Happy New Year

Wishing your family a happy healthy 2009

Liv is ready for the ball to drop!!!

A big happy new year from Olivia!!!

Oh how she's grown, this is Liv back on New Years Eve 2006!!!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas!!!

"Santa's watching you!!!"

I can't tell you how many times I have uttered those 3 words lately. We have been dealing with a bad case of toddler hood diva syndrome lately. The fact is the Santa threat does work. Liv will usually stop whatever it is she is doing and go off into the corner herself and then come back and tell me. "I happy Momma. Santa happy too" So she just works it our herself and then comes back by me when she is ready. Can someone tell me what I'm going to say after Christmas.

Actually Liv is only getting a few things this year because she doesn't really get Christmas yet. However every time we see a Santa, or she talks to him on the phone (Thanks Uncle John) she asks for the My Little Pony Amusement Park. It's funny because each time she see's a Santa she expects him to have it there with him. She doesn't get the whole presents under the tree thing yet.

We have been prepping for Christmas so here are some pictures from the last few weeks

Putting up the tree.

Liv loves the tree, she is always by it rearranging the ornaments.

Liv and Daddy helping with the garland.

Liv and I have also been baking. Here is Liv showing off the ones she made.

This one is for Santa.

Oops, we have had some accidents.

And we have been eating allot of cookie dough.

Their Christmas

Not too long ago I found out, through my adoption agencies message board, that it was possible to do a birth mother search. I had read other peoples posts about how the birth mother was found, and then you could send needed things to the birth mother. This non profit organization would also try to help the mother with donations and their services

Without hesitating I quickly emailed the woman from my agency, inquiring about how to do this, how much it would cost, the extent of contact I would have with the birth mother, etc.



When I told a friend about this, she paused for a moment and said, "Well wait a minute Nik, don't you think you should leave it up to Liv, to see if she even wants to find her birth mother, Maybe you should just wait till she's older and see if this is something she wants."



The truth is I didn't even think about what Liv would want. All I thought about was what my heart, my emotions, were telling me to do. In fact I think about Liv's birth mother often, every time she hits another milestone, or does something new or funny. I think of her when Liv is throwing a 2 year old tantrum, how would her birth mother handle this? Would her birth mother think I am spoiling Liv? Would she think I'm doing a good job raising Olivia?



All these things pop in my head from time to time, but lately , now two years after Liv has been home, what really occupies my thoughts is Liv's siblings. Olivia has 3 sisters and one brother all living with their Mother back in Guatemala. Her oldest sister is 12, her brother is 9, the other sister is 7 and the littlest one is 4. The oldest daughter goes to school the others don't. When I see Olivia curled up in her crib with 5 blankets, I wonder where they are sleeping. Are they begging for a tiny bit of food each day, when Olivia has her pick of the refrigerator anytime she wants. But lately as I am buying Liv Christmas presents, I think, what will Liv's birth families Christmas be like this year. Will their mother have to work, and the children be left at home alone. Do they believe that Santa will bring them something, when in truth there might be no money to buy food let alone a gift? There may not even be a house or a bed. Gifts might not even be a thought in their mind. They may need just basic food, water, and shelter.



Do I owe it to these children, Liv's brother and sisters to find their mother and try to help her anyway we can. Do I owe it to Liv to let it be her decision to find her birth family? Will Liv be mad at me in the future if I do the birth mother search? Will she be mad at me if I don't? I am haunted by these unanswered questions.

This I do know, whatever we decide to do, this Christmas I will be thinking about THEIR Christmas.

Why I limit her TV time

Liv usually only watches about 2 hours of TV a day. 1 hour of morning cartoons, and usually 1/2 hour before nap, and maybe 1 show at night. This video shows the reason why. If a show is on that she likes, she is glued to the TV. Here is Liv at a party Saturday night with her friend Tyler, right before we went home.

Crawling under a blanket

Why is it that this time of year makes you want to get under a warm blanket with a cup of hot coco, and just cozy up?????

When I should really have my butt out in the stores shopping. Seriously there are less than 3 weeks till Christmas. I have only one gift purchased, my Christmas cards need to be addressed, the tree isn't up, and Liv hasn't had her picture with Santa yet.

Am I the only one who is sooooooo far behind this year?????

Liv getting cozy under her blanket.

We have been watching all the Christmas shows on TV, It is so nice to see her enjoy all the shows I watched as a child.

