tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54169900613654814762024-03-12T21:57:40.106-07:00Raising Lucy the beginningStacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-39098740694731804082011-04-05T19:10:00.000-07:002011-04-05T19:10:36.232-07:00I blame FacebookIt's a common story, face book killed the blog. I have to remember that part of why I keep my blog is to provide Lucy with a well documented narration of her young childhood (I imagine I might have to eventually stop broadcasting her life). We've been busy busy busy. Coming down off of spring break, getting ready for weekend visitors, living life! I love spring, Lucy loves spring. We love being outside and expanding the boundaries of our home once again. We love our firepit and roasting marshmallows with our friends and neighbors. Barely survived the winter but here we are celebrating spring and life!!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaA95Cs1S3W4iRkv25i3dxVcsEyQbH9L8XDGB3iz-TQzO9aetML8mIObjnu0BMfq61qsN691MSCOuryS_pAuslhkvpe5c5Xhnv-x11bn4u_reREfd0mIji-tVDUFeVjme28EGaYUKJS8/s1600/04-05-2011+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaA95Cs1S3W4iRkv25i3dxVcsEyQbH9L8XDGB3iz-TQzO9aetML8mIObjnu0BMfq61qsN691MSCOuryS_pAuslhkvpe5c5Xhnv-x11bn4u_reREfd0mIji-tVDUFeVjme28EGaYUKJS8/s320/04-05-2011+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We colored a few Easter eggs, basically to survive the afternoon and so Lucy could have some protein in her lunches. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0faUHD-rRl8MkclFo4qAJ9kRSfEGr56a1Yxbjj5B-RFZlpFM3AzkJRKDc50c3fra8UWsXB4i2UDDxiK_gJV9-1g_uFR8k99wZcZlsavhSqzFBFA24JYgkHz45Dfue-aH5J9ErXXDAYw/s1600/04-05-2011+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0faUHD-rRl8MkclFo4qAJ9kRSfEGr56a1Yxbjj5B-RFZlpFM3AzkJRKDc50c3fra8UWsXB4i2UDDxiK_gJV9-1g_uFR8k99wZcZlsavhSqzFBFA24JYgkHz45Dfue-aH5J9ErXXDAYw/s320/04-05-2011+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucy and her "niece" Nellie the dog had some sunny bonding time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap1R-IUZZ62gf66lpwTvFyUITFQC9gWYNdnzGisoePdq9USZfKlNKixtNgaLZKa6agcEbtquNB94LOB986nDqNG_djwvMGfgm8kLMXELAXQt5j48xtkDcPObrLPfygKH6Rf0X1AVzilE/s1600/04-05-2011+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhap1R-IUZZ62gf66lpwTvFyUITFQC9gWYNdnzGisoePdq9USZfKlNKixtNgaLZKa6agcEbtquNB94LOB986nDqNG_djwvMGfgm8kLMXELAXQt5j48xtkDcPObrLPfygKH6Rf0X1AVzilE/s320/04-05-2011+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we had some very difficult and honest conversation about murder. A young woman was shot and killed 1/2 a block from our house. Lucy saw the memorial. I told her what happened. Crashed a little of the childhood innocence. Terrible. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUeOty7S7YAl2KLxNdYcksJVIUXo72LnSG-44n-8IPp79FYVV9aZQ6KlCyPk6ahMpF7ytITH50ZSUJlANfB-ifdpe7tOS0wAsB-wtXeTXJyCDZLYgrpObpyWG51TwqUG1RLD-4CFqfBU/s1600/04-05-2011+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUeOty7S7YAl2KLxNdYcksJVIUXo72LnSG-44n-8IPp79FYVV9aZQ6KlCyPk6ahMpF7ytITH50ZSUJlANfB-ifdpe7tOS0wAsB-wtXeTXJyCDZLYgrpObpyWG51TwqUG1RLD-4CFqfBU/s320/04-05-2011+045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucy got an appointment at Shriner's. Here she is getting fitted for a partial prosthesis. The adaptive tech dude tells her she should be able to wear flip flops. She is over the moon. Adding to her excitement was the fact that I gave her a pretend doctors exam, to calm her down and pass the time and discovered a very loose bottom tooth! Lucy is sooooo excited about loosing her first tooth.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE1sQ_9yWRC0ghncQCykZosMgZWUC_Zu-gWasxFqH9xpCCVj-e2CN0mwAvPJ9j9SExvZIriyBJ__r4N5BHWZLBLcaB44VrvdEqpYmHsZ6XiUdYzCnug6kWaUohaTc-SOsPu_rRgalDMg/s1600/04-05-2011+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE1sQ_9yWRC0ghncQCykZosMgZWUC_Zu-gWasxFqH9xpCCVj-e2CN0mwAvPJ9j9SExvZIriyBJ__r4N5BHWZLBLcaB44VrvdEqpYmHsZ6XiUdYzCnug6kWaUohaTc-SOsPu_rRgalDMg/s320/04-05-2011+052.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucy asked for a mohawk. I wouldn't shave her head or dye it red (such a lame lame mom)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeJI9t-EDy-3rL5ujE-qE2xC-3J7EGz-o8COzNw00tg3NZk2GEsW3ewo9egRkK5TtWFCsd2GuR7NhWyVMUO4SizjRuhTHR5OLBzsnLmEnyZyfKoAPvfQRVnC0c7_dy-xZwpnm0kNZuQs/s1600/04-05-2011+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeJI9t-EDy-3rL5ujE-qE2xC-3J7EGz-o8COzNw00tg3NZk2GEsW3ewo9egRkK5TtWFCsd2GuR7NhWyVMUO4SizjRuhTHR5OLBzsnLmEnyZyfKoAPvfQRVnC0c7_dy-xZwpnm0kNZuQs/s320/04-05-2011+055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so we created a fauxhawk. it actually looks way more awesome and 'hawky in real life. She was pretty excited. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also on Lucy's list of fun exciting things:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. her best friend Garrett (a sub at my work) who she describes are very cute is going to get her her very own composting worms. She can't wait until they have babies.