9 hours until 3 days of fun

we REALLY REALLY need this time off!

awww shucks

Lucy will be sad when she wakes up and discovers that Adam didn't win.

blog to the dog

This post is dedicated to Zep, Zepado, Zeppers ... he is almost 7 months old! He is probably the world's best puppy. He has that puppy spirit but is suprisingly mellow. Zep has only had maybe three potty accidents in the house. He sleeps good at night. He is surprsingly patient with the hyper-in-your-face-on-your-body Lucy. Up until a couple days ago, Lucy could put him in his kennel for the day and he would willingly obey (now he thinks my bed should be his resting place, no boy down). He knows sit, lay down, leave-it, and can spin around with some initiative. Zep once escaped the back yard, only to scratch at the front door to be let back in. He has been good with all the kids who spend time here. All of this and he's cute to boot.

The Uncles and the Aunts

Lucy had her family birthday party on Sunday afternoon. At first I was disappointed that the two other kids in our family were unable to attend. Once the party got rolling it became obvious that no other kids were needed, Lucy was still required to share her toys:

Photopia

Couldn't resist posting lots of photos of Lucy in her beautiful dress.
Lilacs

She had her baby on her back, so sweet.

Weekend

OH I love the weekends. Even when Lucy is less than fun, I still cherish the time we have together.

Friday

It's been a long day. By the time I dropped Lucy off at preschool this morning I had: started a load of laundry, fed her breakfast, had 2 going on 3 cups of coffee, mowed the back yard, watered the back garden, hung the laundry on the line, dead headed the flower basket and stripped our beds. I was called from preschool at 12ish because the teachers were concerned that Lucy might be getting sick. She (Lucy) was acting lethargic and cranky. I didn't have a lot of my work plate so I was able to go pick her up. I brought her to work with me. I saw no signs of the lethargy. We hung out at work for awhile and headed home to fix her hair. Lucy had a nap on the way to Kok Sool Kids (pre-martial arts class). It was her first class. I think we are going to love it! The class prepares kids for regular martial arts but the preschool class focuses on 8 developmental characteristics: 1. respect 2. flexibility 3. strength 4. concentration 5. right attitude 6. perseverance 7 self-control and 8. patience. Today they focused on concentration (concentrating and listening to people). The instructor (who has a BA in child-psychology) had a very short "lecture" on how to show someone you are listening to them. It was great. Then they did a bunch of activities. They kept the kids (Lucy) in line and were kind but consistent in expecting that she follow the rules. I think this will be perfect for her as she enters the stage where she has greater ability to listen and follow direction but still lacks desire. They also have homework for the kids, in order to move up the kids have to be able to demonstrate some behaviors at home like: no whining for a day, over coming a fear, listening, non violent, yelling problem solving, helping etc.

She was freakn' adorable in this class. Cute cute cute. No photos, I was intimidated. Yes Sir!

Bon Jovi

Here he is:

Announcement

Wednesday morning Lucy gave birth to a miniature purple teddy bear named Bon Jovi. I am a grandmother. He came out of her tummy. He got yelled at a lot during the birth process "just get out" "come on baby get out". Now he's here. I was present for the birth, it was beautiful. I can't believe I forgot about it until just now. Will try to post photos soon. Mother and baby are resting comfortably along with a huge stuffed dog, a smaller stuffed dog and two baby dolls (little lucy and eric)

Also reporting that Lucy continues to demonstrate the sweetness of being 4, or the better balanced behavior of one that is getting better sleep. Either way ... I no longer feel that either one of us needs any type of evaluation. We are good.

Hey Morgie

Hey Mo Mo,

I know it isn't necessarily OUR anniversary yet but it it YOUR famiversary and I couldn't be happier that you are here and a part of our life.

Morgan you are sweet, funny, SMART AS SMART CAN BE, cute, adorable and clever. You are a boy when it comes to mechanical things and toys with parts. Every Monday night I search around my house for little Morganisms like toys taken apart, Lucy's closet de-organized, plugged in things - unplugged, unplugged things - plugged. It's like a treasure hunt, and of course the biggest treasure is you.

The other day Lucy told someone you were her baby brother. A lot of days she'll say "he's just like a little brother". It's true. You are like Lucy's little brother. You two are growing up together. You are learning lots of good things and lots of bad things from your "big sister".

I was astonded by how quickly you overcame your weak, small self and learned to defy gravity with sitting, standing, walking and jumping in what seemed like a matter of minutes.