Thanksgiving, RockBand, and Wedding

Thanksgiving was great, we ate way tooooo much, then Vaish and Jake brought Rockband over. If you've never played, you have to try it. Liv was just watching everyone play and then she begged to play the drums. So we disconnected the drum set and let her bang around while I sang the worst version of "Cheeseburger in Paradise" ever!!!
The wedding weekend was so much fun. Liv did great at the reception, all she wanted to do was dance. I would take her off the dance floor to get some water and after one sip of water she would drag me right back on. Of course I only have one picture from the wedding. I hope to get more so everyone can see how Liv was dancing the night away.




A picture before all the eating.

Liv playing with Uncle Jake!!

Liv and Mommy's duet, Vaishu Akka on the right was our only groupie.

Liv taking a break before her drum solo!!

Liv and Me in our Indian outfits!!!!

Busy Busy Busy Weekends

The last few weekends have been very busy, parties, people over, and then Liv and I spend the week recuperating. This weekend is our busiest yet. We have Thanksgiving at Vinay's Mom's, then we are headed to Philadelphia for an all weekend wedding. Liv will be wearing the cutest little Indian outfit. I hope I remember to take pictures, I have been so bad with taking pics lately.

Here is Liv in her leopard pants and boots.

Darn flash!!!!

Two girls, two families, one horrible disease

Over the last few months I have been following two very special blogs.
http://ferrickfamilypromise.blogspot.com/ and http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/



You may have seen these two precious girls on my sidebar. Both Bella and Abby are in the fight of their lives against Cancer. I have read as their Mom's describe cutting off their little girls hair as it falls out. I have read what their families have sacrificed as these two children have been in and out of the hospital.

These two stories are so close to my heart, because as I read all of their posts I am reliving my own fight with cancer as a child. I know the pain of the mouth sores, or the ache of your bones from Chemo. I saw my own mother cry uncontrollably as they told us the chemo protocol that would would put my life on hold for a year. Cancer should not be a word in a children's vocabulary. Cancer should not be in any ones vocabulary for that matter.



I ask that you add Bella and Abby to your prayers, please go visit their blogs and give their parents your support.



I also ask that you click here: http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.4510391/apps/ka/ct/contactus.asp?c=khLXK1PxHmF&b=4510391&en=7pKHKOPmE3JELNNoE7KFKYOAIfKTLZOyEeJRL6OME



It is the world cancer declaration that states

We the global cancer community call on governments, international governmental organizations, the international donor community, development agencies, professional organizations, the private sector and all civil society to take immediate steps to Support finding a cure for cancer.

Here is one of my favorite poems, and I think it says it all!!

What Cancer Cannot Do

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the Spirit

Suffering for her ART

Last week Olivia started on a painting binge. She always wants to paint, usually I'm fine with it, especially since the weather is cold and we can't play outside. However this morning Liv wanted to paint before breakfast. I said ok but only after we eat. Well when a girl wants to paint she's gotta paint!!!!!




Here is her reaction to my saying that she can only paint after we eat breakfast!!!

After about 10 minutes of tears she finally came to the table and ate, well most of her cereal, then she got right down to work.

Liv has been painting through allot of her emotions lately!!!

We'll call this one "Tears in the Morning" I'm thinking of putting it on ebay!!

No School for you

I guess school is not for everyone. At least not now.

As I said before Liv started school in October. The first few weeks were ok. She would cry when I dropped her and then stop as soon as I left and she would enjoy school. She would even be excited about going. Then something in her just changed. I don't know if she realized that I was never going to stay at school with her or if she just got even more attached to me and did not want to leave me to go. She was also beginning to be really clingy to the teacher all day.
Then suddenly she would ask me if she was going to school every day and at very random times. When I would say "No school today" she would be ok, but if I asked do you want to go to school, She would start to cry and get upset. Then one day I was with my Aunt and she asked how Olivia was doing with school, Olivia overheard this and got so upset, it took me about a half hour to calm her down. While she gets upset about this she holds on to me real tight and will not let me put her down.
Liv missed school last week because she was sick, then on Monday morning when it was time to get dressed Liv asked me if we were going to school, I knew I couldn't lie to her, so I said yes. She got so upset, crying, wouldn't let me dress her, holding into me. I couldn't even imagine how I was going to get us ready and get her into school. I caved, I tried to get her mind off of it ,and then later when she asked me, I said no school is closed for today.
So I think we have come to the conclusion that Liv might not be ready yet for school. I don't like that she is constantly thinking about going to school. And is so nervous that today she is going to school. Even when I talk about all the good things at school, and how her friends miss her, she still gets upset.
However I feel like a failure. I keep asking myself should I push her to go, am I being too easy, am I doing what is best for her??
That Mommy guilt will get you every time!!!!



Thanks for listening to me vent, now here is what you came for!!
Ahhh Winter is on it's way!!!!