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2. she has a beetle in her bug house, which is in my house</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">3. the snow has all melted, which means plenty of mud</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">4. she has figured out how to put diapers on my mom's little doxie (dog), and can't wait to see the dog again!</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-65128174329638299292008-10-09T09:30:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:32:21.815-07:00A NoteThis is an old blog that I transferred from a soon to be defunct aol journal blog. The photos unfortunately did not come along for the transfer ride so don't be confused when you see a blog post talking about photos but see no photos. Sad sad sad. For me the journal of the adoption process and the first year with Lucy is worth keeping and reading.<br /><br />for current updates and photos you can go to <a href="http://www.raisinglucy.blogspot.com/">www.raisinglucy.blogspot.com</a><br /><br />StacyStacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-63678316681305952832007-01-17T06:57:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.231-07:00New blog addressI am attempting a new blog .... please go here to see any new posts: <A href="http://raisinglucy.blogspot.com/">http://raisinglucy.blogspot.com/</A> i will let you know if it doesn't work!Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-48290723512952382102007-01-15T19:37:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.232-07:00Busy beautiful butterflyOK, just when I thought she had summited the cuteness mountain she finds higher peaks to climb. Lucy is into dressing up. My daughter ... is a girly girl! I hope her new hobby doesn't interfere with camping this summer. Grandma bought her butterfly wings after witnessing Lucy's Wiggle Safari video with the butterfly dancers. The result???? Totally adorable. Breathtakingly cute. Stunningly beautiful. I think that you, the readers will have to agree (even though I know that a lot of you either have or are about to have very adorable children of your own) that Lucy is all sorts of cute. Two things: 1. I never thought I would be happy to have a girly-girl daughter and 2. I never thought I'd be writing such a blabbering blog unless I was being sarcastic (which I am not!). So here is some photo evidence. Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-91700612466884315542007-01-08T09:11:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.232-07:00Ethiopian Christmas Party PhotosStacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-16187524087912248002007-01-07T19:46:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.233-07:00Ethiopian ChristmasWill try to add photos tomorrow. Tonight we had our 2nd annual Ethiopian Christmas party. What a festive evening! We had 45 guests in our small bungalow. Saturday my dad and I cooked 4 different Ethiopian dishes. I bought the Injera. We had children from lots of different parts of the world join us: India, China, S. Korea, Ethiopia, W. Africa ... The best part! It was baby Genevieve's 1st birthday. Genevieve came home from China about a month ago .. she's so beautiful, she seems very secure with her momma and still keeps busy exploring her environment. Yeah Genevieve, welcome!!!! Lucy is finally getting some girl-friends! Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-67673892349444881262006-12-31T12:23:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.233-07:00Some new (and old) photos. Monkey, Lioness and princess.Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-68958893187502691412006-12-31T12:18:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.234-07:00Poop and Pee --- tee hee heeWell .. I feel a little odd blogging about poop and pee ... but I must tell the world... Lucy did it! She pooped and peed in her potty chair. I really have no investment in her potty training so early (which is why she was probably more then willing to give it a go), but today I asked her if she wanted to sit on her potty and she nodded yes ... she sat for awhile and I asked if she wanted to get up, she shook her head no, then she did it, she pee'd, and then a minute later she pooped and then she was done! Not even 20 months old, what a superstar. Now if I could just get her to hold my hand while walking outside or in the mall ... Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-36182459861277772812006-12-23T10:54:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.235-07:00Santa the final chapter, and finalization<P>So... I made the mistake of signing up Lucy and myself as Santa's helpers at the Christmas party my agency puts on for our clients. Lucy is terrified of Santa. Santa needed helpers, the other staff had roles and responsibilities. We had to bring gifts to children sitting on Santa's lap. We had almost 4 hours this ... the whole time I was unable to put Lucy down because she was scared. Each time we approached Santa to give a gift, she clung tighter. It was the most I have held her since she discovered crawling and movement. This is not a good study for immersion therapy ... doesn't work. </P>
