tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36626375254651816752024-03-06T12:02:49.988-08:00Mission To Nehaericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-23356795834674571822013-03-04T12:42:00.001-08:002013-03-04T13:52:53.746-08:00It is in fact true, life is a box of chocolates! Thanks Forest.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T_sJgNQsDLQ8Y253Q7-VdDq5FIsCGEWrqhe9AWRepFiwFdkYDHrVnssvcOsqyXats-3UHfb73bJC5gGmcFrEKdMaOUUQjYcj56aPLscVgS8qY6ACjGpCMgxcZ8LB-hn9nPYFLn-ueh4/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252014%25252C%2525202013%2525206%25253A54%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2T_sJgNQsDLQ8Y253Q7-VdDq5FIsCGEWrqhe9AWRepFiwFdkYDHrVnssvcOsqyXats-3UHfb73bJC5gGmcFrEKdMaOUUQjYcj56aPLscVgS8qY6ACjGpCMgxcZ8LB-hn9nPYFLn-ueh4/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252014%25252C%2525202013%2525206%25253A54%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962672.6294" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div>It's funny how a blog is meant to honor your children, your family, and record your trials and all the tribulations... Yes it does serve the author that way and in some ways assist others dealing with similar situations. However, it also serves as a venting point when you feel like you have to tell someone, anyone your dirty secrets, your guilty moments, your internal failures. Blogging allows confessions, defeats, and victories all in the same way. Almost an anonymous way. The way you wish you could just tell people, but know you must only write down so that the reader has full attention to digest your words before totally judging you. Maybe even time to consider what they would do before just thinking you suck as a mother... </div><div><br></div><div>It has been a full year that Neha has been with us, and I realize that as time went on I didn't need to talk myself through things on a blog. I had to just figure it the f*#% out.. We were failing, stumbling with just the simplest things.</div><div><br></div><div> Getting ready in the morning, following steps A to get to D ... </div><div>Without backtracking and ending up at Z no less</div><div><br></div><div>Recognizing wrong doing, having remorse.</div><div><br></div><div>Calming body motions in order to focus, listen, or even eat a meal.</div><div><br></div><div>Being present in conversations, rather than avoiding eye contact, cowering, scowling, or Fidgeting ... Responding to requests, compliments, flattery etc</div><div><br></div><div>Respecting others things, asking to touch (knowing not to destroy)</div><div><br></div><div>It was and has kicked our butts.....</div><div><br></div><div>BUT...... We are on the upswing baby, and I'm high five'in myself , my husband and my daughters for all getting their hands dirty to get this figured out. We have been on cloud 9 with Neha for almost 3 solid months now, and watch out she is truly something special. </div><div><br></div><div>We know we love each other, we know we are ten times better than we were a year ago just because of the strength and bravery of our Neha, however, that doesn't mean that days are seem less, easy or even really fun. </div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">It wasn't until I was reunited with a high school acquaintance this last weekend that I was able to finally admit to myself that adoption just isn't easy, but being a parent isn't no matter how you build it. The self reflection needed and involved in raising a child </span>that you didn't propagate is unnatural. We made the choice and commitment 4 years ago this month to our Neha to fight for her to be ours. To make it natural, to make our family better, wiser, more compassionate, educated and empowered we need Neha. It is work, but we see the peace in her face now more than the trama. We see kind helpful actions occurring without ever being asked. We see a big sister that has grown into her place rather than being run over by responsibilities. We see and embrace a special newly earned love with our newest middle daughter, and we are thrilled. Thank you Neha for standing up for yourself (finally) , Recognizing your worth and "being proud, and being care of things" ! We knew you could do it! (and I think that has been the hardest part) </span><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">So please behold our newest blossoming daughter in all her glory... Of course joined by her sisters</span></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AL09IQA7E58/UTULHUy9scI/AAAAAAAAAeE/H7q_KMNDwgU/Photo%252520Oct%25252029%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AL09IQA7E58/UTULHUy9scI/AAAAAAAAAeE/H7q_KMNDwgU/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252029%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962609.7554" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nQ6ONF6gAF8/UTUCMqINJ8I/AAAAAAAAAdk/lbos30tfzOo/Photo%252520Feb%25252014%25252C%2525202013%2525206%25253A52%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nQ6ONF6gAF8/UTUCMqINJ8I/AAAAAAAAAdk/lbos30tfzOo/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252014%25252C%2525202013%2525206%25253A52%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962620.6248" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wLWVA9KnMnA/UTULyWMxAuI/AAAAAAAAAeM/oFI7MfU0LxU/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wLWVA9KnMnA/UTULyWMxAuI/AAAAAAAAAeM/oFI7MfU0LxU/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962617.639" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pVO404FZd4c/UTUL26dVHOI/AAAAAAAAAeU/OI5whxzWKNQ/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pVO404FZd4c/UTUL26dVHOI/AAAAAAAAAeU/OI5whxzWKNQ/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962608.7837" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-49cxd-y_ovc/UTUMD-PtAII/AAAAAAAAAec/04IfYIPu_SY/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A35%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-49cxd-y_ovc/UTUMD-PtAII/AAAAAAAAAec/04IfYIPu_SY/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A35%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962637.7244" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bIqLoYB3yaqMvTuxqb6oENFqvG2bmaUxBni83vsY9DLfpnGEVvK_xWql7nCcyfdVd1xkZ2O5DoTsbIUMtIaAD2TJYDpBeIHRXsQl-R4Gj9X-0w77Rfrte-TsSR4Th-CD-XR2p6HPY7E/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%2525209%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bIqLoYB3yaqMvTuxqb6oENFqvG2bmaUxBni83vsY9DLfpnGEVvK_xWql7nCcyfdVd1xkZ2O5DoTsbIUMtIaAD2TJYDpBeIHRXsQl-R4Gj9X-0w77Rfrte-TsSR4Th-CD-XR2p6HPY7E/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%2525209%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962666.891" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCmw0wur82igASRRhRCL_zotWtfkVHLBOdFcQJjng-Hn-WvFvLe7_UMz33tEawZDLqSutGE70OwlJJuSvVJVxlJ1N8XqEsoUpgNoJXln7tVbKxfSkg8_S1_KCAa-a2YOi2gWCHzdx8l0/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirCmw0wur82igASRRhRCL_zotWtfkVHLBOdFcQJjng-Hn-WvFvLe7_UMz33tEawZDLqSutGE70OwlJJuSvVJVxlJ1N8XqEsoUpgNoJXln7tVbKxfSkg8_S1_KCAa-a2YOi2gWCHzdx8l0/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252010%25253A40%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962637.464" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">,<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5oAQHgRC1zI/UTUNPKAd0qI/AAAAAAAAAe0/FJ3CLcgJWiM/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252011%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5oAQHgRC1zI/UTUNPKAd0qI/AAAAAAAAAe0/FJ3CLcgJWiM/s500/Photo%252520Feb%2525201%25252C%2525202013%25252011%25253A11%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962683.517" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJjxO7-hLtJ85zdtOU8Z741pYbeEi7iFqW56hEBV-YLbPwTMRjxODTyRwp209yT23ga5Xv5XM0iiSfH8lZzcZSAZfbr5usPyueTZEBVo77pVPNLtl-aFc9u2nYL0yIAqlwVe4889c0-M/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252022%25252C%2525202013%2525205%25253A38%252520AM.jpg" target="_self" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJjxO7-hLtJ85zdtOU8Z741pYbeEi7iFqW56hEBV-YLbPwTMRjxODTyRwp209yT23ga5Xv5XM0iiSfH8lZzcZSAZfbr5usPyueTZEBVo77pVPNLtl-aFc9u2nYL0yIAqlwVe4889c0-M/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252022%25252C%2525202013%2525205%25253A38%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962620.6196" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7mC-JhYeJ5Q/UTUO8Ljec0I/AAAAAAAAAfM/wKcbTa70K7I/Photo%252520Jan%25252019%25252C%2525202013%2525202%25253A00%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7mC-JhYeJ5Q/UTUO8Ljec0I/AAAAAAAAAfM/wKcbTa70K7I/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252019%25252C%2525202013%2525202%25253A00%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962619.8884" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T0MyfBUWUyw/UTUOx3yOu_I/AAAAAAAAAe8/LyIXYml2zkQ/Photo%252520Jan%25252026%25252C%2525202013%2525203%25253A09%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T0MyfBUWUyw/UTUOx3yOu_I/AAAAAAAAAe8/LyIXYml2zkQ/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252026%25252C%2525202013%2525203%25253A09%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962690.127" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Quite inventive this one<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CqhTX3a08Kg/UTUPjxp48bI/AAAAAAAAAfU/7JYPLv0d1Zs/Photo%252520Jan%25252019%25252C%2525202013%2525209%25253A30%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CqhTX3a08Kg/UTUPjxp48bI/AAAAAAAAAfU/7JYPLv0d1Zs/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252019%25252C%2525202013%2525209%25253A30%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962644.1196" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iDvpO4OOeus/UTUPuq0Y0TI/AAAAAAAAAfc/K8djRtT36fA/Photo%252520Jan%25252015%25252C%2525202013%2525204%25253A52%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iDvpO4OOeus/UTUPuq0Y0TI/AAAAAAAAAfc/K8djRtT36fA/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252015%25252C%2525202013%2525204%25253A52%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962687.9395" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_x3ttC7saWU/UTUQmbkF8xI/AAAAAAAAAfo/eWfPYXYI_2c/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252012%25252C%2525202013%25252011%25253A03%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_x3ttC7saWU/UTUQmbkF8xI/AAAAAAAAAfo/eWfPYXYI_2c/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252012%25252C%2525202013%25252011%25253A03%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962663.035" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BA8oI8v50wI/UTUQpkBbS0I/AAAAAAAAAf0/-H0RIWPvHUQ/Photo%252520Jan%25252012%25252C%2525202013%25252011%25253A04%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BA8oI8v50wI/UTUQpkBbS0I/AAAAAAAAAf0/-H0RIWPvHUQ/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252012%25252C%2525202013%25252011%25253A04%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962696.2068" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m2fPc-wzwD0/UTUQYPMG-DI/AAAAAAAAAfk/KEomekmO42g/Photo%252520Jan%25252015%25252C%2525202013%2525204%25253A45%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m2fPc-wzwD0/UTUQYPMG-DI/AAAAAAAAAfk/KEomekmO42g/s500/Photo%252520Jan%25252015%25252C%2525202013%2525204%25253A45%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962671.9653" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Impromptu lice treatment. Had a scare! <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9LFH5I8-1rQ/UTUSWVysGQI/AAAAAAAAAgE/0dWB0HYjKwg/Photo%252520Nov%25252026%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9LFH5I8-1rQ/UTUSWVysGQI/AAAAAAAAAgE/0dWB0HYjKwg/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252026%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962671.1094" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh50SYKhRRxBvYhyN_DHMmnuNLtrknuhPksasE1LAs_rKQAzUBp-h1559RAtBvpPXYVfQK5bTK-g04sOABuno9bSlpQoGt1luaTqMqRBAX0z8TVxH6DjxSlLxkvZQ7RhT0UXmlq4Jp2_Q/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh50SYKhRRxBvYhyN_DHMmnuNLtrknuhPksasE1LAs_rKQAzUBp-h1559RAtBvpPXYVfQK5bTK-g04sOABuno9bSlpQoGt1luaTqMqRBAX0z8TVxH6DjxSlLxkvZQ7RhT0UXmlq4Jp2_Q/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962651.1624" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CxoSKhcZFUY/UTUUGCo3-eI/AAAAAAAAAgk/B9rDd0D69A8/Photo%252520Dec%25252031%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A16%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CxoSKhcZFUY/UTUUGCo3-eI/AAAAAAAAAgk/B9rDd0D69A8/s500/Photo%252520Dec%25252031%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A16%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962647.0503" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2FD4xQi2Ubc/UTUUPqHN9lI/AAAAAAAAAg0/uqPrhx8Tvd8/Photo%252520Dec%2525202%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A48%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2FD4xQi2Ubc/UTUUPqHN9lI/AAAAAAAAAg0/uqPrhx8Tvd8/s500/Photo%252520Dec%2525202%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A48%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962711.529" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7eWtFKIM_C8/UTUUVul6BGI/AAAAAAAAAg8/u2KWjsfdUzM/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7eWtFKIM_C8/UTUUVul6BGI/AAAAAAAAAg8/u2KWjsfdUzM/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962698.796" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Mf1-_OW8N8g/UTUV52z7bBI/AAAAAAAAAhc/EuT92HWWhtI/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A55%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Mf1-_OW8N8g/UTUV52z7bBI/AAAAAAAAAhc/EuT92HWWhtI/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A55%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962702.8745" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0WdLGVXj5BM/UTUVqNSkutI/AAAAAAAAAhE/IN6e08VF9_E/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A49%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0WdLGVXj5BM/UTUVqNSkutI/AAAAAAAAAhE/IN6e08VF9_E/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A49%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962686.104" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LgrNzXwVUM8/UTUVvvVIyFI/AAAAAAAAAhM/iWf0jEa_jDk/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A53%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LgrNzXwVUM8/UTUVvvVIyFI/AAAAAAAAAhM/iWf0jEa_jDk/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A53%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962690.7288" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love you Neha, to say that we are proud of you and how far you have come is an absolute understatement! <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YNvMhmThoJg/UTUV2YJbMmI/AAAAAAAAAhU/1tCiZ1AltJw/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A53%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YNvMhmThoJg/UTUV2YJbMmI/AAAAAAAAAhU/1tCiZ1AltJw/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A53%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1362433962740.651" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-27636895726316326372012-11-22T11:00:00.001-08:002012-11-22T11:10:06.439-08:00For those of you that think I might have driven the car into the swimming pool....<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">........I didn't........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jTDa2Sw4Xd4/UK5tSf_HTyI/AAAAAAAAAZM/3ZfE5_NZSAc/Photo%252520Oct%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jTDa2Sw4Xd4/UK5tSf_HTyI/AAAAAAAAAZM/3ZfE5_NZSAc/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1353611340838.0195" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mfXENeLMIXE/UK5tanZ40AI/AAAAAAAAAZU/oX1CCqaOYwg/Photo%252520Oct%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mfXENeLMIXE/UK5tanZ40AI/AAAAAAAAAZU/oX1CCqaOYwg/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1353611340761.852" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I still really like being a mom. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CNoWxNCswB4/UK5tiM12HlI/AAAAAAAAAZc/NQqeCp4wDYs/Photo%252520Oct%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A22%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CNoWxNCswB4/UK5tiM12HlI/AAAAAAAAAZc/NQqeCp4wDYs/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A22%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1353611340797.2554" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VfM1etT6U2A/UK5v8R5gGCI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/7LaPncA5vBw/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VfM1etT6U2A/UK5v8R5gGCI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/7LaPncA5vBw/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1353611340823.1873" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VV1U8_K17ms/UK5vPhF3h8I/AAAAAAAAAZk/VqrnNyEXAnc/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252028%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VV1U8_K17ms/UK5vPhF3h8I/AAAAAAAAAZk/VqrnNyEXAnc/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252028%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1353611340777.298" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So, in honor of Thanksgiving , and in honor of our newest daughter Neha, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">the one that was a source of many cried tears of yearning and many worries of her well being just one short year ago. I want to share a little Thanksgiving prayer, one that was written and dictated by Neha to her dear sweet teacher Ms Krupa. I want to share her innocence and her purity. Her language skills and her abilities to express herself. I send wonderful holiday wishes to all that may read this. