Life with Liv

The Long Goodbye

2011-08-15T22:39:00.003-04:00

Today we begin to say goodbye to Pop, each of us in our own way. Unfortunately Alzheimer's took you away from us many years ago. But Pop you are so much more than that, and we will always remember you as the the strong, stubborn, proud man, just like in these pictures.

We will always love you!!!!!!!!!!!!

gymnastics 5/18/11

2011-06-22T21:04:00.009-04:00

On Saturday Liv had her first gymnastics competition

She did a floor routine.

And the balance beam

She got 5th place for balance beam and 3rd place for her floor routine.

She loved her teacher Ms. Annie

And we got an extra performance at home

Olivia is 5 at OneTrueMedia.com

2011-05-05T14:39:00.001-04:00

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A very un-update on the adoption.

2011-01-05T15:23:00.001-05:00

Today January 5th marks 2 months since our paperwork arrived in Guanajuato Mexico. It has been in Mexico since August. I didn't expect to hear anything of an update but I decided yesterday to call my agency. They did not hear anything about our case while they were in Mexico. They did tell us that they felt extremely safe while in the country. That's a relief. They did talk to the officials in Mexico City concerning adoptions between Mexico and the US. Mexico does want to work with the US, and so far my agency is the only one licenced to work in Mexico. Our agency has about 12 other families trying to adopt from the state of Toluca. We are the first family on the list for Guanajuato. That's the good news.

What is discouraging is that my agency has not matched any families yet. Some dossiers have been in country for over a year. It is so frustrating to think that a year from now we could still be no closer to being matched with a child. It breaks my heart that another Christmas has gone by and there is a child out there, maybe our child that does not know the love of a family. I feel like we are at a crossroads, do we sit and wait hoping that Mexico will move along, or do we explore other options to expand our family. That's the bad news!!!!!!!

The meaning of Maumma

2010-11-26T23:01:00.005-05:00

Thursday Vinay's Grandmother passed away. We all called her Maumma. This means grandmother in konkani, the hindu dialect of Vinay's family. But I think it really means so much more. She was a beautiful bride who was wed in her teen years. She was an extraordinary mother to five children, three of whom were born before she was even twenty. She was a faithful widow, who lost her husband much to early. She was courageous to move across the world, and become a US citizen. She went on to valiantly battle breast cancer and win. She loved all of her grandchildren, and kept in touch with each of them no matter how near or far they lived. She was incredibly maternal to all who knew her. She will be missed by so many.

Thankful for people like this

2010-11-18T00:16:00.003-05:00

Words can't describe how this reaches me. I have spent the last year being so caught up in my own life. I needed this reminder. I am thankful for people like Dick Rutgers, who are devoting their lives to this country that gave me my child.

Me time

2010-11-17T15:09:00.002-05:00

Today I am thankful for Liv's school schedule. Originally I did not want her to go to school 5 days a week, but now I see it is good for her. Not only was she ready to be her peers more often, she really enjoys school. It also has worked out for me. It gives me time to get things done, then give all my attention to Liv when she gets home.

I can breath!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-16T11:47:00.002-05:00

Today I'm thankful for leggings!!!! After a season where skinny jeans were in style, ughhhhh, could they be any more uncomfortable. I am happy to take part in the leggings trend.

Big time slacker!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-15T14:49:00.002-05:00

I don't know why I thought I could do 1 blog post a day for an entire month!!!!! So today I am grateful that I am surrounded by people who love my imperfect self!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gratitude

2010-11-01T22:57:00.004-04:00

Lisa over at http://curiousgirl-lisa.blogspot.com/2010/10/gratitude.html, curious girl is doing a month long theme of gratitude so I decided to join in this years NaBloPoMo and TRY and do a post a day or at the very least a facebook post.

I have so much to be grateful for in my life but it all starts with these two people who I am lucky enough to call my family!!! Vinay and Olivia fill my life with so much joy and love everyday. I am so fortunate God brought us together and made us a family!!!

15 years

2010-10-26T13:58:00.004-04:00

Our family 15 years in the making!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15 years ago, late night in my dorm room a boy kissed me and forever changed my life. All the positive things in my life have come from us being together!!! Happy Anniversary Vinay!!

Here are some old pics thru the years!!!

My sorority formal 1 month after we started dating

Oh how young we look.

Summers spent at the shore with friends

My favorite picture of our wedding day

Our Indian ceremony!!!!

adoption update

2010-09-27T14:03:00.002-04:00

I got some good news on the adoption front today. Oh how I hesitate to write about good news, because this adoption has had so many setbacks so far. But I will fight the pessimist in me and write about it anyway.
So far we have completed 2 steps since our paperwork went to Mexico
1) Everything has been translated into Spanish- This happened during August.
2) Our paperwork has been registered in the Central DIF office- All adoptions have to be registered in Mexico City, where they check the paperwork.

So now our paperwork is ready to go on to the Mexican state where we are adopting from. Here is where the good news comes in. We originally picked the state of Toluca, there would have been about 10 families ahead of us waiting to be matched with a child. This process will be be about a 6-8 month wait. Recently our agency is working with the state of Guanajuato, Spanish pronunciation: [ɡwanaˈxwato]). So we decided to send our paperwork there and wait for a match. Ahead of us on the list is only 1 family!!!!!!!!!!! We are still looking at a 6-8 month wait, but it could mean more like 6 months. So that would mean we could estimate getting matched with a child in March!!!
Here a nice website with some history and beautiful pictures of Guanajuato
http://www.terragalleria.com/north-america/mexico/guanajuato/

The night before pre-k

2010-09-12T23:17:00.002-04:00

Dear Liv,
Tomorrow you start Pre-K. Tomorrow I will put you on a bus, wave good bye, and watch as you head off to school. School will shape the next 13 pluse years of your life. No longer will I be your main source of education, thank goodness. I must say I am sooo sad to see you go. For the last four years you have been my whole life. Where has the time gone, it feels like just yesterday you started to crawl. And wasn't it just last week that you started to talk. I could swear that last month was your first birthday.
I've been able to watch as you've grown into such a beautiful little girl. Every smile, every tear, and yes even every tantrum, I've had the pleasure of witnessing. But lately I've been noticing how you let go of my hand first, as we head to the park. And at a party you no longer call my name just to make sure I'm still close by. You are so curious about the world, you are ready to see it with your own eyes, not just through mine.
You are ready to show the world who you are. Your ready to meet people all on your own, and your ready to try new things without your mother looking over your shoulder.
So tomorrow you will go to Pre-K. I will put you on a bus, wave good bye, and watch as you head off to school. Just don't look back because I might be following the bus in my car.

Summer lovin happend so fast!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-26T14:18:00.005-04:00

This summer we took a 2 week vacation down at the beach house!!!! Liv had a blast!!!!! We did so much but I only took a few pictures!!!!! Here they are in random order!!!

Painting shells with the neighborhood kids!!

Mommy and Liv. Liv got sooooo tan, I just got more freckles and wrinkles!!!

Daddy took us out on this boat for a ride we will never forget!!

Photo shoot before going out to dinner!!!

Ahhhh such fun staying in this little house!!!

Enjoying the rides at Point Pleasant!

My favorite picture!

We went to a work party, Liv had so much fun with the kids.

2 tipsy Dads and there cute girls.

Liv enjoying the party

A perfect beach day!!!

Liv loved the ocean this year.

We spent a week with these crazy people, their 3 year old, and 18 month old twins!!! We all had the best time!!

Total beach bums!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anniversary

2010-07-20T09:32:00.001-04:00

8 years ago today I said "I Do" , and I still do.

Dear Dossier

2010-07-08T20:19:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow I send you out on your journey to Mexico. You will make one stop in South Carolina to be reviewed, don't mess it up, and then you will be registered in Mexico City. For the past 11 months you have sat on my kitchen desk. Taunting me, reminding me, and keeping me focused. Sometimes you would get shuffled under bills, outgoing mail, and even Christmas cards. But still you stayed waiting patiently for your missing pages to come in slowly and complete you.

On bad days I would bring you out and stack and organize you. On really bad days I would curse you as I walked by and tried to forget about you. But still you sat waiting. Not to long ago you were so close to being complete, and you decided it might be fun to loose a page or too. I wanted to send all of you to the shredder. But I didn't, your missing page reminded me that I still have some fire left in me, your missing page also showed me what an amazing husband I have, and that he would do anything to make me smile again. I guess I should thank you for that, but I'm just not there yet. I'm still mad at you. Still I wish you luck on your journey. Please fall into the right hands. Please don't get lost on someones desk, and please please please don't even think about going near any water. May your pages find us our child.

P.S. So tonight I will sleep with you under our roof for one more night. If God forbid a fire breaks out, you will be the first thing I grab, after Liv of course.

Jai Ho

2010-06-13T22:43:00.004-04:00

We are going to an Indian Wedding in July! So we decided to see what fit Liv. Well that led into many outfit changes, and even a dance party. Here is Liv rocking out her Bollywood moves!!!!

The timeline

2010-06-08T23:29:00.002-04:00

A few days ago I got an email from our agency. here is the timeline they sent:

For now, the general timeframe for Toluca appears to be:
1) Submission and translation of dossier in Mexico (2-4 weeks)-submitted to Foreign Relations
2) Submission of dossier to Central DIF office for processing and sent to State DIF (1-2 months)
3) State DIF office receipt of dossier to approval and referral(4-6 months)
4) Referral to travel and completion of adoption (2-4 months)
Overall time from submission of dossier to completion of adoption projected to be about 12 months

So this puts us at about a year till we bring a child home. I would expect a referral of a child around Christmas, and expect us to travel for pick up, sometime around next May.

