Liv's List

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!!!

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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

PJ Love!!!

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!!!!!

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

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!

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"

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.

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

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!!!