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">This summary of what Neha is thankful for brought tears to her teachers eyes. She said, "it was so sweet it just warmed her heart"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Neha's thankful list :</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">11.19.2012</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Neha is thankful for the chicken she ate at home, her mom and dad, and the baby brother-Oliver . For flowers she had at school today. She is thankful that dad goes to his work and Charlotte goes to her school. She is also thankful about Lucy going to her school and she goes to jump rope. She is thankful for her blankey, bed and her bedroom. She is thankful for Ganesha. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">( and yes, if you caught that, there is a baby brother in the works) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Divine intervention and a higher being had everything to do with this new development in our lives. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">More on this later. Today, I plan to be nothing but thankful. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Mike and I have worked so hard for this family and we will continue to do so. We feel content and o so appreciative for everything in our lives. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Happy Thanksgiving!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QUrkGFvyaao/UK5vUpuQxjI/AAAAAAAAAZs/uosA2KLH8PA/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A25%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QUrkGFvyaao/UK5vUpuQxjI/AAAAAAAAAZs/uosA2KLH8PA/s500/Photo%252520Oct%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A25%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1353611340771.9707" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-64318558763687994732012-10-02T08:11:00.001-07:002012-10-02T08:54:09.056-07:00It's a good thing she's cute....<div>Well, it's easy to get used to things. Become worn down on boundaries, exceptable behaviors and surrendering 4 out of 5 battles a day. However, I choose not to let her wear me down. I stand up for what is right and pride myself on being consistent and taking every wrong experience and teaching the right options. I am confident that constant monitoring and learning will benefit this child that seems to just step off the boat of reality about 9 times a day. I swear I see progress, I recognize that she is trying, but I am also defeated by her need to "sabotage". Perfectly good moments, family outings, happy times.... They can only exist until she retorts to chaos, until she has control of the "good times" and ends them as she sees fit. </div><div>A very wise adoptive mother once told me, that due to her abandonment and her needs not being met from the time she was an infant (like most entitled babies) she sees a need to take control of situations and end them accordingly. Giving her the control to end a situation so that she can not have it ended for her. </div><div><br></div><div>Some days are more intense than others. It's almost as if she wakes up disabled. She hobbles into our room or down the hall with the rigid "polio walk" and you can just tell by looking into her eyes that she is off today. Checked out, not wiling to please (like normal), and destined to annoy, push, and abuse your patience. This is the day that she needs to be coddled, assisted with everything, and rules should not apply to her. But to me that seems impossible. How do you continue to honor, and specialize attention and affection for the child that consciously ends all good situations, chooses not to listen to instructions, and directly disobeys you multiple times before you have even left the house? I started keeping a journal of what exactly she does that gets under my skin so that I can step back and evaluate who really is out of line, me or her. Let me break it down for you and you be the judge:</div><div><br></div><div>Grandma picks her and Charlotte up from school to treat them to some time at chick filet. Neha acts crazy, ends up crawling around on the bathroom floor and essentially driving poor patient grandma looney.</div><div><br></div><div>She spills choc milk all over her shirt, I ask her to go change her shirt, not her pants. "Do you understand, don't get all new clothes, just a shirt from your closet".she nods yes.... She comes out of her room in a whole new outfit and throws her other clothes on the floor. Quite pleased with herself.... Urgh</div><div><br></div><div>Charlotte and her are playing out at the sand box nicely while I am gardening. I'm thrilled that they play so well, and am happy they have each other. In the meantime, I go to check on them because we'll it has been pretty quiet for quite a while. Neha has slathered greasy sunscreen all over her new doll, Lucy's tangled doll and my coffee table. The situation is heavily lubed, caked with waxy buildup and every doll is shinning from ear orifice to leg joint. Oh don't forget the empty 3 lipglosses that are strewn about missing caps and also littering my grease stained coffee table. </div><div><br></div><div>She takes my watering can, breaks it somehow and fills it with dirt along with our traveling cat carrier. Leaves both items for dead in the sand box</div><div><br></div><div>I take Charlotte and Neha to chick filet again, before we exit the car we discuss appropriate behaviors in the restaurant, not acting crazy, eating her food nicely,not crawling on the floor and playing well with others. She promises me she can behave. It's not 15 minutes later that I have asked her to stop bouncing on the seat while she is eating because my friend sitting next to her can't even eat her sandwich the seat in bumping so much. I asked her 4 times, in a nice and socially acceptable way. She is eventually asked to leave the table because I am about the sabotage her. </div><div><br></div><div>Neha kindly gets both her and lucys beds ready and turned down for sleeping. How sweet, how cute. In the meantime I go to check on her and she is attempting to write and grind her name into Lucy's tooth box with a pencil. The tooth box that the tooth fairy brought to lucy and Lucy specifically said, please don't touch my box.</div><div><br></div><div>I ask the girls to brush their teeth, go potty and get ready for bed. I walk in the bathroom to check on everyone and Neha is bent over with her panties and skirt at her ankles and is brushing her butthole with her toothbrush.... In front of Lucy and Charlotte no less.... Yes, I lost it with this one. I mean WTF?</div><div><br></div><div>I pick the girls up from school yesterday and Neha has an unusually guilty face. I try to get an understanding from her as to what might have occurred but guilt and avoidance of eye contact is prevalent. I email her teacher just to see if anything is wrong. She immediately responds and says yes, Neha is testing many boundaries with her teacher. Today was her first day being asked to take a time out and sit in the "think" seat. She apparently did not like it at all. She is having a hard time stopping behaviors once they have been asked to be stopped multiple times. She constantly puts school items in her mouth, she cannot seem to leave people alone when they are working, and she is always getting into things at school that she has not "received a lesson on" (Montessori teachings).</div><div><br></div><div>She will not connect, she now looks at me when I am talking to her, but she looks straight through me. She is glazed over when emotion is required, when remorse should be in order. Her attempt at being receptive and engaged is similar to a dog with cataracts, a fog over her eyes disabling her from really connecting. She seems to masicistacly thrive on negative attention. </div><div><br></div><div>And lastly, yesterday, after a rather "naughty" day at school. Me explaining the value of school, the money it costs to go there and it's eternal value in her life, she glazes over. She goes blank. I can't tell if she even cares. We get home, we play. I bought the girls a new wagon at goodwill and I am trying to change the course of her disabled day. Charlotte is playing with the wagon, they are having a blast together. Then a shriek, a bout of tears, and Charlotte screams historically, "Neha just threw a rock at my head!". A welt, a lot of tears, and a time out. Neha emerges and nervously tells Charlotte, "I'm sorry I throw a rock, but you were in my way". Seriously, the worst and most harmful thing you have ever done? This is your apology? </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I am not proud to say I feel defeated. I don't wake up thrilled to see my defiant daughter and await shenanagans through out the day. I need help. She needs therapy. I am not awesome at this and it seems to be getting worse. So here we go, down the therapy road. The early intervention road at every attempt to salvage emotion and our poor battered and damaged daughter. There are things that I will never know, how she was loved if at all, how she was punished, and what was really special to her before we jumped in a changed her whole world. What is her comfort? What are the words to her favorite song so we could sing it together. Who was her favorite person and does she long for them? </div><div>It seems language is at a plateau, she still doesn't defend herself if falsely accused. She can't have a real conversation with her mother. </div><div><br></div><div> I write this entry for her, not to discount her, but to show her that she is at the front of my every thought. She was and is so wanted, and we love her dearly. She can be the kindest of all my kids, she can be the most thoughtfull person I have ever met. She can be truly amazing when it's a good day. However she will always have things in her life that I will never know, things that may define her. She will always have a family that will travel to the ends of the earth for her. She will always have sisters that adore her, if she will allow to be adored. She will forever have parents that want nothing but the best for her, the best attitude, the best education, and the most happiness. She however has to accept theses things into her life because now she is entitled and she needs to own it and want it. We love you Neha, just love us back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pFoX4eDSeTY/UGr0CC71GDI/AAAAAAAAAW4/rdcPghJNBM4/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A19%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pFoX4eDSeTY/UGr0CC71GDI/AAAAAAAAAW4/rdcPghJNBM4/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A19%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349192941878.9255" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdohJziPL8x56ogGFbPq_ZiCIDegr-032F_vzX3YYhrbDcCb8m6_hHLpoNZeXLldoNadLWTMLN6zgqyjJvSqOY4q_b5W-_fYJ20Yoef-97TwtTFyaVHzcXlJoo98fqdFVfXX9Oc6EZLxU/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdohJziPL8x56ogGFbPq_ZiCIDegr-032F_vzX3YYhrbDcCb8m6_hHLpoNZeXLldoNadLWTMLN6zgqyjJvSqOY4q_b5W-_fYJ20Yoef-97TwtTFyaVHzcXlJoo98fqdFVfXX9Oc6EZLxU/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A16%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349192941868.2937" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"> This is the glaze I am talking about, see Lucy's connection, Neha's lacking.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rys8wp74X44/UGrz_L0Zl2I/AAAAAAAAAWw/di1w3Mf8o80/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-rys8wp74X44/UGrz_L0Zl2I/AAAAAAAAAWw/di1w3Mf8o80/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349192941882.5605" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b16bzQWvBSo/UGsI9RoLh2I/AAAAAAAAAXY/sWlr1oPuqnM/Photo%252520Aug%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b16bzQWvBSo/UGsI9RoLh2I/AAAAAAAAAXY/sWlr1oPuqnM/s500/Photo%252520Aug%25252019%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349192941884.3494" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Bgjs1sztaqc/UGsJCPu9-KI/AAAAAAAAAXg/5z2MThAdg7k/Photo%252520Aug%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A03%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Bgjs1sztaqc/UGsJCPu9-KI/AAAAAAAAAXg/5z2MThAdg7k/s500/Photo%252520Aug%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A03%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349192941916.0522" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Umm growing much? This was her coming home outfit, now moved to charlottes drawer. <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9ewG6Dqt9wk/UGsJHaZIQKI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Nwqwx46DlNw/Photo%252520Aug%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A58%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9ewG6Dqt9wk/UGsJHaZIQKI/AAAAAAAAAXo/Nwqwx46DlNw/s500/Photo%252520Aug%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A58%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349192941923.3352" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibagUHoW0dtflO98ctphLyM7O5SayeKooQ8ZujFA6W16FCygwUO1B6fllFB_ebdLZF2b4gKnCLKkH4bNYADINEDtZf6PL7iGuXTgt4ksMJK2j7kWauVgVljw6_PZbcgrGioD5ELcMU3wE/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibagUHoW0dtflO98ctphLyM7O5SayeKooQ8ZujFA6W16FCygwUO1B6fllFB_ebdLZF2b4gKnCLKkH4bNYADINEDtZf6PL7iGuXTgt4ksMJK2j7kWauVgVljw6_PZbcgrGioD5ELcMU3wE/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A29%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349193156690.045" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" align="center"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DTssgRjunLI/UGsNfbydpII/AAAAAAAAAYQ/6Hb9lt8nyYA/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A33%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-DTssgRjunLI/UGsNfbydpII/AAAAAAAAAYQ/6Hb9lt8nyYA/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A33%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349193164540.4185" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" align="center"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhuP1CTFf_eEZ6YKfZJIHmmBKH94rT3X7Yun_RczW3UqkGgBW7fMnkk8tDYdbh41WSGcDsFxlFS3bJmGV-BTLWjTCPY2WYe0ZBzpGH8356SH8U9skfDZO9FuPZsy4jXXR_QyON8wYyGc/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A42%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhuP1CTFf_eEZ6YKfZJIHmmBKH94rT3X7Yun_RczW3UqkGgBW7fMnkk8tDYdbh41WSGcDsFxlFS3bJmGV-BTLWjTCPY2WYe0ZBzpGH8356SH8U9skfDZO9FuPZsy4jXXR_QyON8wYyGc/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A42%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349193176739.921" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" align="center"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1G3cCncgX9s/UGsNlv7kguI/AAAAAAAAAYg/3TMp628yjtI/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1G3cCncgX9s/UGsNlv7kguI/AAAAAAAAAYg/3TMp628yjtI/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349193188033.6738" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" align="center"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pVm9tR1ZRZk/UGsNo9aeWHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/qVRCXUehxBo/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pVm9tR1ZRZk/UGsNo9aeWHI/AAAAAAAAAYo/qVRCXUehxBo/s500/Photo%252520Aug%2525201%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1349193205588.1418" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" align="center"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-47519679117573644362012-08-18T08:34:00.001-07:002012-08-19T07:50:49.665-07:00Somebody had a birthday party, and it rocked!<div>July 14th was a special day, dinner with mom and dad and an attempt to show this girl what a birthday is all about. July 22nd was an awesome day, and I think we all went to bed the most contented and satisfied that we have all been for almost 3 years. Settled, not over indulged, and just plain happy!</div><div>Princess, orange,mermaid birthday party. That was the request. So ball gowns to begin was only appropriate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JoMDBjG2UQo/UC-vMFptuyI/AAAAAAAAAR4/ibzwx4n-yxQ/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A58%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JoMDBjG2UQo/UC-vMFptuyI/AAAAAAAAAR4/ibzwx4n-yxQ/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A58%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693076.5308" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Orange cupcakes! Yum!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y4r2FTWiEWI/UC-vRGcm2iI/AAAAAAAAASA/Z6w8Ev8vNMw/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y4r2FTWiEWI/UC-vRGcm2iI/AAAAAAAAASA/Z6w8Ev8vNMw/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693066.1824" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JLRmLHBDyJA/UC-vZ7_zTcI/AAAAAAAAASI/70gKrowjIAA/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JLRmLHBDyJA/UC-vZ7_zTcI/AAAAAAAAASI/70gKrowjIAA/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693136.1572" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The clan, rowdy and ready for some fun.<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3H0gLpa7468/UC-xHBk_pSI/AAAAAAAAASQ/FJtNGzbl_lI/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3H0gLpa7468/UC-xHBk_pSI/AAAAAAAAASQ/FJtNGzbl_lI/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693140.3982" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ariel swim suit, and more presents. There were a few moments I saw complete disbelief in her eyes. Priceless!