inside and out."

She amazes me daily, this joy of my life.

Broadway

So...it's in my profile...I LOVE broadway shows and can't wait until Leila is old enough to go with me to New York. Until then, I've been taking her to local productions of shows, seeing if I can get her to sit through a whole show. She saw some children's show call "The Boy Who Could Talk To Penquins", and did really well, until the Penquins came out into the audience to play hide and seek, at which point Leila jumped in my lap for protection. But other than that, she sat through the whole thing and enjoyed the show. The next show she went to was a local production of "Cats", she LOVED it, and didn't even mind the Cats running up and down the aisle. She was even dancing in the aisle at curtain call. I'm now trying to find a local Christmas show somewhere to take her to, since she seems to do so well at live shows and enjoys them. But very soon, she'll be seeing the neon lights of Broadway with Mommy, I feel certain.

My Broadway Wall...and this is just about half of my collection, because this was all I could hang without a ladder. Hopefully I can get my friends over soon and get the rest hung.

China Video

I've been meaning to put this Link up. I did it several months ago, as I was exploring ways to make video's of all the photo's I have and want to organize. I'm also trying to get into digital scrapbooking, and that will be my next project to conquer.

So here's a link to the video I made. I don't think it will be the final video of our China trip...but it works for now.

http://server3.inalbum.com/ia30/show/wantbaby61/

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

So, thanks to Comcrap (and I'm being kind), I've been without internet for several days now. Unfortunately, they're the only game in town, and I'm stuck with them.

Anyhow...on to happier things, we've decorated the tree, and Leila got a letter from Santa Claus, and she's at the top of the "good girl" list!!! Quite honestly, I'm not surprised...I'm an upfront kinda mom, I'd tell ya if she was a "bad" girl...but she isn't...and she never is. She's almost too good, and I worry about what she's going to be like as a teenager...will I be paid back then?!?!? I'm trying to be a "cup is half full" kinda mom, but Leila is just too good to be true sometimes! Alright, alright...I'll stop the whole Kathy Gifford routine!!!

Santa Claus...

So today, a couple of 2nd's for my girl....second haircut, and second time to sit with Santa. We are very lucky here that we get the "real" Santa in our small burb. I mean really, after you stop looking at the beautiful Leila, look at Santa...it's really him, nothing fake about him at all. I love that he doesn't wear a Santa suit, he's the casual Friday Santa, and I'm a casual Friday kinda gal, so I dig him! He was here last year, so I was happy that he was back. I thought maybe the "real" Santa rotated cities or something...but no, he likes our little city.

We were 3rd in line, and Leila was anxious to spew forth the list of presents she wanted. When she got on his lap, she was going a mile a minute with her list of must have's. When she was done, she came to me and said "Santa didn't give me any presents"...AHHHH, I hadn't thought of that kind of logic in a 4 year old. So I quickly explained to her that he's just taking her order, and he will deliver the presents on Christmas...I hasten to add "if you're a good girl". I swear I'm milking this whole naughty and nice thing!

Anyhow...here she is...waiting for Santa...then finally, he arrives!

I'm a Christmas Freak...

And I LOVE these video's. With the advent of "You Tube" they are so easy to find now. For the past few years I always had to hunt them down. This is one of my favorites from last year. They won't put up 2007's until the 2nd week in December (and it's supposed to be bigger than last year's), I'm on pins and needles to see what they do this year. Meanwhile, enjoy last years, and as soon as their 2007 one starts going, I'll post it. It's 6 minutes long...but be patient...it's SO worth it. If you'd like to see more, go to their website www.lindsaylights.com.



Holly cow...I found another one...this one has FIREWORKS...all I can say is WOW!

What a difference a year makes...

