Eight Months With Molly

Hard to believe, but we have already had eight months with Molly. I don't know how time has a way of moving so slowly through the hard parts of life and so quickly through the good stuff.

In a blink of an eye, Molly has changed from a baby to a toddler. She has developed such a sweet, funny and compassionate personality. Watching her blossom has been the most amazing journey that I have ever been on. And to think, I get to watch this process for the rest of my life.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to once again document some of Molly's life. Here is a random list of some of the milestones and memories of Molly.

• Molly has 12 teeth--6 up top and 6 down below. We have had the pleasure (ha!) of seeing (and hearing the whines) each little tooth come in ...one...by...one. Poor Molly. Teething has not been easy on her. How many teeth do kids get? Wait, don't tell me. Ignorance is bliss.


• Molly's favorite toys: Her babies and doll carriage. She has logged more miles with that carriage that I have put on my car. She loves all of her babies and hugs and kisses them all of the time. I've got to admit that it is pretty cute. Every morning before she leaves her crib she has to make the rounds, giving all of her babies kisses.


• Molly is really into the kissing and hugging thing. In addition to her babies, she kisses and hugs all of the cute animals in her books. Yep, picks the book up and kisses and hugs the page. Let's hope she scales back a little on the kissing before she hits her teen years!


• Molly's favorite foods: Woo-woes (noodles), cauliflower, pretzels, and anything they are sampling at Costco. I can't tell you how many different things she has devoured in Costco, only to turn her nose up at them at home. I think that I will begin feeding her while standing behind a big stainless steel cart, wearing a hair net.


• Molly's favorite book: No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. She loves to act out the momma calling the doctor and the monkeys bumping their heads.


• Molly has perfected the whine. Of all the things to be good at, my child picks this one. Luckily she only does it when she is sick. But with 5 sinus infections under her belt, we have got to hear more whining than we would like. Here is what it is like on a sick day at our house: Molly starts out in the morning with a quite whimper, by midday she builds into a groan, and by evening she crescendos into full out, non-stop, fingernails-on-the-chalkboard whine. It is truly lovely. Thank God for antibiotics.


• Molly's favorite song: The Hoky Poky. She screams with delight whenever she hears it. She'll go running to the closest thing that she can use to balance herself so that she can lift her feet and shake them all about. Watching her do the complete dance never gets old. Completely adorable!


• Molly's favorite activity: Swimming. Another squeal with delight moment. She starts the squeal as soon as we drive into the YMCA parking lot and continues until she is in the water. This cracks up everyone at the Y. Nothing like being the center of attention while you are wearing a bathing suit. I guess that isn't a big deal to her, but hey, I am the one holding her. I'd rather not have all eyes on me while I am wearing anything made of spandex!


• New things Molly dislikes: Her car seat, coat and bib. I used to feel so lucky when I would see other people struggling with their kids on these issues. I now am feeling their pain. Is there anything more frustrating that having a kid go stiff as a board when you lift them up into their car seat?


• Molly's favorite holiday: It's gotta be Christmas. The whole Santa and present thing is over her head, but she loves all of the decorations. If we are having a bad day, I stop at the Home Depot and we walk up and down the Christmas decoration isle. Her eyes get a big a saucers as she points and squeals at each and every item. Does this mean that there is a giant inflatable snow globe in our future? Ack!!


• Molly loves her shoes. She can put on and take off her own shoes and socks. Just ask her, she'll gladly show you. She also shows off her shoes to anyone (and I mean anyone) she meets. The first thing she does whenever she sees someone new is to bend down and point to her shoes. Don't know what that's all about. Her absolute favorite shoes are her Crocs. She doesn't understand how I can be so mean when I don't let her wear them when it is 20 degrees outside.

There are many, many more things that I could write about Molly. It is the most incredible experience to watch her grow. We must have done something right, because we have been blessed with the most amazing child!

Giving Thanks

When you are adopting from China, you have plenty of time to sit around and think, imagine, fantasize, (and obsess) about everything. Each holiday while we were waiting for Molly, I would shed a few, okay--a lot, of tears because she wasn't with us. I would think about her being half way around the word laying in a crib without a celebration, without parents. It broke my heart. This holiday we have Molly and finally, all seems right with the world.