Sad because all our flowers are gone for the winter!!!

November is national adoption month

Even Dogs are into adoption!

A male paternal dog has adopted an abandoned baby goat as his surrogate child.Billy the boxer has become the constant companion of the 12-day old kid called Lilly. He sleeps with the goat, licks her clean, and protects her from any dangers at Pennywell Farm Wildlife Centre at Buckfastleigh, near Totnes, Devon in England .

Billy and Lilly have formed a close bond. The kid was abandoned by her mother when she was only a few hours old and adopted by paternal Billy when his owner Elizabeth Tozer began hand rearing the goat.

Billy the boxer protects his little kid.Lilly was the smallest of a litter of three kids and her mother abandoned her because she could only care for the two stronger ones. The pair have attracted quite a crowd at the animal center and the staff are keen to see how their relationship will develop.

Nope not my dog Parker. Here he is ripping up one of Liv's toys!!!!

Happy Halloween Great Pumpkin

Halloween has been Liv's favorite topic these past few weeks. She loves to see all the Halloween decorations on the houses even the scary ones. This morning we went to the library and they had a Halloween story time and sing along, then the kids went to different parts of the library to go trick or treating. Olivia loved it.



Getting a treat from Bert, no Ernie was there, just Bert.

Trick or Treating in the library.

Olivia and her friend Milania after story time.

Olivia posing in her costume the day we bought it.

Liv posing at my Mom's house.

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

"Scool" bus or a future Chickenbus

One thing Liv loves is school buses. Every time she sees one on the road, she screams in delight and yells "scool". My uncle owns a used car dealership, and finally got in some new buses so I let Liv play around in them. My Uncle actually sells the buses to guys from Guatemala and they then drive them back and resells them in the country. Yes these are future chickenbuses!!!



Don't worry none of the buses were running!!!

Mommy I'm on a real bus!!!

Mom, this way to the open road!!!

Before




After

The man behind the whole operation

Since Liv came into our lives, our lives have revolved around her. I am always bad about letting Liv take all my attention, and then when she is in bed, just being mentally and physically exhausted so there is nothing left of me for Vinay.

Every once in awhile a date comes up that makes me remember where it all started and how we came to be this wonderful family. 13 years ago today in my dorm room, while watching the movie "Speed", a skinny, 21 year old boy, kissed me and changed my life forever. I didn't initially want to start a relationship, because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. I thank God everyday that I took that chance and started dating my best friend.

Vinay you are the most honest, trustworthy, considerate man I have ever met. When I need someone to lead, you walk in front of me, when I need my space, you walk behind me, but most importantly you walk beside me and hold my hand through wherever life takes us. I love you.

Now just for laughs lets take a walk down memory lane.


My sorority formal, just a month after we started dating. (Love that earring Vinay)

Ahh so young, (this picture makes me miss my Sara Palin bangs)

Fun times at the shore house Summer of 98

My favorite wedding picture of us. July 20 2008

Our Indian Wedding Ceremony was so much fun. Thanks for putting up with my Bridezillaness!!

Aruba, and all our fun travels in the early years of our marriage.

Waiting for our miracle to make us a family.

Finally a family!!!! Vinay you really are the man behind this whole operation!!!!

Love

Nik and Liv

Both of us working hard and a question

Both Liv and I have been hard at work on separate projects

Here is Liv, hard at work on her drawing and writing skills. This desk is my latest trash to treasure. The best part of the desk is that the top flips up and then there are magnetic letters to work with.

Don't bother me with that camera when I'm working. Yes this sweet little girl can give some dirty looks.

OK I'll just ignore you and keep writing.


Now for the project I have been working on, everyone knows how I've been trying to get healthy food in my daughter who refuses to eat. Well over the summer Liv really got into eating ice cream and ice pops, so I had to come up with a way to make that a healthy snack/meal for her. What I started to do was make up yogurt connections and freezing them to make it look like ice cream cups.

Here is my latest recipe
1 small container of fiber 1 yogurt. Only use this brand if your kid is constipated, otherwise use plain yogurt
1 small cup of any flavor applesauce. Here I used the berry blend from Motts, no sugar added
2 tablespoons of pedisure for the vitamins.
2 tablespoons of baby cereal, yes I still buy this.
Mix all ingredients in small bowl by hand or use a handheld mixer for it to become frothy.
Pour into small cups
Top with a few sprinkles or nonpareils
Freeze and serve.

Now here is a question, if you saw something like this for sale in a supermarket or healthfood store would you buy it for your kids.

I've been experimenting with different desserts that are actually good for you, and just wondering if there is a market out there for it?
Please be honest!!!!!!!!!!