<P>We finally finalized the adoption this Friday!!!!!!!!!! She's officially mine now and forever. What a wonderful day. </P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-58994394394602488042006-12-13T20:31:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.236-07:00Santa part 4 .... stop the insanityOk ... This is getting super silly. I tried implementing Santa plan of action number 4. All was going according to plan ... Lucy fell asleep in the car on the way to Ridgedale Mall. She slept through getting out of her carseat and into my arms. She slept through walking through the mall to "Santa's Cabin". The line looked short and my hopes were up. We walked up the "no pager" line. The old elves at the register looked at us and asked if our pager had buzzed... I said, no, we don't have a pager, do we need one??? They said, they are only able to help people who had already received pagers as Santa leaves at 9pm and it's already 8:30 pm ... and since it's just one small child, the morning would be a better time. I said, "I work all day" ... she just shrugged. I was really upset, like almost in tears upset. I walked away a bit, and then returned to ask if we could make an appointment for the next day ... she said you have to be there in person to get a pager ... I asked "So about what time did the people who just got "buzzed" arrive to get their pagers?" She said "about 3pm" (remember, it was 8:30 pm at this point). So basically, if I quit my job, or take a vacation day, and wait 5 hours maybe Lucy can see Santa this year. Arrrrgggghhh it is so unfair. Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-50976685335856034082006-12-12T06:37:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.237-07:00some photos<P>Trying to get the perfect Christmas dress photo has proven to be challenging this year ... </P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-30520952848925105762006-12-09T19:37:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.237-07:00Santa part 3 and a plan of action<P>My blog earlier today inspired me to try try try again. After Lucy's nap I said to my cousin, "let's go to the mall and see Santa", she said something about being crazy, but she came along. I got Lucy all dressed up in her Santa viewing outfit and off we went. The mall parking lot was a real mess but we found a spot and headed in ... Straight to Santa's line. It was a medium-long line but we were determined. We waited for lots of minutes, wondering why they were taking so so so long with this one family. First I thought, "how nice, to work with kids so that they are comfy with Santa before snapping the photo" then I started thinking "holy cow, if they take that long with each family, we'll miss Christmas all together". THEN I realized that there were mechanical problems with the photographers lights, and that they weren't going to be fixed any time soon. We decided to go for an early dinner then back to Santa. We ate dinner, Lucy had about 55 meltdowns on the walk from dinner back to Santa. Real live on the floor tantrums. We spotted Santa, and a very short line. My hopes were lifted. We went to the line entrance, where the stupid Elf was placing a sign saying Santa was going on break and would be back in an hour. AN HOUR. Well darn. We left. I was feeling very down about the Santa thing ... then I had an idea. Hope is restored. This coming week, I am going to get Lucy in her cute fluffy, warm Jammies ... head over to the mall where Santa works late and hope that Lucy falls hard asleep. We will then have a peaceful wait in line, and I will take advantage of her ability to sleep anywhere and transfer numerous times without waking ... in my head I see a cute photo of Lucy sleeping in Santa's arms.... I also see Lucy freaking out if she wakes up ... Here's to hoping we have peaceful slumbers. I'll let you know. </P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-47342522087809692302006-12-09T11:18:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.238-07:00Lucy<P>Sorry it's been so long since I've offered written word on this here blog ... we have been so very busy. First we had a traumatizing experience with Santa Claus. The whole thing started off as a little annoying because the "Elves" were really obnoxious, and obviously were not in the Christmas spirt. They rushed everyone, were chomping on gum, and very unprofessional. I was trying not to get all grumpy and scrooge like because of the evil elves ... We approached Santa to talk to him