Daddy is Home!

From the moment that I met Tony, I knew that he was someone special. He swept me off my feet and I started falling in love with him right on the spot. That love has continued to grow throughout the past 12 years and I still thank God every day for bringing this remarkable man into my life.

Because I have witnessed his love firsthand, I knew that Tony would be a great dad. And he is. You can see it in Molly's eyes every time she is with him. She loves him deeply and he loves her right back. I never thought that I would so willingly share his love with anyone, but seeing the two of them together literally makes my heart burst. I find myself loving both of them even more. Funny how that works.

Tony has had to travel a lot over the past few months. His trips have lasted for days and sometimes weeks at a time. I know that I miss him terribly, but it is nothing compared to Molly. When Tony is traveling Molly wakes up every morning asking, "Daddy home?" When I tell her that Daddy is still working out of town, she demands, "More Daddy!" Boy, how I wish that I could give that to her.

When Tony is gone, Molly and I continue on our daily routines: attend our classes, go to the park or the pool, have fun. We laugh, we dance, we sing, but it is just not the same. Sometimes you don't recognize it until Tony comes home. The minute he walks in the door, the electricity is back. There is a spark in Molly (that you didn't even realize was missing) that is reignited.

Once Tony is home, Molly is stuck to him like glue. It's all about the Dada. "Dada do it!" is now her mantra. She even makes him hold her hand while he eats his dinner. I willingly give up my #1 status (in both of their books') and just watch the love that pours out of the two of them.

Amazing how adding one little soul can multiply the love on our home exponentially.

Playdate with Alex

One of the neatest things about watching Molly grow up is seeing her interact with other children. She is at a stage where she is drawn to them and shouts, "Kids!" whenever she sees anyone under the age of eighteen. She is so excited to play with, instead of just next to, other kids.

Meet Alex...what a cutie! This is one of Molly's newest friends. We were introduced to Alex and her Mom Faye at a FCC event and have planned a few outing together.


Alex is a little older that Molly so she usually takes the lead. Molly just idolizes her.


Today the four of us went out for a delicious lunch at Whole Foods followed by ice cream and play time at a local ice cream parlor. The girls had a blast chasing each other up the slides and then tumbling back down them. There was a whole lot of laughing and silliness going on and the girls loved it.


Faye and I got to have some adult time while the kids played...that is between all of the time we were busy snapping pictures!

There is an immediate bond between anyone who has a child adopted from China. We have all walked the same path, stepped in the same footsteps. It is the most significant event of our lives. There is an unspoken understanding and comfort that you get whenever you are with them. It was that way when I met Faye. All of the pleasantries and formalities that usually begin a friendship were tossed out the door and I felt like I was with longtime friend.

As we got in the car to go home, Molly looked out the window and said, "Momma, more Alex." And I have to admit, I looked out the window and thought, "Yep, and more Faye." I am sure that we will have more mother/daughter play dates in our future.

Azaleas and Other Stuff

First, the azaleas...they are in bloom and are beautiful. They only flower for a few weeks each year, but boy what a show!

When they bloomed last year, I took Molly outside to get some photos of her amongst the flowers. I did the same this year. I thought it would be fun to see a side-by-side comparison of how she has (and hasn't) changed. When I was looking through my old pictures I found many poses that were similar to this year's pictures. Enjoy.....

Next, other stuff...yes, more pictures at the park. Hey, it's what we do. A lot. It's spring; we've been cooped up all winter. We've got to make hay while the sun shines!

Our local Families with Children from China (FCC) chapter held their Spring Picnic. We had a great time meeting new people, seeing old friends, eating pizza and lo mein, and playing on the playground.

Molly continues to amaze (and sometimes frighten) onlookers with her strength and coordination on the jungle gym. She is so confident in her abilities and has such a sixth sense of where her body is in space. This is unlike her mother who trips over her own shadow. Heck, I can't even walk and chew gum at the same time! I am always close at hand to lend Molly support and cheer her on but really, she doesn't need it. She's a lillte monkey. You go girl!

And Finally....just a cute picture of Molly exploring the garden. Heck, her back is almost as cute as her front!

Oh Baby That's What I Like!

To steal a line from the Big Bopper: Chantilly lace and a pretty face and a ponytail hanging down. That description can now apply to the ponytail-sporting Miss Molly. Her hair is finally long enough to pull back into a decent ponytail. She is thrilled beyond belief and is so excited to be just like Mommy. I am going to relish this moment because I know that some day soon, she won't want any part of being just like Mommy.

Without further adieu here is a shot from the front....

and the side....

and the back!

