Saturday, December 30, 2006

Look at this baby new year


Olivia says "See you in 2007"

I must say I'm sad to see 2006 go. It has been such a wonderful year. But I know next year will be even better.

I wish everyone a happy healthy new year.






For those waiting for their babies, I know this year will be wonderful because your babies will be home with you. And for those of us who have our children home, I know 2007 will be better than we ever could have imagined, because our families are complete.



See you next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, December 29, 2006

I've been tagged

Ok here it goes

A: AVAILABLE OR TAKEN: Taken
B: BEST FRIEND: Vinay and my Mom
C: CAKE OR PIE: Pie but only key lime
D: DRINK OF CHOICE: Red wine
E: ESSENTIAL ITEM YOU USE EVERYDAY: Shampoo, I hate when my hair is dirty
F: FAVORITE COLOR: Blue
G: GUMMY BEAR OR WORMS: Neither
H: HOMETOWN: South River NJ
I: INDULGENCE: reality TV
J: JANUARY OR FEBUARY: Febuary
K: KIDS AND NAMES: Olivia almost 8 months
L: LIFE INCOMPLETE WITHOUT: Family
M: MARRIAGE DATE: 7/20/02
N: NUMBER OF SIBLING : 0 I'm an only child.
O: ORANGES OR APPLES: ORANGES esp. Clementines
P: PHOBIAS OR FEARS: Clowns
Q: FAVORITE QUOTE: Too many to list
R: REASON TO SMILE: So many!!!!! Olivia's laugh, Vinay's hugs, my aunts homemade cookies, I could go on and on
S: SEASON: Summer
T: TAG someone: Julia
U: UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I have super sensitive nose, I can smell anything
V: VEGGIE YOU DON'T LIKE: cabbage
W: WORST HABIT: procrastination, and misspelling
X: X-RAYS: So many, I would get them once a month when I was sick
Y: YOUR FAVORITE FOOD: Seafood
Z: ZODIAC: Virgo

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Christmas day


Christmas day we were at my Mom's in the morning, then we drove up to Vinay's Mom's for dinner, and a sleepover. Vinay's sister and her husband to be spoiled Liv. From the picture you can see that it was very laid back. For some reason Parker's eyes are glowing in these pictures.




We had to bribe Parker to keep the antlers on. But don't they both look ready to get on Santa's sled.







"Parker just smile so they can take the picture and then we can open our gifts."














Parker says "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night" Posted by Picasa

Christmas eve




Olivia comes face to face with santa(my cousin) at our annual Christmas eve celebration









Once again she just looked straight ahead scared to death.







Olivia and her 2nd cousin Charlotte. Charlotte lives on a farm in NJ, yes we do have some in this state, and I know Liv and Charlie will spend lots of time playing there.







How cute is this picture!!!!!!!!! Posted by Picasa

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Liv finally meets Santa


Waiting on line to see Santa. We got there just in time. He was about to leave This picture came out blury. I'll post a better one later in the week. Olivia was a good girl she was about to cry but she just sucked on her lower lip and had a look of panic on her face.
I think Liv must of asked santa for her 2 front teeth, because one broke thru last night, we're hopeing the other bottom one comes tonight.

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to all my blog friends! Your comments and support over the last few months have ment so much to me. Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

On the mend

I would never post such bad pictures of myself, but I like this one because of the pillow behind us
And this one because we both just passed out and both of us rarely do that outside of my bed and her crib.
Liv went to the DR monday and she has bronchittis, me just a wicked cold. So we have been in all week. Luckly Vinay is taking care of us, since he is off all week.
Tomorrow we hope to finally take Liv to see Santa at the mall and finish some last minute shopping.

Monday, December 18, 2006

The Christmas Yuck!!!!!


"Hey Mom when are the gates going up, I can almost climb this"

Santa Has not come to our house yet but the Christmas Yuck has. Thats right, the nasty phlemy, snotty, cough producing, virus that comes right before Christmas, to turn your house into the sick ward. Once again the house smells like Vicks and we are quartined.

For all those wondering how Friday night went, I had a great time. After 2 glasses of wine and a phone call home to check on Liv and Grandma, I was at ease and ready to party. Most people who knew about the adoption wanted to talk about that so I was set. However when I woke up at 5 am with a pounding headache, red velvet cake on my awsome new outfit, and a hangover that lasted for 2 days, I was wishing I had just stayed home. All in all it was good to get out, but I would much rather stay home with Vinay and liv and have a nice quite evening as a family.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Just me obsessing

Olivia really started crawling this week. Time to put up the safety gates
"All this crawling is hard work! Or maybe it's my cold that is knocking me out!"

Yes she is on the move. Gone are the days when I could leave her with a toy and load the dishwasher or answer the phone. Now I have to have my eye on her every move. Especially because of her new interest in plugs and wires.