and high 5 him while the family ahead of us were being rushed through choosing their photo and their package (which by the way, some random elf already attacked everyone in line asking what package they wanted). Lucy was fine giving santa 5 and he seemed ok, although I could have sworn while we were standing there I heard Santa refer to me as grandma ... I blew that off as something I heard wrong. When the lead elf told us it was our turn I put Lucy on Santa's lap and she immediately started crying. This surprised me as she's been the brave one about every other new adventure in her life up until now ... so I was comforting her and santa says "grandma, you can get in the picture with her if it will help" ... In complete shock I sat by santa, had the photo taken and somehow came up with the complete WRONG photo package, despite the fact that the crazy random elf had written it down on our magic envelope before the trauma happened. GRANDMA????? Really, I could have kicked Santa, but again I was in a lot of shock and Lucy was still a little upset. Last night I got the nerve up to return to a different Santa to try for the good photo ... it was at the Mall of America. We arrived before 4pm on a work day, and to my dismay, the nice elf said "two hour wait" ... Ahhh, I looked at my darling daughter and said "bye bye Christmas". We went shopping. </P>
<P>Lucy is great. She is talking up a storm, and just a riot of energy and humor. She's still 100% adorable. She has her naughty streaks as well, but she sort of announces that this side of her is about to show ... She is growing and growing. She knows that she is adored byt the world. </P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-91678427074965821972006-12-07T11:58:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.239-07:00no time to writeHere are some pictures, I have stuff to say but no time to write ...Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-34923982012400207962006-11-20T07:26:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.239-07:00Photo time<P>1. looking at photos on her little table</P>
<P>2. reading a book</P>
<P>3. still loves the bath</P>
<P>4. cat not thrilled with new friend</P>
<P>5. ahhhhh </P>
<P>6. she's reading Nora Roberts ... </P>
<P>7. appears to be sending a text message</P>
<P>8. diaper rash bath</P>
<P>9. mommy hug</P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-39439260546896750982006-11-08T06:59:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.240-07:00The Che shirt works - Sort ofLucy's voting day outfit (che shirt, plaid pants) has had mixed results. We got the HOUSE!!! The senate is still in debate... but what the heck happened with our governor??? Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-6136161346474939052006-11-07T06:42:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.241-07:00she's a democratI swear this morning she scowled at each person who looked like they might be voting off the republican ticker. I couldn't help but encourage this... I brought her along to vote because I wanted her to feel important if we win ... I can tell her about how she scared off all the right wing voters with her stink eye. If we loose ... too sad to think about.Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-20633265631767999892006-11-06T06:36:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.241-07:00Baby bully - or it's not the biting as much as it is the growling<P>Not to be negative about the beautiful, wonderful Lucy but I need to present a different side of her occasionally (in case you all wonder if I am actually parenting a real child!). I believe my kid might be turning into the class bully. Don't get me wrong, I was secretly pleased when I saw her give a little to the young girl "A" who pushed her off the loft in her first minutes of daycare BUT ... Lucy has taken revenge to a new level by taking it out on any child who wanders into her path. She's pushing the boys around, the 4 and 2yr olds that we babysit ... This morning she shoved the sweet "W" out of her way at the sensory table. Lucy shows no regret. The biting??? Thankfully she hasn't figured out how to chomp hard yet ... but her fake bites are accompanied by a rather realistic and scary growl... this concerns me! </P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-87414701145653290462006-10-30T06:26:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.242-07:00Photos<P>1. Basket stander</P>
<P>2. Basket bouncer</P>
<P>3. Why do I bother buying toys?</P>
<P>4. Reading the International Journal of Play Therapy ... hmmmm</P>
<P>5. Back to the basket</P>
<P>6. Peek a boo</P>
<P>7. goat milk rejection</P>
<P>8. admiring herself at the shoe store</P>