<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-62Hs3rcnViY/UC-xSOO3XyI/AAAAAAAAASg/kYapwWbCf14/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A34%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-62Hs3rcnViY/UC-xSOO3XyI/AAAAAAAAASg/kYapwWbCf14/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A34%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693087.2869" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girl loves orange. Tic tacs are the best in orange no doubt. <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NQ0KiB5zxkM/UC-zRb1AiNI/AAAAAAAAASw/epLti_0jLZg/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NQ0KiB5zxkM/UC-zRb1AiNI/AAAAAAAAASw/epLti_0jLZg/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693140.8206" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div>Introducing the new "Reba McEntire" smile. It's hilarious, when she gets super tickled her upper lip disappears. It's not like the lip is small and easy to tuck up, it's simply a gage for her level of excitement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GzU-sqW4qjE/UC-zaWwFXSI/AAAAAAAAAS4/IHmPWohDC7w/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A49%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GzU-sqW4qjE/UC-zaWwFXSI/AAAAAAAAAS4/IHmPWohDC7w/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A49%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693107.7847" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Big girl happy! I find myself looking back at some of our pictures in India. The most obvious and shocking thing to me is that Neha was significantly younger looking. We barely made it to her in time to catch the last and final glimpse of her as a baby. We got about 3 months of her childhood, her young ness, her innocence, before her maturity sky rocketed through her body and self. I am grateful for that, I recognize that we made it just in time. I will forever say that the grudge I hold with India is complicated. I am ever so honored that my daughter was given to me by the anomaly of India. But I am also forever grudge full for mostly experiencing her youth through pictures. Missing the cuddly time, and the time to teach. Missing time with our daughter that was completely unnecessary and negligent. Never meeting the little girl that we first saw in a humble photo March of 2010. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v3Tsn1XZ3as/UC-1IsSXJYI/AAAAAAAAATA/31UNNctekXo/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A55%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v3Tsn1XZ3as/UC-1IsSXJYI/AAAAAAAAATA/31UNNctekXo/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A55%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693179.4993" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ycvhahcqU_w/UC-1Ox6GzII/AAAAAAAAATI/6YKsuOcqado/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ycvhahcqU_w/UC-1Ox6GzII/AAAAAAAAATI/6YKsuOcqado/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693213.2908" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">5 years old.<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aGIWC1wfF0o/UC-2Y2f5hRI/AAAAAAAAATY/kC1i9-4mQK0/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A08%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aGIWC1wfF0o/UC-2Y2f5hRI/AAAAAAAAATY/kC1i9-4mQK0/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A08%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693200.9153" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_CwTkebkJS8/UC-2h0R0hFI/AAAAAAAAATk/jkVqQ6ixgXU/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A09%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_CwTkebkJS8/UC-2h0R0hFI/AAAAAAAAATk/jkVqQ6ixgXU/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A09%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693173.5747" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then a balloon mermaid was hand delivered by the coolest face painting party accessory ever. You will see her magic below.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNFMikPQBkKEKEcljEDGPfDae6bEh0IqkO2QWHr1XtSH4KJRG4XBIH-aYdm71d9yug-K404Rf3f2GomZHzht7PysOnhkaXLvU7WqsDgFgjMQw47T67A3iZhw4vMWwddRIMSNFSYzo4ns/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNFMikPQBkKEKEcljEDGPfDae6bEh0IqkO2QWHr1XtSH4KJRG4XBIH-aYdm71d9yug-K404Rf3f2GomZHzht7PysOnhkaXLvU7WqsDgFgjMQw47T67A3iZhw4vMWwddRIMSNFSYzo4ns/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A14%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693159.4702" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neha was so pensive. She let everyone go before her. A wise choice I thought.<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P4P1-3zoetw/UC-3_KAR60I/AAAAAAAAAT8/QXzkt8S3jz0/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A56%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P4P1-3zoetw/UC-3_KAR60I/AAAAAAAAAT8/QXzkt8S3jz0/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A56%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693141.6172" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z6YOYikn454/UC-9znVlwfI/AAAAAAAAAUo/NkhslHdAZeg/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A26%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z6YOYikn454/UC-9znVlwfI/AAAAAAAAAUo/NkhslHdAZeg/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A26%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693159.825" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e2Lj4zWPdmE/UC-98UHgE_I/AAAAAAAAAUw/WHsKaG8lUQE/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A40%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-e2Lj4zWPdmE/UC-98UHgE_I/AAAAAAAAAUw/WHsKaG8lUQE/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A40%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693191.0825" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who you calling a monkey?<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7oV3uG9NYJQ/UC--9o9udjI/AAAAAAAAAVA/G17BQObFxqY/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7oV3uG9NYJQ/UC--9o9udjI/AAAAAAAAAVA/G17BQObFxqY/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693184.0916" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JR858SO8-eA/UC--r2TVj5I/AAAAAAAAAU4/iKiOrSiRBTU/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A01%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JR858SO8-eA/UC--r2TVj5I/AAAAAAAAAU4/iKiOrSiRBTU/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A01%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693210.0847" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B4O0dk8wGkE/UC-_AWEBpUI/AAAAAAAAAVI/f33HvA_oQpA/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B4O0dk8wGkE/UC-_AWEBpUI/AAAAAAAAAVI/f33HvA_oQpA/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693192.7249" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then she decided.....<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OiY7y-l56ac/UC-_tRnqOXI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/86wNu1mdEF8/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A47%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OiY7y-l56ac/UC-_tRnqOXI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/86wNu1mdEF8/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A47%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693192.5435" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wait for it......<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tADwPCEkSco/UC-_-8LKCtI/AAAAAAAAAVY/FNZdyK8ZKY8/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A50%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tADwPCEkSco/UC-_-8LKCtI/AAAAAAAAAVY/FNZdyK8ZKY8/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A50%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693186.9214" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOnFEw-_bC3JL7egSup-h0a-r72irl0bmu_73HjT7IaZW-MO1KoEyrJjL41ClxPrhCqFVTpnqKW8r4xZyoYZUhLonv7i0F-A8hCjvWgvWaMlgkV1KrslOWaYKAzRtDHBkX2IsOYFHzcg/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOnFEw-_bC3JL7egSup-h0a-r72irl0bmu_73HjT7IaZW-MO1KoEyrJjL41ClxPrhCqFVTpnqKW8r4xZyoYZUhLonv7i0F-A8hCjvWgvWaMlgkV1KrslOWaYKAzRtDHBkX2IsOYFHzcg/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A50%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693227.6907" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ta daa!<br><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gj2OBCVt2lQ/UC_CAiZfhwI/AAAAAAAAAVo/3EhICO55N2w/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A52%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Gj2OBCVt2lQ/UC_CAiZfhwI/AAAAAAAAAVo/3EhICO55N2w/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A52%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693193.6377" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Mirror mirror, </span><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUluaoaHLpdU0EX7VGycxYCAnWHWofLnqBZfpT38TwVS47zMDxeBfvo-rRfmluEU2RTAn6cmRCKOjKSpY1Xfo-NnQznnxjWJ-MQxLsxKvIy3KDZn0W8vL25jcb__pYVeRT2eIiiVEhCjE/" target="_blank" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; " title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUluaoaHLpdU0EX7VGycxYCAnWHWofLnqBZfpT38TwVS47zMDxeBfvo-rRfmluEU2RTAn6cmRCKOjKSpY1Xfo-NnQznnxjWJ-MQxLsxKvIy3KDZn0W8vL25jcb__pYVeRT2eIiiVEhCjE/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A52%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693244.1777" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Awesome", according to herself.<br><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tyNur5dIMJ8/UC_Cd8o44XI/AAAAAAAAAV8/404zc9jV-BI/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A52%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tyNur5dIMJ8/UC_Cd8o44XI/AAAAAAAAAV8/404zc9jV-BI/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A52%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1345387693167.3396" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day lasted forever, I never heard a tussle of words or a fight about sharing of toys. Chick filet nuggets, fresh tomatoes, and home made macaroni. Bellies we full, faces were painted, parents , friends, family and pets settled into their beds cozy and content. It was a fabulous day! Happy first birthday party, happy first day that is one hundred percent all about you. Happy day Neha!</div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-91033533398312976122012-07-21T08:07:00.001-07:002012-07-21T09:03:19.708-07:00Random thoughts, funny moments, happy accomplishments.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the logo for my children....Thank you Vanessa for being so in tune to our lives to think this so appropriate, and also the reason for drinking sometimes.<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_vau_rXpOPs/UAq-_R7klgI/AAAAAAAAAOc/k9QvxiT6H3E/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525207%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A35%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_vau_rXpOPs/UAq-_R7klgI/AAAAAAAAAOc/k9QvxiT6H3E/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525207%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A35%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556761.4395" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Need I say more...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlI_dIjIsiib-gJw7WgFAKs8KD8KfyVCS7vGenNyELn-W4uCBaU-VY3sjUhd6MNJKx4U-BLVxIq4cR0doqMlhSok9ku_UYlbEqx-6eTtj-vFBE4WXV5Ow6tcJZlZW2dT5Z8aiIovLUlQ/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlI_dIjIsiib-gJw7WgFAKs8KD8KfyVCS7vGenNyELn-W4uCBaU-VY3sjUhd6MNJKx4U-BLVxIq4cR0doqMlhSok9ku_UYlbEqx-6eTtj-vFBE4WXV5Ow6tcJZlZW2dT5Z8aiIovLUlQ/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A08%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556757.1978" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saved a lizard from sticky paper. 30 minute surgery with three underage assistants and a silvery blackish, iridescent, wiggly, and now amputated tale lizard. </div><div style="text-align: center;">"what if we never saw him mom" ? Exactly Lucy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wvfKUpxbTfs/UAq_zj2hq4I/AAAAAAAAAO0/nMWaTS-8E74/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wvfKUpxbTfs/UAq_zj2hq4I/AAAAAAAAAO0/nMWaTS-8E74/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556688.1243" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love charlottes new "electrocuted" smile...... <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iNXQ_UMPUPk/UArBNaCrGKI/AAAAAAAAAO8/Xl4UA26rAUo/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iNXQ_UMPUPk/UArBNaCrGKI/AAAAAAAAAO8/Xl4UA26rAUo/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556686.0552" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We duked it out with the heat and dirt and embraced our lavender lovin needs. <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ER0p0EyqwEs/UArDGcfp2SI/AAAAAAAAAPU/jmaYtYhU80Q/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A45%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ER0p0EyqwEs/UArDGcfp2SI/AAAAAAAAAPU/jmaYtYhU80Q/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A45%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556713.8914" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby goats, puppies, alpacas, chickens and some random guy. Wish he wasn't in my picture... Darn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqAG4pT79aLrTnQCPpiBfoVbEQp-7WRTGBe959XUYdkgXHI3vaA7PI0rdWFBRBau05gFwpbmq8mPAY3r7DUXV1xV2CRz8FQRUbuF18J951kDerH7qJUrw08K7T3Be92_olz2NHJxOhWY/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqAG4pT79aLrTnQCPpiBfoVbEQp-7WRTGBe959XUYdkgXHI3vaA7PI0rdWFBRBau05gFwpbmq8mPAY3r7DUXV1xV2CRz8FQRUbuF18J951kDerH7qJUrw08K7T3Be92_olz2NHJxOhWY/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A20%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556758.353" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NiK7ICUZknE/UArExWbsawI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Zi0HpXGx6PM/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A21%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NiK7ICUZknE/UArExWbsawI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Zi0HpXGx6PM/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A21%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556788.75" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ndsR-PjN8Ek/UArE5w70fyI/AAAAAAAAAPw/MsYR-5CxfqE/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ndsR-PjN8Ek/UArE5w70fyI/AAAAAAAAAPw/MsYR-5CxfqE/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556721.212" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hilarious I tell you! Charlie sure thought so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L7a0WEZXM8Y/UArFEuJMq4I/AAAAAAAAAP4/45LjF080LHs/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-L7a0WEZXM8Y/UArFEuJMq4I/AAAAAAAAAP4/45LjF080LHs/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556699.783" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I turned around and Neha had her face buried in the coat of an alpaca, they were almost the same color. It was precious, and of course I missed that exact moment..<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hovi6WLiPWI/UArHRa6IMFI/AAAAAAAAAQA/-aiD7UpcWqM/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A26%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hovi6WLiPWI/UArHRa6IMFI/AAAAAAAAAQA/-aiD7UpcWqM/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A26%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556706.3489" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blue bubblegum shave ice break.<br><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xhjX3gb9guo/UArHWbsV_JI/AAAAAAAAAQI/GitAFyIq1U8/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A50%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xhjX3gb9guo/UArHWbsV_JI/AAAAAAAAAQI/GitAFyIq1U8/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A50%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556761.375" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNm0YA6pIZubQR5bnneoBF9W07Ye2I7k06Nk2Ky2AFDpuX0F03dAi4xuho3oybWXJQzb4Ja4a8-xNLNgq6bhLedlNMmvyKrSoToDIYObequYuGV611NH5ZTRVuuEQgrTqk3Rt2lGSO8I/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNm0YA6pIZubQR5bnneoBF9W07Ye2I7k06Nk2Ky2AFDpuX0F03dAi4xuho3oybWXJQzb4Ja4a8-xNLNgq6bhLedlNMmvyKrSoToDIYObequYuGV611NH5ZTRVuuEQgrTqk3Rt2lGSO8I/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A52%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556737.1003" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Panty showing is usually a dilemma, that is unless she has multiple pairs of pants on. Also a dilemma when it's 90 degrees. Who doesn't love a good cooter breeze on a hot day?