It seems every week I am obsessing about something usually it's something to do with Olivia. Vinay always says I'm not happy unless I'm worrying about something. 2 weeks ago it was because Liv had her first cold, we survived. Last week it was the christmas shopping, which still isn't done. At the beginning of the week it was that I had nothing to wear to Vinay's work Christmas party on Friday. On Monday I used my Ann Taylor Loft gift certificate to get an awsome outfit. I really needed something since all I wear are sweats anymore. Liv also has another cold, but surviving the last one has put me at ease for this one. Then last night as I tried to go to sleep it popped into my mind. How am I going to make small talk at this party. What if I have nothing interesting to say. The fact is since Liv has been home I have thought of nothing but her. What time did she eat? Is she due for a nap? Did she poop today? Sure to my friends I can carry on a conversation, but even then 80% of the conversation is about Liv. Even with Vinay it's, "Guess what Liv ate today? or did that sound like a cough to you?" In 2 months as a stay at home mom my brain has turned to mush. Don't get me wrong there is nothing I would rather do than to be home with Olivia. It's just that I haven't read a book or opened the newspaper. During Entertainment Tonight I'm usually giving her a bath. And since all tv shows are in reruns, I've got nothing.
So today I stocked up on my celebrity gossip magazines, a newspaper, and I will try to stay awake during the news. Hopefully talk of Nicole Richie's DUI, and the weather will get me thru the night. It all else fails a few glasses of wine should bring out something interesting. Wish me luck as I go to my first all adult evening.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

And the winner is!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WHITE,
Thanks to everyone who voted. White had 7 votes and red had 4. I was leaning tward the white because it is different. But what I might do is have her wear thw white Christmas eve and the red Christmas day. Both dresses were on sale, pluse she deserves 2 dresses.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Help I can't make up my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I bought Olivia 2 dresses for christmas and I can't decide. Please vote for the red, which is velvet on top and has a cute pettycoat under the skirt, or the white, which is has little gold snowflakes sewn into it. She will wear the dress to sit on Santa's lap, and for our big Christmas eve celebration at my Aunts house.

Friday, December 08, 2006

An ode to my Mom


Here is the picture I had on our Christmas card/birth announcment. I would have posted it but Vinay doesn't like me putting our last name on the internet.
It said "Our Christmas present came early" and then Olivia's birth date and the date she came home.


Thanks to everyone for all the nice comments about my Mom. Yes she is beautiful, but she is shy about taking pictures.Becoming a mother myself has really made me appreciate my Mother all the more. She was a single mom, and in 1974, that was not the norm. She had the courage to have me on her own, and build her life around me. She had to be strong enough to be both my father and mother. She has been my biggest supporter, especially throughout the adoption. Now when I'm taking care of Olivia, I think how did she do this on her own. I think about how scared she must have been, and how hard she worked to support us. And she did it all with the best sense of humor and the most relaxed attitude. Now I get to see another side of her as a grandma. The soft side, that only grandmas have. Now we are so lucky to have Liv, and share the girl bond that my Mom and I have.
Happy weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Liv ia 7 months and finally a picture with Grandma














Olivia is 7 months old today. Everyday she is doing something new. Last week she started getting up on all fours, and this week she is rocking, getting ready to take off and crawl. She is just amazing, and I never knew I could love someone so much.
I found this Christmas bear in with the decorations and it sings the most annoying song, Liv thinks it's hillarious. When she hears it she stops what she's doing and lays flat on her belly and screams with delight.
















My Mom finally let me take a picture of her with Olivia. She hates to have her picture taken. We visit with her at least 2 times a week. She is crazy about Liv and needs her weekly fix of her. Liv loves to go to her grandmas, and she takes the best naps there, sometimes there three hours long.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Deck the halls




Our Christmas tree is up.
We carried our tree up from the basment fully assembled, because we were to lazy to put it away correctly last January.
We are finally in the Christmas mood in our house.






Olivia is in love with books, and when she plays with them, it really looks like she is reading

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Olivia takes a bite out of the "big apple"



Yesterday Liv visited New York City for the first time.
14 years ago I was treated for Rabdomayosarcoma, at Sloan Kettering hospital in NYC. I have been cancer free ever since, but yearly I have to go back for check ups. So yesterday, the day they were lighting the Christmas tree, we made the trip. Of course all my Dr's thought she was just the cutest, which she is. We wanted to take Olivia to see the tree, but it was a mad house around that area, so we opted to go to my favorite place to eat, Angels. It is all fresh homemade Italian pasta. Luckly they had a little tree there so we took a picture in front of it.
In the other picture you can see the empire state building, which is decked out in red and green. I just love the holiday's in the city!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, November 27, 2006

