As Happy as I Choose to Be

Gotcha Day - 8 years later

December 22 - 8 year anniversary of our Gotcha Day!  (I'm a day late acknowledging but we celebrated yesterday!)

Christmas in China brought me the best present EVER 8 years ago!!!  Our adoption group's red couch photo at the White Swan (w/ mom's). 

Merry Christmas Rudolph

 
Attempting to learn new photography technique - bokeh.  I think this looks like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (as opposed to the lights we put on one of the trees in our front yard).

 

Catching Up on "Bailee-ism's"

Haven't posted in a while...got a few sweet and a few funnies to catch up on.

• While in Monahans over Thanksgiving, on the Friday afternoon Bailee's cousin, Katie who is 12, went "to the park" (nearby elementary school about 4 blocks away).  A little later Bailee wanted to join her so I walked her down to the school playground.  Katie wasn't there and we hadn't run into her along the way.  Bailee remembered (better than me, as usual) that the previous Thanksgiving, Katie had gotten lost on her way back home from the school.  Granted, Katie usually does take the long way and explores.  So, Bailee and I are playing at the playground for a while and I'm sitting on a fence while Bailee has climbed to the top of some jungle gym thing - with 3 sugar cookies in her hand, no less - and Bailee says to me "Is it ok if I pray for Katie?"  I said, "Of course.  Why?" She said she wanted to pray to make sure Katie was ok.  Bailee proceeds to pray quietly and I hear just a few murmurs.  A moment later, Bailee says "Did you hear me?"  I said "No, but prayer is private and God did and that's all that matters.  Your prayer is between you and God."  She said "Good." and then she asks "So why do we pray out loud at lunch then with everybody?"  Oh boy...more to explain.
• Bailee has fallen in love with fake mustaches.  She found one in a vending machine at Dairy Queen on Friday night and today found another machine and bought some more.  Too funny to see an 8 year old with a think black or blonde mustache.  In the car on the way home she told me "This is going to be the best Christmas EVER!  I just LOVE mustaches!"
• Tonight Bailee is sleeping with a stuffed owl we bought for Christmas for her friend, Hallie.  We haven't wrapped her present yet and she said "Is it ok if I sleep with it tonight?" and proceeded to make a be for the owl inside a straw Easter hat with a pajama top stuffed inside as a blanket.  Too sweet!

A Bittersweet Date

 
November 6...a mixture of joy and sadness fills me this on day. 

• November 6, 2002 - I got the call from the adoption agency with my referral!  I rushed from a downtown Austin hotel where I was in a meeting to the Great Wall China Adoption agency to pick up my paperwork and get the 3 photos of my daughter - you.  Wow!  I was a mom!  I had a daughter waiting for me over in China!  That morning on the way to the meeting downtown, I had heard U2's song Beautiful Day on the radio and boy, oh boy, was it ever true!  After waiting for over a year for this day it was here...and I was a mom!
• November 6, 2006 - Dad died.  He had been sick for the last year.  Longer than that really between his heart and then the hemachromatosis, but the last year he just got weaker and weaker.  Mom took such great care of Dad but it was tough to see such a strong man struggle so.

Bailee, I wish you really had a chance to know your Papa.  We talk about him all the time and you bring him up as often as I do and even cry and say how you miss your Papa and wonder if he can see you from heaven.  He loved you so!  He thought you were pretty darn special.  He loved making up songs...any little thing was a cause for him to make up a song.  He wrote a song for you to the tune of Amazing Grace. 

Oh Bailee Grace, How sweet the sound

A sweeter name can ne'er be found

Oh I've heard the modern names and the names of long ago

But Bailee Grace, oh Bailee Grace, the sweetest name I know.

I wish he were around to give me advice (he always had advice) when you and I are struggling with homework and tempers at night.  He'd have the perfect scripture from the Bible to go along with whatever lesson he wanted to teach me and whatever I needed to learn. I wish he were around to play Uno or dominoes with you. I wish he were here to hold your hand or play basketball with you or tell you a joke.  You love jokes...and so did Dad.  A truly good man.  I wish he were here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tattoos, Spider Witches and Fake Blood...BOO!