<P>9. these boots were made for walking</P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-43924587302287981082006-10-29T19:24:00.000-08:002008-10-09T09:29:00.243-07:00meeting people<P>In the past couple weeks Lucy and I have met several families in person who we previously only "knew" through the CHSFS adoption forum. What fun!!! We met one family who are in the midst of their home study (hope the wait goes fast). We met two families from the forum. We caught up with a couple families we have previously met. What socialites we are! Saturday night was so much fun, surrounded by beautiful Ethiopian babies and toddlers, plus a couple beautiful bio-preschoolers (funny calling them bio-preschoolers). Lucy continues to be overnumbered by little boys in her life, so we were beyond excited to hear that our good friends S, R, H & M are officially starting the process on the adoption of another Ethiopian girl H! I was also able to talk to my friend N who lives out of state, I was so wishing that she was just going to show up at the gathering Saturday night. When she wasn't there I was disappointed! Lucy is still having some symptoms of her cold that never ends. We (Lucy and I, and our clothes) are really really tired of snot. </P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-7604333678991074132006-10-23T20:20:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:29:00.243-07:00the time goes on ...<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">October 24th …<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I feel like I can send/post this now because it’s officially tomorrow in Ethiopia.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My mind has been on so many things … mostly remembering this time last year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I met Lucy!!!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I got on an airplane on the 22nd, arrived in Ethiopia late in the evening on the 23rd and the morning of the 24th I took Lucy into my arms and it was real!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know I became a mother during those months of waiting to travel.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I got a scary medical update and could not be soothed. I was desperate to get to her into my arms and hear her breathing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I stared and stared at each of the four photos I received while I was waiting for her.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I looked at her eyes, ears, hands, feet, lips … I examined the spit up on her jacket.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was in a word: obsessed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I still am! <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The morning I met her I was so in another world, I felt a little detached from my emotions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s almost like the emotions were so strong that I had to leave them or I wouldn’t have been able to hold her.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She was sleeping when I picked her up … minutes later she opened her eyes and her gaze met mine briefly before she fell back to sleep.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I stayed there with her in that crowded room, eight babies, a couple nannies, a nurse, Mel and Sara for some time getting trained in on Lucy care before being released to take her upstairs to the guest rooms.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>From the moment we went upstairs, she was in my care.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A year later, she sleeps in her room … soundly (most nights).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She’s the same … observant, silly, smart, loving, trusting, wonderful child she was then.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She loves home.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I love that about her.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When she comes in the door to her home she laughs and twirls around and around.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She feels safe here.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I can’t believe a year has passed, some days it feels like it’s only been moments, and other days it feels like it’s<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>been forever.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I look into her eyes at night when she’s falling asleep and I marvel at all she knows, and all the memories she has that I will never know.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It’s overwhelming at times, the responsibility I feel for her as her mother, but also as the keeper of her story and the means for her to learn more and know more.