THE AUCTION HAS BEGUN!!

Hi everyone! The auction to save the Little Bee's orphanage has officially BEGUN!! Please bid and please share the link with your friends (and ask them to share it with their friends!). There's tons of cool stuff...including original artwork by The Bee herself! Thank you thank you thank you!

 http://www.facebook.com/WarmShelterAuction

~mama

Sneak Peek...

Hi everyone! The online auction starts tomorrow at 1:00 EASTERN time and will run until Sunday, August 5th 10:00 PM EASTERN time. Please note that this is just a sneak preview. If you bid before the auction starts your bid will be deleted so please wait until 1:00 EASTERN time. Thank you for bidding and for helping the Little Bees first family.  :)

 http://www.facebook.com/WarmShelterAuction

~mama

Hearts on Strings...

AUCTION SUNDAY and PINTEREST UPDATES

Before you start thinking that I have abandoned the Pinterest challenge because I am busy looking for stuff and making jewelry for the auction STARTING SUNDAY, let me just tell you what I've been up to...

1) Pinterest cleaning challenge. The idea was that I could put a few caps full of vinegar in 2 cups water and microwave for 5 minutes and then my microwave would wipe clean. After microwaving for 20 minutes it still wouldn't wipe clean. Granted I had spaghetti sauce blow up in it, but clearly it wouldn't clean in 5 minutes no matter what. Here's the pin that failed me. That's pretty what my microwave looked like before(on the top) and also after. I opted for the good old Meyer's Clean Day to finish the job. Mrs Meyer's never fails me and the basil scent makes me almosy like cleaning. Vinegar, the microwave is not your specialty.

2) Working on woodland party items. Sure, Little Bee's birthday party isn't until February but I want to make a lot of the decorations. I saw some little bird houses that were round on Pinterest. I know I saw some painted red with white polks dots but I can't find the pin (they were on a table somewhere). This pin has unpainted bird houses but I am painting mine. I found my bird houses on the dollar rack at Joanns. Stay tuned for the final project.

3) I have wanted to make the Bee a little store ever since I bought her shopping cart (before she was home). I was looking for a base for the store at the right price...that price being under $10. Look what mama found on the side of the road!! Yay! A folding book case! I have now put the base paint on and added a few details. I will post a photo when it's done. This is my big project and with a 2 year old and a full time job I can only work on it on the weekends. I am posting a picture of the book case after I found it...and also a photo of my inspiration from Pinterest. Enjoy and stay tuned for the final store photo in the upcoming weeks!

~mama

P.S. I knew I would like being a mama but I LOVE being a mama!

Auction...Coming Up!

Hi yall! The Facebook auction for Warm Shelter is coming up in the next week. We are just tidying up the page and waiting for a few last minute donors who want to share their objects. We have a nice variety of children's clothes, art, crafts, jewelry, baked good and MORE! Please stay tuned for a link to the page AND if you have something you want to donate and ship let me know!

~mama

DON'T THINK ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE...MAKE ONE!

The Little Bee was in a fantastic orphanage the first two years of her life. I am lucky that our girl knows how to love and be loved. This is one way to see how much care she had in the orphanage. We are lucky. They had a doctor, a psychologist, a tutor and a nice staff to take care of the children. This doesn't happen often. So why am I writing? BECAUSE- WARM SHELTER NUMBER TWO HAS LOST THEIR FUNDING AND THEY ARE IN DANGER OF CLOSING. For now, they are surviving. They may have to lose staff...but then they may have to close.The children will be moved to bigger orphanages with less care.

Dr. with donations and photos of the families who helped.

A group of Pskov families recently pulled together our resources on short notice and donated supplies to the orphanage (see picture!). A kind family that was going to another orphanage on their first trip kindly brought the supplies and met with our facilitator. The supplies were delivered this week and the staff were so happy to get them. It's great that we can provide them with these clothes, medicines, soaps, etc...but this is short term and all of these supplies will be gone very fast.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

A group of us are going to do a "giveaway" fundraiser to help raise more money so we can purchase the much needed medicines and supplies when our family going to Pskov goes on trip two (last time she brought a HEAVY box- not easy). If you have any items you'd like to donate- hand crafted items, new electronics, gift cards in any amount for our fundraiser- it would be greatly appreciated. Of course we will also take cash. Please contact me if you have any items you think would make appropriate and exciting prizes. Thank you again for supporting the children of Little E's orphanage!

Once the giveaway is up and running we will post it on facebook and on our blogs so the giveaway can begin and prizes can be won! 


Now is the time for you to stop thinking about making a difference and start making one! 