Bailee was a "Spider Witch" (still not clear on what that is exactly) and we had too much fun putting tattoos on her face, neck, hands and wrists.  (I mean, we live in Austin...of course we had fun with tattoos...just hope they come off in time for school in the morning.)  And then there were the fake nails with skulls and glitter hair spray!  Scary!!!

 

  

Kentucky...a state or fried chicken?

At breakfast this morning, Bailee and I were playing the alphabet game where we take turns with the alphabet letters naming a location (city, state, country or continent).  I got "K" and when I said, "Kentucky", Bailee said "No, that's fried chicken.  You're supposed to name a place."

Well...looks like we have a lot of geography lessons ahead (and we don't even eat at KFC).  Good thing we're playing this game!

Chalk it up to Halloween-ey

 
Today was a great day.  Just simple pleasures.

• Bailee had a birthday slumber party last night, so I got to sleep in this AM
• We went to our favorite Chinese restaurant for lunch
• Went shopping at Michael's (Halloween scrapbook supplies on sale)
• Bought cookies
• Decorated our driveway with chalk art - ghost, witch, skull, Frankenstein, pumpkin
• Carved pumpkins with our neighbors, Kenny and Ellie and then had pizza at their house

Simple pleasures! 

Bailee wrote "Happy Hallowee" on the driveway and after a while I noticed she had left off the "n" on Halloween.  Somehow we started laughing over "Happy Hallowee!" and then it became "Happy Halloween-ey!"   Who knows what she'll say when she goes trick-or-treating tomorrow night.  Hopefully just not "Give me candy!"

 

First Pair of High Heels

Such a big deal!!!  So excited!!!  Then realized they kind of make your feet hurt.  Oh well...she still wanted to wear them.  And so sweet.  We were headed to David Pearson's 21st birthday dinner at Finn & Porter's (nice steak restaurant downtown) so she dressed up for the occasion.  

Cracked Eggs at the Fall Festival

 
It's amazing how quickly the money goes at a fair with bouncy "rides" and snowcones and cake walks, but Bailee's favorite is the confetti eggs, or cascarones.  She kept going back for more and it wasn't enough just to crack them over Hallie's head, or mine...oh no...she even had to crack them over her own head.  I'm still finding confetti on the carpet!

 

 

Life is Good...in a Herbie

 
We had a great weekend...and most of it unplanned.  On Saturday, we went to Hallie's school fall festival for a few hours, knowing we had to leave for a haircut appointment before it was over, but then I got a call 10 minutes before we were leaving that Tracy needed to cancel my appointment.  Cool!  We stayed a bit more, had lunch with Renee and Hallie, the girls played at the Woodards for a bit and then we went to Wimberley to just hang out.  I hadn't just window shopped or casual shopped in SO long and there are some fun shops in Wimberley. 

Wimberley had a scarecrow contest this month and most of the stores had some very cute ones.  Our favorite was the Volkswagon "Herbie".  Bailee loves to play "Herbie!  Invisible pinch!" with me every day when we're driving...anywhere.  It's a much nicer game than the "Slug Bug" version that Lisa and I played growing up where you'd slug the person in the arm if you saw a Volkswagon "Love bug" and called it before the other person.  (I ended up bruised one vacation in Colorado when Lisa remembered there was a Volkswagon dealership and just punched the heck out of my arm!)  Bailee's version is much gentler, basically just dibs for calling it first...for which I'm thankful because she's much better at it than me.  So to find a scarecrow with a Herbie...too fun!

Yes, it was a nice weekend with unexpected small pleasures.  Life is good!

Bailee...the Inventor

A few times recently, Bailee has randomly told me of an invention she wants to create.

She wants to invent a machine that you put next to your ear so you can read someone's mind.  (Her reason?  She wants to find out of the boy that she's had a crush on since 1st Grade likes her too.) 

A couple of weeks ago she told me she wants to create a "duplicator".  She said she'll invent a machine to duplicate herself so she can be with both me and Nana so we're not lonely.  Pretty sweet!

So who knows what career path is ahead of her...

Dad's Catnaps!

Today would have been Dad's 87th birthday (well, when I started scrapbooking tonight anyway).   I'm taking an online scrapbooking class on "Use your Stash" and it's good for using stuff I keep buying and not using.  I've had these photos printed for a while intending to do this page.

I sure do miss his catnaps!

