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June 29, 2009
June 12, 2009
Off to India...
Well...he's off. This is my handsome nephew Colin. He received scholarships to go to India to study for the year. He left a few days ago and after 34 hours of travel landed in Delhi. He's majoring in Cultural Anthopology and is working on being able to speak Hindi fluently. What an adventure this will be. He's already had some spicy, blow-your-face-off-delicious food :) I'm soooo jealous...and PROUD!
June 06, 2009
Nicole's Baby Shower
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I had the fun of throwing a friend's baby shower this past weekend. Nicole will be welcoming her 2nd child o 6/22/09 - unless Hayden Rose-Marie has different plans. George was pretty astounded I had the patience to make a Diaper Cake. The secret...a good bottle of Riesling :)
Maddie had a great time with all 20 adults and 6 kids. Youza!
May 23, 2009
1st Pool Pics of '09
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We've actually been swimming the past couple of weekends. A tad cold 3 weekends ago on May 9th and has progressively warm up! Maddie was timid for the 1st weekend...I'm thinking because of the chill...but has quickly remembered her lessons. We're working on roll dives and freestyle - with her arms out of the water. She kicks like mad and shortly will be able to swim the width of the pool.
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May 13, 2009
Mother's Day & Gotcha Day
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An important anniversary in the lives of adoptive parents - Gotcha Day...the day we first saw, held and began to know our daughter Madison. Every day we love her more, every day we are more inspired by her goodness, every day in awe of her wit and sense of humor and every day is gift. She's grown so much. At present, we are appreciating her gift for gag. Phrases like "that's a good idea", "I'm an Incredible", "When I was a baby in Chbna...", and "I have Super Powers". She LOVES The Incredibles. Is still having fun with Sydney and Emma at school - but now also Julianna and the 2 Logans. Arts and Crafts can be done all day. And...heres the kicker...my daughter who's been in time out twice in her life and has NEVER thrown a temper tantrum CUT HER HAIR!!!! She put herself in time out twice...once at our house after I said "Tell me you didn't cut your hair" and once after she was at her Poppa's...she walked solemnly in and without me saying a word said "I'm sorry Poppa...I cut my hair" and marched herself into her bedroom and put herself in time out again. Below are pictures of "The Hair" (which I've saved as blackmail for the future) and our Mother's Day. Rexaxing Day of swimming, gifts and going to Shane's Rib Shack for a fun meal with Maddie's Poppa. |
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May 06, 2009
5/6/07 - In Hong Kong China
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Off the plane and surprisingly ready to go. We weren't loggy at all. Such a dynamic place Hong Kong - the driving was insane!! The smog prevelant. The greenery lush. The architecture mixed between modern and old/rich and poor. I just remember thinking "one more week until I see her" and wishing my parents were there with us. I also remeber being so thankful to be able to hold my husband's hand and thinking how amazing of a person to whom I'm married.
May 05, 2009
5/5/07 - Off To China
We boarded a plane to Hong Kong 2 years ago. Has it really been 2 years?? San Francisco was like Little China for me. Which little girl would Maddie look like? How would George like China? What kind of Mom would I be? What did I forget? I remeber going throught the documents and counting our money repeatedly. At the airport we did a money exchange in preparation for the taxi in Hong Kong. After such a long wait it was hard to believe it was real. I cried. Poor George...I'm not normally like that.
Smooth flight. They gave us noodles for a snack. For some reason this stood out for me. People on the flight were offered chopsticks or forks. I tried to read but couldn't. I think I was in shock a bit that we were actually on our way. We flew north by Alaska, Russia and down by Korea to Hong Kong. Due to land 5/6/09 at 6:30pm.
The Universe does funny things with scheduling. May is a huge month for my family. Today is also the anniversary date for my sister and brother-in-law. This is a hard day for my sister who's husband died and I think about her and wish her strength every year this day.
April 22, 2009
Visit to Austin - April 2009
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Our first journey home with Maddie was HORRIFIC. She was like a baby on crack with the Benadryl - laughing hysterically and didn't sleep at all...plus stomach problems. I refer to those 18 hours as my labor pains.
So...the prospect of another flight was met with some apprehension She did GREAT! Loved it. We stayed with my sister in Austin - filled with trips to parks, a kiddie amusement park where she went on all rides (planes, trains, automobiles, ponies, ferris wheel, boats & a merry go round). This was her first pony ride. She wanted Michael - my wonderful nephew - to accompany her on most. Colin - my other wonderful nephew - braved the merry go round. She also saw her first movie in a theatre - Monsters versus Aliens. Alamo Movie House is neat - they have a typical movie theatre set up with a bar in front of you...best queso dip I've ever had. Maddie liked the lemonade. We also had fun at Zilker park feeding the birds.
Best of all was Maddie spending time with her Austin Family. Michael goes to UT San Antonio - he is doing amazingly - he's learning Mandarin and when he switches to UT Austin next year is thinking of majoring in linguistics. He and the family are bound for a trip to China after Colin's year stint in India which starts 6/09 - WOW! Maddie referred to them as the "Big Boys" and had so much fun with chalk, puppets, another Easter Egg Hunt and so many fun things her Austin Family treated her to...spoiled :)
April 12, 2009
April 10, 2009
To Work or Not
I'm an older Mom. Maddie blessed my life when I was 37. For me...and just for me...I love the balance of work and and home-life. It helps that 2 out of the 4 days I work, Maddie is with her beloved Poppa. I actually feel (for me and just for me) I'm a better Mom as a result of this balance. When we're together she's my focus, my fun, my friend...it's a blast. I also love having her see me "get to work" versus "have to go to work". I like what I do. I feel like I make a difference in my daughter's world. I try to the best of my ability to help others. This is a lesson I want to teach her...to me one of the most important. The pics below are some of the reasons I like what I do. I work with some pretty dynamic folks - skilled, big hearts and tremendous senses of humor.
I'll be turning 40 next year. Some folks hide their age. For me...and just for me...I'm happy at 39 and soon to be 40. I have a loving and wonderful marriage, an AMAZING daughter who has fulfilled me beyond words, a loving and supportive friendship with both of my parents and with my siblings and family members, a tribe of incredible friends,involvment in fun activities, my health, a little house BIG with love...and 2 dogs. My cup runneth over. I am content. That's how I judge the passing of years.
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