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I feel compelled to seek for her, I feel like it’s an urgent job …<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know I am not alone in this. I feel connected with all the mothers, but especially the momma’s of children adopted from Ethiopia. We know too much about the situations that brought our children to us, we have responsibilities now that no amount of imagination could have prepared us for, we have a weight on our loving, tired shoulders. Lucy is a beautiful child, something about her touches the spirit of people who know her, she connects.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She brings joy and peace.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thank you to everyone who has been a part of her story over this past year.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Love Stacy and Lucy Eskedar. </SPAN><A href="mailto:awing@zianet.com"></A></P>Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-60643706465664676242006-10-16T07:02:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:29:00.244-07:00a year agoOne year ago, I was busy planning and packing. I had my tickets, I knew when I was going to hold Lucy and I was jumping with excitement. Saturday we had a gotcha celebration at a park. It was a little early but we will be out of town next week, and I wanted to do it before it got too cold. What fun we had celebrating Lucy. I can't believe it's been almost a year since we became a family. I still faithfully read the children's home forum, and certain blogs. It's fun to be connected with the adoption community. Lucy is a riot as a toddler. She LOVES being the center of everyone's attention. She will run back and forth the length of our house, laughing, twirling, blowing kisses, rolling her eyes ... she is saying more and more words and is able to request three songs (twinkle twinkle, itsy bitsy spider and patacake). She is great fun. Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-7755058095389097462006-10-03T07:07:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:29:00.244-07:00Camping part 2It was a cold and a rainy weekend. Despite accurate weather forecasting we decided to forge ahead with our up north camping plans. Our car was PACKED FULL. We headed out. The rain continued. We arrived at an almost empty state park. It was wet wet wet. Lucy and I walked around while Sara set up the tent and William napped in the car. After about 10 minutes I realized that 10 outfits were not going to be enough for my mud loving daughter. We decided to stay until bedtime and pack it back up, avoiding getting everything in the car soaked. We packed an entire camping trip worth of events in a few hours: hiking, outdoor cooking, tenting, campfire and marshmellow roasting ... all of which took place in the pouring rain. Fun times. Fun times. Here is the documentation.Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-37079711906800052372006-10-02T18:58:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:29:00.245-07:00first day tragedySo ... I drop Lucy off at daycare at 8am. I stick around for awhile, expressing my anxiety about this loft play area they have. I said, she'll go up these steps all day but she doesn't know how to go down. I said, I have been worried about these steps since last week. I said, she will need to learn ... I left her at daycare at 8:15, at 8:45 they called, "Lucy was 'pushed' off the loft and hit her head on the floor, she has a big gooseegg, a swollen lip and she is acting sleepy, you should come get her" ... It took me 20 minutes to get there, it felt like 3 hours. I was so sad the whole time, Lucy was hurt and she didn't know the people who were there to comfort her. I was a mess. I yelled at every red light, "you stupid light, the cosmos is keeping me from my child" ... I was a bit dramatic. When I arrived she was snuggled up with the teacher eating an apple. Her head/face looked better then I expected. By the time we got home she showed no signs of being tired or anything. On the doctors advice I just kept an eye on her and she seemed fine. We'll try again tomorrow, but I am definately not feeling any more confident. Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5416990061365481476.post-73431156966146992112006-10-01T19:32:00.000-07:002008-10-09T09:29:00.246-07:00NervousWell, tomorrow Lucy starts "school". OH arrrggghhhh, I am so nervous and anxious. I just feel like they don't know her, she doesn't know them and how are her need going to be met? I just hope and pray this is a good move for her. I have her little bag all packed with diaper wipes and extra clothes. Her first day outfit is on her changing table and she went to bed a little early so she's better rested. I have a back up social worker who as agreed to do my intake if Lucy needs momma (or if momma needs Lucy). Like always, she'll probably do better with this transition then I will (for example I still haven't gotten over going back to work and it's been like 8 months now). OK, I'll let you know how it went when it's over. Stacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18105230863864635836noreply@blogger.com0