It's amazing the changes that take place in a child in a year. You never forget your first's with your child, and they are precious memories, that you never forget. But I've come to find that the second's are just as joyous and amazing. Mainly because your child is just so different each year. How they look is different, and how they react is so different as well. So even the second's are as memorable as the firsts, because your child is just as joyous the second time around as they were the first time, if not more so. Also, Leila's age, and time in this country, makes a big difference, because this time, she understands things so much more. So here are a few firsts...and some seconds.

1st Easter 06

2nd Easter 07

1st Fourth of July 06

2nd Fourth of July 07

1st Birthday (she turned 3) 06

2nd Birthday 07

1st Halloween 06

2nd Halloween 07

1st Christmas 06

2nd Christmas 07

To Be Continued...

It's the simple things...

Well, it's almost Thanksgiving, and I, once again, have much to be thankful for. First and foremost is my darling daughter Leila. She makes me smile everyday, and the most simplest of things makes her happy. She made the most hideously ugly boat "The Mayflower" at school today. She could not be more proud of this thing...so her joy is my joy, and we proudly display this sculpture as if it belonged in the Louvre. For this boat, and for her, I am most thankful.

Get this...it's 3D hideous

My Little Gymnast

Well, today we went to Leila's BFF's (or at least until kindergarten) birthday. After consuming plenty of soda and ice cream, and feeling the powerful high that can only be gotten by a 4 year old on sugar, my darling Leila decided to suddenly, out of nowhere, start doing flips off the couch. Guess I might start those gymnastic classes sooner rather than later.I'll give her an 9.5, she stumbled a bit on her landing!

Time to update the blog

Well...a few friends have been bugging me to update my blog, so that they can watch the little bean grow. It's now been almost 2 years since I brought Leila home, and the changes are AMAZING! You know...I went into my adoption, hoping for the best, but also preparing for the worst, especially considering some of the issues the Leila could have ended up with. Well, she's better than even my best hopes and dreams. She is an Angel sent to me from Heaven, and I have been truly blessed. I often think of the movie "The Sound of Music" when Julie Andrews sings "somewhere in my youth, or childhood, I must have done something good" because that's exactly how I feel...I must have done something good, to get such a wonderful child. "Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could".

So here she is, 2 years later.

At the Halloween carnival, up the street from our house. She got to pick what she wanted to wear. She's got a keen sense of style.

Walking home from the Halloween Festival.

Trick or Treating with Uncle Jay
Back from Trick or Treating and hanging with Aunt Kimmy
Going in for her laser surgery. She was a trooper!

The Pledge of Allegiance

I'm ready to come home...

I'm tired...and I just want to sleep in my own bed, with my own belongings, and I SO desperately want to wear some different clothing. I only packed three outfits, and though the Chinese laundry here is wonderful and cheap...I'm a spoiled American, and I want to wear something different!!! I want to just relax in my recliner, play with my baby in our house, and have her sleep in her own bed.

I've enjoyed my stay here, but it's definately time to go home. The other families that are here with me have been wonderful...I loved meeting them and spending time with them, and I wish we all lived closer to each other. But it is not to be, so we'll keep in touch via email, and share with each other how our children are growing and developing.

I loved spending my entire time here with Kevin and Lisa Seppi, their daughter Mia, and their new daughter Meaghan. Marji, the other single mother here, is just wonderful and encouraging for me, and she was here to pick up her 4th daughter Nora. In the room next to mine is Coni and her husband Keith (I think that's his name, I'm terrible with names), their daughter Jaiden, and their new daughter Jali. Sisters, Heidi and Heather are also here with their new babies, Heidi lives in Midtown Manhattan...my favorite place to visit, and she promises Leila and I can come and stay with them and we can take our babies to Central Park Zoo, the theater, and all the museums. I thank all the CHI families for making this such an enjoyable trip.

And to Leila, my new daughter, who is already a joy in my life...I love you, and I will nuture you and shelter you all the days of our lives.

Tomorrow is our last full day in China, and it's chock full of trips to the Consultates office, so I will spend tomorrow night packing...and that includes the laptop. So I will see you all when I return stateside...I can't wait to touch down on American soil once again!