LOVE,


~mama, papa and Little E

A Tree Grows in Russia...but Thrives with Family

It's a Russian tradition to plant a tree when a new baby is born. I had every intention of getting papa a tree as soon as we came home with E, but ended up waiting for Father's Day. E and I picked out a pale pink crepe myrtle. I told her that it's her special tree- just for her and papa. It's so sweet seeing them water it together.

~mama

Pinterest Again

I made these but with Nutella and dark chocolate chips...Yum!!!

So easy! Just get come crescent roll dough, heat the oven to 375, spread on the Nutella (or peanut butter) and the chips, roll up from the flat end and bake for 12 minutes. So easy and SO good! Could also add some nuts or cinnamon or candy bars pieces...limitless(ish).

~mama

Pinterest Challenge 2

Today I made the second craft project for my Pinterest challenge. A wall holder for my charging cell phone. I was sick of the cord hanging out all over the counter. Also, I had the plastic bottle, Mod Podge and fabric...so perfect project! The orange one is from Pinterest and the blue one is mine!

Pin Goals

I wouldn't say that I am a Pinterest junkie but I do enjoy the mindless pinning of things. I love sorting the things I love into organized folders. I find that I do a lot more pinning than I do making. This is why I want to challenge myself to do some of the projects on Pinterest. Last week I covered a wipes box so that the box in my living room looks a bit more classy. The website said that you should cover the box with another fabric first so you can't see the design on the box, but I'm lazy so as you can see the design below shows. Next time I might spray paint before I put the fabric on it. I haven't decided what I will do this weekend but I will let you know!

~mama

June 2011-June 2012

I was snuggled down in bed last night thinking about where we were last year at this time. June 2011-I was filling the hole in my heart with trips to garage sales buying tiny clothes that I could wash and smell and fold and carefully put away. Mostly boys clothes sizes 12 month- 2 years. I didn't know where I was going. I just knew and hoped that one day soon we would have a child, and I knew that child would most likely be a boy. I jumped when the phone rang waiting for "the call." I convinced myself to NOT jump when the phone rang...and wondered if we would ever get "the call." It was hard to imagine that these dreams would ever be real for us. It just seemed so sadly far out of reach.

FAST FORWARD

June- 2012. Up at 6:00 snuggling on the couch with our girl. Poor thing has a cold. We had breakfast, went shopping, took a walk and after her nap and did some secret stuff for Papa's special day tomorrow. His first Father's Day. I am giddy with excitement. This is the life.

Just a few short months ago I could never have imagined how much our lives would change. Now I can't imagine life without her.

Happy Father's Day to my amazing love and perfect Papa to Little E...Mister, we love you!!!!

~mama

YAY!

We've made it three months! Happy THREE MONTH Gotchaversary to us!!

For Granted...

For parents with bio babies there are some things that happen "naturally" that may be taken for granted. As adoptive parents we realize that these "natural" behaviors are indeed learned behaviors. We have been very lucky with Little E and she is attaching nicely, but even after almost three months home I am still sometimes uncomfortable with her ease in going to people she doesn't know, and her rush to say "bye bye" to try to leave and go with whatever guest is leaving our house after a short visit.

We are learning so much about parenting an adopted child and are learning more and more each day. I will post these happy challenges as they arise to hopefully help PAPs when they finally get their little one(s) home.

Here are a few things that you may not expect when coming home with your child:

CHEWING
Babies start to chew food between 6-8 months. By two years of age they have little issues with most solid foods. Little E never had "solid" food in the orphanage. The children ate fast, there was no time to chew. Also, the children in the room were probably between 10 months and 2 years and sometimes, when busy, younger children were brought in. These children all had different abilities regarding eating. I am sure that foods like oatmeal and mushy potato soup were the easiest and safest food for them to give the children. Once I saw her with a small piece of wheat bread but she sucked on it until it was soft and just swallowed it. Some OPs often tell PAPs to bring goldfish crackers and cheerios for the children. Sometimes they give them to the children without the knowledge of the caretakers. All I can say is THANK GOODNESS we didn't try this. Once we got home we realized that she can't eat solid food. Her mouth hasn't been stimulated with solid foods and she doesn't know texture in her mouth. Because of this we take her to occupational therapy once a week. She has since learned to eat things like graham crackers that are in small pieces, bananas, and spaghetti...but she still hasn't grasped chewing. She knows what chewing means but we are trying to teach her to put the food on top of her teeth. We work on this with daily food training.

THE SHOUT OUT
Most toddlers wake up and call for mama and papa. A child like E who has been in an orphanage does not do this. Why would she? For two years she woke up and waited who knows how long for someone to get her. Calling out for someone would do no good. She would stay in bed awake forever if we didn't go in her room. I recently started telling her to call mama or papa when her nap is over. Finally, a few days ago she yelled out "PAPA!" at the end of her nap. I thought I would cry. She has since tried this a few times more (but alas it has been way before the nap is over so I have to tell her to go back to sleep).