Now if I could just get my hands on this last document Hopefully we can start at #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guatemala

2010-06-03T00:38:00.002-04:00

Like many adoptive moms, when I left Guatemala with Olivia, I left a little piece of my heart behind. The piece of my heart that embraced such an ancient culture. The piece of my heart that fell in love with a beautiful country. The piece of my heart that could not believe such poverty exists. The piece of my heart that will be eternally grateful to Liv's Birth Mother. The piece of my heart that aches for Liv's biological brother and sisters. That piece of my heart has been so heavy this week.
I just can't comprehend the devastation, and I find myself stuck to the computer for any bit of information. Here are three websites that I have been turning too.
http://mayanfamilies.org/News.aspx
http://luvsent.wordpress.com/
http://www.heart4children.blogspot.com/

Oh how I wish I could hop the next flight to Guatemala.

She growing up so fast and all on her own terms

2010-05-25T19:20:00.003-04:00

Liv finally moved out of her crib and into a big bed, all on her own. Just one day said, "Mommy can I sleep in a big bed". That night she slept on the daybed in her room, and she's been there with no problems.
Last week I signed her up for Pre-K 4, so in September she'll go to school 5 days a week, and take a bus!!!
WOW!!! Can someone stop time for just a little bit, this is going so fast!!!!

Happy Birthday Liv!!!!

2010-05-05T14:03:00.002-04:00

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Sharing the truth

2010-04-14T23:12:00.003-04:00

It's so sad to hear the recent events surrounding the Russian boy adopted by an American and then sent back to Russia. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100409/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_adopted_boy.

Of course the media is swarming on this story and now it appears that Russia wants to end all adoptions with US citizens. In the past 5 years there have been almost 15,000 children adopted from Russia by American families. 15,000 children who are now in loving homes, instead of in institutions. Does the media cover that side of the story? No. Do they dig to find the true story of adoptions, domestic or international? No. Do they report on the true families that wait for a child to come home? No.

The Joint Council on International Children Services is asking that the truth be told.
http://www.carolinaadoption.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Call-To-Action-We-Are-The-Truth.pdf

One family at a time, one child at a time.

Here is my Truth.

Believe it or not my adoption story began back in 1992. I was only 17, years away from having children. But at 17 I was diagnosed with Cancer. I waged that battle and came away healthier and stronger than I was before. Cancer did not take my life, but it did take away my chances of having my own child. Little did I know that infertility was going to be the best thing to ever happen to me.

Years later at 30, My husband, Vinay and I were ready to start a family. We both knew this was going to be a challenge, but we were up for it. So we filled out the mounds of paperwork, were fingerprinted 3 times each, completed 6 home study visits, wrote out our autobiographies, and were interviewed by a psychologist. And then we waited. Waited for the government to tell us we were eligible to become parents. That day came on April 21 2006. Our immigration papers telling us that we could wait for a match.

We were lucky we were matched with our beautiful daughter on May 16. An 11 day old baby girl far away in the country of Guatemala. Then came more waiting. Waiting for the birth mother to undergo a DNA test to prove that the baby she was giving up for adoption was really her biological child. We were able to visit our baby Olivia for 5 glorious days in June of 2006. Then we had to give her back. Yes, hand her back into the arms of a foster mother I did not know, for an unknown amount of time.

We came home to wait some more. Wait for the country of Guatemala to review our mounds of paperwork, our fingerprints, our home study, our immigration papers. They also interviewed Olivia's birth mother. Not a day went by that I didn't cry. I slept with one of her blankets. I drove my husband crazy. I drove myself crazy. A few times I wanted to throw in the towel. This was to painful, could this child I barely know be worth all this agony?? On Sept 27 at 6:31 pm I got my answer. YES, Olivia was coming home.

On October 12 2006 at 6:45 Guatemala City time. Olivia was placed in my arms to never be let go again. For that one moment the world stopped for me. That missing piece of the puzzle, the piece that cancer stole from me, was finally in. Our family was complete, my heart was whole.
The next day at about 4:45 Guatemala City time, I called my Mom crying. I was scared, I was nervous, I hadn't slept. I was a new Mom, scared shitless, completely clueless, and having a panic attack. My mom talked me through it. I was a parent now and there was a 5 month old baby who needed me.

I wish I could say that those first few months as Liv's Mom were perfect. That I'd waited so long to be a mother, that each moment was glorious. They weren't because this is real life. Liv was a real baby. A baby who teethed, and woke up at all hours of the night hungry and crying. A baby who fussed and wanted me to hold her all the time. And I was a real parent. A parent who missed sleeping through the night, and spending her Sundays on the couch watching Lifetime movies. A parent who missed her freedom and her social life. A normal parent and child getting to know one another. Learning each others likes and dislikes. Even today almost 4 years later we are still learning about each other. Building day by day a relationship and bond that although is not perfect, but is perfect for us. Are there days when I think, "Wow life was sooooo much easier before Liv"? Of course. But there are so many more days when I can't believe how lucky I am to be her Mom. How lucky I am to have waited such a short amount of time for her. How lucky I am that our adoption went so smoothly. How lucky I am that she is mine!!!

And that's the truth!!

All about pets!!!!

2010-04-08T23:30:00.002-04:00

Olivia has a always been a stuffed animal girl. She loves anything soft and cuddly!! Baby dolls go ignored in our house. Barbies, she wants noting to do with them. Lately she has really been into her puppies. She feeds them, swaddles them, sings to them, and yes sleeps with about 20 of them!

Here she is feeding her puppies

And loving on the big puppy!!!!

All I ever needed to know I learned from Liv

2010-03-30T16:02:00.002-04:00

Sleep surrounded by things you love. The more crowded the better.

Every story should end with "And they lived happily ever after".

A hug from your Mom can make everything better.

The hardest word to say is, "Sorry".

Sometimes you just need a time out, even if you don't want one.

A genuine smile can get you very far in life.

Many friendships can be formed just by playing a simple game of tag.

Sometimes good music can completely change your mood.

Never miss an opportunity to splash in the puddles, shoes can be replaced, memories can't.

When in doubt, just stand back and observe.

Every once in a while an ice cream sundae can replace dinner.

The world is a little less scary when you have someone to hold your hand.

Wow I learned all this in 4 short years, can't wait to see what she'll teach me next.

The blog post that hurts my heart

2010-03-16T14:11:00.008-04:00

I've had this post saved for some time. I look at the pictures, get happy and sad all at the same time, then I decide not to write and hit save instead of publish.

Here are the pictures from our trip to the orphanage in Mexico. We were only able to spend a little bit of time there, but I find myself thinking of these children often. We decided to go to
La Casita Children's Home right outside of Cancun. We were only able to bring one other couple with us, but next year we hope to be able to bring more volunteers and give more donations to the children.
The way this home works is that it is a place for parents to bring their children if they can no longer care for them. Usually it is financial difficulties, or an abused Mother trying to keep her kids safe. There is also a very large underage prostitution problem, and some of the children are a product of that. Sometimes the kids parents do come back for them, however that is not the norm. I just can't imagine being so poor and destitute that I would have to leave my child, in hopes that I find work, to protect them from violence or with the thought that I will never see them again. How painful must that decision be for a parent to make. It breaks my heart.

It also breaks my heart that we are a loving family that would love to adopt any one of these children, but government red tape is not allowing us to do so. But that is another post that I can not get into now.
So here are the pics from our great day.
Our group. The head of the orphanage, Chad our hotel manager, Me, Vinay, Dave, Maribeth, Karen, and her brother.

Karen made lunch for all the kids. Maribeth and I helped serve.

The kids loved the hotdogs!!!

Chad, Vinay, and Dave chatting with the kids.

My favorite table the little ones.

Karen also made a cake, the kids loved that.

Vinay and Maribeth serving the cake.

Then some of the older kids played some songs for us on the recorder!!!

So cute!!

Us enjoying the show!!

One of the teachers brought over this little guy,Manuel, he shook Vinays hand

Every time I look at this picture I tear up. All of the toddlers had a glazed, detached look in their eyes. I'm sure these kids have seen horrific things, that combined with being abandoned, must be just devastating for just a small child. I had not realized that Vinay was able to make little Manuel smile. I look at this photo whenever I question if another adoption is the right thing for us.

Me holding Ferdinanda (age 2) and Vinay with Mauel (age 3).

Present Time!!! Maribeth giving out some bouncing balls!!!

Some of the girls patiently waiting in line for presents.

Vinay showing some of the older boys how to throw a football.

I got to play with some of the kids in the courtyard. Love their little uniforms!!

All of us with the kids

I can't wait to go back next year.

Ski trip 2010

2010-03-04T14:10:00.005-05:00

Even with a Nor'easter, 2 bad colds, 1 trip to the chiropractor, and a constipated dog. We still managed to have the best ski trip!!!!

Here are the pictures.
Driving through the storm.

Our home for the weekend. This condo was so comfortable, if you are heading to the Poconos def consider staying here.

Ahhhhh defrosting my feet by the fire!!!!

Liv and Daddy playing board games.

Liv relaxing with her Akka!!!!

By the next morning 24 inches of snow!!!!

2 colds and the constipated dog taking a nap.

After Vaish and I dug our way out of the house!!!!

Liv couldn't walk and had to be carried through the snow drifts.

Sooooo Cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parker, in over his head!!!! He was too scared to even come off the deck!!

Vinay pulled out his back helping Liv with her boots. Poor guy was laid up the rest of the trip.

Liv finally let me put her hair in pigtails, only after Me and Akka sported them first.

Me, Liv, Vaishu Akka, Uncle Jake, and Bappmam, went tubing the next day.

Liv loved tubbing, and even road in her own tube.

Riding the pulley up the hill!!

Huge hills, but we conquered them!!!

Liv enjoying dinner after a full weekend of activity.

That's all I have between being sick and Vinay's back we didn't get any pictures of her skiing. It was a great trip and we will defiantly do it again next year.

Liv's List

2010-02-18T17:57:00.003-05:00

I haven't done a Liv's list in a long time so here it goes.