Because we are finally a family, I really wanted to spend the holiday at home; start our own holiday traditions; cook a big turkey dinner for my baby. Not that Molly would eat any of it of course (unless I found some way to make a Ramen noodle turkey). So this year, for the first time in my married life, I cooked a huge Thanksgiving feast. Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies so I was in Pre-indictment Martha Stewart heaven.












The day before Thanksgiving we found out that our next door neighbors were also staying home for Thanksgiving. They would be celebrating with their daughter later in the week. At the very last minute we invited them to share our meal with us. They accepted and we couldn't have been more thrilled. Somehow sharing a meal with friends turns food into a celebration. We thoroughly enjoyed their company. They are very special people and we are so glad that they are our neighbors and friends.













As a holiday surprise Molly even ate turkey! She sucked down piece after piece of dark meat like there was no tomorrow. Of course, she hasn't touched it since, but on Thanksgiving she ate my turkey. She made her mommy's day. She also managed to smile, laugh and play all evening, despite her sinus infection. What a trooper.

























The day after Thanksgiving, we had Tony's family over. We spent the early evening at the Zoolights exhibit. Molly was still sick, but we bundled Molly up, put the weather shield on the stroller and showed her the sights. She loved it, even though she was so bundled she couldn't move!















I had a big of Minestrone soup waiting on the stove for us when we returned from our cold outing. Mmmm...soup! Molly's cousins ran her ragged, and she loved every minute of it. She was laughing and screaming with joy all night long. The adults pretty much sat around the kitchen, talked, stuffed ourselves with soup, leftovers and pumpkin cheesecake and enjoyed each other's company.

Ahhh, the holidays! Ahhh, the memories! And to be able to share this special day with our daughter made it the best Thanksgiving we've ever had. We are truly thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving

What are we the most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

God is is great and we are incredibly blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tis the Season for Giving

Tony gave it to Molly. Molly got it and gave it to me. Now I've got it, too. Unfortunately the thing that everyone in our family is giving to each other is a cold.

I got a case of laryngitis with my cold. Tony got a chest full of congestion. Molly got another sinus infection. Well, that won't be diagnosed until we go to the doctor in about an hour, but look at her poor face. Her sinuses are so swollen it doesn't even look like her. Yikes!

We will be hunkering down at the ol' homestead for a few days, trying to recover before Thanksgiving. The pot of chicken soup is already on the stove.

Here's my question...Tony and I look like death warmed over now that we are sick. How can Molly still look so stinking cute? Ahhh, If only I could be young again.

The Things That You Don't Want Them to Learn

Why is it that the things you do want your kids to learn you can teach a bazillion times and they never seem to get it, and the things that you don't want them to learn they figure out on their own in about 5 seconds?

Hey look, Daddy's outside.

I think I'll join him. Now, how am I going to get out there?

Let's see... All I've got to do is pull this chair over to the door to stand on....

...flip the deadbolt....

...turn the knob and I am outta here!

Modeling Her New Fall Fashions

Here's Molly looking oh, so cute! in some of her new fall clothes. Although I couldn't abandon pink all together, I did manage to include some other colors this season!



No pink to be found at all...



Just a little pink here...



Now for some serious pink action!

Halloween #1, Fun Fun Fun!

Molly experienced her very first Halloween. Now she's a pro. She's got it down.

The night didn't quite start out that way, though...

After dinner we tried to get Molly into her elephant costume. We practiced this before Halloween so she'd be ready for the big event. Of course when the day arrived, she wanted nothing to do with her costume. Luckily, other trick-or-treaters started coming to the door. Once Molly saw them in costume, she had a change of heart and the elephant costume went on without a tear.

We were out the door and Trick-or-Treating in no time. One problem. She had no clue how to Trick-or Treat. The first house was a learning experience and was met with a little anxiety. She held my hand tight and bravely knocked on her first door. That's all it took.

By the time we got to the second house, Molly realized that when you knock on people's doors they put goodies in your bucket. Having this epiphany, she let go of my hand and was off to the next house. There was no fear or trepidation in this kid. She was all about the candy. She's never even eaten candy before(I know, I know. I am one of those parents) and had no clue that she was collecting a bucket full of it. But that wasn't the point. She was getting something, and that was good enough for her.

After we were through with our festivities at home, Molly was off to her cousins' house for more Halloween fun. I stayed home and passed out candy. I don't know what went on over at the cousins', but she came back good and tired and ready for bed (yes!). She loved her elephant costume so much she wanted to sleep in it. Luckily she was too tired to do battle to get her way so she got a quick bath, put on her jammies and was asleep before I cold put her into her crib.

