Thats is....6 days and we are moving out of our townhouse! Most of me is relieved that the countdown is in single digits. I am slightly sad....as there are many things I will miss out here in Pittsburgh. Mostly I am excited to move forward in this new direction and start this next journey of our life. We have an action packed week starting this past saturday. Saturday we had our 2nd post placement visit. Everything went well, there truly isn't too much to say about it. We talked all about what would happen with our move, how Leah was thriving, and what we've been up to the past few months. Another thing checked off the adoption "to-do" checklist and one step closer to finalization, which seems a million miles away. I think next time we need to look out of state as PA adoption laws are slightly ridiculous.
On Sunday we met L, her daughter and her mother at the "Big Mac Mcdonalds Museum" for lunch since it had a large play area for L's daughter. Once again we had a great visit and part of me left that visit sad that we are moving so far away. I never imagined thats how I would feel a mere 3 months after placement. She is a wonderful person with a big heart and a mother and daughter who just delight me in so many ways. I truly thankful that we are so blessed that they are now in our life. I am glad Leah will grow up knowing her "half sister". I am glad that L will always be there for Leah, if she would ever need it.
Today we have a visit with Kim, Leahs foster mom. Of course after we stop by my old job to say goodbye to everyone there. Hopefully Leah will be full of smiles today and make it through like a trooper!!
Last week we had her 4 month appointment. Her weigh in.....wait for it.....16 lbs and 14 ounces! She was 24.5 inches. She survived her shots with some crying, but she also cried when the doctor measured her head so I had little hope for a tear free shot session. Ha! She has been a little off all week, mostly with feeding so I'm guessing her belly was a little bothered by something those shots delivered. She has learned to push up onto straight elbows this week and now likes belly time so much more now. She has realized she can reach out for a toy and play with it while laying on her tummy and therefore remains a bit entertained. She has not rolled over yet but I suspect the time is nearing. Everyday she shows me a little more determination and her personality continues to be laid back and happy. She is more clear about what she wants and will work hard to get it! She now babbles ALL the time. If I leave her alone in a room she yells for me to come back and then laughs when I enter the room again...little stinker! We continue to formula feed only as I am planning to start cereal after the move. She has started to blow bubbles and thinks it funny to do that when she is feeding sometimes....how can you not laugh as you are being sprayed with formula when this little devious grin emerges around the nipple of the bottle. I am blessed. Truly.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
4 month preview!
The craziness of life has caught up with me and blogging has fallen way down on the list of things to do. We move in two weeks out of our old house and in three weeks we will be moving into our new house. We are inching our way to the finish line of this whole moving process and I am ever so excited. The process has been daunting at times and I am glad soon it will be over.
We have had an unexpected death in the family and all are still recovering from that. Mikes grandfather passed away at the age of 89. He has been so healthy until recently so his passing was a shock to his close knit family. I'm sure their strength as a family will pull them through this time and I hope that the good memories of his life keep the warmness in their hearts.
Leah turned 4 months old last week!! We missed her well baby check up due to the unfortunate circumstance and then proceeded to miss the second appointment due to another snow storm! I must admit at some level I am glad we missed it...I am not looking forward to those shots. Monday though we are off to get her official weigh in and the oh so pleasant shots.
Without delay....a few pictures of this cutie!
We have had an unexpected death in the family and all are still recovering from that. Mikes grandfather passed away at the age of 89. He has been so healthy until recently so his passing was a shock to his close knit family. I'm sure their strength as a family will pull them through this time and I hope that the good memories of his life keep the warmness in their hearts.
Leah turned 4 months old last week!! We missed her well baby check up due to the unfortunate circumstance and then proceeded to miss the second appointment due to another snow storm! I must admit at some level I am glad we missed it...I am not looking forward to those shots. Monday though we are off to get her official weigh in and the oh so pleasant shots.
Without delay....a few pictures of this cutie!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy V-Day
Celebrating Valentines Day this year is on the low priority list. Finding a house and packing our stuff has topped all other events. Mike went to the store yesterday for a few essentials and came back with M&M's which he bought for me and a Snickers bar which I apparently bought for him. That about sums up our V-day gifts! Isn't he cute! Love him! I have all I could want for Valentines...she is sleeping peacefully in her crib making tiny little noises which make your heart melt. Talk about love....doesn't get any better than that!
House update! Hopefully today we will find out if we came to an agreement on the house we are bidding on. This house is near a park and schools and has lots of room for us a continue to grow as a family. We are excited that in a months time we may be in our new home ! Keep those fingers crossed.