Ever since Christmas Liv has been on a candy craze!!! All she asks for all day is candy. It is like kiddie crack. We were finally getting over it and then Valentines Day hit, can't wait to see what Easter will bring.

When someone asks Liv her name, she'll say "I'm Liv, I'll be 4 on May 5th"

Since the Olympic started, Liv has been in love with figure skating. Every night she asks if it's on. During the day she pretends to skate around the house.

Her favorite CD right now is the Chipmunks "The squeakquel". So if you hear me singing "Single Ladies, (put a ring on it)" in a chipmunk voice, don't think I'm crazy.

Liv still wants to marry Aladdin, and says Jasmin will just have to marry Jafar.

She just name one of her stuffed animals "Kitty Gaga"

Everyday we fight about her keeping socks on, she is just most comfortable barefoot.

She is a stickler for rules, she follows them and thinks everyone else should follow them too. Me, Vinay, The random kid who is yelling in Shop Right.

When she giggles it is a full on belly laugh, that makes me crack up, then she laughs even harder!!

Any mail for me!!!

2010-01-23T23:52:00.002-05:00

Opening and reading the holiday mail!!!!

Before Christmas, when all our friends holiday cards were arriving by mail, I would let Liv open the mail. She had so much fun seeing all the pictures of everyone kids. When she recognized the people in the pictures she would get so excited, and say "Ohhhh that's so nice that they sent this to me" She really thought each and every card was for her. Then she would go through the collection of cards and and ask me what each card said. Everyday she would remind me to get the mail. Of course the cards ended with the holidays, and Liv forgot all about her daily task of opening the cards. Yesterday Liv said "Mommy go to the mailbox, I haven't opened my mail in a loooong time!!!" Just like the celebrity that she is!!!!!

Liv in the city!!!

2010-01-06T17:20:00.005-05:00

Over the holiday break we finally took Liv for her first night in the big City. Of course the pictures are out of order but here is what we did.

We visited the tree at Rockefeller center.

Why is it so hard to get a good family picture?

Liv ready to see the Rockettes. She has been high kicking ever since.

Daddy got her a big bucket of popcorn for the show.

Liv's favorite part was staying in the hotel, playing in the sink. At one point I came in and she had the shower cap on and was washing out her cups with the soap.

Daddy and Liv looking down at Lexington and 51'st

She loved the cab ride. Of course we had to get a hot pretzel.

A carriage ride through the park.

This was Liv's favorite, she didn't even mind the 20 degree weather.

Daddy and Liv enjoying central park.

Mommy snuggling with Liv

Love how the horses are not even phased by the traffic.

Vinay and I had a nice relaxing lunch. Liv slept. Yes I know, I have a 3 year old with a binky, she only uses it to nap, and 2010 is the year we are getting rid of it.

Bundled up and asleep on the streets of the City.

That's my girl she needed a map to see where we are and where we are going!!!

What I did over my Christmas vacation

2009-12-20T23:44:00.002-05:00

The only way to describe my Christmas this year is Half-A**. My presents look like a blind person wrapped them, My Christmas cards are only going out tomorrow. I have allot more to buy. Martha Stewart would slap me if she were here. But I've watched all the holiday show's with Liv, we've spent hours playing in the snow, drank numerous cups of coco in front of the tree, and have taken car rides just to look at lights.
I'd say it's been a great December!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to see "The Princess and The Frog" with Emily

Went to see the living nativity scene

Playing in the snow!!!

Petting the sheep

This girl never met a Christmas display she didn't like!!!!!!!!!!

1st snow

2009-12-12T23:34:00.002-05:00

Last week we had our first snow. Liv had heard on the new the day before that it was going to snow and she right away said, "Mommy get my sled out!". Even though it only snowed a few inches, we were out in it for about an hour. This girl can hang in the cold weather!!!!! Me, not so much!!!!

We made a small snowman!!!

Eating the snow!!

Cold but very happy!!!!

Some random cuteness I had to share

2009-12-05T00:23:00.002-05:00

I noticed that I had not posted in over a week. I have really let my blog go. The truth is I really don't want to stop posting. I have been at this, although my blog is far from the most interesting thing out there, for over three years. This is more like Liv's baby book than anything else, and I am determined to continue.
This Christmas season with Liv has been so fun. She is really into all the Christmas shows, Rudolph being her favorite. Every car ride is an adventure to see how many Christmas lights she can spot. "Mommy turn down that road I saw allot of lights" she'll squeal from the back seat. Although she doesn't quite get the concept of Santa bring lots of presents, thank God!!!!! I'm really enjoying seeing Christmas through the eyes of a 3 year old!!

So here is some holiday shots from a recent trip to the Christmas Store.

Love this girl to pieces

Thankful

2009-11-22T22:48:00.002-05:00

This week I am thankful for one tiny little human being!!! I would not be the person I am without her!!!!

PJ Love!!!

2009-11-12T17:58:00.002-05:00

Liv has always loved pajamas. She even went through a time last winter, where she would only wear clothes if she could leave her pajamas on underneath. Hey you pick your battles right.

Last week we were watching "My Fair Wedding" on WE, and my Mom said to Olivia, "Wouldn't you like to wear a pretty sparkling wedding dress like that one day?" Liv answered "No", I was floored, "Why? What are you going to wear when you get married" I prodded. She looked me straight in the face and said "Mommy I'm going to wear jammies to get married". That is defiantly wedding attire Vinay will be happy to pay for!!!

Pretending to sleep on parker.

Cuddling with Parker during movie night. Parker was not to happy about this.

Vaishu Akka sleepover while our traveling hubbies are away.

Liv showing off new PJ's I got super cheap at gymboree!!

Done that!!!! Check!!!!!

2009-11-05T16:13:00.005-05:00

In the past week or so we have made a big dent in the adoption paperwork mound. A friend of mine from my Mommy's group is a notary, so we were able to go to her and get allot done!! Thank you Maddie!!!!

It has felt so good to finally check off a few things from the never ending adoption "to do" list that haunts my refrigerator door everyday.

Some people have asked me to elaborate on what exactly is taking so long, and if I have any sort of timeline for this adoption. So here is basically the gist of what is going on.

The Mexico adoption program that we are in is a pilot program. And that means... that it is a new program, so we are one of the first few families to do this.

Right now we are compiling what is called a dossier, a collection of paperwork. Marriage certificates, birth certificates, medical exams reports, financial statements, fingerprints, new passports, the list is long and boring. So things we have control over, others we are at the mercy of the US government. Filing a Visa to bring a foreign child into the country.

We have to have all of these documents together, before we can send it down to Mexico to be translated and then filed with there government. I am hoping to have all this done before Christmas.

After that here is what happens:

1. Dossier is filed in Mexico, should take about 1 month

2. We are approved and placed on a waiting list, once we are on the list we are looking at about 6 months before we receive information/referral of a child.

3. We accept the referral, send down more documents to Mexico

4. Wait for Mexico to prepare child's Visa, and file all paperwork on their end. About 2-4 months.

5. Travel to Mexico. Vinay myself and Olivia will be traveling to Mexico together. We will spend 1 week visiting our new child in the orphanage, than the child will come and live with us in Mexico. Yes we will be living there for about 2 months, Vinay, myself, Olivia, and our new son/daughter, waiting for the final adoption decree and the Visa to be processed. If need be Vinay will travel back and forth to the states for business.

So all in all if I had to pick a time I would say we will be traveling for the final pick up some time next fall.

I'll try to keep everyone updated as things progress. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support, we are so lucky to have such wonderful friends!!!

First Halloween parade was full of tears

2009-10-29T22:40:00.003-04:00

Liv had her school Halloween parade today and it was full of tears! No not from me.
I went to Liv's preschool to wait outside with the other parents watch as our kids parade past us for the school's fall festival. My Mom was there and Liv's Godmother Kate, we were all so excited, and anxious since I had heard that the students were making their own costumes, and I didn't know what they were going to be dressed as.
Liv's class comes out and as soon as the door opened I saw the saddest little candy corn walking toward me. Liv took one step out the door and started bawling. I felt so bad for her, when she walked by she grabbed my hand. I wanted her to finish the parade so I walked with her. After the parade it was time for the kids to perform the songs they learned, poor Liv just stood there crying, holding her stuffed animal. Guess I won't be signing her up to be in any beauty pageants anytime soon.

As we were getting into the car I asked her for the 5th time why she was crying. She burst back into tears and said "I don't like this costume, I wanted to wear my puppy costume". So there you have it the trials and tribulations of a three year old. And you thought being a kid was easy?

Picture time
My first glimpse of a tear stained "Candy Corn".

Not happy at all!!!!!!!!

Almost over!!!

There is no preforming when you are this upset. All the kids were so cute dressed in their fall costumes.

School update!

2009-10-21T17:37:00.001-04:00

Liv and the girls in her class, patiently waiting their turn at the pumpkin patch!!

We are in full swing with school. When we are driving to school Liv will still say, "No Mommy, no go to school", but then I start talking about how all the kids and her teachers are going to miss her if she's not there. She is eager to please so this works.
Once we get into the parking lot, she sees the other kids and is wants to go in. When we get to the class room, she is hesitant to leave me, but I usually give her a kiss on her hand for her to keep while I'm gone and then she is happy to go and play.
When I pick her up it is like she hasn't seen me for a year. She is so excited to see me and usually will say, lets go home. But the fact is she is doing it. It is hard for her but she is separating from me and she is proud of herself for being a big girl and going to school!!
I had conferences today. She said Liv is a quiet girl, who prefers to observe before she jumps into an activity. Liv is also not as clingy to the teachers, I knew she was using them as a pseudo Mommy while at school. So she is getting more independent and coming out of her shell.
All I wanted out of this year was for Liv to learn to separate from me and not be sad about it.
Yipppeee for Liv, Yippeee for me, not that I get much done with my 5 hours a week without her. But Liv is happy and that make me happy!!!!!!!!!!!