Halloween #1 was under her belt. She is now a Trick-or-Treat veteran.















Miss Molly models her costume for all of her adoring fans:

Hello! Welcome to my Halloween fashion show!

This is what the head of my costume looks like. Pretty cool, huh?

Does this costume make my bum look fat?

A head shot for my portfolio.

I'll be here all week. Tell all your friends. Thank you and good night!

Pumpkin Carving 101

Pumpkin carving...I figured this wouldn't be an easy task for the I-Aint-Gonna-Touch-It Kid. True to form, Molly was less than thrilled with it. She was a trooper and never gave up--even smiled once or twice (I think just to throw me a bone). But you could tell, her heart wasn't in it.

Good golly, I hate pumpkin slime and I don't have texture issues. I can't imagine what it must feel like to my daughter, who tries to levitate above grass so she won't touch it. So, after a few agonizing minutes, I took pity on her. I snapped a few photos and let her off the hook.

I just know this is going to be gross!



Well, maybe it won't be too bad...
What's this? Eeeewww, pumpkin slime on my fingers!



And pumpkin seeds in my hair!
I think that I'll let Daddy take over, while I stand a safe distance away.



That face says it all.

Hallmark Moments

You know those Hallmark commercial moments that you carry in your head? You picture all of those great (and small) events in life and can't wait for them to actually roll around so that you can sit back and watch your Hallmark commercial moments unfold perfectly before your eyes.

Well I've pretty much given up on Hallmark commercial moments. Well, I shouldn't say that I have given up on them all together. I still have them in my head, I have just come to the realization that real life isn't like a Hallmark commercial. My life is great, don't get me wrong. It's just that things never happen like you expect.

One of the Hallmark commercial moments that I always pictured was playing in the fall leaves with my children. Oh, what fun we would have frolicking about in the yard, , chasing each other around throw handfuls of Mother Nature's finest red, orange and gold, diving in piles of vibrant leaves.

When Autumn started to show its colors, I took stock of the realities of my child. She hates new textures--doesn't like to touch things that are the least bit unusual. She's not big on touching, feeling or holding green leaves. Crunchy, dried leaves in monstrous piles certainly aren't going to thrill her. My Hallmark moment was not going to happen. I just hoped that Molly wouldn't hate the experience. And I was totally fine with that.

I was pleasantly surprised. She didn't hate it--didn't love it either--but didn't hate it! She sat in the leaves, touched the leaves, played with the leaves. There was no frolicking or shrieks of joy, but she actually had a good time.

Let me tell you, that was better than any Hallmark commercial that I could have ever imagined. What a huge step for her. I was thrilled. And took about 60 pictures to prove it! Maybe it was a Hallmark moment, after all!

New Markers, New Mother, Stupid Mistake #537

I found these markers at Target the other day. Aren't they cute! What makes them even more cute is that when snap the lid on, they make the noise of the animal. The dog marker barks, the zebra marker neighs, the fish marker blows bubbles and so on. I thought this was a great idea because it encourages kids to put the lids back on their markers so they don't dry out.

I was so pleased with my purchase that I ran right home and started to remove the packaging. As I did this, I lined them up on a tray for Molly to play with. Surely these will score me major points in the Mother of the Year contest.

As I finished unwrapping the last marker, I finally glanced up at my daughter. Yeah, the sound effects didn't thrill her near as much a drawing all over her face.

She just looked at me with that puzzled expression when I groaned, "Good Golly, Miss Molly!" Okay, that's not exactly what I groaned, but it's a whole lot cleaner that what I actually said and I am not digging myself even deeper into a hole with the Mother of the Year judges!

Thank goodness that the manufactures are much wiser than myself. They made these markers washable so at least Molly wasn't tattooed for the next few days. Crisis averted, but I am way behind in points for the Mother of the Year Contest!

Happy Half-Marathon

I ran a marathon about five years ago. If I'd had a blog back then, the post would have been titled Miserable Marathon. That race took every bit of pleasure out of the sport of running. Every inch of my body hurt, and not in a good way. I had some sort of strain or injury to my toes, feet, ankles, knees, hips and back . On race day, my body was litterally being held together with straps, braces and duct tape. When I crossed that finish line I swore that I would never run again. And I didn't for a very long time. Years.