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24kPOl6qV62N9f2KwGx2KQ4-pT6Cjsm0ILbEzuNg9M2X3a8bZUA5vS-dWmYtI1HGG7OlbDsw7HILGCk05ZILfjI_lQSD2pwbw5uUMhVO_qSrTHRcpVMAWCZH2Ut4tKCT9oLPAlF29u1E/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24kPOl6qV62N9f2KwGx2KQ4-pT6Cjsm0ILbEzuNg9M2X3a8bZUA5vS-dWmYtI1HGG7OlbDsw7HILGCk05ZILfjI_lQSD2pwbw5uUMhVO_qSrTHRcpVMAWCZH2Ut4tKCT9oLPAlF29u1E/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A50%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556750.3584" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zsxkjt_P63s/UArJAGl7c7I/AAAAAAAAAQg/r4lRd2o12Ws/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zsxkjt_P63s/UArJAGl7c7I/AAAAAAAAAQg/r4lRd2o12Ws/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556746.7314" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And a carry back to the car by the best "sister wife" ever! Not in any illegal or wierd sense of the word. But, I just need moment to gush on my "bestie". Vanessa is the type of friend who loves you for you, who steps out of her comfort zone to help me when I need the comfort of her. She mirrors me, she defends me, and we live vicariously through eachother. It's a fact. We needed eachother when we found eachother and it's just as its supposed to be. <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TreehzJr1mI/UArJD4ZFOLI/AAAAAAAAAQo/vTCdCV-1Z24/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TreehzJr1mI/UArJD4ZFOLI/AAAAAAAAAQo/vTCdCV-1Z24/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252014%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556719.0264" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Somebody learned how to write her name. Pretty good I think for only speaking english for 6 months. Writing anything really for only about 3 months. <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xK6eztQXCas/UArMMZaGymI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/yn6X8ROtW1o/Photo%252520Jul%2525203%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A02%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xK6eztQXCas/UArMMZaGymI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/yn6X8ROtW1o/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525203%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A02%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556784.2937" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rPa9GCHQfpg/UArMUYdXeKI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/Q2nYUS9CQjM/Photo%252520Jul%2525203%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A03%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rPa9GCHQfpg/UArMUYdXeKI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/Q2nYUS9CQjM/s500/Photo%252520Jul%2525203%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A03%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556743.9944" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every girl gets a very special birthday dinner with mom and dad and no others. Neha was kind of in awe the whole time. I'm not sure any of us really knew what to do or say. It's was humbly adorable. Quiet and appreciated . <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EwW5-vLg9Zg/UArMbYPktwI/AAAAAAAAARE/eAAh5PY0CSg/Photo%252520Jul%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A47%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EwW5-vLg9Zg/UArMbYPktwI/AAAAAAAAARE/eAAh5PY0CSg/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A47%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556740.7715" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDanI2l5Dg9EK2iyPK8Rh659DbSnk2lNm72Ym3O91_Eg8RdXrYfBV9G2t7rpV4LQQurIKf1OUcBVHSasZOXJ0beYySSeBLnxjIRWZf7IftJ9AKm_VijzqzaDARTzflkFlJBrgaJJ5is0/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDanI2l5Dg9EK2iyPK8Rh659DbSnk2lNm72Ym3O91_Eg8RdXrYfBV9G2t7rpV4LQQurIKf1OUcBVHSasZOXJ0beYySSeBLnxjIRWZf7IftJ9AKm_VijzqzaDARTzflkFlJBrgaJJ5is0/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A47%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556792.5425" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5f4mfocaZHNUPgTqM5edoBYzLCsvEjp1SCb6nEGHsyj2kg71gW2Erac79F0eTOJsxedcP3cCMwCOLc-KxJEwlGsnyd8BHuLHxeYsFyenctCANw7Y7lpkSE1s3GVsdtyMv0q2p0ZWxgQ/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5f4mfocaZHNUPgTqM5edoBYzLCsvEjp1SCb6nEGHsyj2kg71gW2Erac79F0eTOJsxedcP3cCMwCOLc-KxJEwlGsnyd8BHuLHxeYsFyenctCANw7Y7lpkSE1s3GVsdtyMv0q2p0ZWxgQ/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A53%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556757.162" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy birthday Neha. I am so happy you could spend this day with us. That we could tell you we love you, hug your miniature body, and recognize how far you have come. Pouts are to a minimum. You are very durable when injured. You are caring and not lazy. You could not believe the feeling of self accomplishment when you conquered your name. You glowed from the inside out, you got a glimpse of pride like never before. There are days where you make everybody's beds just to make yourself happy. You no longer cower to confrontation. You are beginning to stand up for yourself, you buckle your seatbelt now without multiple requests. You still require being asked many times to eat your meal, because eating a formal family meal is quite intimidating and well, foreign to you. You talk about yourself in India, "remember Lucy, when you get me, you hug me in India, I was sooo skinny" You were shocked, I mean jaw dropped, when I told you that you used to pee on the ground around a drain in India. You choose the happy path, almost every time. Happy birthday Neha!<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yLt25sxblMI/UArN15U_2_I/AAAAAAAAARc/jBTxuxvkEEw/Photo%252520Jul%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A54%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yLt25sxblMI/UArN15U_2_I/AAAAAAAAARc/jBTxuxvkEEw/s500/Photo%252520Jul%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A54%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1342886556728.4702" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-50647495499759119752012-06-30T12:23:00.000-07:002012-06-30T13:36:36.443-07:00Introducing Neha Ahnu Erickson<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiioEUV9Y27rCvXUTE7ASiK1qyEP3qwZngimn9VXMmYFq455zDGYbRAcSFv2K-ie-ch_NP9JkZrlye9Y_WbTU9WDpwG6LokDXdtJcAur1JWnkKOfZ07H87JXdCkT-l404a44Onx1sz8c8/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiioEUV9Y27rCvXUTE7ASiK1qyEP3qwZngimn9VXMmYFq455zDGYbRAcSFv2K-ie-ch_NP9JkZrlye9Y_WbTU9WDpwG6LokDXdtJcAur1JWnkKOfZ07H87JXdCkT-l404a44Onx1sz8c8/s320/DSC_0006.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016499.9333" class="" alt="" width="211" height="320"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Adoption day! Hip hip hooray!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Today you will take the full name of Neha Ahnu Erickson.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Neha, your name given to you at the orphanage. The one and only true possession you left one life with to embrace another. The meaning being -rain;One loves and is loved, the cherished beauty</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">(strange combination, but crazily appropriate)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Ahnu, derived from Celtic mythology, from the goddess of balance and well-being. The deity could accurately be discribed as an ancient version of Mother Earth. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Also a similar sounding version of A New... A new beginning</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Strangely the name of our local agency , A New Adoption Agency</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">And hello, it sounds fabulous, at least we think so.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">Erickson, a Swedish name. Our family name. Now your family name. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Lz6zbv4isWs/T-9MRMGlv5I/AAAAAAAAAMs/GWPfWarWEy0/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Lz6zbv4isWs/T-9MRMGlv5I/AAAAAAAAAMs/GWPfWarWEy0/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016577.4556" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9znJaZwHo4M/T-9MVqukPGI/AAAAAAAAAM0/45ICLUO_pME/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A44%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9znJaZwHo4M/T-9MVqukPGI/AAAAAAAAAM0/45ICLUO_pME/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A44%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016503.2117" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZScNkYflGTI/T-9UMhvf2EI/AAAAAAAAANo/TP_ktvxPzlY/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A44%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZScNkYflGTI/T-9UMhvf2EI/AAAAAAAAANo/TP_ktvxPzlY/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A44%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016503.5974" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6nGbCdApLOs/T-9UG1lir3I/AAAAAAAAANg/swGcPmeLIag/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A51%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6nGbCdApLOs/T-9UG1lir3I/AAAAAAAAANg/swGcPmeLIag/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A51%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016531.7769" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eyi4I4GmyhQ/T-9VWofIMXI/AAAAAAAAANw/eeoIgM2OZeU/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eyi4I4GmyhQ/T-9VWofIMXI/AAAAAAAAANw/eeoIgM2OZeU/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016571.3489" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OG0Clrib9jg/T-9VbdK5skI/AAAAAAAAAN4/7qSPR4fIt5U/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OG0Clrib9jg/T-9VbdK5skI/AAAAAAAAAN4/7qSPR4fIt5U/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016572.0818" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt-kqCehXvPq_TaERSkN6eYloj_WubkOyQ1zhEghW0Jw89RtAAP3OK-xXcxm4E83gFWvMwO5QVyjc_XNJTV7YJxBSnVPYTIhe8Dp3UgWoIlXF-bAM3HaMwL7sMYQB2819TurUz8MiSIE/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt-kqCehXvPq_TaERSkN6eYloj_WubkOyQ1zhEghW0Jw89RtAAP3OK-xXcxm4E83gFWvMwO5QVyjc_XNJTV7YJxBSnVPYTIhe8Dp3UgWoIlXF-bAM3HaMwL7sMYQB2819TurUz8MiSIE/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016502.3237" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUf_XddhUq1eDHuUH4CWWrCAils9iz9ZmnluYiOcLBXwpT5ytd6wJ7hDHXv1uucD9-NqxtI5FtUc6IjPPWKQYnsmMLAGZZXPKn9aCuCie9PpLJb5ikOCojNNQNOmUZkjkCu6_L7EbmtQ/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUf_XddhUq1eDHuUH4CWWrCAils9iz9ZmnluYiOcLBXwpT5ytd6wJ7hDHXv1uucD9-NqxtI5FtUc6IjPPWKQYnsmMLAGZZXPKn9aCuCie9PpLJb5ikOCojNNQNOmUZkjkCu6_L7EbmtQ/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A57%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016571.1252" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We love you Neha, we see strides in you everyday. You have finally, not without massive frustration, mastered your colors. You are the most loving, thoughtful, and hard working girl in the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You are not without drama. You don't fall down completely unannounced as much as you used to but we did just get over a busted chin from trying to do the "running man" with a flashlight in your hands. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You adore your dad and want to be attached to him at all times possible. You spend hours hunting snails and roley poleys (I have no idea how to spell that).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You still stash things, and hoard a little. You have almost conquered English, however, now you know enough to get you in trouble. (talking back, saying people have huge bellies, they dont smell good, and they don't look pretty) Foreigners, I swear.. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lastly, I'm pretty sure this "adoption day" day was a complete anomaly for you. (I will elaborate on this another time, this is what Neha's middle name should be, Anomoly) You werent sure what is was about, why we got fancy and sat down in a starge place, hugged a weird guy and went out for Mexican food to celebrate. Cant say I blame you. You went to bed overstimulated and we didn't kiss goodnight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm happy to say that its behind us now. The bullshit paperwork, the post placement visits by a social worker, and hopefully the confusion for our dear sweet Neha as to where she fits in. I know it's hypothetical, finalization, three pieces of paper. However, she can now get citizenship, she will have a New Mexico foriegn born birth certificate, and she will have her place in this world. Legally, loved, and more privledged to be able to go after her dreams of being a doctor(according to her). She does, like most almost five year olds I know need constant reality checks. How to be in this world. Lessons in greed, wastefulness, and overall life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But shine she does, most of the time. Lights up strangers hesitations, walks with confidence (no longer a "polio walk" as we called it when we first met her). She loves hers sisters, and is crazy about all of her dogs. She has been missing India we can tell, but it doesn't effect us negatively. She has a new found love for Bollywood movies, the color orange rocks her world, and "sprinkled eggs" and broccoli is a typical meal request. I can't wait to see where life takes you, you have already been so far. If I forget to tell you this sometimes, please know, mommy is so proud of you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Bysg-URGxM/T-9V8_YUhlI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/lNuhJ88Lkak/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Bysg-URGxM/T-9V8_YUhlI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/lNuhJ88Lkak/s500/Photo%252520Jun%25252024%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1341088016505.7205" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-681234859052844122012-05-22T08:48:00.001-07:002012-05-22T09:31:06.610-07:00Ready for summer, and missing moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man, I'll tell you what, I am glad to have summer right around the corner. No more lunch packing and outfit picking the night before, no more early rising and frantically rushing to get places on time. Just summer -ness, chill- ness and hopefully not to much tattle telling and whining . Everything is relative though you know, ask me again in 2 months if I am still psyched about summer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CEOlvATuhbc/T7uxe5kepgI/AAAAAAAAALM/HnhwBrk-QpY/s500/Photo%252520May%2525208%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CEOlvATuhbc/T7uxe5kepgI/AAAAAAAAALM/HnhwBrk-QpY/s500/Photo%252520May%2525208%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521947.1118" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>Mothers day tea party at Lucy's school. My little hostess treated me to chocolate crinkle cookies (3 to be exact) and 2 cups of carefully carried tea with cream and sugar. Adorable doesn't even sum it up. What a treat to spend the morning with my oldest most responsible girl. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h7rKCWLViM4/T7u0G6ZTuEI/AAAAAAAAALc/PWWp8zkKMk8/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h7rKCWLViM4/T7u0G6ZTuEI/AAAAAAAAALc/PWWp8zkKMk8/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A25%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521980.7996" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERPyYpOThQ-uPfl9kjJiTkOHhyz2m2P8wldbzf1aiuAi19D19JWegp_-uKxOP2XunJqn1Z1bdFxFzwiYGlDXcbVN1kgRsEp3PJZ_u3i2yGyjthEDI6-BVywt8-DBYbJFwai3mBp9ITGE/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERPyYpOThQ-uPfl9kjJiTkOHhyz2m2P8wldbzf1aiuAi19D19JWegp_-uKxOP2XunJqn1Z1bdFxFzwiYGlDXcbVN1kgRsEp3PJZ_u3i2yGyjthEDI6-BVywt8-DBYbJFwai3mBp9ITGE/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A34%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521955.2124" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FUuj4lvs73s/T7u3lYjKwdI/AAAAAAAAAL8/zN-cPHGY6J4/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FUuj4lvs73s/T7u3lYjKwdI/AAAAAAAAAL8/zN-cPHGY6J4/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703522008.5515" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Naked gardening! She may hate me for this later. But I guess it makes sense for a girl that can never seem to keep clean. No clothing equals no laundry. Don't see me complaining.</span><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zwpMzp8h1s0/T7u2JYnhA5I/AAAAAAAAAL0/T9t7dpXd_vo/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A01%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zwpMzp8h1s0/T7u2JYnhA5I/AAAAAAAAAL0/T9t7dpXd_vo/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A01%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521968.0835" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8b15RN3eCrw/T7u2Dl8TLkI/AAAAAAAAALs/T7QmQgp_g4o/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8b15RN3eCrw/T7u2Dl8TLkI/AAAAAAAAALs/T7QmQgp_g4o/s500/Photo%252520May%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521930.0525" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Spring flowers.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixupmcCYBxsoXDW2B1ARoUJIcs196uyoX1yTrmn9kRym5P2Mt7AmLmfwjaRowQEQneOjHnaTW61S-4681PjKnC81HXVnevTNk99T0Wnxp3nmtmS2AgmBQhjrwJq36oL9OHM1jmbq5rA2k/s500/Photo%252520May%2525205%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A19%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixupmcCYBxsoXDW2B1ARoUJIcs196uyoX1yTrmn9kRym5P2Mt7AmLmfwjaRowQEQneOjHnaTW61S-4681PjKnC81HXVnevTNk99T0Wnxp3nmtmS2AgmBQhjrwJq36oL9OHM1jmbq5rA2k/s500/Photo%252520May%2525205%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A19%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521969.0686" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jcAMb2WCtVQ/T7u4ln1aPBI/AAAAAAAAAME/neleh5bW31U/s500/Photo%252520May%2525205%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A17%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jcAMb2WCtVQ/T7u4ln1aPBI/AAAAAAAAAME/neleh5bW31U/s500/Photo%252520May%2525205%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A17%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703521971.5032" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ntxzpEA6_Nk/T7u4uBf1S_I/AAAAAAAAAMU/KErUqoLKB08/s500/Photo%252520May%2525205%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ntxzpEA6_Nk/T7u4uBf1S_I/AAAAAAAAAMU/KErUqoLKB08/s500/Photo%252520May%2525205%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703522004.7856" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Peony picking, these girls and these flowers just happen to be my favorite things in the whole world. I want to eat them both up. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQFwvLVgdwVjdgy9Ex5qmmkuCG-Lw-tdcUG8QUtQ7d-77Ezi7vFwgychMdbKxagEmkmSy1K8lLEDl3ZPXx88ypai7LePzcJCtQiHszHAjDygZxpfD1cSzyK9zeTCo68h7V7xia5owoJY/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQFwvLVgdwVjdgy9Ex5qmmkuCG-Lw-tdcUG8QUtQ7d-77Ezi7vFwgychMdbKxagEmkmSy1K8lLEDl3ZPXx88ypai7LePzcJCtQiHszHAjDygZxpfD1cSzyK9zeTCo68h7V7xia5owoJY/s500/Photo%252520May%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703522018.5488" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Feeling quite fortunate these days. A year ago I was unsettled, forlorn and yearning. Now I can step back and see greatness, achievements and a beautiful future. <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NKrZ5UbWgL0/T7u9ArOa-fI/AAAAAAAAAMg/JF0NfYuXvrY/s500/Photo%252520May%25252020%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NKrZ5UbWgL0/T7u9ArOa-fI/AAAAAAAAAMg/JF0NfYuXvrY/s500/Photo%252520May%25252020%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1337703709059.8984" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" align="center"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-73427631990522409072012-05-13T19:15:00.001-07:002012-05-13T19:15:15.881-07:00Little mothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In honor of mothers day I thought this little gaggle of girls could use some motherly responsibilities. Not to mention we had an unforeseen death in our existing chicken family so we figured now is as good a time as any to refeather our flock. <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gTA8pSIjGK8/T7BkHOZHq1I/AAAAAAAAAKo/bogAkbdsajI/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gTA8pSIjGK8/T7BkHOZHq1I/AAAAAAAAAKo/bogAkbdsajI/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336960182128.846" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucy is bummed she has school tomorrow and has to leave her dear "Chelsea" in the care of her unpredictable sisters. <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fmRGERoaj3w/T7BkM7YQePI/AAAAAAAAAKw/TDk4kQcib3A/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fmRGERoaj3w/T7BkM7YQePI/AAAAAAAAAKw/TDk4kQcib3A/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336960182193.584" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charlotte seems tentative on being overly gentle. She lovingly named hers "Pearl".<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dg_r597RE-E/T7Bkbl5owGI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Cu_y5TBV4YU/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dg_r597RE-E/T7Bkbl5owGI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Cu_y5TBV4YU/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336960182171.5767" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div>Neha is psyched beyond belief, she is able to sit, settle and stroke little "Ganesha". She also is hot on the trail of any and all slimy chick clean up situations. Lucy says " she's so cool" after Neha rushes in with a swipe of a paper towel to the rescue after "Chelsea" slimed the coffee table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had to take a moment in this special mothers day to record what a wonderful day it was. My children treated all of us to a day without whining. A day of homemade cards and special hugs. A day where all of my children are right where they are supposed to be. With their mother. Ahhhh, finally. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neha was getting her bed ready for sleeping tonight, naked of course (seems to be a regular occurrence) executing an everyday chore. I was hanging up some clothes in the girls closet. She turns and looks at me and says, "happy mouders day mom, I love you mom". I tell you, it doesn't get any sweeter than that. Considering the circumstances. Considering the language, the conception required for understanding a holiday she has never even heard of, and the overall thoughtfulness. I am quite contented in this wonderful day. Seeing my daughters be caring, nurturing, and just plain in love with their little peepers rocked my world. Watching Neha's ginger touch and care with something so delicate was so satisfying. I couldn't have written a better day, a more perfect mothers day. Thank you Ganesha, you are now both a very loved chicken, and a very appreciated assisting spirit. <br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATRdN7MxdSErlqSH9zuXShwjh2plNMonlQ_o1M4xRp0rncUlHli8KAr80QrD1IWPWGrXeBD1DeQZ5Zjrawhn3y2p3KhP8XliQwFuhRgsXrr7hUn0hWPIi-mWdH9CHiDe8yHbhINq4JTU/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATRdN7MxdSErlqSH9zuXShwjh2plNMonlQ_o1M4xRp0rncUlHli8KAr80QrD1IWPWGrXeBD1DeQZ5Zjrawhn3y2p3KhP8XliQwFuhRgsXrr7hUn0hWPIi-mWdH9CHiDe8yHbhINq4JTU/s500/Photo%252520May%25252012%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A46%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336960182175.0186" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-59540504689617776952012-05-07T07:41:00.001-07:002012-05-07T07:41:27.883-07:00Legs, bangs, pool picnic, and non vegetarian<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Legs and bangs. Well she came with the legs, not necessarily something that runs in this family. And bangs, well they just had to happen. For a girl that has never had hair longer than her eye brows keeping it out of her face and eyes was a feat. Clips, bobby pins, and a moms obsession with seeing her kids eyes just couldn't stand up to a bang grow out at this time. Possibly later, but for now an impromptu hair adjustment was just what we needed. <a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wznLr8dGEq4/T6fVkcovnkI/AAAAAAAAAJs/zqBHVGC-gwc/Photo%252520Apr%25252018%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wznLr8dGEq4/T6fVkcovnkI/AAAAAAAAAJs/zqBHVGC-gwc/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252018%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336399759874.4856" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IcMzmmO1F1c/T6fVf1RkPlI/AAAAAAAAAJk/1IStiV2SaGU/Photo%252520Apr%25252018%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A14%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IcMzmmO1F1c/T6fVf1RkPlI/AAAAAAAAAJk/1IStiV2SaGU/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252018%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A14%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336399759900.1384" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gardening and pool side picnic. Neha loves to garden. She is happy to join me every morning weeding, planting,moth catching and snail gathering. Her bug catcher and her Dora gardening gloves are never far from her side.<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LxuaJfJqSjk/T6fWnAp9oFI/AAAAAAAAAKE/wIcI5RdNNZI/Photo%252520Apr%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A48%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LxuaJfJqSjk/T6fWnAp9oFI/AAAAAAAAAKE/wIcI5RdNNZI/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A48%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336399759902.1416" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8cRJgCPal2g-TSTsnUTCuEjIf0Jnm4i1gNxM9I20hPJSusBIbfzcAv6ny_rA1n9uwgAe5ey5TdX9dpm8WOU4vw1S0kv8Snh7akPzMqYkowi70_EAlLD6nhWcRoPqQd0thiz91hganbg/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8cRJgCPal2g-TSTsnUTCuEjIf0Jnm4i1gNxM9I20hPJSusBIbfzcAv6ny_rA1n9uwgAe5ey5TdX9dpm8WOU4vw1S0kv8Snh7akPzMqYkowi70_EAlLD6nhWcRoPqQd0thiz91hganbg/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A49%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336399759869.0977" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoztNGZ8ldISEFBMR6cefCSo8rdvOXUv8k_1WDuYymYIOvMJlFRlQl6SccC9TXukf2_0y7F_0z6gsvBBXaXNgZE-aQp7gEqen_dJUUdgutUXXJ88_Q8Pa5QoIn-JuuMSe7BsKFchOjAY/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoztNGZ8ldISEFBMR6cefCSo8rdvOXUv8k_1WDuYymYIOvMJlFRlQl6SccC9TXukf2_0y7F_0z6gsvBBXaXNgZE-aQp7gEqen_dJUUdgutUXXJ88_Q8Pa5QoIn-JuuMSe7BsKFchOjAY/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A48%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336399759872.1748" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This poolside picnic was of course crashed by multiple canines. This picture whisks me back to our first few moments home when Neha first discovered the dogs. Let's just say it was not in any fashion a happy or comfortable discovery but one of fear in her that I had never seen. Her body froze with panic, and when a dog would make any move in her direction she would levitate to the top of anything taller than Moxie. Counter tops, chairs, and people were all scaled in seconds when a dog made a motion. Needless to say that is not the case, and was only for a few days. Neha and Moxie have an adorable connection. They both get frustrated and overly excited in eachothers company. They both want to run free, with reckless abandon. Gallop and buck when the time is not appropriate. Get in people's business when the victim is least expecting it. And basically live without any limitations, in the moment, without any thought of consequence or danger. When moxie bolts out the gate of the house into oncoming traffic practically smiling and looking back for anyone to join in, Neha comes to mind. The same zest for life, desire for uncontainable freedom at all times,and overall fun. These girls, Moxie and Neha are quite happy to know eachother. <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vm9bwQfMKtE/T6fYHbbpWJI/AAAAAAAAAKM/uP44lgMrGCo/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A54%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vm9bwQfMKtE/T6fYHbbpWJI/AAAAAAAAAKM/uP44lgMrGCo/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252021%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A54%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336400007214.2622" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" align="center" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charlotte is trying to give up bottles, as you can see we have not exactly made any progress towards that goal.<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r9A9k1FZ52A/T6fYNdZm1HI/AAAAAAAAAKU/8E-7MZtCm4M/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A50%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r9A9k1FZ52A/T6fYNdZm1HI/AAAAAAAAAKU/8E-7MZtCm4M/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A50%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336400015891.471" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" align="center"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And India , eat your heart out. Neha, once vegetarian by culture has jumped right on the hamburger band wagon. The bigger the better. Ranch harvested meat may eventually put some more bulk to her body. I'm thinking about sending this picture in with one of our 10 or so post placement reports required to go to India.I find myself asking, so if NOC took 5 months, and the wait for court took 7 months, who exactly will be reading and evaluating my time consuming post placement reports. The Indian adoption process seemed to not really have an abundance of people working to expedite the system. So who, where, and when would they actually have the time to read through each report, glance at every picture and feel content that Neha is thriving. This is what makes me want to slip this picture, along with 3 others in sets of four copies each into my second post placement report. Just for my own, synical satisfaction. <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MsZz4NF3A-4/T6fYWbtdcKI/AAAAAAAAAKc/YlN0fBAbIbw/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A50%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MsZz4NF3A-4/T6fYWbtdcKI/AAAAAAAAAKc/YlN0fBAbIbw/s500/Photo%252520Apr%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A50%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1336400031028.8433" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" align="center"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-74414876169051332842012-04-24T07:48:00.003-07:002012-04-24T08:23:54.750-07:00First Easter, check<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RZCfHl3DWO4/T5a4rZYRlHI/AAAAAAAAAHg/1TNZPBw_hos/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A09%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RZCfHl3DWO4/T5a4rZYRlHI/AAAAAAAAAHg/1TNZPBw_hos/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A09%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856441.3364" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T6aQniHEYck/T5a450EoAfI/AAAAAAAAAHo/bASh9kNwIC8/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T6aQniHEYck/T5a450EoAfI/AAAAAAAAAHo/bASh9kNwIC8/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525202%25253A15%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856443.6357" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tvX7fugGvUB1xBcCZmgDYm5Vj3-RPxVpNw4Vc6awnkQJ1f1ipQRth-kMeWIHmeV5DfSlKFU647Tk5TbbNJLwhATDFP59l8ERWxP9lnsrJlpuu4aExC-5DaFc0NFrywlKVl2eXELlw2A/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tvX7fugGvUB1xBcCZmgDYm5Vj3-RPxVpNw4Vc6awnkQJ1f1ipQRth-kMeWIHmeV5DfSlKFU647Tk5TbbNJLwhATDFP59l8ERWxP9lnsrJlpuu4aExC-5DaFc0NFrywlKVl2eXELlw2A/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856455.4844" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m5b-jMBBusM/T5a53Of22rI/AAAAAAAAAH4/jB-0Dq2O5yU/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-m5b-jMBBusM/T5a53Of22rI/AAAAAAAAAH4/jB-0Dq2O5yU/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856436.7068" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ss0aA8VfBaY/T5a7mvuE4ZI/AAAAAAAAAIY/v9IDXudDWzA/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A37%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ss0aA8VfBaY/T5a7mvuE4ZI/AAAAAAAAAIY/v9IDXudDWzA/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A37%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856462.4387" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkMk2uzaOxKBOcAEFu1zderxniO05dhNQP6CQ2tRM2QdOn6cWNc7BYr_jhVVZj8sb4xsdOI2C19a7jGwrDVilY68pgGv8XWeTulnWWjFJRehwuqoOj5YxA-W5HOIO7R7fZAHjIVuHEFw/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkMk2uzaOxKBOcAEFu1zderxniO05dhNQP6CQ2tRM2QdOn6cWNc7BYr_jhVVZj8sb4xsdOI2C19a7jGwrDVilY68pgGv8XWeTulnWWjFJRehwuqoOj5YxA-W5HOIO7R7fZAHjIVuHEFw/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A36%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856493.301" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhvSqqxpBeN7ccxbMZocJ3Z-NtR4Og6jU8hSia9mhxeDnVSjgWgzffFCWc0WASG3xj0rh1EWh7qV6Xo2k403wjIx_4luOW90k4Z28cT_6kxBJPmHgZx3SK3116EpSWnhpJ02yLRZcH-4/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A37%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhvSqqxpBeN7ccxbMZocJ3Z-NtR4Og6jU8hSia9mhxeDnVSjgWgzffFCWc0WASG3xj0rh1EWh7qV6Xo2k403wjIx_4luOW90k4Z28cT_6kxBJPmHgZx3SK3116EpSWnhpJ02yLRZcH-4/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A37%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856490.9595" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-obkHbeRPu9w/T5a9EK9movI/AAAAAAAAAIo/p5gHLCvqzkM/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-obkHbeRPu9w/T5a9EK9movI/AAAAAAAAAIo/p5gHLCvqzkM/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A24%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856520.7627" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neha would have been in this picture but she was in a pout. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Not sure why, but hard to break sometimes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I plan on a whole post about "the pout". I would say it is my only real insecurity with Neha. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BmyQMwNkEzY/T5a-N1QJITI/AAAAAAAAAI4/kfkpjiutQ0s/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BmyQMwNkEzY/T5a-N1QJITI/AAAAAAAAAI4/kfkpjiutQ0s/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856514.0098" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NnXnrxj0uHE/T5a_GibHe1I/AAAAAAAAAJA/Ijpa5VikbI0/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A18%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NnXnrxj0uHE/T5a_GibHe1I/AAAAAAAAAJA/Ijpa5VikbI0/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A18%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856531.1318" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Jsj-KQN8etI/T5a_57HcwNI/AAAAAAAAAJI/jsKgyQKXpE4/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Jsj-KQN8etI/T5a_57HcwNI/AAAAAAAAAJI/jsKgyQKXpE4/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856462.9321" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hunting troop. How adorable, really!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RUIND2jBSaw/T5a_-RGxBUI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/dxkmp9PmE6M/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A17%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RUIND2jBSaw/T5a_-RGxBUI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/dxkmp9PmE6M/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A17%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856486.075" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lily, Charlotte 's buddy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iBrAHTo9rUI/T5bAENm_uvI/AAAAAAAAAJY/xUQSfGB7afY/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iBrAHTo9rUI/T5bAENm_uvI/AAAAAAAAAJY/xUQSfGB7afY/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525207%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280856543.2524" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-36384740815558034982012-04-24T07:00:00.001-07:002012-04-24T08:20:47.690-07:00"Wait Cha-lotte"<div>Some say that their children who have raised in orphanages are often afraid of large bodies of water. Having been raised with nothing more than a small bucket of water to bathe with some children fear even a simple bath tub full of water. We noticed right away with Neha that a fear of water was probably not in her repertoire. First bath was no issue. Actually keeping the water in the tub and not thrown this way and that was Neha's only bath time disability. However, in the back of our minds we wondered how the pool would go over. Well, fist impression was shaking excitement upon the reveal of the water from the recessing cover that shielded it from the winter. Charlotte, remembering conquering swimming late last summer was elated and didn't wait to Arabesque into the pool. </div><div><br></div><div>"wait Cha-lotte, wait" Neha exclaimed in defeat.