More pics of the pumpkin patch
The only smile I could catch on camera.

Posing with the pumpkins

Forever family day, or as we call it "Livapalooza"

2009-10-16T23:10:00.006-04:00

October 17 2009

Today!

3 years ago today we carried our baby girl off a plane and into our family forever.

Liv you have made our lives complete. You have truly shown us what love is, and we are so blessed to be your parents. We have a fun filled weekend planned to celebrate all that you have meant to us.

Today we are celebrating all that Olivia has brought into our lives!!!! But we are also remembering all that was left behind in Guatemala. Her Birth Mother, her Foster Mother, and all the children who will never know the love of a family.

Hibernating for the winter.

2009-10-08T20:35:00.003-04:00

Ok drug companies and news media you win!!!! I am officially frightened of the up coming cold and flu season!!!

I wish I could put our house in a big plastic bubble for the winter. Like the one at the end of the movie E.T. when the house is overtaken by the government men trying to study E.T. and Elliot. But I can't so what's a Mom to do? We will get our yearly flu shots, but not the H1N1. I have hand sanitizers strategically placed all over the house, in the car, and of course in my purse. We are also all so hopped up on vitamins our urine glows.

Other than that I am at a lose as to how else to protect my family.

So I've decided I'm no longer watching news shows about the flu, no longer reading articles about the flu, or listening to anymore talk radio debating about the flu. I am officially putting my head back in the sand, where at least my neurosis won't make me sick!!!

Missing Summer Already

2009-09-29T22:55:00.002-04:00

It's barely even cold here yet, but still I miss Summer. Here are a few pics from this past Summer.

Liv swimming in our friends pool complex. Thanks Bean for letting us use the pool Liv loved it.

One of my favorite pictures of my Mom and Liv. Bean, My Mom loved the pool also!!!

Addie, Liv, and Emily enjoying dessert from our 4th of July party!!!

Liv and her friend Johnny riding scooters in front of the beach house!!!

Invasion of the body snatchers!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-23T23:02:00.002-04:00

What a cute and innocent and sweet face.

Can someone tell me where this sweet child has gone. For the last few weeks she has morphed into some type of toddler alien, sent down to push every button I have. She is caught somewhere between a stubborn three year old and a bratty teenager. Please this is not my child, not the child who would do anything I say, answer every sentence with a please or thank you, and cuddle every chance she had. This child is demanding, "Give me that", she snapped as i was fixing her toy. She will yell, "don't laugh at me", if you smile at her and she does not want you to. And God forbid you don't let her choose which apple she is about to eat. Seriously she has been in time out more in these past few weeks than she has in her whole life. So if you see my sweet Liv tell her that I need her beautiful, kind, loving, self back, before I go absolutely raving mad.

PS If this is the terrible threes, I don't think I can survive till her next birthday!!!!

Please grab some cheese to go with this whine!!!!

2009-09-16T23:04:00.006-04:00

This post is long over due so please bare with me.

Allot of people know that we are in process doing our second adoption. For this adoption we could not go through Guatemala, where Olivia was born, because adoptions shut down January 1 2008. We chose to go though Mexico this time because we wanted both children to share the same heritage, Mayan, and we might have to spend some time in country at the end of the adoption and it would be easier for Vinay to fly back and forth to the states as needed for work.

Currently we are at the beginning of our paperchase, compiling our documents that will be sent to Mexico. I am happy to report that we have finished our home study. A series of interviews by a social worker, that took all summer to finish. This should have taken a month, but it was slow going with our social worker and things kept cropping up to halt the process.

Let me just say that I feel like I am falling under a mountain of paperwork!!! But you have all day to do this right???? WRONG !!!! Last week I brought Liv with me to go make copies and FedEx something, now Liv is a good kid and she is well behaved, but she's a kid. She had half the Hallmark card display picked apart while I was making copies, and then I almost left my folder of paperwork at the smoothie place next door. Yes my Dossier folder was sitting on a table ready to be thrown out. I can hear all my fellow adoptive Mommas gasping for air as I write this.
So luckily Liv is going to school and I will have 5 hours a week to do paperwork now.

But the paperchase seems so much harder this time. The documents needed are double that of what was needed for Liv's. For Liv's I needed 2 witness statements, this one I need 5 and 2 have to be neighbors. Vinay an I both need psychological evaluations, wasn't that what the homestudy was all about? I also have to write to the FBI and ask them to look at my fingerprint results and OK me to adopt. I didn't even know you could write to them!!!!The list goes on and on.

Today I wasted half a day in Trenton to obtain documents, that I wound up having to mail away for anyway. All because when you call there is never an actual human to speak to.

Ughhhh why do they make it so hard. So many children need good, loving homes, and I have one.

The fact is I felt the same anxiousness and frustration during Liv's adoption. I remember looking at the document checklist, and feeling like I would never be able to finish.

But I did, and I will.

So if you'll excuse me I think I'll go drown my bad attitude in some wine and get back my current checklist and see what I can work on tomorrow.

Today I hung on the fridge both old and new checklists.

Here is Liv's adoption,
Here is the new one, notice how it's 2 pages!!! Sigh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We don't even call it school!!!!

2009-09-12T14:16:00.002-04:00

Many of you will remember that last year I put Liv into a school program for 2 year olds and had to take her out. Yes she would cry, but if it was just crying I would have kept her in. Liv tends to be a nervous child and she has a memory like an elephant, she remembers everything!!!! She would be so nervous that she had to go to school, even on the weekends. First thing in the morning she would look at me with those big eyes filled with fear and ask "School today Mommy?". When I said no, she was relived, when I said yes, and so would begin the crying and pleading for her not to go to school. I also noticed that she had started picking very badly at her cuticles. So I caved and took her out. I just couldn't see my little baby so nervous.

We figured wait a year, and then at 3 she will forget the bad experience and be ready to go. Well not my Liv, if anyone ever asks her "Do you want to go to school" she will always answer. "No school for me, Mommy go bye bye". Last spring I signed her and I up for a Mommy and Me program, at Sand Hill Presbyterian Preschool. I figured if she had me with her for the whole time, when September came she would at least be familiar, and have happy memories from Mommy and Me. We also always called it "Sand Hill" because the word "School" had too many negative connotations.

SO last week when we started school Liv was happy to go, of course she had no idea I would be leaving halfway through the class. She was hesitant at first but then she was excited to play with all the stuff they had out. She went from table to table happily playing, drawing, and painting, with the occasional look up to make sure I was still in the room.
Then came time for the mommies to leave the room and go to sign papers and listen to the director talk. I said " Liv I'm going to go down the hall and have coffee with the other Mom's." "Where?" she asked like I was making it up. "Right down the hall, and I'll be right back." She didn't answer, so I took that as a yes, and said good bye.

It was a long 15 minutes as I sit in that room wondering how Liv was doing. Finally we could go back and pick them up. I walked in and saw Liv's blood shot, puffy, eyes and she was clutching the teachers hand. Liv said "Mommy you were gone too long" and then the crocodile tears started, she also wanted out of that place. We said good bye to the teachers and talked about going on the playground next time.

Since Thursday whenever asked about "Sand Hill", She says that she didn't like it and that "Mommy left me". I try to reminder her of all the fun she had, and the cool things to do.
We'll see what next week holds!!!!!

Only a milkshake and a McDonalds playplace could cheer her up.

This is the attitude look I've been getting lately!!!

Happily showing off her outfit befor school!!

Modeling her new "Pack Pack", as she calls it, the week before!!!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

2009-08-27T23:01:00.002-04:00

That's right the Disney characters. Liv can bring her princes and princesses to the table. The Disney obsession has lasted all summer. Actually it's the princes she really has a thing for. Liv is constantly talking about marrying the princes, especially Aladdin. The other day I overheard her playing with the figurines. She said "Jasmine, you no marry Aladdin. Aladdin wants to marry me!!" Is it possible to be boy crazy at three years old?

PS As a modern woman I do worry about what all these fairy tales are doing to her head. I worry about Liv's self image being affected, and don't get me started on the "Happily Ever After" subject. But that's another post!!!!

OctoMom, 35, and a tattoo!!!!!

2009-08-20T20:56:00.003-04:00

For a very long time I have wanted a tattoo. When I was younger, I would entertain the idea, but I never really found something that I would want permanently branded onto my skin. So I would forget about it and then every few years I would want one again. For my 30th birthday I wanted Vinay and I to get matching Ohm's. An ohm is an Indian symbol, that means peace and tranquility. Vinay wasn't too keen on the idea. I was too chicken to do it alone. So 30 came and went and still no tattoo.
Here I am approaching my 35 birthday and once again the tattoo bug has bitten and this time I really want to do it. So for a few months I have been thinking about what I want to get. I have always really liked how Angelina Jolie has the geographical coordinates of her children's birth places. Of course hers is to cover up Billy Bob Thorton's name, but still, what a nice tribute to your children. So with the second adoption still very far away. I thought it would be really great to get Liv's birth place coordinates tattooed right above my hip bone. And then when our second child comes home I would get his or her coordinates added to the tattoo. I was very excited because Liv's coordinates even included the # 35, how cool was that. I had it all figured out, I had even started researching writing styles. A good thing to do when you want to be spontaneous for your mid-life crisis, yea right!!!!
Well in my research I found out that the annoying OctoMom, Nadya Suleman, has the same tattoo in her crazy ploy to become/look like Angelina Jolie. Now I have no problem copying Angelia, but the OctoMom, No, I just can't seem to do it.
SO here I am a month away from my 35 birthday, wanting a tattoo, something that would have special meaning and I am out of ideas. So I'm putting this out there and hoping blogland or facebook friends can help me with some thoughts. I don't want another birthday to go by and still not doing this one thing from my bucket list!!!!