I got to see he-double-hockey-sticks, Nana! (huh?)

So we had 3 inches of rain last night (in about 2 hours).  Bailee was with Jim and Hallie while I was at Teacher/Parent night at school to learn how 3rd grade works.  Anyway, during the rainstorm it also started hailing out where Jim and Renee live.  Bailee had never seen hail and Jim was telling me about how she was fascinated with it.  Tonight when Bailee was talking to Nana on the phone, she said "I got to see hell!" and though I couldn't hear her, I'm sure Mom said "What?" because that's what I was saying on our end of the call.  Again, Bailee says "I got to see hell!" and then it dawned on me about the storm last night.  Whew!  I knew I hadn't taught her that word so I had to reassure Mom that she was talking about the weather!

Sassy, the Model

 
Bailee really loves the grey suede boots that she got from Hallie (and no, I do not mind the term hand-me-downs)!  It may be 99 degrees, but she's worn them to school 3 days in the last week and a half.  Now granted, the boots were pretty amazing with knee-length purple knit shorts and a rainbow peace t-shirt last week, but today they really worked with her outfit.  Maybe she'll be a fashion designer some day. 

We went out to dinner after school and before she would get back in the car she decides she has to pose...and I do mean pose!  I'm a little worried because she does look a bit like those runway models who never smile...until of course - she breaks out in a big grin.

  

Wo Ai Ni (I Love You) Mommy

PBS' POV series had a documentary on tonight about a family who adopted an older child (8 years old) from China - Wo Ai Ni (I Love You) Mommy.  It started as the Mom and Grandpa were headed to China to get the little girl.  The husband, 2 boys and their other daughter who was also adopted from China, stayed back home.  It was an honest look at the challenges of adopting an older child from language acquisition to the adjustment of losing her foster family and recognizing that her new family was her forever family. 

Watching it took me back to those 2 weeks in China, especially in Guangzhou completing the U.S. paperwork.  It brought back so many memories that are never very far from the surface.  Those weeks in China are so sharply clear in my mind.  It was such a precious time with nothing to do but get to know Bailee and complete the occasional paperwork.

• I noticed the beds in the White Swan Hotel haven't changed at all.
• I remember counting out the crisp $100 bills for the orphanage donation
• The layers of clothes Bailee was wearing when I got her from the orphanage nanny
• Getting lectured by all the older women in China who thought Bailee was freezing because I didn't keep her in tons of layers. (Actually, they may have had a point...it was zero degrees in Lanzhou and I didn't find/buy a snowsuit in Austin, TX to take over there with us so Bailee did up being bundled in layers and blankets when we went outside. I guess I did deserve some of those lectures.)
• The tears of the foster family on the documentary reminded me of the tears of the orphanage nanny.  While Bailee had been there just less than a year compared to the 5-6 years with a foster family, nonetheless you love the child.  It must be such a hard job for the caretakers who bond with the babies only to have one after another be adopted and gone from their lives.  Even knowing they are going to a better life and opportunity can't make it hurt any less.
• The medical examination. Such a crowded buildling. So many screaming babies and loud voices. Moving from one rather cursory exam to another - measuring the circumference of her head and her length, weighing her, testing her hearing. Actually this was a test we briefly thought Bailee was going to fail. They would shake a rattle off to one side and look for a reaction from the baby. Bailee didn't react and they had to re-test her a few times. I think it was hard for the rattle to compete with the loud noises and screams. Another miserable part of the exam was that at this point, and for another month or so, Bailee would scream bloody murder every time she was laid flat on her back so for part of the medical examination Bailee was contributing to the screams. Not really sure why Bailee reacted this way to being laid on her back, maybe it was due to being bundled for much of her earlier life and feeling loose and insecure when laid out like that. I just know that changing her diaper was misery for both of us. It became a speed race to get it over with as quickly as possible. It was also a bit embarrassing trying to change her diaper anywhere, like on an airplane, because it felt like I was torturing my child - or it certainly sounded that way.

Chinese Culture Camp

The Families with Children from China Austin chapter sponsored its first week-long Chinese Culture Camp, August 9-13.  I had to fly to Orlando on Thursday so missed the final pot luck dinner and play of "Stone Soup" but fortunately we were carpooling from southwest Austin so Bailee got to attend the full week. 