A few months ago, my crazy friend Ellen asked me to run the local 1/2 marathon with her. I laughed. No way. Not gonna happen. Not in this lifetime. Then Ellen did something evil: she used her beautiful daughter against me. The half-marathon was to benefit her daughter's orphanage in China. How could I say no?

I reluctantly began to train, albeit not very hard. In fact I had a very nonchalant attitude about it. If you know me, you know this is very un-Teri-like. I tried not to run too often and tried not to run too long. This was a complete 180 to my marathon training days. Running actually began to feel good.

Molly accompanied me on every single training run. If I was out running, she was in the jogger stroller. We ran in various parks around town--places that I had never been in the eight years we've lived here. At the end of every run, Molly got to play at the playground so she loved training days.

When race day rolled around, I didn't care about my time. I didn't keep track of my pace. I just ran with my crazy friend Ellen. You know, I actually enjoyed myself! Everything that the full marathon had taken out of me, the 1/2 marathon put back. We crossed the finish line in about 2 hours; a better pace than my full marathon. Maybe there is something to this not taking things too seriously attitude!

One benefit to the race, aside from the big plate of pancakes I ate afterward, was that I got to kiss my husband and my daughter at the end. That made everything worth the effort. Yes, this was a very happy half-marathon! Maybe I'll run another one!!

A Big Pile of Beautiful Fabric

There is a tradition in China to make a Bai Jai Bei, or Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite people to send patches of cloth along with a note of well wishes for the new baby. The patches are sewn together into a quilt that contains the luck, energy and good wishes of the friends and family members who contributed pieces of fabric. The quilt is then passed down from generation to generation.

While we were waiting for Molly, I collected over 50 squares of fabric for her quilt. I loved looking through the big pile of beautiful fabric, but it was just that: a big pile of beautiful fabric. Since I have no skills in the art of quilting, I was at loss at what to do next.

Meanwhile, half way across the country, one of my very best friends, Anne, was looking through our Journey to Molly website. She came across the link that explained the Bai Jai Bei and showed the big pile of beautiful fabric. She promptly emailed me and asked if she could make the quilt for Molly. "Are you kidding? Of course you can make the quilt!" was my reply. How lucky am I to have such a talented and loving friend? The meaning behind the quilt multiplied one hundred fold the moment she made that offer.

Last summer Molly and I were fortunate enough to visit Anne. In my suitcase was the big pile of beautiful fabric. I left it in Anne's capable hands. I had no idea what to expect, as I gave her very few suggestions. I felt that she was the expert and that she'd know what to do. Boy, did she ever!

This afternoon, Molly and I opened to door to see the FedEx man. In his hands was a box containing the Bai Jai Bei. Molly got the honor of ripping open the wrapping paper and discovering that the big pile of beautiful fabric was now her new quilt. She absolutely loved it!

The first thing she did was to lay it down on the floor and roll herself it.

Then she picked it up and hugged it.

Then she climbed on the sofa and wanted me to cover her with it. It was awesome. It was obvious that she knew it was for her and she bonded with it immediately.

Me? Well I was sitting there with tears rolling down my cheeks (no surprise there!). I never imagined it would be so beautiful! I immediately starting thinking how I was going to display it. My first thought was to hang it on the wall in the nursery.

I was about to go snatch the quilt from my daughter's grasp so it didn't get messed up before it went on display. On my way, I saw a note from Anne sitting on the floor. I chucked out loud as I read it. Here's a direct quote:

Although your Mom and Dad might want to preserve this quilt (by doing something silly like hanging it on a wall or putting it in a drawer) please don't let them! I hope that you will sleep with it, play with it, and take it with you on your adventures. The more it is used, the more worn out it will get, and that will mean you have loved it.

Well, guess who went upstairs to take a nap with a beautiful new quilt dragging behind her!

Anne is part of a group of 7 amazing women who began a friendship 20 years ago in college. Our lives have taken us in all different directions and to different parts of the country, but we have remained dedicated and true. Each person in the group has wonderful qualities that help to cement our friendships with each other. Anne has always been incredibly caring and selfless. I feel honored and grateful that she was the person to make this very special keepsake for Molly

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Anne!

Also, a big thanks to all who contributed beautiful fabric to the big pile!