I love your voice, it's the sweetest voice on earth and I love how you use all those words.

I am not so secretly jealous of your consistent ability to sleep. Yes I am bitter that your mama has had you home now for two years and in those two years she has gotten more sleep then I have in the 3 1/2 years Lucy has been home. Ahhh well, you need your sleep you busy busy boy.

thankful to know you,

Stacy

anyone reading this know how to help????

click on this link and read about the impact a new law has had on one family's adoption from Ethiopia, know that this same law impacts many many others and if you can do something or if you know someone that can do something please forward this to that person. Someone in our government has to have common sense (don't ya think?).

Thanks,
Stacy

The 4 year old stats ...

Lucy had her well child check up today. During the appointment Lucy was BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS both literally and figuratively. I kept wanting to do a disclaimer about how she was normally quite spirited but this was a bit over the top. Somehow our wonderful pediatrician got us through the appointment.

So a day after her 4th birthday Lucy:
weighs 32#
stands 38 3/4" tall
and has a BMI of 14.9

Lucy had high scores on her ability to communicate. No problems there. My fears that this child is not learning her academics (letter recognition) were laid to rest (a little) as she immediately named the letters on the eye exam. When I try asking her what letters are she feigns that she doesn't know.

Basically Lucy is awesome. She had another great day in her new kinder, more balanced self. Now all I ask is that she sleep a bit later.

So far I love 4 year olds.

Birthday Party Photos

An evening of babysitting turned into a convenient friends birthday party for Lucy. Here is some random ordered photographic evidence of the chaos that followed:

cake on the deck

baseball hat and scarf from auntie Jen.

getting lots of help opening gifts

Jakeenos Pizza for birthday dinner

flowers for those who loved her first, and those that have to miss out on this beautiful girls life.

nurturing the earth worms. dear worms of s. mpls, I am so sorry.

auntie Jen, Lucy and the worms

as close to a group shot as I could muster

spinning fast and spinning hard

some help from Nathan

I tried to get a shot of Nathan resting in the chair but he quite suddenly sprung to life

it's a home run!

skateboarding down the hill, lessons provided by Isaac


and rest time. whew

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

She's still 3 ...

First Birthday

2nd Birthday

3rd Birthday

for about an hour. On days when I feel really down about how old she's getting I pull the old "it's just an estimated birth date" out of my hat and think ... WELLLLLL maybe they were a few weeks off.

so tonight I stay up late getting things ready for her big day tomorrow. I want to decorate her doorway, decorate the house and make her lunch with surprises. Instead of more time together on her special day we actually have less because I have to be to work early so she gets dropped off at a friends house who will give her breakfast and bring her to preschool. After school we turned an evening of babysitting into a birthday party. We'll have pizza and cake.

i had Auntie Jen watch Lucy for a bit before she (Jen) had to go to pub quiz. I wanted to surprise her with helium balloons in her bedroom. I bought a couple balloons and left them in the car. After dinner I remembered that I forgot to pick up our roses. Every year on Lucy's birthday we buy a red rose for her Ethiopian mommy, a pink rose for her Ethiopian grandma and a yellow rose for her Ethiopian father. This is a tangible way we can talk about them and about Lucy's birth and honor her first family. I didn't want to leave these out especially this year as Lucy is starting to remember stuff. So we headed out to buy flowers, in our car, with the surprise balloons "hidden" in the front seat. GREAT.

Hopefully a more reflective post will come in the next day or two. She's so old now.

Idol Party

Lucy and her babies are having an Idol party tonight. She had a great day at preschool today (her first day back in over 2 weeks)!

Countdown

Lucy turns 4 on May 7th. I can't believe how incredibly, painfully fast the years go, especially considering how freakn' slow that hour between 7pm and bedtime can go on some nights. Lucy has made a complete recovery from her surgery. She doesn't seem to recall the intensity of her pain (as many of you have assured me). It's been bizaar to me to NOT hear her sleeping at night, no snoring, no gasping no tossing and no turning. She has been sleeping soundly.

Overheard this morning:

Me: "Lucy you sure are in a good mood this morning"
Lucy: "yes I am"
Me: "maybe because you had such a good sleep"
Lucy: "well, maybe it's because you are being so nice to me"

ok ok ... maybe Lucy doesn't realize how our moods feed each other sometimes!!! Either way, it's been nice to have a more rational, focused child.

Spring Raptor Release

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