What an amazing week they put together.  Chinese artists showing them the Lion Dance, other Chinese dance, kung fu, how to play Chinese yo-yo, decorating a kite, learning about Chinese landmarks and writing their name in Chinese.  In fact, Bailee got so much practice writing hers that when she came home from camp that Wednesday afternoon I thought she had gotten tattoos up and down her arms.  She was covered with Chinese lettering.  She wouldn't wash it off, though she assured me "it isn't permanent marker, Mom".  We went out to a restaurant that evening and if we didn't live in Austin (6th highest tattoo shop per capita in the U.S.) we might have gotten more weird looks like "what was that mom thinking?"  In the end, it washed off in the shower that night.  The next morning as we were walking out the door for camp again, Bailee yelled "Wait a minute!" and rushed upstairs.  When she came back down she had again written her name in Chinese on one of her forearms.  I love that she was so impressed with this.  And her lettering looked great!

One of the more unique parts of the camp was that they had 2 psychologists who would lead the groups in age appropriate discussions about racism, what they liked about adoption, what they didn't like about adoption.  What a great experience to meet this many other children in the Austin area also adopted from China and be able to share and open up and have common ground.

First Day of 3rd Grade...and barely hanging on

Last night when she went to bed, Bailee told me it was ok for us to hold hands when I walked her to school today. 

That was a pretty big concession on her part because she quit doing this last year.  I'd notice that when we got about a block or so from school that her hand just seemed to slip out of mine.  I even called her on it and she admitted it.  I sadly allowed it since I don't want to embarrass her in front of her friends.  That's bound to happen anyway...I'm just not cool enough, so if I can let go her of her hand a little earlier on the way into school...so be it. 

So this morning when she reached for my hand and said "A promise is a promise" referring to last night's discussion, it was pretty wonderful!

What was I thinking? Mice?!?

Our neighbors', Kenny and Ellie, daughter graduated high school and is moving out.  She's not taking her mice with her and they gave us the option to take them.  Bailee SO wanted to...so we have now adopted 2 mice.

I guess as mice go they are cuter than most (not white with little pink eyes).  We went cage shopping and found them a 2-story condo with a wheel that is mostly silent.  Compared to the fish aquarium they'd been living in...it's like going to visit Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld for the mice. 

Still..they smell!  Bailee is enthralled and wants to carry the cage from room to room around the house.  I can only stand the smell so much so am going to have to insist they stay in her room and her room only.  Seriously...what was I thinking?!?!?!?!?!

A hoot and a kick on the road home...

My baby's back home.  OK, so she's not a baby anymore to anyone but me.  Bailee was at Mom's for the last week since I had no "camp" lined up and had tons of work to do (both clean out of house and work on upcoming conference).  She had a good time and sounds like she was pretty good for Mom.  Went to the library, went to church, climbed trees, played with J.J. next door, cooked snickerdoodles, etc. 

Mom and I each drove part way yesterday for the "hand-off" and met in San Angelo.  While we used to drive this way every time, we finally discovered I-10 a few years ago and almost exclusively drive that way now.  So it was good to take the old road again.  Reminds me what a hoot some of the town and road names are:

• Koocksville Lane
• Gooch Cemetary
• Hext (it's a town)
• Crook Road
• Hoot's Pharmacy
• Grit (another town...or used to be...still have Grit School Road)
• Veribest (my grandmother lived there for years and years)
• The Cow Patty Patch where you can make Moo La selling your old things in Llano...
• Eden (no one's ideal of the Garden of Eden, trust me...and the state or federal penitentiary inmates who live there as well)

 

There's a spot about 10 miles out of Mason, on the way to Menard, and I love looking for the entrance to this ranch every time.  They have a ceramic or concrete pig on the side of the road.  I usually forget to take pictures or bring my camera, but would love to capture a year's worth of outfits on this pig.  This pig is dressed for the season whatever that occasion might be, so it's such a kick to see it.  St. Patrick's, Valentine's, New Year's Eve, Halloween and any other holiday.  I'm not sure what this occasion was with the pink feather boas and hat...maybe just festive.