I know that the Big Bopper wasn't sing about a 2 year old when he wrote this song, but if you take out the whole innuendo thing, the rest of the song applies to Molly as well: a wiggling walk and a giggling talk makes the world go round and round.

Oh baby that's what I like!

Mother's Day 2008

Cuddling with my baby Mother's Day Morning 2008. Life does not get any sweeter than this:



I was ecstatic on Mother's Day 2007. I was finally a mother. I was officially bestowed the title the day we adopted Molly on March 30, 2007, and on that first Mother's Day you couldn't find a happier person than me. Funny thing about that day though--I didn't feel like a mother. It was still too new. I was still someone who was playing the part of mother. Don't get me wrong, it was an awesome feeling, but I just hadn't put in enough time as a mother to actually feel like one.

This year? Totally different story. I have changed enough diapers, kissed enough boo-boos, given enough baths, and endured enough tantrums to have earned the title of Mother. I've been peed on, puked on, and been told off. I have overflowed with joyful pride, been showered with kisses, and heard the beautiful word "Momma!" uttered thousands of times. I've paid my dues. I Am Mother, Hear Me Roar!

This Mother's Day was way more low key. I wasn't bouncing off the walls with excitement like I was last year. But I had something much greater. I KNEW that I was mother to the most beautiful girl in the world!

See, even Molly was jumping for joy!

Catching Up

Okay. I have been a slacker. We have done a ton of fun things and, of course, I have a ton of fun pictures. I just haven't had the energy to come up with a ton of creative posts so that I could shamelessly show off my beautiful daughter. So here are a bunch of pictures with some brief explanations. Let's just pretend that they all go together, shall we? And while we are pretending, feel free to make up some witty narratives to go with them!

(Click on any picture to make it larger)

Set #1: The Zoo
Springtime means zootime. Molly and I went to the zoo with some new friends. I didn't post any pictures of Molly's little friend's face or name, because I haven't had time to get permission from her mommy!
Not so sure about my first ride on the Merry-Go-Round.

Verdict's in: The Merry-Go-Round rocks!

Look out zoo, here we come!

Checkin' things out.

Practicing our gymnastics skills for the 2020 Olympics.

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Set #2: The Boo Boo

Molly got her first boo boo that required a band-aid. Can you believe that? She's been with us for over a year, and this is her first bandagable wound! It would be cool if she had some great story to go with it, but such is not the case. She was walking sown the sidewalk, tripped on her own feet (like mother/like daughter) and came up bleeding.

Molly wears her boo boo like a badge of honor. She has to wear a short sleeve shirts every single day so that she can make sure that it's still there and so that she can show it off to anyone who cares to take a peek. I even have to kiss the boo boo goodnight every evening!

The boo boo.

Inspecting the band-aid.

What? A plain band-aid? Geesh! My lame mother didn't even have a Scooby Doo or Winnie-the-Poo band-aid for me. Deduct points from her mother-of-the-year tally.

o

Set #3: Molly the Fearless at the Park, Part 1

What a difference a year makes. Molly went from baby swings to being able to scale, climb, slide or swing from anything at the park. She has no fear. That's okay, when I am watching her I have enough for the both of us. I've got to hand it to her though; she is incredibly secure in her abilities. Got to love having a jock for a daughter!

Climbing the curvy ladder.

Traversing the step bridge.

I am looking cool in my sunglasses. What? They're upside down? How embarrassing!

o

Set 4: Molly the Not-So-Fearless

Molly is not a fan of the vacuum. She tolerates it, but doesn't want to take part in the process. She is more of a spectator, you might say. When I vacuum the family room, I move the chairs from around her table into the kitchen so that I can vacuum underneath. Molly sets up the chairs into stadium seating so that she can watch all of the action. Note: She is in the back row...not gonna get too close!

Bugbug, you sit in the front row. Pooh and I are going to hang out back here where it is nice and safe!

o

Set #5: Molly the Fearless at the Park, Part 2

Now that she mastered our neighborhood park, Molly is taking her show on the road. These were taken at our playgroup (don't have permission so I am not positing pictures of her friends in this group). We joined a playgroup of 2 and 3 year old girls adopted from China. The girls love playing together and attract a lot of attention wherever they go!

Scaling new heights.

Top of the tower.

Rope ladder? No problem!

Getting started...

Half way there...

Taking a break to look cute for the camera...

Made it to the top!

o

Set 6: My Mom is Shamelessly Showing Off

Sorry, just had to do it...How darn cute is my kid? Good Golly Miss Molly!