When you gotta go, you gotta go

2009-08-17T23:42:00.002-04:00

Thank God I know not to battle Jersey shore traffic without the portable potty!!!!!!

Quiz?? Do you dare take it!!!!

2009-08-06T17:11:00.003-04:00

So few people really know what it is like to live in a third world country...so here's a little exercise in third world living...it makes me truly feel blessed...how about you???

1. Take out the furniture: leave a few old blankets, a kitchen table, maybe a wooden chair. You've never had a bed, remember?

2. Throw out your clothes. Each person in the family may keep the oldest suit or dress, a shirt or blouse. The head of the family has the only pair of shoes.

3. All kitchen appliances have vanished. Keep a box of matches, a small bag of flour, some sugar and salt, a handful of onions, a dish of dried beans. Rescue those moldy potatoes from the garbage can: those are tonight's meal.

4. Dismantle the bathroom, shut off the running water, take out the wiring and the lights and everything that runs by electricity.

5. Take away my house and move the family into the tool shed.

6. By now all the other houses in the neighborhood have disappeared; instead there are shanties - for the fortunate ones.

7. Cancel all the newspapers and magazines. Throw out the books. You won't miss them - you are now illiterate. One radio is now left for the whole shantytown.

8. No more postman, fireman, government services. The two- classroom school is 3 miles away, but only 2 of your 7 children attend anyway, and they walk.

9. No hospital, no doctor. The nearest clinic is now 10 miles away with a midwife in charge. You get there by bus or bicycle, if you're lucky enough to have one.

10, Throw out your bankbooks, stock certificates, pension plans, insurance policies. You now have a cash hoard of $5.

11. Get out and start cultivating your three acres. Try hard to raise $300 in cash crops because your landlord wants one-third and your moneylender 10 percent.

12. Find some way for your children to bring in a little extra money so you have something to eat most days. But it won't be enough to keep bodies healthy - so lop off 25 to 30 years of life.

Can you imagine? Unfortunately this a realty for so many living in Guatemala and countries around the world? Can you step up and out of the box to help be the change in the life of these children?

Starting tomorrow night there is an incredible raffle that can make the difference. Check back here http://thejujucrew.blogspot.com/2009/08/got-raffle.html

Bedtime stories

2009-07-29T20:15:00.003-04:00

When Liv was a baby, going to bed was no problem. Actually she came home from Guatemala fully trained. You just laid her in the crib, she would whimper for a minute, then she would play happily in her crib until she fell asleep. This was the routine for quite awhile. But somewhere between two and three years old the routine somehow extended itself. Actually now the routine is so long and filled with so many steps that it literally is a song and dance routine.
So here it is, the steps to putting Liv to bed, in case anyone wants to babysit and go through this marathon.
1) Say goodnight to Daddy, if Vinay is home. This is usually the point that Vinay will ask Liv for a kiss and a hug, then pick her up and start a conversation with her. Yes very cute I know, but come on Vinay, I finally got her to stop playing and now you want to distract her, your killing me with this step. This can take anywhere from 2-5 minutes, before I start yelling at the both of them.

2) March up the stairs. I use to carry her up, but now that she's three she insists on walking. My back thanks her for this, but the walk up usually includes a stop to pick up a piece of fuzz, or a run back to say goodnight to daddy, again, or take a seat on the steps to ponder over the days events. This is where the march came in. I start saying "March March March March" and she will usually march right behind me in sync. This can take 1-3 minutes.

3) The potty, wash hands, brush teeth. We go straight to the bathroom, Liv hops on the potty, This will go quick, unless the words, "Mommy poopies coming" are uttered, then I know I'm in there for the next 20 minutes just waiting for NOTHING to come out!!! Wash hands is next in this step and usually Liv will have to wait until all the soap bubbles have gone down the drain. Brushing her teeth can be challenging, but not as challenging as it for her to decide which one out of the 5 toothbrushes to use. Dora, Elmo, Thomas the train, electric Pokemon, or my toothbrush. Decisions decisions!!!! This step takes 5-25 minutes.

4)Put on pajamas. This step is skipped since most days Liv has chosen to wear pajamas all day! 0 Minutes

5)Story time. This was the evil step that started it all. Many moons ago, when I said "bedtime" to Liv she would stop playing, and bring a book to Vinay to read her in the family room. How this got moved to the bedroom and became my job is a mystery I'll never figure out. For a long time we were reading Clifford the Big Red Dog. But since the Disney phase, it is either, The Little Mermaid, or Aladdin. Luckily I have always read her my own personal abridged version, so this is usually not too bad, but if she asks for a Clifford book that I don't know by heart, it can tack on a few extra minutes. Takes 5-8 minutes

6) Pile on the blankets and turn up the music. Liv loves to sleep bundled. This is the shortest of the steps, unless one of her many blankets is missing, or the batteries to her CD player have died. Then it's a hunt for the missing blanket and God forbid if we are out of batteries. An unpredictable step this can take 1-30 minutes

7) Closing the door. This is where the song comes in, sometimes it's a good night song that I just made up one day. Other times it's a version of Ariel's "Part of your world". I have a horrible voice, and by this point I usually can hear Vinay snickering downstairs. About 1 minute since I will only sing one verse!

Seven steps wow I'm exhausted just looking at this. You think it's over don't you. Oh no no no.

On many a night there are numerous calls through the monitor. Vinay sometimes takes over these steps because I just can't handle another walk up those steps.

8) "Mommy a drink" Most nights I let her go to bed with a water bottle, but if it runs out I will get a call.

9) "Mommy eat eat" Now since Liv is a bad eater I will usually make her eat something before bed, but so many nights she will call for a snack, so I will go back up there with crackers or a dry cereal. Yes I bring up room service, such a bad habit. Order up!!!!

10) "Mommy Mommy" This is a call because something fell out of the crib. Oh did I forget to write she still sleeps in a crib.

11) "Mommy go home, go home" This is a call if we are sleeping anywhere but home.

12) "Moooommmmmyyyyy" This call can be anything. The CD stopped working, I can't find my favorite doll under all my junk, I've been playing in here for 5 minutes and I don't want to go to sleep.

On a good night I only get 1 or 2 calls, but on a bad night this can take about 30minutes. Now don't get me wrong I love being able to put Olivia to bed. I remember how badly I longed for that little girl to be asleep here in this home, And I know one day she'll be a teenage going to bed without so much as a "Good night Mom". But if I could just shorten the process by 20-30 minutes I would be a very happy Momma!!!

So there it is in black and white, our bedtime routine, anyone want to sleep over!!!!!!!!!

Tiny Dancer

2009-07-23T21:39:00.003-04:00

Trying on her new leotard, who knew target sold dance wear!!!

Cute little ballerina!!!!

Liv's first day of dancing school was last Friday. Liv was very nervous about going. But luckily her friend Emily called her and left her an encouraging message. Liv then felt that she would like to go.

So we went early so that Liv could see the class before her, and she was excited. She didn't even notice when the teacher asked the parents to leave. I stayed right by the window and of course every few minutes she would turn around to look for me.

About 3/4 through the class, she had enough, she came to the door and said through the glass, "Mommy, lets go home" in the saddest little voice. I told her to go back and listen to the teacher and she could come out when class was over. With a pout she went back to her spot, but came back to the door two more times. I felt so bad not letting her come out but I wanted her to make it through the class.

All in all she did good, and is looking forward to tomorrows class.

This is good practice for September.

Liv's list

2009-07-15T19:29:00.004-04:00

Today Liv had her 3 year old check up!!!! She looks like such a little lady in this pic.

So here is a Liv's list to celebrate:

Weight-27lb

Height-35inches

Still in the 5th percentile all around!!!!

Liv is:

in love with Aladdin

whining again when she gets frustrated

constantly using the couch as a jungle gym

Liv wants:

to do everything herself

know who sings every song on the radio

ice or ice cream everyday

Liv says:

"Mommy where were you?" if I am anywhere but by her side.

"Home Mommy home!!!" when we are anywhere but home.

"Is it tickle time?" When she wants to be tickled by Daddy.

Impatient already

2009-07-08T17:25:00.002-04:00

Things are going at a snails pace already in the adoption. (Isn't that suppose to happen after they get all our money, haha). We sent all the homestudy paperwork in the middle of June and we still have not had our first homestudy visit. Also only one of our references have been contacted. Yes the 4th of July holiday makes things slow up, and yes Mexico is still stalling because of all the earlier problems, swine flu, violence etc... But I'm anxious to start, how can I have lost my patience already!!!! My gut tells me this will be a long process. Sigh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loving this song

2009-06-25T14:16:00.002-04:00

So in love with this song!!! As will every adoptive parent.

Tammy Cochran
"Half a world away"

http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.popupplayer&sindex=-1.0&shuffle=false&amix=false&pmix=false&plid=34439&profid=24934968&friendid=24934968&sseed=0&ptype=3&stime=0&ap=1&rpeat=false

3 years and happy Fathers Day

2009-06-21T23:11:00.002-04:00

Happy Fathers Day Vinay. Here is a picture from our visit trip.

3 years ago Miss Olivia was placed in our arms for 5 short wonderful days.
Here is my post from that first day.

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to let you all know that Vinay, Olivia, and I are doing fine. We made it thru our first 24 hours. Olivia is so beautiful in person, and I can't believe how much in love we are with her already. The first night was rough however she did sleep till 10 AM. I have broken every mommy rule I had for myself, but oh well.

Just for fun I thought I recap the last 24 hours.