Leah loved getting to spend time around both sets up grandparents this past week. I can tell she misses them...soon we will all be close for more frequent visits. It is amazing how much joy a little girl can bring to some many others. Nana and Mimi...if you are reading this...we miss you....we'll be there soon.....and in 6 months time Leah will be pulling things off your shelves and in a year she will be destroying an kind of semblance you may have had in your house. Can't wait!!
I know you are waiting for pictures.....I will add a post for that in a few days. Putting pics on the computer is low priority!!
House update! Hopefully today we will find out if we came to an agreement on the house we are bidding on. This house is near a park and schools and has lots of room for us a continue to grow as a family. We are excited that in a months time we may be in our new home ! Keep those fingers crossed.
Leah loved getting to spend time around both sets up grandparents this past week. I can tell she misses them...soon we will all be close for more frequent visits. It is amazing how much joy a little girl can bring to some many others. Nana and Mimi...if you are reading this...we miss you....we'll be there soon.....and in 6 months time Leah will be pulling things off your shelves and in a year she will be destroying an kind of semblance you may have had in your house. Can't wait!!
I know you are waiting for pictures.....I will add a post for that in a few days. Putting pics on the computer is low priority!!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sold
Finally!! (Imagine me jumping for joy as you read this post!) We sold our house yesterday!! Leah and I were visiting with Mike across state when the offer came in so we were all together as this unfolded. The first offer was a little lower than we hoped but we countered and the buyer accepted. The buyer wants to close mid-March...yikes!! We are now on the hunt to find a house pronto! The snow is going to keep us a little sidelined but we are scheduled to be out looking at houses Sunday morning. I am super excited to find our new home. The snow is coming down in buckets....it looks like we got around 12 inches so far and it just keeps coming. I love it....too bad my skies are 4 hours away! I did bring Leah's snowsuit.....I think we will be getting a few pictures of her out in the snow. Speaking of Leah....she is turning into a hawk...it is soo cute. She looks and studies everything...to the point she doesn't want to eat! She watches everything and really has no time for food. She will eat 3-4 ounces and then it is time to play and see what else is going on. She is working on rolling over....Im guessing it won't be too much longer until that happens. She loves moving around and loves when I hold her forward facing in the sling while I am working. She continues to have the best personality...smiling at everyone! Love her, love her, love her!!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Warm Fuzzy Feelings
Have I told you how many times tears swell in my eyes when I look in the eyes of my precious daughter? Often...very very often...my heart melts with love for this little girl.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Birthmother Visit
Yesterday we went to visit with Leahs birthmother. Was I nervous...no. Was I anxious...nope. Was I excited...yes. Did I think there would be awkward moments...no. The trust and friendship that "L" and I have formed since placement is truly incredible. I don't really talk about it much...on some level I don't feel I need to defend my position with open adoption and on another level I feel this relationship is sacred to my immediate family. It is deeply personal and I truly dont want to hear any negative beliefs on open adoption nor am I very tolerant of misunderstandings of this relationship. I don't expect people to truly understand how I am so comfortable with this relationship. Until you are knee deep you can't fully understand. With that being said, I will now delve deeper into these feelings and experiences (you won't hear this information much from me....but someday I wanted Leah to be able to read these words and feel the love).
Yesterday was a gift from God. My memories flash back to us sitting at The Childrens Home in a meeting about openness. I remember thinking...I want to know the birthmom...I want to know the birthfather...I want to have a relationship. Yes...a little extreme and unguarded...but that is who I am. Over the past few months (we have only had Leah 2 months now)....L and I have sent emails.....then we became Fac*book friends....now we text each other....and if we feel we need to talk we call. How did I get want I wanted? Well....I didn't exactly get what I wanted....I don't know Leahs birthfather. But for return of letting go of that hope I became friends with a truly amazing person who made me a mother. When I think about my relationship with L these words come to mind....easy....truthful....devoted....inspiring...love...unjudgemental....trust. In two months...those are the words....truly amazing! Obviously you can tell that all of us were at a point where we wanted to get together and continue on this path. We made arrangements to visit at her parents house. My mom joined us as well as her parents and her daughter. The only worry I had was...should I bring anything! Kinda funny to think about that now...but I had no nerves or anxiety about seeing her or her family. We had never met her daughter...and she was as cute and bubbling as all 2.5 years old are! L's mom held Leah first...I can tell she was ready to scoop her up. Unfortunately Leah is in a little bit of a "momma girls" stage and wasnt too keen on anyone else holdng her. She blessed everyone with a few tears and "joyous" cries that only a mother can appreciate. We spent three hours getting to know each other better....watching Leah play with her birthsister....sharing stories about this journey...and just getting to know one another better. We had some good laughs....we had a few tears....but we never did feel awkward. My favorite story told by L was about placement day. L and her mom had an hour visit with Leah before we arrived at placement. During the visit Leah was restless and squirmy in L's lap. At placement L handed me Leah for me to hold as we shared a few sacred moments. Leah instantly became calm and feel asleep. As L's mom said...."Leah knew that is where she belonged". I'm sure that moment has aided them in their healing. During the visit my mom got to get to know L's parents and truly enjoyed her time with both of them. She got to meet the person who made her daughter into a mother...and for that she is truly grateful. Leah dictated that is was time to leave with some crying.....and out the door we headed. Before we left there were a round of hugs and a few tears shed by many. We all agree that Gods hand has touched us all and made this happen. L and her family have so much love for this little girl and they truly believe that we were always meant to be her parents. We are so grateful that we are blessed to have their trust and blessed to have found a new friendship with all of them.