Growing up, our family took the road from Monahans to San Angelo several times a year (family reunion, Christmas, Thanksgiving) because all holidays took place at Nanny's house in Veribest, just outside of San Angelo.  For young kids, it's such a long drive (2.5-3 hours) but I remember that Lisa and I always looked forward to a stop for a treat at Watson's Grocery in Sterling City along the way.  That was OUR stop since it was named Watson's. We would spend more time than was necessary debating about which type of candy to get, walking back and forth in front of the candy aisle that seemed so long at the time. Watson's Grocery burned down about 10 years ago and all you can see is the concrete slab and the sign, a little worse for wear, but still standing.  I look for it every time I pass that way and remember getting a treat for the long drive to Nanny's house.

Elvis, the Rock Star

Bailee and I went to see Dispicable Me yesterday.  One of the previews or part of the movie had a scene with Elvis and his music. 

Bailee asked "Was Elvis famous?" 

I answered "Yes, he was really the first rock star."

Bailee asked "Who was second?"

Good question.

Missing Dad

While Bailee is at camp this week, I'm trying desperately to clean (clean OUT).  Impossible to even see progress yet, but it's happening.  While cleaning the dining room (it has become Bailee's craft room and miscellaneous storage room), I ran across a box that Mom had sent me when she was cleaning out her garage.  It had:

• job application stuff from when I was interviewing in my senior year of college (huh?)
• ticket stubs to concerts and football games I attended during college
• research papers of Lisa's on Dad's WWII unit
• a high school drum major award from band camp
• my first Bible
• Dad's orange gulf hard hat
• and a smaller box

The box contained a paperweight of an oilfield pump jack, a few letters Lisa had mailed me during college...and a keychain.  A keychain I had been looking for since Dad died in 2006.  I had given it to him years ago.  It was one of those perfect gifts.  Perfect because every time I called home during my 4 years at A&M, he would ask "Have you checked the oil lately?"  Every time Lisa called home from Evanston, WY or Madisonville, TX or wherever...he would ask "Have you checked the oil lately"  Now, of course, the answer was no, but even though it meant a bit of a lecture, we knew it meant he loved us.  I gave Dad this keychain for Father's Day around the time I graduated from college and our whole family got a laugh out of it because it was just too true.

This keychain is now worn and scratched.  He used it daily.  He used it well.  He knew it meant I loved him too.

I sure miss Dad.  And he's probably laughing up in heaven right now because the "Check oil fluids" light has been on in my vehicle for a week now.  Maybe I'll stop by Jiffy Lube tomorrow.

Rocky Mountain High Concert

I'm going to back track for a few days to capture some of the adventures we had on our vacation to Colorado.  I won't dwell on the 7 hour drive from Austin to Monahans with me, Lisa, Katie and Bailee followed by an 11 hour drive the next day from Monahans to Las Animas, CO with the same crew plus Mom.  (I'm preferring to block the to/from part of the trip from my memory.)

On Saturday, July 3, we took the train ride from La Veta to Fir on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.  Turns out Fir is basically a meadow atop a mountain where they have built an environmentally green concert venue, with the sound system powered by solar and wind energy.  It was an intimate ampitheatre with logs for seating and empty spaces if you brought your own camp chairs.  You could purchase their BBQ lunch or bring your own.  It was lovely!

I think there were 300 people max!  How personal can a concert get?  I'll admit I knew Michael Martin Murphy's name but I couldn't have named any of his songs.  I can now.  It was a truly special concert with several unexpected surprises like:

• Three Feathers (think that is the name of the Native American musician) who played 4 different flutes on several songs, had a great sense of humor and played beautifully.  Plus I've now discovered the song Geronimo's Cadillac.
• The cowboy western music association musician of the year who was there just to attend got pulled up on stage for a song.  And then at the close he brought his 11 year old daughter up for the final song with all the other musicians.
• At one point the sound system went down briefly while they were singing What's Forever For, but Michael Martin Murphy and the band left the stage and came into the crowd to continue and sang several couples who been married a long time.  Lovely.

Well, I'm headed to iTunes to download some of his songs now.  It was a concert I won't forget in a setting I'll long remember.

Yes Bailee, There IS a Tooth Fairy!

The nerve of some little kid at summer camp!  Telling Bailee there is no Tooth Fairy...and then telling here there is NO SANTA!!!  The nice thing is Bailee told me she still believed even if she didn't admit it to that little girl. 