6pm Olivia is brought to the hotel, we are given instructions(she sleeps at 9, up at 1, up at 5, bath at 8am)
7pm up in the room with her, Vinay's first words in private w/ her WHATS UUUUUPPPP. What a dork
8pm Olivia wants to eat, OK we feed her but she does not want to burp.
9pm she's suppose to be asleep, she is up crying, Vinay insists I put her down and let her cry it out for 10 min. I only last 3.
10pm she goes to sleep, I also try to sleep but keep checking on her.
11pm Vinay realizes he forgot his contact stuff, too bad is my response.
11:15 Vinay looses a contact in bed, too bad is my response.
1am wakes for bottle, I get up.
4am wakes for bottle, Vinay get up tries to change diaper w/ out glasses.
7am, wakes for bottle, I get up.
8am goes back to sleep till 10am, we completely miss bath time, OH well.

Honestly Vinay is doing great and we are having a blast, spent some hours at the pool, napped and have had fun dressing her up. I'd send pictures but I'm too tired to to figure it out. We hope to send some soon and we will love to share stories when we come home. Thanks to everyone who sent their good wishes for this trip.

Belly laughs

2009-06-16T23:27:00.003-04:00

I love Olivia's belly laugh. Here she is cracking herself up when she was playing dress up.

Ch ch ch chia

2009-06-11T15:09:00.002-04:00

Vaishu gave me this chia pet grass head for mother day. Since the first day we got it Olivia has wanted to cut it's hair, even when it didn't have any. Yesterday it was long enough to cut. So we got out the kid scissors and Liv had a ball.

Posing with it before the haircut. Don't mind Liv's dirty face, she had just finished lunch.

Cutting it

Loving it.

Giving it a bath

The finished cut. Actually it's hair is even shorter today, Liv insisted on cutting it some more!!

Different this time

2009-06-08T22:41:00.002-04:00

I don't know why but the paperchase seems different this time. It seems like there is so much more. I'm also less focused. Things I should be able to get done in a day, take me a week. Of course I have Liv to distract me, but it's more than that. Am I not diving in because I fear the pain of waiting at the end? Like being somehow detached from this adoption will save my heart from ups and downs of an international adoption.
I guess I now understand when a woman, pregnant for second time, describes the pregnancy as different. Her body is the same, the hormones are the same. It's just the child inside that makes that particular pregnancy different.

Liv and her Akka

2009-06-04T14:09:00.002-04:00

"Akka" Aunt Vaishu is one of Olivia's favorite people in the whole world. Since we all live busy lives we don't get to see her too much. But Liv did help Akka celebrate her birthday. Of course we had to celebrate Liv's birthday again!!!

Questions about her past.

2009-06-01T22:30:00.002-04:00

This picture is in a frame on a table in our house. The other day Liv was looking at the pictures and I told her that was her when she was a little baby. She then asked me Who's hand that was in the picture. I said that it was" Anna Maria the lady who took care of her until mommy could come and get you". Liv got a little upset and said "no Mommy stay". Which is what she says when I have to leave her with someone even Vinay. Olivia is very attached to me, even still. I just held Olivia in my lap and said "no Olivia your with Mommy now and I will always be your Mommy". I didn't know what else to say but to reassure her that she will always be with me. We have always been open with Olivia that she was adopted, but how much does she understand now at 3? And how much should I try to explain to her?
Guess it's time to start reading my adoption books

Fun in the sun, Memorial Day.

2009-05-28T17:07:00.002-04:00

For Memorial Day weekend our good friends Victor and Tara and kiddo's spent time with us down the shore. Liv loved having kids to play with and has been asking for Ava since we got home!!

Liv and Ava sharing toys and dinner.

Ava and Luca, such a cute picture.

Liv using her climbing skills.

Yes the weather was only in the low 70's and yes the water is only 59 degrees, but Liv did not care!!!

Liv and Ava running from the waves.

Liv's (sort of) new bike

2009-05-21T14:17:00.002-04:00

My garbage picking pays off once again. Found this bike, cleaned it up, and Liv loves it. She is getting pretty good at riding it herself. Don't worry the helmet was bought new!!!

Disney in pictures

2009-05-18T15:12:00.013-04:00

Ok so we've been home a week and I finally have my act together enough to take the time to upload my pictures. This is a long post and allot of pictures so here it goes.

Day 1 getting there
Here we go on the plane to see Mickey. Or as Liv would say "We are going to Mickey's house"

Daddy taking a pictures of Liv, or is he just getting out the hand sanitizer,Vinay was so scared we would get the Swine Flu that he handed out purell every two minutes.

No nap on the plane, but she crashed in the car, there is even drool coming out of her mouth.

First swim in the pool. Liv wold have been happy not to go to any parks and just stay in the pool all day.

Day 2 Liv's Birthday

Waiting in Line to see Mickey Mouse. When we stepped off the plane Liv was upset that Mickey was not there to greet her, so we had to find the Mouse pronto.

Yes you have to wait in line, the characters are no longer just walking around like they did back in my day.

Finally!!!! Giving Mickey a big hug!!!!!

Liv did not want to walk away, she thought she could hang out with Mickey for awhile.

But we had to see Minnie!

And Donald!

And Goofy!!!

Proof that a child can Survive on only frozen lemonade for a week. Liv choose this trip to stop both eating and sleeping!!!

My favorite Pic!

A princess waiting to go to the princess dinner for her birthday!!!!

Aurora was so nice and sweet. We also have pictures with Belle but my flash was off.

Liv asked Areil where Prince Eric was. He is her favorite, but we didn't see him.

Liv was thrilled to be dressed like Snow White, eventhough she fought me to put it on in the first place!!!

Day 3 pool day and downtown disney

Come in the pool with me!!!!!!

Daddy and Livvy bonding at Wolfgang Puck Express. Yummy spicy tuna rolls.

Awww so sweet.

Olivia, Winny the Pooh, and a lollipop, happy together.

Loving on Mickey and Donald.

Sitting with goofy.

Day 4 pool and the magic kingdom

Swimming like a fish and today she even tried the big slide!!!

Yippee we made it to the castle!!

Liv reading the map. Olivia loves maps.

Yea the tea cups. Don't spin it Daddy we get to dizzy.

Exploring Pooh's house. It was 97 this day and everyday that we were there.

Dumbo ride with Daddy

Day 5 Grammy is here

My Mom stayed with us the last 4 days

Riding the little train herself like a big girl.

Dinner at Fulton's Crab House in downtown Disney

Getting some much needed sleep.

Day 6 Bean is here and more Magic Kingdom

Our old friend Brian Saglibene Aka "The Bean" came to visit. His Mom a fequent commenter on my blog sent the best presents for Olivia's birthday. Liv loved everything, but her favorite was the dress up jewelery and shoes. Here she is showing off her new bling!!!!!

Thank you so much Les!!!! It was so sweet of you!!!

Bean and Vinay driving Alladin's magic carpet.

Us hot and sweaty on It's a small world.

Liv's exression on every ride, pure awe!!!!!!!!!

Look it's Bean on it's a Small World.

A very small wild animal.

Of course we had to buy her one of those light up things for the parade.

A visit with goofy.

Day 7 Mothers Day and animal kingdom.

Daddy, Livvy, and Lailo and Stich. The only characters Liv was afraid of.

A giraff. I don't know why these came out sideways.

An elk, all the animal were so close to the truck.

We ended the night at a great resturant in Downtown Disney Portobello's. Liv enjoyed the spray fountain.

Right after getting sprayed in the face. She still hates water in her face.

Saying a final goodby to mickey.

Just a teaser

2009-05-14T16:47:00.002-04:00

Disney was a blast. We had so much fun. I am just trying to catch up with things and we are having some work done at home so I have been neglecting my blog. So here is just one pic of Liv from the trip.
This is from the princess dinner. We went on Liv's actual birthday. She was so excited to see all the princess, but in this pic you can see how enthralled she is to see Snow White, and that she had on the same dress as her!!!

Happy Birthday Olivia

2009-05-03T20:52:00.003-04:00

Happy 3rd Birthday my sweet girl. You have grown up so much this year. We love you and are so proud to call you our daughter. Now lets go and enjoy your birthday celebration with Mickey!!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Where are we, and where are we going.

2009-04-30T14:16:00.003-04:00

It's been a long time since I posted on our current adoption situation. The truth is there was nothing to post. We had put ourselves in a holding pattern, not knowing which agency to go with or what country to even adopt from. Basically I felt like I was waiting for some sort of sign as to which way to go, what to do. A few things I found out.

Honduras: people were saying that an adoption from there would take about 4-6 years, yes years. So why were agencies telling me 10-12 months. I did my research 4-6 years sounds about right.
Nicaragua: Found that you could go down and identify a child. I liked this idea, Vinay did not. He just could not imagine going into an orphanage and say" Ok this child can come home, as for the rest of you sorry!" Not that it would be like that, but I could see his point. Plus financially we could not make 3 trips to Nicaragua, one of them being this summer.

So where did that leave us? Well it left me confused.

One thing I did keep going back to, was the first agency I called when we first decided to do a second adoption. A small agency out of South Carolina that was starting up a pilot program in Mexico. I had spoken with the director, she was so knowledgeable, and had really done her work in the country of Mexico. The children available mostly would be 4 or older however there are a limited # of children between 2-4 years old. I kept going back to their website, getting their monthly newsletter. So one day I said to Vinay, "There is just something about this agency and something about Mexico" Vinay said he had been feeling the same about Mexico but he was worried about the violence, as we all see on the news. I said yea me too.
A few hours later I went out to get the mail, and there it was, a handwritten note from the agency. "If you are still considering adoption, please feel free to call and discuss our programs and how we can help you" Not the exact words, but you get the picture. I showed it to Vinay and he said "there it is our sign."
So we are going ahead with this agency and the country of Mexico. Although yes it is dangerous, and now with the swine flu epidemic. But I really believe we are on the right path to finding our child.

A good old fashion sleepover!!!

2009-04-21T15:54:00.004-04:00

Last week we had a sleepover with Chris and Emily. The girls had so much fun eating pizza, playing with stuffed animals, and jumping on the beds. I can say not much sleeping was done. Both girls were up till about midnight. It was so fun to catch up with Chris my old collage roommate and I'm sure the girls will have plenty of sleepovers in the future..