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2Bog8PEsz04/T5awtucfoKI/AAAAAAAAAGw/x8qRUd5sqwg/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A58%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2Bog8PEsz04/T5awtucfoKI/AAAAAAAAAGw/x8qRUd5sqwg/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A58%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280766883.9194" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>"ok Cha-lotte , I try, Neha try"</div><div>She chose her own entrance"....................... With determination in her step she made her accent.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBd0xtu-NePHkIj3SXClDr3gpFVN5RsnzZuS1nn9PxFfU_qYgayFX6v_9jIknfArU6S9mrdGZJUTVLUAqNAljzd1AfULciWmyXaiDBjc4vitrvDiZas9pLkWanx7VYtVTm5gMpGZKuK8/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBd0xtu-NePHkIj3SXClDr3gpFVN5RsnzZuS1nn9PxFfU_qYgayFX6v_9jIknfArU6S9mrdGZJUTVLUAqNAljzd1AfULciWmyXaiDBjc4vitrvDiZas9pLkWanx7VYtVTm5gMpGZKuK8/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280766880.1428" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div>And ever so not gracefully she took her first plunge. Face out, belly flop. Continued by her butt being permanently in the air once in the water. Not having any concept of buoyancy, keeping her butt down and her mouth above water was a feat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qHj7huLrEmo/T5axhrxKnAI/AAAAAAAAAHA/nlIDQLfqUSA/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qHj7huLrEmo/T5axhrxKnAI/AAAAAAAAAHA/nlIDQLfqUSA/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525204%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280766862.626" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div>After some struggle and some kinda not so happy faces and noises. She got the hang of it and started to enjoy herself. I will say that the attitude this kid has for new experiences, new places , and new people takes my breath away. Determined, self confident, and boisterous. With herself by her side she is invincible, (sometimes a problem when that brings no fear of being lost or in danger). It's almost as if she knows she is going to big things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ov-bI2pD3uo/T5a1VcTXW_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/M9Fh6_9ecVM/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ov-bI2pD3uo/T5a1VcTXW_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/M9Fh6_9ecVM/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A00%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280766869.6477" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Isn't that it though, "knowing you're somebody without thinking you're somebody" -Dennis the Menace </span><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G3GaBEtFY54/T5a1bQ70onI/AAAAAAAAAHU/2nkEOlmBOPQ/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A31%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G3GaBEtFY54/T5a1bQ70onI/AAAAAAAAAHU/2nkEOlmBOPQ/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525209%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A31%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1335280766823.3477" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-49291428211230705022012-04-16T07:27:00.001-07:002012-04-16T07:27:58.383-07:00Coloring Undahs (eggs), " tiques"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZaJteWzMwZ7wPkLwnF7iNZxU1fEmDETjPf0cCbWxD5rblMfUCbZqvY9wBJvJhUTrhaDU3Iz-__mjb6Uz2P7L7e0x9eVr64llA0Pai6nNoBTICMHN2CjiW97ZTEBtlHQXRckWLOND1fA/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A07%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZaJteWzMwZ7wPkLwnF7iNZxU1fEmDETjPf0cCbWxD5rblMfUCbZqvY9wBJvJhUTrhaDU3Iz-__mjb6Uz2P7L7e0x9eVr64llA0Pai6nNoBTICMHN2CjiW97ZTEBtlHQXRckWLOND1fA/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A07%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1334585178992.9604" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div> Coloring undahs, or Easter eggs, check that off the list of firsts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UVgfrvjtwoo/T4wma5i1aLI/AAAAAAAAAGM/yG1Y92Is6QM/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A07%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UVgfrvjtwoo/T4wma5i1aLI/AAAAAAAAAGM/yG1Y92Is6QM/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A07%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1334585179011.6182" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="332"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">News flash: Charlotte has an adequate amount of hair to attempt a ponytail.<br>What's egg dying without the hand cuffs right?<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EGbk0NNVOvk/T4wmfr4RXCI/AAAAAAAAAGU/OQsilbl57GU/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EGbk0NNVOvk/T4wmfr4RXCI/AAAAAAAAAGU/OQsilbl57GU/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1334585179026.4028" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because I have not stopped photographing this girl in almost four months, she has been through the ringer with posing, smiling, trying to look happy in moments that are new and confusing etc. She thinks that you are supposed to say "tiques" instead of "cheese" when smiling for a picture. Precious. <br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0Uc0r2kXxWORSkd1nt9ngS5Uq0STcI3bIyWaWCp3qXljx2QOFM_AVRGZzp59EHEoWEzVHSAuoB1T6yBcNkDkrV6KTQ2qWKjHKzMfVP8q0xGLWu-Ywhk0_6Mn8N74DhIlCSECd4S__S0/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0Uc0r2kXxWORSkd1nt9ngS5Uq0STcI3bIyWaWCp3qXljx2QOFM_AVRGZzp59EHEoWEzVHSAuoB1T6yBcNkDkrV6KTQ2qWKjHKzMfVP8q0xGLWu-Ywhk0_6Mn8N74DhIlCSECd4S__S0/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A12%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1334585179030.7527" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tiques</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YoA69Jlog80/T4wnD_wdLYI/AAAAAAAAAGk/jd80I0wdRVQ/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YoA69Jlog80/T4wnD_wdLYI/AAAAAAAAAGk/jd80I0wdRVQ/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525206%25252C%2525202012%25252010%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1334585178988.5251" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="340" height="512"></a></div><div>Seeing these girls together, navigating life as new sisters, makes my throat hurt with happiness. It was so long that we talked about "when Neha would be here, what it would be like" ? My days are no longer sad, or full of yearning. They are busy, loud, chaotic and overall amazing. 3 months ago you couldn't trust Neha to be gentle with the cat, now she is tiptoeing over the gate to the chicken coop to cooerse Ursella the chicken to give up her bounty. She returns from the coop with a bucket of eggs, unbroken and carefully carried to the kitchen. She could hardly swing in a baby swing without slumping out of one of the holes meant for legs. Her tiny biceps barely able to keep her body upright. Now, three months later with a little start push, she holds on to the big swing, pumps her legs back and forth and quickly becomes the highest swing in the sky.... The girl could swing for hours now, all smiles, and so far from the pile of child that once was. The last few weeks her language has exploded. We have a hard time getting her to stop talking at dinner now, but she is able to kindly take turns telling stories at dinner. She loves to find lost things, my phone, Charlottes "pup pup" . Anything really. She is so anxious to help someone in need. She focuses on my eyes now at bedtime, she hugged my neck two nights ago and wouldn't let go. She is bursting the way to many hearts, the of her tiniest sister, the one that was quite tentative in the beginning. Charlotte says yesterday, "I never had a sister like Neha". This is true, they are all so different. We are happy to be settled and contented in our family. </div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-21600131033048512852012-04-06T14:02:00.001-07:002012-04-06T14:41:26.094-07:00And the last month in pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course everyone has to have a new swimsuit right? I'm still trying to find Charlottes in my size.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AlnqE5RcKto/T39X5t5wrhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ISF1KsEwST8/Photo%252520Mar%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AlnqE5RcKto/T39X5t5wrhI/AAAAAAAAAEo/ISF1KsEwST8/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740564.5303" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L5cSS26bV6w/T39X-b3vW5I/AAAAAAAAAEw/vaseHP9Pk2A/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L5cSS26bV6w/T39X-b3vW5I/AAAAAAAAAEw/vaseHP9Pk2A/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525208%25253A27%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740610.4153" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></span></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EFeoX9roqqU/T39Zat0FtKI/AAAAAAAAAFA/QWghGYRsmZc/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A13%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EFeoX9roqqU/T39Zat0FtKI/AAAAAAAAAFA/QWghGYRsmZc/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A13%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740564.9287" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKGDugxiBPgm0Z-eKGtQVkhpHrEXZQlwT4CTlbMfUWgTqWqOjWNIrLbYLEZiv0mqpV4Dm10sWKYntYNvZcL0xuVtzWaCzBb34hZOfIJJjsEzmTWWa-TesCJZzZIiA5ZtoaqmNh-w6acQ/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKGDugxiBPgm0Z-eKGtQVkhpHrEXZQlwT4CTlbMfUWgTqWqOjWNIrLbYLEZiv0mqpV4Dm10sWKYntYNvZcL0xuVtzWaCzBb34hZOfIJJjsEzmTWWa-TesCJZzZIiA5ZtoaqmNh-w6acQ/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252027%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A22%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740535.503" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CInesmLcdHM/T39dG4iOVVI/AAAAAAAAAFU/Ly9HVsgrSRY/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A51%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CInesmLcdHM/T39dG4iOVVI/AAAAAAAAAFU/Ly9HVsgrSRY/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A51%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740604.927" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_vGOKfWqHfU/T39dAzBbUyI/AAAAAAAAAFM/_itJRzfkAiE/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A38%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_vGOKfWqHfU/T39dAzBbUyI/AAAAAAAAAFM/_itJRzfkAiE/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A38%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740605.7607" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Uj0Es4X_PFo/T39eOM6dZkI/AAAAAAAAAFc/6f9-LmZk4rU/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A53%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Uj0Es4X_PFo/T39eOM6dZkI/AAAAAAAAAFc/6f9-LmZk4rU/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252029%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A53%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740630.1812" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0DDWW4-ZHQh878tPe13eG4jIH578AJeqX5NsSfe1FBD-o5BoPd-nlWY2x5s6rSmF3_sjRxCtKE9X6ZbvJSmAWwJRWzlpEzGKyMfTnI1uN-PG-rFaCu34mbQCHVblcLOP4QCsN7Xp7MA/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0DDWW4-ZHQh878tPe13eG4jIH578AJeqX5NsSfe1FBD-o5BoPd-nlWY2x5s6rSmF3_sjRxCtKE9X6ZbvJSmAWwJRWzlpEzGKyMfTnI1uN-PG-rFaCu34mbQCHVblcLOP4QCsN7Xp7MA/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525205%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740600.0913" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a11hm6B_5eY/T39e33v3kxI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Rt3ThvvMyQQ/Photo%252520Mar%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A32%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a11hm6B_5eY/T39e33v3kxI/AAAAAAAAAFs/Rt3ThvvMyQQ/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252030%25252C%2525202012%2525207%25253A32%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747740615.2278" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cracker jacks! This picture represents Nehas first school craft project. Neha has just started school with Charlotte 3 half days a week. It is precious. Neha loves it and Charlotte is quite happy (so far ) to have her sister there. They share lunch, they taddle on each others naughtiness, they come home with matching projects. It's damn cute I must say. And , although contrary to many adoption books specific to bonding and initial attachment , yes school or daycare or something, some break from your newly adopted child is best for all included. To miss Neha is a beautiful thing. Absence does in fact make the heart grow fonder. <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r3Hc9Vx9XJ8/T39geQAZ9-I/AAAAAAAAAF0/73Fo6ApuV4Y/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A04%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r3Hc9Vx9XJ8/T39geQAZ9-I/AAAAAAAAAF0/73Fo6ApuV4Y/s500/Photo%252520Apr%2525201%25252C%2525202012%2525209%25253A04%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333747840928.0369" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" align="center"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-73337771916548566502012-04-06T13:41:00.001-07:002012-04-06T13:46:18.152-07:00Irish roots, where's Neha, and hoarding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Obviously Irish, Neha enjoyed the standard green festivities of St Patrick's day.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcS2xv7_zE9O3g6caN26GZm4FKABtE9HI7sJgP6aIzuFq3HDlkaqJhYqleKka60_zIox9A9B6LaXOKy2nYgEmOVej7vkkk72oWaDxxs2vHJczrnblCu2flvhHIYnR_piPk138L8ZCIeQ/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcS2xv7_zE9O3g6caN26GZm4FKABtE9HI7sJgP6aIzuFq3HDlkaqJhYqleKka60_zIox9A9B6LaXOKy2nYgEmOVej7vkkk72oWaDxxs2vHJczrnblCu2flvhHIYnR_piPk138L8ZCIeQ/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252017%25252C%2525202012%25252012%25253A43%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333745152087.4382" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTdFHfcHuoXgcuuHogJoMfccVrljqk_PZoTckjI9TrbO6vJq7WGdsdz3-A9UXN9vVMWbxWogpg_BLpB2l23bouugLYY48LoR4Bp1RC1eHLk-NiE7eZ6guk0YJ2DC5sZck6QfQwpcIWmk/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTdFHfcHuoXgcuuHogJoMfccVrljqk_PZoTckjI9TrbO6vJq7WGdsdz3-A9UXN9vVMWbxWogpg_BLpB2l23bouugLYY48LoR4Bp1RC1eHLk-NiE7eZ6guk0YJ2DC5sZck6QfQwpcIWmk/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252016%25252C%2525202012%25252011%25253A44%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333745152117.4453" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ddkRgDbSpvc/T39MUrACaKI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/D6K05DN4GeA/Photo%252520Mar%25252017%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A51%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ddkRgDbSpvc/T39MUrACaKI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/D6K05DN4GeA/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252017%25252C%2525202012%2525201%25253A51%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333745152113.6895" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know when you have self sufficient kids you start to get a little "lax" if you will, on really watching them. Being that Neha's more than capable of doing almost anything she is also quite easy to lose. I thought her constant motion from the time her feet hit the ground had something to do with a new and over stimulating environment. That is not the case. There are many nights , that although I told myself I would kiss her sweetly and hold her as tight as I wanted to every night for 2 years, I don't. I am not proud to say, sometimes a good night kiss is all I can muster. I am so exhausted from saying "no" or "shhh" or perhaps "chill out" . I am not satisfied with my parenting, nor am I satisfied with her ability to be a kid. I am just not there yet. She has the foundation of being awesome, it's just now where nature versus nurture is slapping me in the face. I am a contant intensive therapist in language, manners, self hygiene, protocol, routines, and straight up normal ness. Non of these things did Neha come pre programmed with. Each day we learn valuable lessons. "stay close to mama" ie. when we exit the car and there are extreme imminent dangers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please , thank you, don't shout, sit quietly , and a whole lotta no, no ,no. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, I have completely digressed and lost my original message. Needed to vent I guess. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I began by admitting that I lose Neha quite a bit. This day being one of them. The girls, Charlie and Neha had just woken up and I went to get em their apple juice ( a pack of three apple juice half gallons lasts 2 days in my house) . I Swiffer maxed the house ( a pack of 16 special order Swiffer Maxx lasts a little less than two weeks) and by the time I got back to the bedroom I had already lost Neha. Where is Neha?