Honestly...I got lucky!  I was so exhausted last night that I fell asleep right after Bailee and forgot to put money under her pillow.  Luckily she has been playing musical beds. Sleeping in mine sometimes and in the guest bedroom at others.  Unfortunately she hasn't slept in her bed in about 6 months.  She thinks the ladybugs that I painted on the walls before she was born are crawling during the night and it creeps her out.  And I can understand that...even if I haven't had time to repaint her room.  Anyway she slept in the guestroom last night, so I quickly ran and put $2.00 (our going rate) under the pillow in my room.  I then yelled for Bailee to check my room in case the Tooth Fairly had gotten confused.  Whew!  And then Bailee asked why the Tooth Fairy hadn't answered her question.  She had written the Tooth Fairy a note asking "Can I keep my tooth for one day to show at camp?  Circle YES or NO.  Love Bailee".  I told her that since she hadn't found the right pillow that it must be ok for Bailee to keep it just one day but she must put it under pillow tonight so the Tooth Fairy didn't get in trouble.  She bought it.  (Now I just need to stay awake long enough to pull the tooth out from under her pillow tonight...and insert the note I wrote her from the Tooth Fairy reminding her to brush her teeth twice a day.)

Hip Hop and Vacation Bible School

What a week!  Vacation Bible School at night, Hip Hop camp during the afternoons (odd combination at that) and I had to fly to Cleveland for a training class Tue-Thur.  Bailee barely missed me she was having so much fun staying with Hallie and with all the activities.

I did make it back in time for the 5 minute "recital" that the girls did on the last day of hip hop dance camp.  They were great and looks like they had so much fun (though this picture just looks like they picked up attitude!)  They really did pick up some moves in just 5 days of class.

Turns out Bibi, a girl adopted from the same orphanage as Bailee, was also taking the class.  Who knew when we brought our daughters home from China that they would end up like this?  (Yes, spoiled rotten, but so much fun!)

 

Mariachi Fridays

We regularly go to Casa G's for mexican food on Friday.  I love the food.  Bailee does as well, but really...it's the mariachis who play there on Friday nights that she really loves.  And they are great.  A 7 piece group, most of whom have college music degrees (I googled them after listening to them for a year).

Mom was in town in April to take of Bailee on one of my trips and she stayed over a couple of days so I actually got to visit with her for a change.  We went to Casa G's and since it a week before her birthday and we wouldn't be with her on her birthday, Bailee told the waitress it was her grandmother's birthday.  During dinner the mariachis came over and sang Happy Birthday to mom.  Bailee just loved it.  (Mom has never liked being the center of attention, but she survived.)  They were singing along...

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Ernestina

Happy Birthday to you!

Bailee roared when she heard them call her Nana "Ernestina", adding the a as they do in Spanish to the end of her name.  Ever since then, when Bailee calls mom on the phone, she starts with "Hi Ernestina!" and tonight it was even "Yo!  Ernestina!" 

Greek Gods and Goddesses...and Dyslexia

They had a celebration ceremony for the Take Flight program a few weeks before school was out.  For some kids who had finished their 2nd year, it was their graduation.  For others, like Bailee, it was simply a celebration of all their hard work this year.  So many lessons. RAP, RATE, Individual Words, cursive practice. Decoding so many words. Practicing so many sounds and patterns.

Regina Staffa, the primary teacher, had the idea to theme it to Greek gods because of the book series and recent movie Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.  (Think Harry Potter series based on greek mythology.)  The key for the Take Flight kids; however is that Percy Jackson is dyslexic.  Pretty cool that a whole movie is based around a kid with dyslexia.

They identified the God or Goddess most applicable for each child based on their individual gifts.  Bailee's goddess was Artemis who was the goddess of the wilderness, the hunt and wild animals.  Contrary to some beliefs, Artemis was a protector.  This is very fitting for Bailee who is a nurturer at heart.