Liv and Emily cuddling their animal babies.

Getting ready to jump and dance.

What every sleepover should have girls jumping on the bed!!!

Easter at home

2009-04-15T14:54:00.002-04:00

We had everyone at our house again this Easter. Here are some random pics from Sunday.

Liv and My Mom. My mother hates to get her picture taken so this is a rare pic. It's one of my favorites.

Me, Liv, and Vinay.

Liv playing with her cousins. Every kid loves the Melissa and Doug Birthday puzzle.

Liv and Daddy taking a little rest. Both of them were still recovering from being sick, so the day wiped them out. Does anyone know how I can clear up this picture? I hate how grainy it is.

Cute smile, cute pigtails, cute kid!!!!

Favorite Foto Friday

2009-04-10T15:35:00.002-04:00

Despite a major bronchitis outbreak in the house last week, we still managed to prepare a little for Easter

Dying eggs at my Mom's.

Practicing for the egg hunt!!! Liv likes to hide the eggs, and then hunt for them acting surprised when she finds the eggs that she hid!!

Watering the Easter flowers.

Helping Mommy plant! You can tell she was getting over being sick in this picture!!

Happy Easter to everyone!!!

Blog party, join in!!!

2009-04-03T14:58:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the 1st EVER Tuesday Blog Party!We are holding this blog party in honor of Tuesday Whitt, a sweet little girl who bravely fought and sadly lost her 8 month battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma in January of this year.

We are doing this fundraiser to hopefully raise awareness about this awful disease and to raise money for the Tuesday Fiona Whitt Foundation, where all proceeds go towards pediatric cancer research.
So, what is this all about?
How can you get involved?
All you have to do is have something you want to auction off... period!
It can be something you made, something you bought, or simply something you would like to give away.
For now, place this button on your blog, alerting your readers to our upcoming event.

Get In On The Fun & Grab a Button!

Then, on May 5th, you come here and sign up, letting everyone know you are joining in.
And all anyone will have to do to enter your auction....
Donate $1 HERE, to the Tuesday Fiona Whitt Foundation.
We have a button you will be able to add to your blog for the duration of the Blog Party that will take your readers directly to the paypal account for donations, so you won't have to be responsible for anything other than keeping track of who comments on your post to win your item and however you want to choose your winner.
You may also notice that we chose a week in May to host our party? That is because this will be the first year that Jess will be celebrating Mother's Day without her little girl and we felt it would be a huge gift to her for everyone to rally around and show their love and support. And, what a great way to honor such a beautiful little girl!Please join in and help us help the Whitts find a cure for pediatric cancer!

SPREAD THE WORD!The Tuesday Blog Party is Coming...

Just like all those years ago.

2009-04-01T14:41:00.004-04:00

When Olivia first came home in 2006, my main concern was would she bond to me. I was so worried about bonding, I read every book and article I could find on bonding and the adopted child. I remember those first few weeks home she would cry but not for me. She was just crying to be fed or held but not for me. Then we both came down with the cold of the century!!! Coughing, sneezing, fever. Her and I sick together. I cared for her day and night. When we both finally felt better I went to leave the house to run to the store, Liv began to cry. I went over to her. She stopped crying. I went to leave again and the crying started up again. She was crying for me, crying for her Momma. I was finally her Mom.
Being sick together again this week reminded me of that cold we shared 3 years ago. And yup we are still bonding.

Liv and I sick Decemeber 2006.

FFF Unique

2009-03-27T13:29:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago Liv went on a "unique" date with her boyfriend Nicholas.
Dora Live and then BurgerKing, yes dinner and a show at only 2 years old!!!
This is towards the end of the date. They were both so tired!!!!

Weekly update

2009-03-26T17:28:00.002-04:00

I have been such a bad blogger lately. All three of us are suffering from allergies, so it has not been fun in our house!!!!

Here's the scoop on this weeks finding on the adoption front.

Agency A- We had our phone conference this week. Turns out they request all of the money due at time of referral. Now I know of allot of people who had successful adoptions where payment is like this. But that was one thing Vinay and I discussed, that we want an agency that requires half the money at referral and the rest right before pick up. So agency A is out!!!

Agency B- Getting glowing feedback from references. Now to decide if we are going to Honduras or Nicaragua!!!

Weekly update!!

2009-03-19T14:21:00.002-04:00

So since starting this adoption process again. I thought I would post a weekly update to fill our family and friends as to where we are. Here we go.
Are we any closer to a decision, no. I'm getting mixed signals from both agencies. One sent me there references and I have not heard back from them. The other was suppose to have a phone conference, one day I rescheduled, and then the next day they missed the call. I did get an email saying she did not see my email, so now it is on for Monday.
I do think we are leaning more toward Honduras, sounds like a better system. Although last year they only had 11 children come to the USA from there. What a difference from Guatemala. So this is uncharted territory and I am terrified!!

FFF Then and now

2009-03-13T14:22:00.001-04:00

Oh where has my little baby gone!!!

Not so wordless Wednesday

2009-03-10T23:20:00.003-04:00

So why have we been saving as much money as possible?
Why have we been doing countless hours of online research?
Why have we been making dozens of calls to California to Maine?
Why have I enrolled in a Spanish class?

Have you guessed yet???

Yes your right we are adopting again.

Vinay and I have been talking about this since Christmas, and in February I really started to research countries, agencies, social workers. To be honest this time it seems harder to come to a decision. So here is where we are at.

We are between the countries of Honduras and Nicaragua-
We are between the agencies of Gladney and MLJadoptions out of Indiana

Does anyone have any advice, info (good or bad), or thoughts on our countries or agencies.

As of last week I thought all our decisions had been made, but the more I find out, the more confused I become!!!!

Favorite foto Friday Best of Feb

2009-03-06T14:52:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite pics of Liv ever. Taken just after her latest haircut!!!
Happy Friday Everyone!!!!

PS check back next week for some big news!!!!!

A room of ones own

2009-02-28T16:05:00.002-05:00

We try to keep things neat around the house. We switch out toys, because I don't like allot of toys around and I am trying to keep reminding Olivia to clean up after herself, now if only Vinay would finally learn that. But I think it's important to have a little space for yourself, where you can decorate it yourself, and keep it however you want. So I cleaned out half of Olivia's closet and told her she could have it for her secret hiding space. She loved it and stayed in there for most of the day, reading her books, listening to her CD player, and just hanging out with her dolls.
"Mommy this place is all mine!!!!"

Being silly and rolling around with a package of diapers

Now I need a little privacy please, do not disturb.

PS please don't think I never change my daughter clothes. Olivia is still insisting in wearing PJ's all day and there are very few outfits she will put on, this happens to be one of them so she wears it at least twice a week.

Clifford and the potty!!

2009-02-24T16:12:00.002-05:00

So when Vinay and I got back from Mexico I decided it was a good time to really start potty training seriously. Unfortunately Liv had other plans. It seems that while at her grandma's she developed a fear of the potty. Crying, refusing to go on, not even wanting to go on the potty at restaurants, which she always wanted to do.

So I let it go for a week or two, That's what one book said to do, hoping she would forget.

So for the past few days I have been bribing Olivia with Clifford the Big Red Dog books, to get her to go on the potty.

These are her favorite books lately and I got a good deal on a bunch off ebay.

I hide a box in the closet by the front door and every time she pees on the potty, I have her go to the front door look out and then tada, I have the box. The last few times I put in one book and a small piece of candy.

So far this is going ok, she still gets upset to go on, I have to hold her hand, and really talk up how proud Clifford and I are of her and how he is going to leave her a surprise.

The thing is I'm running out of books, she got about 5 the first time she went on because it was a big struggle to get her on, and I wanted her to be excited about going on. She also already had some of them.

So not only are there not many books left in the series, but there is not much Clifford merchandise out there. No little figurines or stickers. Oh and to top it off her favorite character on the show is T-bone, not even Clifford.

Just wondering if anyone knows where I can get some Clifford merchandise, anything, all I have are the books, and at the rate we are going, we will be potty training for a long time!!!!!
Also if anyone has the name of a really great potty training book, I'd love to know it!!!!

Happy Birthday Vinay

2009-02-22T22:59:00.002-05:00

This weekend we celebrated Vinay's Birthday. Vinay you are a wonderful husband and an incredible father.
We Love you,
Nik and Liv
This is the only recent picture I have of all of us.

Happy Birthday Vinay!!!

Liv's list

2009-02-17T23:38:00.003-05:00

I haven't done one of my Liv's list in a long time, so here is a list of some of Olivia's favorite things right now.

1 Her CD player. It's for the side of the crib, but she carries it around with her everywhere lately, also carries her collection of Cd's

2 Favorite CD right now. Barney's Imagination Island, I am ready to toss that thing out the window.

3 She is always telling me she's cold, so that I'll snuggle her in a blanket.

4 She is loving pears right now, but eats them in slices and will not eat the skins.

5 When she sees a toy on TV that she wants, she thinks she can still ask Santa for it.

6 She suddenly has a fear of bugs, She use to laugh at the huge spider that was living in our garage last summer.

7 Olivia was doing so good at going on the potty, then just last week started refusing to go on the potty, and has even cried when I put her on. What is up with that?

8 Favorite song to sing and dance to, "Part of your world" by little mermaid

Enjoy a performance!!!

FFF Love

2009-02-13T14:01:00.002-05:00

This weeks theme is Love and we all know who my little love is!!!!
Here is Miss Olivia getting in the Valentines Day spirit

At the library for the valentines day story time and parade.

Decorating the front door for Valentines Day

The mantel all decked out for Valentines Day.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

New Jeewsey

2009-02-10T21:12:00.004-05:00

While on vacation last week, we were with Vinay's colleagues from all over the country. When I mentioned that we live in New Jersey. People always get the same look in their eye. In their mind they are imagining how we could set up our lives in that garbage dump of a state like NJ. Sadly NJ gets a bad rap. Although some of the generalizations are a little true in certain parts of the state, for the most part it is a beautiful state. Here are some interesting facts about the great state of New Jersey.

