Hi Visitors!!

It's BEEN so long!! I just had a chance to check out the blog (okay, so I have lots of chances, I just don't) and I noticed a few hits from Russia!! So exciting! If you're from Russia, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you! It always makes me happy to be able to thank the people of Russia and to let them know how AMAZING our daughter is doing AND also about the incredible and enriched lives of 1000s of other children!!

~mama

Cha cha cha changes!

It has been awhile since I posted. E turned 3 and a half one week ago today! Today is also her last day at her current day care. She is moving to one that is closer. I also think this one has more to offer. We will miss the friends we have made at her current day care though. It will be sad to say goodbye. The good thing is that if we need to for any reason we can put her there for a day or a week. This makes me happy.

We have some books that we are giving the school as gifts (Alice in Wonderland, because the director said that Alisa was like Alice going into a new place on a magical journey), Mike and the Steam Shovel ( I forget the exact title) because E loves this book...especially the part that says "bing, bang, crash , slam!!!" and The Little Blue Truck which she loves to read at nap time. Yesterday we brought "bye-bye" mini cupcakes for all of the kids at the school. Today the school is having water day and ice cream party day.

Wish me luck to not cry when I pick her up and she hugs everyone one last time.


Monday she starts a new journey at her new school...and she will be closer to mama which makes me happy.  :)

20 Things A Parent Should Hear

 

Beth Woolsey

Writer, humorist at the Five Kids Is A Lot of Kids blog

1. You are a hero for your kids. You are. You're a go-the-distance, fight-the-dragon, face-the-challenges hero for your kids. Taking a beating makes that more true. Not less.

2. We all struggle. Every parent. Everywhere. We all second-guess ourselves. And we all want to quit sometimes. Hold the good times close, and when things are tough, remember, "this, too, shall pass."

3. Finding the funny may not save your soul, but it will save your sanity. Or maybe it's the other way around. Either way, look for the humor and embrace the crazy. Laughter is a lifeline.

4. Every day, you will feel like you have mishandled something. Like you've been impatient. Like you've misjudged. Like you've been too harsh. Like you've been too lenient. You may be right. Apologize if you need to and then, whatever. Seriously. Just whatever. Let it go.

5. The crazy, the crying, the cuddles. The screaming, the sacred, the scared. The minutes, the magic, the mess. It's all part of it. And it's all worth it.

6. Family is the best. Even when it's not perfect. And it's never perfect. Ever.

7. At the end of organization, at the end of patience, at the end of perfection, we die to ourselves. And then love rises from the ashes. It sucks. And then it gets better. And then it sucks again. Still, love rises.

8. You will never regret parenting. Except for the teeny, tiny tons of times when you secretly wonder if you maybe regret it just a little. But, overall, never. And overall is what counts in the end.

9. Parenting is like climbing the big mountain. Look for the base camp. That's where you rest, meet other climbers, take in oxygen and acclimatize. Base camp is what makes summiting possible.

10. You are not alone in this strange, vast, parenting ocean. Even in the dark of night. You are not alone. You're not.

11. Kids know the way to magical and they'll give you a free pass to come along. Breathe in the magic as long as you can, because that same kid is going to poop his pants in just a minute.

12. There's a very fine line between enjoying the chaos and barely surviving. Actually, there's no line at all. It's all mixed up together. That "fine line" thing is a lie.

13. If you pay attention, kids will teach you how to laugh loudly, how to love deeply and how to live fully. They will also ruin all your stuff.

14. Any number of kids is a lot of kids.

15. Look for joy. You'll find it in the middle of the busy. Or under the ridiculous. Or hanging from the overwhelmed in its underpants. Joy's like that. It's in the middle of everything. It's completely unpredictable. And it will surprise you when you're not expecting it. Like vomit and diarrhea, except good.

16. You will fall apart and do it all wrong. Forgive yourself. Ask your kids to forgive you. Set an example of resilient fallibility. Set an example of practicing the art of love -- both loving yourself and loving others. No one does this parenting gig right the first time. Or the last time. Or the times in between. Showing your kids how to keep going after getting it wrong is a wonderful gift to give them.

17. Kids are difficult, gross, confusing and awesome. So are you.

18. Parenting will bring you face-to-face with yourself. It may be terrifying. It may break you. But it will also rebuild you, and you will be stronger than you ever thought possible.

19. Balance is a myth. Parenting isn't a tight-rope walk; it's a dance. Strive for rhythm instead of balance, and trust yourself to move to the ever-changing beat.