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gVVBHIJJCd0/T39K4hcViaI/AAAAAAAAAD4/r2JHEQd_N_Y/Photo%252520Mar%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A13%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gVVBHIJJCd0/T39K4hcViaI/AAAAAAAAAD4/r2JHEQd_N_Y/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A13%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333745152128.8083" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sleeping on the dog bed with my pashmina shawl and her decorative pillow. But of course..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh085ISzXHpr-_lYnRnano6fjTxQOyKNNbHs7gdeCbrDJo0Qe7a9GRL4RohkfUEH1Bc90eT9TtZ63GyKNO89w2qd_N3nfHt0rsRUbULJ7a_S4RgNtvzHI9MxUBtWfsmFTSg3j37kfMbCN0/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh085ISzXHpr-_lYnRnano6fjTxQOyKNNbHs7gdeCbrDJo0Qe7a9GRL4RohkfUEH1Bc90eT9TtZ63GyKNO89w2qd_N3nfHt0rsRUbULJ7a_S4RgNtvzHI9MxUBtWfsmFTSg3j37kfMbCN0/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252022%25252C%2525202012%2525203%25253A13%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333745152117.7134" class="aligncenter" width="340" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not too weird, a lunch box with a feather in it, rascals dog leash and collar now on a Fur Real dog, a plastic shovel, Lucy's panda, Dr Suess book, bath toy Dora, plush toy Boots, naked Aurora, a microphone, a puzzle piece, an asian hand drum, a pair of socks, and a squeegee....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a small stash I recovered under Nehas bed. <br><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OVGFCa9w3As/T39Sl-cFgJI/AAAAAAAAAEc/LNYlem5F58Q/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OVGFCa9w3As/T39Sl-cFgJI/AAAAAAAAAEc/LNYlem5F58Q/s500/Photo%252520Mar%25252023%25252C%2525202012%2525206%25253A59%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1333745152161.495" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="332" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-26656479756941598352012-03-18T13:40:00.001-07:002012-03-18T13:48:25.039-07:00We have a new baby in the house.<div>Birdseed baby that is..... What the ? You ask.... Introducing ruby the bird seed baby. I honestly couldn't be more thrilled. A baby that requires nothing of me. Sweet. This little bundle was created at Lucy school. She is made up of 7 pounds 11 oz regular ol birdseed and control top panty hose in " basically bare". <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Exactly the weight little Lucy was when she was born. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6994055617" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7179/6994055617_d7cf768faa.jpg" id="blogsy-1332103276687.6653" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="347" height="526"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6847942236" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7064/6847942236_1be81ac4cf.jpg" id="blogsy-1332103276641.875" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="347" height="526"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My concern at this point is, what is the ultimate demise of a birdseed baby? I'm hoping not a run in her stocking skin and major internal spillage. Urgh, what a mess that may or will be. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6994093919" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7179/6994093919_aecf9f3ca8.jpg" id="blogsy-1332103471552.4395" class="aligncenter" width="347" height="526" align="center" alt=""></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-55158063529224803692012-03-18T12:56:00.001-07:002012-03-18T13:28:52.107-07:00Spring break required a few new dress up dresses<div>What was life without the mermaid, bride, and mid evil belle? Money well spent. Saved me almost a week of laundry. And bought mike and I some much deserved silence and space. I mean, what do you do with three princesses shoved together for a solid week? Well, actually four if you count me. Times were tense, dramatic, extreme (be it fun or horrible), lesson learning, and mostly enjoyable. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6993931149" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7059/6993931149_9835cef93b.jpg" id="blogsy-1332101605300.6267" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="267" height="405"></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6847837986" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7189/6847837986_207d79f192_b.jpg" id="blogsy-1332101605344.7786" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="267"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6847840022" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7069/6847840022_5554ec3b0c_b.jpg" id="blogsy-1332101605308.3096" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="405" height="267"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You know those special kind of photos that you capture sometimes where you feel like you see the future. Ummm is it me or does she look like Neha is 14 or so? And don't get me started on the bride thing. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6847868552" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7062/6847868552_2fe246cc5e_b.jpg" id="blogsy-1332101605347.763" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="347" height="526"></a></div><div>She picked out my outfit yesterday, right down to the bra. She ran into the other room to get a tissue for me when she saw a few "happy crys" on my face. She makes Lucy's bed for her when she is already gone for school. She races around the house searching for Charlottes "pup pup" the rabbit when Charlotte os crying for him. She has a kind heart. She is thoughtfull and caring. She has jumped into English like its her job. Which I guess it kind of is at this point. She has embraced school visits and testing, or observations as they call it. She is settling right in. </div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-83130330581632887272012-03-07T12:53:00.001-08:002012-03-07T13:01:27.890-08:00Checking off the list of firsts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have started a list of firsts for Neha, it's hard to keep track of everything because it is all in its entirety new to Neha. And I mean everything. But monumental things we try to notate:<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6962551727_b09588ce40.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6962551727_b09588ce40.jpg" id="blogsy-1331153615308.8103" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="448" height="674"></a></div><div>Be with goats, check</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6962552857_64990f4a36.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/6962552857_64990f4a36.jpg" id="blogsy-1331153615251.5994" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="452" height="681"></a></div><div>Meet super special new friends, check</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6816436206_e7b581aa62.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6816436206_e7b581aa62.jpg" id="blogsy-1331153615247.4514" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="671" height="445"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mani pedi next to Minnie and Mickey, check<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6962578249_d138c6ce3b.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6962578249_d138c6ce3b.jpg" id="blogsy-1331153725050.2754" class="aligncenter" width="600" height="903" align="center" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6816462660_43c11ce104.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7058/6816462660_43c11ce104.jpg" id="blogsy-1331153812332.3582" class="aligncenter" width="494" height="744" align="center" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dine un-supervised on a meal of butter, check<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6816465290_359aa46c6f.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6816465290_359aa46c6f.jpg" id="blogsy-1331153894622.0315" class="aligncenter" width="709" height="471" align="center" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-85805556382567284122012-03-07T12:41:00.001-08:002012-03-07T12:41:47.660-08:00Amazing hidden talents, Gypsy Neha, Girls, girls,girls.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You never quite now what you might find around every corner. Large, dispersed piles of sand. A toilet paper roll already on its way down with the swirl of the toilet. Crumbs and shell casings of pistachios spread all over the kitchen floor. Or a perfectly stacked random bag of your own shoes. Hmmmm. ....Keep on guessing? I have a feelin, there are many more surprises in store.<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6816368450_9846213900.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7181/6816368450_9846213900.jpg" id="blogsy-1331151631038.5076" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="478" height="720"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Elton John inspired gypsy queen. Loves to entertain, loves to be heard, excels in the limelight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6962482795_80c0cae8cf.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7183/6962482795_80c0cae8cf.jpg" id="blogsy-1331151631043.128" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="441" height="664"></a></span></div><div>Matching, dressing, accessories, faux cell phones, chonis (scarfs), heels that clack, purses, wands, make up, make up brushes, brushes of any kind, jewelry, boas, bags, stuffed animal families, shoes, boots, hats, sunglasses, the pink versus the blue booster seat and well , itchy "cookies". Well that's what we call it. Itchy crotches in other words. These are the things we live and breathe. This is our life. I'm thinking items may be added and some removed from the list above but not a whole lot will change. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6816366024_96253eeba0.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6816366024_96253eeba0.jpg" id="blogsy-1331151631011.1052" class="aligncenter" width="508" height="765" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-11274865527928982262012-02-16T09:33:00.001-08:002012-02-16T10:36:45.727-08:00Bonus asset, not mentioned on the CSR (child study report)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neha's favorite hobby and one of mikes favorite surprise Neha attributes is the girl loves to pick up dog poop. We have been trying to find the right person for that job and low and behold here she is. Tiny miracles. I think her most favorite part of the job is she doesn't have any competition. In her world, right now competition-less tasks are quite a reprieve. <a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6887111539_7df7ec3447.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6887111539_7df7ec3447.jpg" id="blogsy-1329417345222.73" class="aligncenter" width="503" height="758" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charlotte new years birthday was hijacked by her immediate family being in India. She was not totally aware that her actual birthday was, well skipped over to be reserved for a better date. It was in fact her request thatNeha be there for her birthday. Be careful what you wish for.<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6887120587" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7068/6887120587_d982c46783.jpg" id="blogsy-1329417345271.588" class="aligncenter" width="332" height="500" alt=""></a></div><div>A swimming party, perfect for the middle of winter, just wasn't too sure what Neha would think of the whole thing.. She got the birthday concept, wrapping, presents for Charlotte, Charlotte's party, that sort of thing. She had a blast swimming, wading, sliding. She had no fear of huge buckets dumping gallons on her head unannounced. She was too tired to fight about opening presents. She passed out on the way home. She really did exceptionally well. Amazing actually. Then.... The shit storm happened.</div><div>Perfect day, naps in the car, gifts abounding, even enough to share all around. Well that isnt really how it went down. Every gift, although designed for Charlotte age was coveted by each kid. Each three kids I tell you. Everything was new, who would touch it first? What did it do? Who could break it first? ( an interesting concept in the orphanage, who could break it first? The ultimate goal at the orphanage was to be the one that broke it, that simply meant no one else can play with it. It was strangely satisfying and Neha brought it home strong). I digress. The only reason I bring all of this up is I was worried about large parties, crowds, situations with too much stimulation for Neha. These things had been cautioned to me previously. These things were not the problem. The problem was nothing less than many, many presents. All of them being one kids, but that kid had to share and act as if they were not just hers. What? That's not gonna work. And it didn't. We (mike and i) had three straight days of looking at eachother with the "I'm sorry but I think I am going to totally freak the freak out before you are" look. The " what the hell will life be like" look? Otherwise know as WTF. We had fear, sleeplessness, and complete emotional exhaustion in those same eyes. We were at our max point. Thankfully, although sometimes annoying to hear from my dear sweet mother ,"this too shall pass"' and it did. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6887129753" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7194/6887129753_ed35956c27.jpg" id="blogsy-1329417345221.6658" class="aligncenter" width="332" height="500" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy birthday Charlotte. I'm sorry it was skipped over, but definitely not forgotten. I'm so proud of you being strong enough for us to leave you for so long. I recognize now that it was hard for you. I am unthankfully paying the price of your non sleeping due to trama. In every amazing day there are at least three really hard moments. What doesn't kill us only</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">makes us stronger. Jesus, I hope is is true. <br><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6887205647_93d26455a8.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6887205647_93d26455a8.jpg" id="blogsy-1329417345191.7515" class="aligncenter" width="510" height="768" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6887221821_5619dbbceb.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6887221821_5619dbbceb.jpg" id="blogsy-1329417345272.5664" class="aligncenter" width="517" height="778" alt=""></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-28092159351273517562012-02-15T13:28:00.001-08:002012-02-15T13:44:08.743-08:00Chaos in laundry, dance diva, first snow, floor party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What the hell I did to deserve the curse of a diaper in the washer I do not know. As if I was thrilled to have to commit to at least one load of laundry a day in the first place. Perhaps it was the ease of my life at that time that just really asked for something horrible to happen to me. Maybe it was the universe punishing me for feeling defeated at that moment in motherhood. I don't know what it was but it was a punishment for sure. It took me almost an hour to deal with the first impression of the damage: thousands of pee pee polomers dispersed quite heavily over a load of Lucy and Neha's darks. It was later after the dryer that I noticed the half a thousand other polomers didn't just disappear in the dryer, they turned onto white lint and stuck all over every item in the load. I spent another hour and half having to "sweater shave" all of Lucy's jeggings and Neha's long sleeved shirts. It just kept on giving. <a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6882813611_f1ba22e5a0.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6882813611_f1ba22e5a0.jpg" id="blogsy-1329341358771.4363" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="434" height="654"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Although not really coordinated in navigating real life ( ie playgrounds with able children running or kicking balls to and fro) Neha is an wonderful,capable, interpretive and engaging dancer. She twirls, Bollywood hip shakes, and tells a complete story with her hands in motion while dancing. She asks for dancing, she loves dresses with twirl ability, she enjoys working her sister Lucy into her routine. I would love to know how dancing existed in Neha's life. I would really like to help her hold onto it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6882816063_7065aa581a.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7190/6882816063_7065aa581a.jpg" id="blogsy-1329341358770.9063" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="680" height="1024"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6882832231_6963e7aaee.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6882832231_6963e7aaee.jpg" id="blogsy-1329341358782.5735" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="680" height="1024"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What can I say she insists on buttoning herself. Charlotte and Neha couldn't wait to get outside and start licking everything. <br><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6882964229_a6e1109521.