New Jersey is a peninsula.

Highlands , New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida .

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky .

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana , Cuba .

New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US .

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club
(no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.

Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stri ngent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts ?)

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first
brewery in America , opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports
(in Newark ), Liberty International.

George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture
projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

The first seaplane was built in Keyport , NJ .

The first airmail (to Chicago ) was started from Keyport, NJ.

The first phonograph records were made in Camden , NJ

New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in
Atlantic City .

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City .
And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world,
not to mention salt water taffy.

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the
Watchung Mountains.

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. ( Union, NJ !!!)

New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.

The Pulaski SkyWay, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson
(Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 ( Rutgers College played Princeton ).

The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ ,
(but they're all gone now!).

New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson , NJ .

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives: Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Housto n, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Joe DePasquale, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, JerryHerman, Gor den McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm. Halsey,Jr, Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, Kelly Ripa, and, of course, Francis Albert Sinatra, "Uncle Floyd" Vivino and Marion McMahon, Bruce Springsteen

The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the 2nd highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US .

Last week

2009-02-08T22:52:00.002-05:00

Last week Vinay and I were in Cancun on vacation. Olivia stayed at her Bappamama's (Vinay's Mom). and came home talking up a storm. Very clear words and even spitting out sentences!!!
More pictures to come but here is a preview.
I was the first one in our group to get a kiss from the dolphin, and he scared the crap out of me!! A few minutes later I was in the water and swimming with about 5 of them, it was awesome!!!

Favorite Foto Friday "Up" to no good

2009-01-30T15:53:00.002-05:00

Olivia is the type of child who wants to please you. She wants everyone to be happy and everything to be at peace. Because of this she is usually such a good girl, it is now very rare that I have to put her in time out. However she is still a two year old and can get into her share of mischief.
Here are the faces of Liv when she is "up" to no good?
When I ask her "who did that?",this is the face she gives me, and she will point to herself.

"Are you suppose to do that?" I'll ask, she then looks for the answer and will mumble out a "no".

This is the I'm sorry face. Now how can you be mad at that!!!!

Happy weekend everyone.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-28T15:24:00.001-05:00

Pop pop update and my little Monet

2009-01-23T15:03:00.004-05:00

Liv and I have been visiting my Grandfather most days, so our daily outings to the gym, library, and play dates have been on hold. I must say Olivia has been a trooper, I just bring her toys and she is happy to just play at her Poppop's bedside. However she does like to take walks to the cafeteria, ride the elevator, and stick her hand in the water sculpture in the lobby. I am so lucky she is a good kid and I can stay with Pop as my family needs me too.

Pop is doing ok, we won't know the extent of the damage from the heart attack, for a little while. However when he is not in familiar surroundings, his dementia gets so bad. He thinks he is anywhere but the hospital. He also gets very mad that he can't go home. Yesterday he was yelling at me because I didn't bring him any clothes. He is constantly saying that if he had his clothes he could just walk out of there. Truthfully this heart attack has taken allot out of him physically. He is as weak as a kitten, but yet as stubborn as a bull. He wants to go home and he will not let you forget it!! We are hoping he will be able to come home over the weekend.

On to my little painter. It has been very cold the last week so Liv and I have been painting and crafting our little hearts out. One day we painted macaroni, and made necklaces out of them. Another day we were gluing collages. However Liv's favorite thing to do is paint. We took advantage of some after-Christmas sales and got all new supplies.

Here is an example of one of her masterpieces.

Liv was painting and she usually paints circles, but on this sheet she was making this pink Y thing. I asked her what it was and she just shrugged her shoulders. Then she calls me back over and says "Mom look dile" and points to the pictures, I said "oh nice", I had no clue what she was talking about. Then she says "Mom look" and starts making a chomping noise "Dile". Then it clicked "A crocodile" like in "Peter Pan". "Yes" she says and starts to laugh, and make the chomping noise again.
I know she didn't mean to paint this, but when I asked her what it was she looked into the painting and saw a crocodile. Then she painted the top pink blob and said "Hook" For Captain Hook. Now I know I'm biases, but that is some imagination, or I've just been letting her watch "Peter Pan" too much!!

Prayers for my Grandfather and update

2009-01-18T09:19:00.003-05:00

Just found out that my Grandfather suffered a heart attack on Thursday.
All he said was that he had a stomachache.
Yesterday he started to have a bit more dementia than usual so he was taken to the hospital. It was only then that we discovered he had had a heart attack.
At 88 years old he is still the strongest man I know.
Please keep him in mind as we find out more.
Thank you.

Update: Thank you so much for everyones prayers. Today Pop had a Cardiac Catheterization and they put in one stint to open up the blockage. He is in good spirits and doing better.

Interview and my dream job

2009-01-15T14:53:00.003-05:00

Tracey was nice enough to interviewed me and here is how it works:

1. If you want to participate, leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.” (And your e-mail address, please.)
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Now the 5 questions that Tracey asked:

1. Do you believe in love at first sight?This is such an interesting question, because everyone want to believe in love at first sight. But if I go by mine and Vinay's relationship, we were friends for about 2 years before he swept me off my feet. Then I would have to say no. I believe in attraction at first sight but Love is something that has to grow over time.
2. If you could have any job, what would it be? Why? Ahh my dream job. Most of the time I think to myself that what I am doing now is my dream job. I have always wanted to be a mother, and I know that I am so lucky to be able to do this full time and be home with Liv. But lately I have been thinking about returning to work. Now this is the worst time in the world, with the job market and the economy the way it is. But luckily for me, just on the news the other day my dream job became available to me. Actually you may have seen it.http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/od_afp/lifestyleaustraliatourismoffbeat_20090113032028 Australia's state of Queensland is offering what they quote as "The best job in the world". In an effort to boost tourism they are conducting a worldwide search for someone to live on a private Island, and take care of it. The only catch, you have to blog about your experiences. How cool is that. To be a stay at home mom and do it on a tropical island, it's like the mother ship is calling me home. So of course I clicked on the link they provided to apply. Unfortunately 200.000 other people think they are perfect for the job too and the site crashed. Don't worry though I sent an email to the head of tourism in Queensland, explaining why I'd be best for the job. I'll be holding my breath till he emails me back. Yea right. So I guess that would be my dream job to live on a tropical island, be able to spend time with Liv and be able to write. Oh and get paid to do all of it!!
3. Who inspires you? Why? Regular everyday people inspire me. Right now little Abby and her family are inspiring me. With every post of theirs I am in awe of their faith in God, and of Abby's strength.
4. What are you afraid of? Change. I am a total control freak, something I am working on. And right now my life is in a very stable safe place. I fear that things will change, and they always do, so I am trying to put more trust in God to help me deal with life as it changes.
5. What were you like as a child? As a child I was allot like Olivia is. Quiet and reserved, inquisitive yet very cautious. I had a vivid imagination and was generally a happy kid

Well thank you Tracey for interviewing me. It really helped me with my blogging block.

Now for some needed pictures. These are from last summer, as you can see Liv and I are right at home on the beach

Ahhh to be this warm again. We had snow this morning and tomorrow's high is suppose to be 15 degrees.
I think a tropical lifestyle will fit us well.

Stay warm everyone!!!

Please pray for Abby this week!!

2009-01-12T22:35:00.004-05:00

On Wednesday the 14 Abby begins the hardest part of her treatment. The next 60 days will be so hard and painful on her poor little body.

Please join us in praying for her.

http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/

"Show Mommy how the little piggies eat"

2009-01-08T22:42:00.002-05:00

Who can guess what movie that quote is from

These pictures prove that I will allow anything as long as Olivia eats!!!

Eating her spaghetti off the table

Mom are you really letting me eat like this?

Slurping spaghetti off the table is fun.

Haha this is so fun!!

Holiday Wrap Up

2009-01-06T15:14:00.002-05:00

One word sums up our Christmas Vacation: SICK. Between the three of us we had, 3 stomach viruses, 4 ear infections, 1 fever of 102.7, 2 fevers of 103.3, and the nastiest cold I'd ever seen. Vinay is usually off for 3 weeks during the holidays so we can do fun stuff, visit friends, and spend time with our families. Unfortunately that did not happen, but we are all better now and looking forward to a great 2009

Picture catch up, we did have some non sick days.

New years eve, just before midnight

Liv loved all the party hats and noise makers.

My little bed head playing with her baking set from Santa. She new to put all the cupcake cups in the muffin pan. She didn't learn it from me, I haven't made cupcakes in 2 years.

We did get to visit with my friend Chris and her family. Here is Emily and Liv enjoying a cup of Chocolate Silk. The girls chugged the cups.

Liv, Emily, and Chris, being silly. Liv still drinking her Silk.

My favorite picture from the holidays. My family always has someone dress up as Santa and come over on Christmas eve. Olivia loved him and would not get off his lap.

Liv getting in her last minute requests from Santa.

Liv and her Bappamama. We were so happy to have Vinay's mom join in my families traditions this year.

Liv and her adoring Mommas. My Mom, Me, and Vinay's Mom

Our yearly family picture in front of my Aunts tree.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T13:52:00.002-05:00

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

2008-12-24T09:56:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a blessed and wonderful Christmas!!!

"Santa's watching you!!!"

2008-12-19T15:32:00.005-05:00

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

2008-12-15T15:52:00.006-05:00

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

2008-12-09T22:49:00.004-05:00

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

2008-12-05T17:13:00.003-05:00

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

2008-12-02T22:09:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-25T22:13:00.003-05:00

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

2008-11-18T15:23:00.004-05:00

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

2008-11-14T14:18:00.002-05:00

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!!