20. Yes, you will have days where you wonder where the hell the capable and organized you went. Yes, you will sit on the floor of the main aisle at Target by the check-out area with a child who is thrashing, screaming and calling you names. Yes, you will have to tell your child that the dog is not a napkin and to put down the urinal cake. If you do not do all those things literally, then you will do them figuratively. And yes, you will also hold that child and rock back and forth and tell him you love him and tell him he's safe and tell him you're not leaving even though he will someday leave you. This is parenting. It is tragic and triumphant. Messy and magical. Sacred and spectacular. And it is, always, fiercely worthwhile.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beth-woolsey/20-things-every-parent-should-hear_b_3209356.html

Happy Starfish Day

Today is my second Mother's Day having my baby girl in my arms. This morning I woke up in bed to papa and E bringing me a bouquet of flowers. Then they brought in a box of chocolate cookies. They then left the room and I happily lounged in bed for a few minutes. E came back in the room in her cute little pajamas and said "here mommy" and opened her tiny palm to reveal A STARFISH. Those of you that know the starfish story will probably see the beauty in this and know why it brought tears to my eyes...those that don't know the starfish story, here it is...

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, so he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out, "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

As if he hadn't heard, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he turned, smiled and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

~mama

Mad About Matryoshkas

Hey!!

Being a mommy to a sweet little Russian I have developed a love for matryoshkas. Here are a few links to some great Etsy finds!! Enjoy!!


Pepper Plaid Wet Bag
http://www.etsy.com/listing/112718352/pepper-plaid-and-red-matryoshka?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=pepper+plaid+matryoshka+wet+bag&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all

Cosmetic Pouch
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78711709/russian-doll-cosmetic-pouch-or-mini-wet?ref=sr_gallery_10&ga_search_query=zipper+wet+bag+matryoshka&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all

Baby Quilt (I love this shop)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/113103463/modern-baby-quilt-matryoshka-dolls-aqua?ref=sr_gallery_15&ga_search_query=matryoshka+doll&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto2&ga_explicit_scope=1&ga_search_type=handmade

A Crib Set I Could Never Afford but LOVE!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/95784440/matryoshka-doll-5-piece-bedding?ref=sr_gallery_20&ga_search_query=matryoshka+doll&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto2&ga_explicit_scope=1&ga_search_type=handmade


Cloth Baby Ball
http://www.etsy.com/listing/115143018/cloth-baby-toy-ball-with-russian?ref=sr_gallery_44&ga_search_query=matryoshka+doll&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto2&ga_explicit_scope=1&ga_search_type=handmade

Pendant
http://www.etsy.com/listing/122618424/matryoshka-doll-pendant-russian-stacking?ref=sr_gallery_26&ga_search_query=matryoshka+doll&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_explicit_scope=1&ga_page=4&ga_search_type=handmade


Child's Skirt (check out the dress too!)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/121818697/matryoshka-twirl-skirt-irina-size-4t?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=valeriya&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=handmade

ONE YEAR GOTCHA

HAPPY ONE YEAR GOTCHA DAY little nugget!! It's amazing how it seems you have been with us forever, but at times it seems like just yesterday that we picked up our scared little baby and took her into our lives forever. I knew I would love you but I could never imagine this kind of deep love. I love you to the moon and back sweet E. Thank you for changing our lives and making our hearts grow so BIG.


 ~mama.

DA and HBD!! One YEAR!!

This past weekend on February 9th we celebrated our on year DA day! I can't believe how fast one year has gone by. Also, yesterday our little bee turned three years old. I really do feel like I just blinked and all of this has happened. I do need to figure out how to stop time. She had a great birthday with five kids, 34 beach balls, a bounce house, cupcakes and a whole lotta gnome stuff. It really went well and we had fun. The Bee is talking up a storm and she loves her guitar and bike and balls and pillows. She is learning how to use the potty and has number one down to a science...number two...not so much, but she'll get there before college I hope!! She is in day care full time now and is doing great. We are sort of getting settled in with papa going back to work. We love this kid so much and we are trying to soak up every second we can because we know how fast it will go by....I rock her a little longer each night because I know one day she will say she doesn't need it (ugh).

One year. Thank you to everyone that made this possible! Thank you judge for saying DA! Thank you Russia for finding us the perfect girl! Thank you agency for all your work! Thank you OG for making this miracle baby and for giving her the gift of life and health!!

Love,

~mama

WARM SHELTER UPDATE

Hi everyone! After some serious challenges getting the last installment of funds raised to the Warm Shelter I am excited to say that the LAST installment is in the region and will be used to provide for the Warm Shelter in the next week or so. I finally feel like I can breathe knowing all of our hard work and generosity is paying off! I apologize for the delay, but the important part is that it is THERE and will be used for the children!!! THANK YOU!!!!

 

~mama