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6882964229_a6e1109521.jpg" id="blogsy-1329341358765.2773" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="680" height="1024"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who me, I didn't make this mess? Snow days encourage messes, forts, faux camp outs, picnics, floor parties. You know. Crap everywhere.<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6882984199_75110a0b7e.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6882984199_75110a0b7e.jpg" id="blogsy-1329341542353.013" class="aligncenter" width="680" height="1024" align="center"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone was invited. Bella Guta, hati, and pig. Translation, big bear, elephant and pig. Of course Charlie has her manegere , pup pup, Pluto, Minnie, zebra, and many pink blankies.<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6882986551_93b7992289.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6882986551_93b7992289.jpg" id="blogsy-1329341757527.8945" class="aligncenter" width="549" height="827" align="center" alt=""></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-69756448383841053392012-02-04T21:50:00.001-08:002012-02-04T21:50:03.518-08:00Seriously?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsAzGvRjxoiqXpnnkSKy8U8V-wVVwjc10UYPWYufKJ14F0WzvU7YRiHoMMrNY8LWzmYpba4l8k1bvpErnEOyhBdDMLK4GGOMhHKebQO3_F3vALKYr48vyffLOlptHUx4_JXLLgUchAho/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsAzGvRjxoiqXpnnkSKy8U8V-wVVwjc10UYPWYufKJ14F0WzvU7YRiHoMMrNY8LWzmYpba4l8k1bvpErnEOyhBdDMLK4GGOMhHKebQO3_F3vALKYr48vyffLOlptHUx4_JXLLgUchAho/s500/DSC_0306.jpg" id="blogsy-1328419833128.0605" class="clearleft" alt="" width="341" height="512"></a>Lucy and Neha, with their guliyas</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyP1YXDXRir1Wd7hqO7gYM0iLCR2rj740CBYSQ07uOmQl9qsCjQCW0a1SuYDGGo489SJYxQsh1AkPQsty5lauxyWD7XEnvG3OGLNnSRwV5-t7lP64QIV3ziUZzAccqxdYK2pgHsZtFDU/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyP1YXDXRir1Wd7hqO7gYM0iLCR2rj740CBYSQ07uOmQl9qsCjQCW0a1SuYDGGo489SJYxQsh1AkPQsty5lauxyWD7XEnvG3OGLNnSRwV5-t7lP64QIV3ziUZzAccqxdYK2pgHsZtFDU/s500/DSC_0251.jpg" id="blogsy-1328419833151.881" class="clearleft" alt="" width="341" height="512"></a>ready for school, unfortunately Neha is not going to school yet, but the other girls are, ..... What a conundrum......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7PNWmxi0bVgeNpxShaz8VaTK7duoqwsBmW71O7Ueu9k1OhnPhoKs66gjzV7niLRTHlWFOVnQpHy2ZP5LBIYrGpPO3VIBpPN-ciMhuX_7laIv7qpF8qcQea39KDI0c2lCKgkiWtc4mAI/" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7PNWmxi0bVgeNpxShaz8VaTK7duoqwsBmW71O7Ueu9k1OhnPhoKs66gjzV7niLRTHlWFOVnQpHy2ZP5LBIYrGpPO3VIBpPN-ciMhuX_7laIv7qpF8qcQea39KDI0c2lCKgkiWtc4mAI/s500/DSC_0277.jpg" id="blogsy-1328419833155.7922" class="aligncenter" width="341" height="512" alt=""></a></div><div>Dress up, what a concept for a child that has never worn clothes for fun or leisure. The first night was a disaster. Why would Neha think that clothes were meant to be tried on and worn for fun other than necessity? She wouldn't. Why would she possibly comprehend that clothes could be temporary, changed and exchanged based on mood? She wouldn't, yet again. Second night, a whole different story. </div><div><br></div><div>I will summarize in this moment of rare reflection...... Three kids is a lot, an odd number, one that makes things just slightly off kilter. However, life is starting to fit into place. Relationships amongst sisters are beginning to be aligned. Moods are stabilizing. Families that have dreamed of each other for many years have become whole. Feelings of loss and unhappiness have been resolved. There is so much work to be done, preparation, security, and simple self reassurance in a world that you (Neha) have never known. Me, mommy, momma, and mom, I will be here. To see you through. To see you be you. You are doing it. Without even trying. My mission now seems even more real. Mission to Neha, not just retrieving her. But seeing what in fact she will become, what she is made of. What is really Neha.....?</div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-87278671856652494692012-01-21T22:11:00.001-08:002012-01-24T14:21:32.986-08:00A day ahead and now a week behind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First day home. Neha's initial reaction to animals was both totally intrigued and possibly obsessed with the cat, and hysterically climb to the top of any nearby person to avoid even the slightest sniff of the ankle by any and all of the dogs. See below the lineup of offenders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6755055153_63fc5d4d1d.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6755055153_63fc5d4d1d.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178315.4133" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="614"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Marlan -pros: loyal companion, gentle, understanding, and loving. Cons: Sometimes his bark will make you pee a little.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6755064725_4a70a8ca1b.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6755064725_4a70a8ca1b.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178361.4075" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="614"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Moxie- pros: loves everyone, fun, great hair. Cons: loves everyone's butts, sometimes too much fun and hair, has a hint of crazy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6755080759_0275bacbd2.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6755080759_0275bacbd2.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178351.525" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="408" height="614"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rascal- pros: small, thinks he is a cat, girls adore him, mostly sweet. Cons: small and sometimes untraceable ,gets on the dinner table and clears your food before you have even set down. (Neha has started telling on him). Sounds the multi dog alarm whenever he hears anything. Sometimes snippy when receiving too much loving or attention (similar to a new arrival in my house)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite the large pack of intimidating sometimes snippy creatures at my house. Neha was able to "get over it" and was eating within 3 feet of the dogs by the second night. Notice however she isn't taking any chances of her feet being sniffed while she dines on undah (egg in Hindi) fully adorned in turquoise eye shadow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6740419871_8dd8344688.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6740419871_8dd8344688.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178289.99" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="434" height="654"></a></div><div>Everyone that knows Lucy knows Julie, her American doll that Santa brought her this year. Well Julie has been the topic of 6 year old conversation for the last few weeks on India. Julie stayed home under grandma and grandpa care and and companionship. Lucy was so lonesome for her Julie that she couldn't help herself but speak of her all the time. This conversation with Rajeev, the passport airport check guy and a few other passers by had everyone totally confused at how many children we actually had waiting back at home. Not so good for immigration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6740438357_ed29e8d56f.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6740438357_ed29e8d56f.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178375.9822" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="462" height="695"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lucy was able to hand down her first doll "juliana" to Neha. This first doll encounter was priceless. It was as if she was looking at her own offspring. The admiration, affection and care she has for "goulia" as Neha calls it, is precious. Thank god for emergency hand me down toys and Lucy and Charlotte learning after a full week of tatal tailing, smacking down, and dragging out fights that Neha is not going anywhere. Thank god for time passing, routines starting to be established, night time baths, Lucy patience with Neha sneaking in her bed at night, Charlotte finally being sweet to Neha, and remembering her name. (a whole different story, in short Charlotte has been crying for Neha by name for at least a year. Every time she was sad or in trouble. After our return, and a few days after we have all been together, Charlotte asks mike on her way to school, "what's that girls name again?". For three days later she called her "new sister".). Thank goodness that is over. <br><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6755194725_acb7ce7647.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6755194725_acb7ce7647.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178372.3206" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="528" height="796"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is kind, she is loving, she is dramatic with all facial expressions good and rude, she is almost mostly happy (unless being repremanded). Neha wants to please everyone, she is having a hard time adjusting to no naps. She is interested in school. She has become quite fond of Moxie the dog, go figure. She is a wonderful dancer, she just figured out the concept of playing dress up. She like shoes and jewelry above all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She told me she "i lubed you mom" last night in context after I turned out the light. It seems the rainstorm of our first week adjusting has subsided, and the rainbow is beginning to illuminate. I am grateful for the happiness in normalcy. <br> <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6740432629" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7002/6740432629_02343f8a4f.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442178320.8772" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="332" height="500"></a></div><div>Not too long ago I was a day ahead, I felt exactly that. On top of things, forward thinking, and well planed. This last week has dropped me to the "behind a week status". As the laundry ebbs and flows into small and larger piles on the 2nd couch, and my bed is not made until almost 4 p.m everyday, I found myself conversing with myself about being able to except not being completely put together. Piles of crap everywhere and dirty dishes in the sink, not in my house! Well not in my house 1 month ago, but perhaps yes now. It's ok, tekae in hindi. I was able to right this post, talk to 3 really good friends, hang out with my mom and make a decent lunch today. The girls, Lucy and Neha are playing perfectly along out at the playground, sand is my friend and ememy I admit. Everyone is safe and happy. Life is good. Unpredictable, scary, hard, and beautifully good. I couldn't ask for anything more. -me, happy mommy</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Let's be courageous and face tiny dangers! Let's climb those fences with signs that say don't......beautiful man, im a beautiful women. Find simples pleasures wherever we go. It's the simple things that make us feel at home.</div><div><br></div><div>-Amy Kuney</div><div><br></div><div>Crazily appropriate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72520081@N06/6755199353" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7015/6755199353_f7d3d80a88.jpg" id="blogsy-1327442575030.0032" class="aligncenter" width="332" height="500" align="center"></a></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-47483982314959011002012-01-19T21:05:00.001-08:002012-01-19T21:05:22.717-08:00Chip and beans, the night of beauty in innocence and the gas chamber of jet lag.<div>The night of our first day in albuquerque was so emotionally charged, so long, and so weird. We had a great day, arrival in albuquerque around noon. Greeted by friends and family, enjoyed in a catered mexican lunch, and then a little time to try our hand at being a family of five for the first time. The day went surprisingly well, the girls were just digesting the enormity of the change in motion. No major smack downs, extreme toy overload for Neha, and massive toy and possession conflict with Charlotte, and even a bit of our dearest giving and ultimate sharing sister Lucy. Truth be know, everyone was just the tiniest bit intruded upon, and extremely exhausted. These two emotions compounded each other over then next few days. I would be lying if i didn't admit moments of fear, and tiny flashes of chaos. </div><div><br></div><div>A little tv time perhaps is just what the doctor ordered. Mid day distraction, and calm down period. Not so much...... Neha fell asleep around 3:30 pm, mike and Lucy were soon to follow around 4. Charlotte and I just didn't quite know how to proceed. Charlotte wanted to wake Neha. Seemed like a good idea until we had tried to stand her up three times with no avail. We had to essentially dress and stand a dead body, charlotte says, "oh mom, just what are we going to do with Neha?". We then proceeded to work on getting mike and Lucy ready for bed. Lucy was nothing short of a 60 pound unconfined pile of pudding. She actually slithered off the potty while I wasnt looking. Charlotte and I single handedly handeled 3 jet lagged bodies, changed them, pottied them, and put them to bed. I personally had a hint of Trainspotting the movie in my head. Things were just weird. Out of this world to say the least. </div><div><br></div><div>This is when Charlotte (chip, Charlie, chippy and or butters and only sometimes chip douglas), and I decided to sit down to a simple dinner of chips, beans, and of course cheese would do us right. We had missed each other so much the last few weeks. The silence in the house, the happiness in mother and daughter being rejoined. The whew of our impending distance finally being resolved. It was a special time I don't want to forget. Nor do I want to forget Lucy and charlotte holding a 10 minute embrace in the airport. Both of them crying and looking at each other in disbelief. Complete disbelief that they had missed each other so darn much. It was the beauty of being a sister that shined that day. The exact thing that made us want them to have one more sister. We new they had every capacity to share that love. </div><div><br></div><div>As time goes on we are assured they have the capacity just sometimes not quite the total desire to "share" that love right now. In this exact moment. But it will come. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6729159175_aee6a1a25f.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6729159175_aee6a1a25f.jpg" id="blogsy-1327033677170.045" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="512" height="771"></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-87225524297185625302012-01-19T20:26:00.001-08:002012-01-19T20:26:00.354-08:00Homecoming, family introduction, doll brushing, and new outfit for fancy.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Seriously, the girl walks up to any and all of the grandparents and things just jive. Neha and nana at baggage claim.<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6729103569_5dea05f903.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6729103569_5dea05f903.jpg" id="blogsy-1327032904692.1929" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="482" height="726"></a></div><div>There has been a lot of doll hair brushing going along. I can't tell if the dogs are shedding like crazy or a</div><div>If all the dolls are going to be bald by valentines day. Neha had just opened a new outfit by auntie Kenzie. She loved it, actually rejoiced in the gift of clothing, and had to put the new skirt on even though she was already dressed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6729105355_e6711a698d.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6729105355_e6711a698d.jpg" id="blogsy-1327032904687.6218" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="455" height="685"></a></div><div>the only way I could get Charlotte to smile was by calling her a "butt crack" ... Not proud of it, but it totally worked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6729107649_e1a046f516.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6729107649_e1a046f516.jpg" id="blogsy-1327032904670.2227" class="aligncenter" width="413" height="623" alt=""></a></div><div><br></div>ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018999090923696200noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662637525465181675.post-34704025518815751922012-01-19T09:56:00.001-08:002012-01-19T19:38:38.231-08:00Arrived home safely, survived never ending days of jet lag, life goes on.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Landing in albuquerque, thumbs up. More to post... So much more, trials and tribulations. Struggles and triumphs. Had to come to chick filet to use the wifi. Mail was held at post office, delinquent bills for Internet service. No Internet at home. Three girls struggle and feud for their place on the ladder. Making progress, but thought I might not make it day 2 at home. Feeling slightly normal, but miss my mate. Mikey had to go back to work today and I simply do not know what I will do without him by my side. Our family makes us so proud, I told mike yesterday. I can't help but feel as if we know more than most people all the sudden. What really matters, what makes life seem sensible and livable. Family, relationships, and the genuine joy of seeing a child realize that she now has a place that is hers. </div>
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