Ms. Staffa dressed the kids in white plastic tablecloths wrapped like togas with wrapping paper ribbon for the belt and I cut out 30 green vines out of construction paper and wrapped them around a pipe cleaner wreath.  (Ugh - remind me not to say I'm creative.)  The kids were adorable. And bless the nerve of Regina and Kelly (the other instructor and Bailee's teacher) - dressing like Greek goddesses themselves!  It was such a moving ceremony because Regina and Kelly, spoke specifically about the gifts of each child.  I'll admit to shedding a tear or two. Bailee was so excited to get her "very first trophy!"

We have another year of Take Flight, but Bailee's reading has improved so much this year. I'm definitely a believer in the Take Flight program, and the dedication of an amazing woman who has dedicated herself to helping children read and feel good about themselves.

Not too old to rock, baby!

As Bailee was going to bed tonight, she said "Rock?"  And the answer was "Yes".

Every night when I first adopted Bailee, until she was probably 4 years old, we would rock.  For the first 8-9 months it was to rock her to sleep.  She'd take a bottle and then we would rock, sometimes for up to an hour.  Sometimes I would fall asleep while rocking her.  Her warm little body snuggled, with her head on my chest or shoulder and her feet in my lap, just rocking and rocking.  During these first months she would also wake up in the middle of the night screaming.  I think it was because she had never been alone in her life, sharing a room with 5 other babies.  I would go to her room, pick her up and bring her to my room and the stuffed rocking chair and we would rock.  It sometimes took an hour to get her back to sleep.  No matter how tired I was, I just couldn't put her back in her crib to cry herself to sleep.  In my mind, she needed to know I was there for her and this time really bonded us...no matter how exhausted I was, it was worth it.

As she got a little older, instead of lying against my chest, she eventually began lying across my lap with her head on one of the arms of the rocking chair.  As she got a little older still, then her legs would hang off the other arm.  But still, we rocked.  Talking in the dark is also good for having more serious moments or discussions. We didn't stop rocking almost every night until probably first grade.  But even now, occasionally, we'll still rock.  Bailee said tonight, "You're not too old to rock, even if you're in 3rd grade, right?"  I answered, "Right."

Pretty darn cute!

I had a quick business trip a couple of week ago and Bailee's former kindergarten teacher, Ms. Meixner, stayed here and took care of Bailee while I was in Cincinnati.  (It's hard to call your kid's teachers by their given names when you refer to them as "Ms. X" or "Mrs. Y" for a year).  I called home the first night and Katy (Meixner) told me she and Bailee were going to have dinner with her boyfriend the next night.  He'd met Bailee back in November and Katy had told him she was taking care of Bailee again.  He asked about taking them both to dinner since he remembered how cute Bailee was.  Katy told Bailee this, who replied "I get that a lot."   Sigh...modest, isn't she?

Mother's Day...at Six Flags? Whose idea was this?

Not mine...that's for sure!  Lisa bought season passes for Katie and Sarah and invited Bailee and I to join them since their season passes included free guests on Mother's Day.  I will admit...the park was relatively quiet so very few lines, the weather was overcast so that impacted attendance I'm sure, and it was in the low 80's.  So...all in all - not bad.  Plus the girls didn't fight.

Bailee hadn't been before and is just now tall enough to ride most things (except the "real' roller coasters).  Problem was...she just wasn't game for much and Katie will ride anything and everything so it was quickly looking like kiddie rides for me and Bailee.

Lisa however; was her usual brilliant self and gave Bailee a "brave pill".  (She scoured the gift shop and stores for candy that Bailee wouldn't recognize and ultimately ended up with a lemon sour...like a cherry sour.)  Bailee eyed Lisa curiously, but then gamely "took her pill".  She then rode on a ride she had previously refused and informed us "the pill must be working".

What a Beautiful Garden, Nana!

 

Wow!  Mom found out today that she is the Garden Club's Yard of the Month.  I don't care that it's a relatively small town of 6500 people.  She's 84 years old and does everything herself except mow the lawn!  Of course, this is also why she's in such great shape...working 2 hours a day in her yard no matter what the temperature.  I just wish she would use a camera and take photos of her yard since I can't be there to do it all the time.

I wish my yard looked 1/10 as good as hers.  Here are a few photos that I've taken over the last few years.

Every time we visit, Bailee wants to cut a bouquet of flowers...and it's no problem considering the hundreds of blooms at any time ranging from poppies to hollyhocks to roses to bluebonnets to pansies to columbine!

Yes, a beautiful garden!