I know, I go private to blog more and then I don't blog:)

I think I am just getting lazy:) I go through spirts of heavy blogging then no blogging, go figure! Right now I am exhausted. I didn't get to sleep until 2:30am this morning and was quite frustrated. I think it was because I finished packing for our surprise trip and then decided I would have some Coke Zero. I know what caffeine does to me and yet I drank it, not a great choice.

So the surprise trip.....Steve and I are taking Noah and Della to Disney tomorrow. Marlee gets to stay with her Grandma and Nana. The kids have no clue. We are picking up Noah from school tomorrow at 1pm and then heading straight to the airport. This is very cool for two reasons, 1. Disney and 2. the plane ride. We did do some flights when Noah was little but when we had Della we started driving, even the 18 hours to Texas. Ever since we got back from Ethiopia, Noah has been begging to go on an airplane. Tickets were only $140 a piece, that would almost be cheaper than gas. Eventhough I can't stand to fly, we are doing it and we got a great deal at Disney. I am so excited, I love Disney!!!! When we went two years ago we learned the ins and outs so this should be so much fun. Della is also tall enough to ride most of the rides now!!

I feel bad leaving Marlee here but she wouldn't have nearly as much fun. I figure if we do Disney every couple of years she will be 3 when we go next so that should work out ok. She was 11 months old yesterday. She is cruising and letting go to stand alone. I wouldn't be surprised if she walked while we were away:( She is the happiest, sweetest baby. I have to wake her from her nap a couple of times a week to pick Della up at pre-school and I go in she is sound asleep and looks up at me with a huge smile. What baby wakes that happy? She is such a trooper and I am going to miss her for the next couple of days. She has been home 6 months now and has really become part of the gang.

I look back at how I felt when we first picked her up and brought her home. I was surprised that I did not feel that "instant love." Now I knew from reading books and talking with friends that many don't feel it. I just thought I would be an exception to the rule. The word "babysitting" is often talked about in the adoption world. When she first came home that is what it felt like, babysitting. Now it was some easy babysitting because she was an excellent baby, still is, but the bond did not come for either of us quickly. I learned that she needed the "act" of love and that is something I could do, the rest would come later. Guess what, the rest did come later:) I love her now, there are days when I get twitches of ok, what did I just do, but now I love her like I love Noah and Della.

Some of you who have not adopted might not believe how one could feel this way but I am being truthful. I have many people call me now and ask me about our experience. We had an amazing experience! This is just one of the realities of adoption.

I will post pics soon!

BLOG GOING PRIVATE on SUNDAY

I have tossed this idea back and forth and have decided to make my blog private. I have had no problems but I just think with all of the kiddo pics on here it might be a good idea.

You will still be able to view the blog if I have your email address. If you get my mass emails, sorry about that, than there is no need to respond but if you don't and you want to continue reading the blog please comment on this post. In your comment please include your email address and how you know me ex) most people reading my blog are fellow adoptive families through our agency or forums. I WILL NOT POST THESE COMMENTS!!! The comments go straight to my email.

The only thing that will change is when you would like to read the blog you will need to sign in. Thanks for your understanding!

Have a great night!

Della's Haircut:)

I know I have not posted in a while but life gets busy! While away from my blogging we had a little bit of an incident! On Labor Day we had our friends over who have two kids the same ages as N and D. Well the boys were playing the Wii and the girls were being so good. We thought, wow, they play so well together! Turns out they do, they play beauty shop well together. Yep, they gave each other haircuts. Don't ever let anyone tell you that kids scissors don't cut hair because they do and Della's head was proof! After a brief superficial moment of being very upset, OK it was more than a moment I took D to my mother's to see what she could do with it. Turns out my mother had no sympathy because I happened to like to play beauty shop too while I was little. I always wondered why she had my hair cut so short for a while:) Well Mom tried but not much success as you can see in the pre-paid haircut photos. Finally I called my hairdresser with an emergency call, Della started school the next day, we couldn't have our first day a bad hair day:) She got her right in and $40 later she looks better than she did before. I have to admit I like her hair short, it shows off her gorgeous face and it is adorable with pig tails. Now, I will NEVER tell her that until she is reading this blog when she is older! That has really been the most significant thing that happened since my last post.

Today we had a great day! My friend from HS and her family came over. We just recently reconnected under not so great circumstances. My friend Missy's daughter is taking radiation and chemo here where we live. She is exactly D's age and they get along quite well. They also have a little one that is a couple months younger than Marlee. They came over for lunch today and we talked, played the Wii, the girls dressed up and it was a great relaxing day. It was great to catch up with Missy again, she is the tiniest little thing but the girl has so much strength. She has always been that way but it amazes me now. Very cool family and we look forward to hanging with them more!

Other than that we have been happy to be regularly going back to church after a summer of weekends away or performing. I am helping lead worship for the youngsters and my first Sunday is tomorrow. I truly feel like there is nothing better than witnessing kids worshiping, makes me smile and God too! Off to watch a bit more on Hurricane Ike. I have lots of family in the Houston area!