Yesterday was a gift from God. My memories flash back to us sitting at The Childrens Home in a meeting about openness. I remember thinking...I want to know the birthmom...I want to know the birthfather...I want to have a relationship. Yes...a little extreme and unguarded...but that is who I am. Over the past few months (we have only had Leah 2 months now)....L and I have sent emails.....then we became Fac*book friends....now we text each other....and if we feel we need to talk we call. How did I get want I wanted? Well....I didn't exactly get what I wanted....I don't know Leahs birthfather. But for return of letting go of that hope I became friends with a truly amazing person who made me a mother. When I think about my relationship with L these words come to mind....easy....truthful....devoted....inspiring...love...unjudgemental....trust. In two months...those are the words....truly amazing! Obviously you can tell that all of us were at a point where we wanted to get together and continue on this path. We made arrangements to visit at her parents house. My mom joined us as well as her parents and her daughter. The only worry I had was...should I bring anything! Kinda funny to think about that now...but I had no nerves or anxiety about seeing her or her family. We had never met her daughter...and she was as cute and bubbling as all 2.5 years old are! L's mom held Leah first...I can tell she was ready to scoop her up. Unfortunately Leah is in a little bit of a "momma girls" stage and wasnt too keen on anyone else holdng her. She blessed everyone with a few tears and "joyous" cries that only a mother can appreciate. We spent three hours getting to know each other better....watching Leah play with her birthsister....sharing stories about this journey...and just getting to know one another better. We had some good laughs....we had a few tears....but we never did feel awkward. My favorite story told by L was about placement day. L and her mom had an hour visit with Leah before we arrived at placement. During the visit Leah was restless and squirmy in L's lap. At placement L handed me Leah for me to hold as we shared a few sacred moments. Leah instantly became calm and feel asleep. As L's mom said...."Leah knew that is where she belonged". I'm sure that moment has aided them in their healing. During the visit my mom got to get to know L's parents and truly enjoyed her time with both of them. She got to meet the person who made her daughter into a mother...and for that she is truly grateful. Leah dictated that is was time to leave with some crying.....and out the door we headed. Before we left there were a round of hugs and a few tears shed by many. We all agree that Gods hand has touched us all and made this happen. L and her family have so much love for this little girl and they truly believe that we were always meant to be her parents. We are so grateful that we are blessed to have their trust and blessed to have found a new friendship with all of them.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Reality
Mike started his new job the beginning of this month. Today begins the 4th week we are living apart. The reality is that I hate this. I am sad every Sunday when we must say our goodbyes and tears swell in my eyes when he says goodbye to Leah. I am mostly sad he is missing her. I'm trying not to complain too much because this is everything I wanted...I just hope we won't have to live apart much longer. We have had 7 showings for our house....and one second showing for a young couple. Apparently they were going to the bank to put financial information together.....that was a week ago. I have heard they haven't put in an offer anywhere....so hopefully it will come this week. The realtor received lots of positive feedback from 4 of the 7 showings...I have yet to hear about the other 3 since they were this weekend. I guess first time homebuyers take a little longer to decide....which is frustrating for me! As my mom says, this too shall pass.
Leah is growing like a weed. I did the home method of weighing her ( weigh myself and then weigh myself holding her) and she weighed in at a whopping 15.4 lbs!! I will measure her today......but I'm guessing 24 inches. I think she may have had a growth spurt this past week....she ate more for a few days and then slept long the next few. Her is talking all the time and she is much louder than she used to be. My love grows for her each day....she is such a joy. Here's the little turkey at 3 months!!
Leah is growing like a weed. I did the home method of weighing her ( weigh myself and then weigh myself holding her) and she weighed in at a whopping 15.4 lbs!! I will measure her today......but I'm guessing 24 inches. I think she may have had a growth spurt this past week....she ate more for a few days and then slept long the next few. Her is talking all the time and she is much louder than she used to be. My love grows for her each day....she is such a joy. Here's the little turkey at 3 months!!
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