Feeling better


I'm happy to report that both Vinay and Liv are feeling better.
I must say the whole house smells like Vicks vapor rub. I had a plug in, in Olivia room, I had it on my chest, and I was giving Liv vapor baths. The minute you walk thru the front door your nasel passages open up.
Last night the 2 of them we so exhausted they fell asleep like this watching "The Amazing Race"

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Thanksgiving : Turkey and the sniffles




Thanksgiving was great. We went to Vinay's Mom's and ate way too much. We slept over thanksgiving night and the next night. Olivia slept great in the pack and play. Unfortunatly both Vinay and Liv came home with a cold. Last night she was up every 2 hours because she was so stuffy. Luckly it's just a cold and no fever. My poor baby I think I feel worse for her than she actually feels.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Shoe therapy is good for the sole!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I took my blogger friends advice.
Today I went to my Mom's house, she watched Liv while I went to Macy's to pay my charge.
While I was there the shoe department was calling my name, so I wondered over and found a great pair of boots for $49.99 and it was 20% off if you used your credit card.
I can't pass up a great deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn't even go up to the children's department.
Just an hour to myself.

Monday, November 20, 2006

It's beginning to look allot like "Winter"


Ok is suppos to be Christmas, but I'm not ready for the Christmas season yet. I just don't know how I'm going to do any shopping this year.
Today was cold here and it's the first day I had to bundel Liv up. She is doing great but we're still waiting for those pesky teeth to make an appearence.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Comic relief

I've figured out life with a baby is allot like living in a frat house.
Everyone up at all hours of the night,
Bottels lay everywhere, ok there baby bottels, but still bottels.
The toilet's haven't been cleaned in a long time,
The place is just a mess,
Dishes piled up in the sink,
No laundry being done,
Some people have gone days without showering.
Pizza boxes litter the garbage,
And thanks to Parker, there is now even puke on the lawn.

Life is good, even if it isn't perfect.

I just wanted to say thank you to all the Mom's who have reached out to me, with their comments, phone calls and emails. It's so comforting to know that I'm not alone.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

4 weeks



Well today marks 4 weeks since we got home.

It feels like she's been here longer.I love this picture of Vinay and Liv because they look so comfortable together. I also must say Vinay has just been incredable with her and seeing him with her, makes me fall even more in love with him.

Well last week I told you how good Liv was eating. Well the cereal was making her bloated so she wasn't drinking her bottel. One of my many mistakes. Liv has also decided that she wants to wake up during the night but not drink a bottel, or go back to sleep.

I am finally realizing how tough being a parent is. I love her so much and I want to do everything right so I have been stressing out. Big time!!!!!!!!!!! Last week was a killer.

Vinay worked late Monday and Tuesday, got home at 10 then Wednesday he had to catch a 5Am train to Baltimore. He didn't get home till 4pm Thursday. I did as best I could without him, but it was hard. By Friday night I was fried. My wonderful, fantastick husband. Let me sleep in the guest room friday night, so I wouldn't hear the monitor, and got up with her all night. Did I mention Liv has been getting up more than once. He is so wonderful.

I have really been enjoying being a full time Mom, but I have my moments, when I think "I don't know what I'm doing? I don't know how I'm going to do this? Or how I will be the Mom she deserves?" The sleep deprevation isn't helping me much either. I know this is all first time mommy stress, and I really didn't think I would stress since she's already 6 months, and we waited so long for her, but here I am. A stressed out crazy lady, who needs a haircut, bad, and is just trying to figure all this stuff out.

And you all thought the drama was over once the adoption was complete.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Eating good in the neighborhood




This cutie is eating like crazy. Cereal that is. Tonight she ate 3 bowls. I started with 2 tablespoons, she gobbled it up so I made another tablespoon. She finished that off, so I made another. Then I said to Vinay she must be thirsty with all that food, so I put some water in a sippy cup. No dice, so I took the top off the cup and put it too her mouth. Guess what she drank. Ok she was licking it up like a cat, but still. Then I started crying, nooooo, she growing up too fast.

Next week it will be 1 month since she's been home. Wow did that go quick. It feels like she's always been here, but still when I hear her babbeling thru the monitor in the morning I can't believe she's home. We are so lucky that she found us, and I am so grateful to the wonderful agency we had.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Rock the vote


Yes today we spent the whole day in our jammies, but we did make it out to vote. The poll workers must have thought I was crazy taking pictures in there, so I had to explain the whole story on how she is adopted and this will be her first vote as an american.
Food update: Olivia has started on cereal last week and is doing great, she loves it, and will just keep eating and eating. By the end of the week we hope to start on some veggies

Sunday, November 05, 2006

1st date


On saturday Olivia's boyfriend finally came to see her. This is Nicholas and Liv loved him.Although the date was short, because both Liv and Nicholas had to take a nap, Liv is looking forward to spending more time with him. On Sunday I took Liv to her first baby shower, and of course she was a hit. She looked especially cute in her red outfit complete with beret.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Tastes like chicken


Here she is, our little chicken. Liv had a very busy halloween. I took her to my Mom's, then it was off to work to show her off, finally Vinay came home and we took her to some of the neighbors to show her off some more.
The poor little girl was exhausted, and had to go to bed early.
Her first halloween was so fun, and I am so happy she was home for it.

Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 30, 2006

Popular girl

Olivia had another busy weekend. On Saturday she went to her first Haloween party, she was dressed up as a Chicken.
Then that night her Aunt Sara and Uncle Dennis came to visit. She really got a kick out of them and she stayed up very late.
Then on Sunday she had a whole group of friends come and visit her. Her friends Ava Bella, Addie, Evan and Alex.
Liv was so tired that she slept a full 8 hours last night.
sorry blogger won't let me post pictures I'll try during the week.
I hope to post a big halloween spread on Wed.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

my 2 cents


After watching the Madonna interview on Oprah

today I thought I would climb up on my soap box and talk about adoption. In the interview Madonna says that what hurts her the most with all this bad press is that it might discourage other people from adopting. if you did not see the interview I would hope that people would try and read the transcrips from the show. What struck me the most was that Madonna did go thru the steps of a homestuday, an interview with the birthfather in court. During this interview the father stated that he did want his son, whome he put in an orphanage at 2 weeks old, to have a better shot at life. So he did agree to the adoption. Then this man was hounded by the press and countinually asked time and again if he was sure he made the right decision. Of course the press is now twisting his words and saying that he did not want the adoption. This hit home for me. I can't imaging Liv's birthmom going tru this. I can't bear to think that this woman would have to relive probably the most difficult decision of her life.

Do I believe that celebrities get special treatment in adoption, of course, they do in everything. However Adoption is hard anyway you cut it. Not just the paperwork, and the travel, and the not knowing. I never could imagin how someone could love a child that they never met. Or that you could long for a child that you only held for 5 days. But I did. The only way to descibe the feeling is to imagin yourself with a huge gaping hole in your chest that never goes away. Adopting Olivia was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and I've beat cancer. But this was 10 times harder. But I can honestly say I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. It was the hardest but the best thing I have ever done, and I thank God for giving her to us.

So I would say that if you every even thought about adopting to look deep inside yourself and follow your heart. Their are so many children all over the world who need families, who need someone to love them. The press should be showcasing them and not be worried about just gossip.

But that just my opinion.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Our weekend of visitors





This weekend our house was filled with people and Olivia loved every minute of it.

On Friday her Aunt Vaishu, and Uncle Jake came to see her, and she was all smiles.

On Saturday her Bapamom came to see her again.

On Sunday her Uncle John and Aunt Jenene came to visit. They will be having a little friend for Olivia in February, and we can't wait.

Then came to big meeting of the weekend. Olivia and Parker meet for the first time. Olivia loved him. Parker was less than thrilled. He kept wanting to lick her. Then he didn't like it when she cried. He also didn't want anyone to pay any attention to her. He just wanted all the attention. After awhile he did calm down and finally he even snuggled up to her.

Olivia is doing great she is sleeping well, and is generally happy. we are switching her forumla so she is getting some stomach achs, and her burps are starting to sound like Homer Simpson. But we are sticking with it so she can start on cereal next week.

Sometimes I can't believe she is home. Every once in awhile it hits me. Like during her 4am feeding when I see her big dark eyes staring up at me over her bottel. I just want to cry I love her so much. She is truly a blessing and we are so lucky to have her. I will try to post more this week, and especially with Halloween coming up.

Have a great week everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, October 20, 2006

1st trip to the doctor


Doesn't she look huge in this picture. Well she's not, it just that she is all bundeled up to go out in the rainy windy weather.
The Dr went well, she now weighs 14 pounds, and she is 24 inches, so she is our little munchkin. She was such a good girl at her appt. happy and content, and luckly she was up to date on her vaccinations so no shots.
Tomorrow I start swiching over her forumla, and in about a week she can start on some cereal.
As per my friend Kwis's comment on my last post. Yes she has been having a pacifier a few times. I really try to not give it, but yesterday I wanted to take her for a walk, and the last 2 times I took her in her stroller she hated, Like I had to turn aroung and carry her back. Which is strange since she loved her stroller at the hotel. So I gave her the pacifier and she was nice and calm and enjoyed the walk. I have always been anti pacifier, and since she never had one with her foster mother I didn't want to start it, but once again I am breaking the mommy rules I set up for myself. Oh well she's the boss now.
Happy weekend everyone!!!!!!!!!!!