CHECKING IN
Lately we have started teaching her about "checking in." Checking In is when you are in a room with other people and your child is playing across the room and they periodically make eye contact with mama and or papa just to make sure they are there and they are safe. Bio children do this naturally. Not having a parent or sole caregiver keeps this from happening. First they have to become attached to someone, then they have to learn to "check in." I recently started going over to E when she is playing and giving her a squeeze and saying "mama is just checking in to make sure you are okay." Or when I am in the kitchen and she is in the dining room I will call her name and say "mama is just checking in." I also said that she can "check in with mama too." We just started this exercise so we'll see how it goes.

Good luck!
mama

To the Waiting Mamas

I spent two Mother's Days waiting for our child. I know today you are thinking of the child that will one day be yours. I'm sure that it seems like an impossibility, like a lifetime away...but it's not...and if for some reason it takes a long time, please know that is your destiny and that your child will one day (soon) be in your arms forever. Don't give up hope.

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.~ Chinese theory

Without You...There Would be no me...

I am so happy that I am having my first Mother's Day! I have looked forward to this day for so very long. I am a mother. I am a mother. I have been a mother in my heart for years...but now my little heart runs around my house with her arms up saying "mom" "mama." This day is special for me in so many ways.

First, I am thankful for my mother and I am so glad that she is fighting her battles and still with us on this special day. I am grateful to the doctors who were paying attention, and realizing that something just wasn't right, otherwise this may have been a very different kind of Mother's Day. My mother is a wonderful mother and I hope that I can be as loving to Little E as she has always been to me.

Second, I am thankful...more than thankful (there is no word to describe this kind of gratitude) to O, The Little Bee's birth mother who chose to give Little Bee up. I know in my heart that this was not easy for her. Thank you for staying healthy enough to give birth to a full term baby in good health. This baby that I have promised with all my heart to love, respect and teach forever and ever. O, you have no idea how much your decision has blessed my life. Your sorrow is my joy and sometimes that is hard to think about. To you, I wish you a happy Mother's Day. I will be thinking of you and honoring you today. Without you, I would not be a mother.

~mama

Oh, and today is out two month Gotchaversary...I've said it before and I'll say it again...we were meant to be a family!

Tip for Newbies

WORKOUT!! My muscles ALL OVER are really sore from carrying and lifting an almost 30 pound girl. She wants to be held a lot and I LOVE this but I ache in a big way. PAPs...get out your weights and start working those arms now!

What's in a Name?

For weeks we were the universal "papa."  Then I was still "papa" and occasionally "mam." I'm still "papa" sometimes, but more importantly today from the back seat I heard "MOMMY." My hearts swells.

Old Post #2 and more

I'm not going to lie. I am excited beyond belief about my first Mother's Day. I have been waiting for this for 2 long years. Mother's are so very very important and mine held my hand all the way through the adoption process...well, until I left for court and she became very ill. About a month ago my mom was diagnosed with a disease called Wegener's granulomatosis...now they just call it Vasculitis, which in my opinion kind of softens the severity and urgency of treatment for those who are lucky enough to get diagnosed.  The disease usually shows up with insignificant symptoms and doctors aren't looking for it. There are fewer than 10 cases of this per million each year. Undiagnosed the survival rate is 5 months and until a few years ago it was never diagnosed before it was too late (I mean it's so rare that they don't know about it or think about it). Thank goodness my mom's team of doctors were ON THE BALL. I could kiss them all. She has been getting treatment for over a month (was admitted to the hospital the day after we left for Russia and stayed a month) and she is doing well. She's a strong lady with a positive attitude. She currently has to go to dialysis for kidney damage three days a week and is doing chemotherapy as well to fight the disease. She's going to kick this thing into remission. She's having trouble walking and needs a walker or wheelchair...but she insists on cooking, doing laundry and now grocery shopping. Little E likes to ride in her lap. My mom is an amazing woman. I know she will pull through (but some warm thoughts for her are always welcome). I call this Old Post #2 because I wanted to re-live some posts I wrote about my mom...

http://heartsonstrings-jl.blogspot.com/2010/01/future-day-of-celebration.html 

http://heartsonstrings-jl.blogspot.com/2010/05/black-eyed-susans-and-other-wild-ladies.html

Old Post #1

I was just looking back at my old posts seeing where I was awhile ago and I came across this one from January 2010. Did I mention that our girl is in a yellow dress in our referral photos?

http://heartsonstrings-jl.blogspot.com/2010/01/thank-you-for-being-so.html

Definition of Awesome

When a little girl who has never had a mommy comes up to you voluntarily with lips puckered wanting a kiss.