More birthday pics

Quite possibly the most annoying toy on the face of the planet. (Thanks, Auntie J!)
Birthdays are tiring.
Here's The Kid all ready for a luau, RAGBRAI and a dance recital.
Uhhhh....get that flamin' thing away from me.

And the final 3.

You see, mom, this is what I like to call 'A MESS'.
A ton of new toys and what does she want? A diaper. On her head. (YES! It's clean.)
My big 2 year old sweetie. Happy Birthday, Pumpkin!!

525,600 minutes

This song has been running through my mind all weekend and everytime I get to the part about "In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights In cups of coffee, In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife" I get all choked up. I think about how much has changed this past year for The Kid, and even myself, and I am just amazed. I spend a lot of time thinking about how all the circumstances that had to be just so for you and I to be together. Everything just seemed to fall into place. It's hard for me to even put into words as I sit here typing without getting teary eyed. I love you so much, sweetie, and I am so happy to be your mama. Here's to the next year. May it be filled with more music and laughter and hugs and kisses (and if we're lucky, maybe even a drum playing drag queen).

SEASONS OF LOVE (Rent Soundtrack)

Then and Now

One year ago













Today - I give it two more years until it fits properly.














(Notice the spelling on her shirt?? I'm guessing it's not licensed apparel.)
 

It seemed like a good idea Part 2

Auntie J always comes up with the coolest ideas...

Anniversaries

So many important anniversaries coming up in the next couple of weeks.

Today - MTV debuted 25 years ago....also the same day The Quick family got cable, complete with the push button cable box that was attached to the tv. Ain't technology grand??

August 3, 2005 - Our first attempt at leaving the US for China. Many tears were shed and mass hysteria ensued.

August 4, 2005 - Our second attempt. We made it as far as Los Angeles....lovely airport. We spent a great deal of time there.

August 5, 2005 - Leaving the US for CHINA! FINALLY! And because of the mix up, we get to fly first class! (For the small nominal fee of $900....per person)

August 6, 2005 - In a freak mystery of the space time continuum, this day never happened.

August 7, 2005 - The Kid and I finally got to meet face-to-face. I just can't quite believe that it's already been a year. It's gone so fast and yet, I feel like I've always known the little goober.

August 8, 2005 - First poop. May not celebrate that anniversary.

August 12, 2005 - The Kid's 1st birthday. I was so thrilled to be able to be there with her on her first birthday....and now it's time for her first birthday at HOME. You thought Raisin Bran boxes and a rattle were the bomb last year???? Sweetie, you have NO IDEA what is in store for you this year.

Thanks to all of you who have tuned in this past year.

They seemed like a good idea at the time...

This is for anyone getting ready to go to China. If you are getting ready to go, undoubtedly other families have told you that you MUST buy mass quantities of squeaky shoes. "If you don't buy enough to last your child until they are 18 you will regret it!" "They are precious and if you don't buy them, your child will not grow up happy and well adjusted!"

Let me fill you in on a little secret. The only reason those parents tell you that is because they were dumb enough to fall for it too. Yes, the squeaky shoes are cute. But just remember, soon your child will be walking all on their own and this is what you will have to listen to....ALL. DAY. LONG. So before you buy 30 pairs and try to find the luggage space to cart them all home, put this video on a loop for AT LEAST an hour and then decide how long you want to listen to them. THIS is our last pair, and I can safely say that I have no regrets about that.

My mom...

Today is my mom's birthday. Since a lady never tells her age, I won't divulge it. (You're welcome, mom!)














I just wanted to thank her for being such a great mom to me and bringing me up right (with some help from dad, too). If I'm any good at being a mom it's because of you.

I love watching you be a grandmumsy, although you are a lot easier on The Kid than you were on us. But we can discuss that later....

Happy Birthday, Mom/Grandmumsy!!! We love you.


And here is a bonus picture of The Kid in her hoochie-koochie outfit, just because it's cute.

Corny

After deciding that eating it off the end wasn't the best idea, R managed to eat her first ear of sweet corn. She even sported Ellie Mae Clampett pigtails to celebrate the occasion!


 

Some Like It HOT

The Kid and I had a nice (although it was UNGODLY hot) weekend. Saturday was our Agency picnic (Sorry...no pics. I forgot the camera. Heat does things to my brain.). Outdoors. In the summer time. I hate outdoors and summer, because it usually involves two things I hate. Bugs and heat. But, I just have to get over it, because my kid likes outside. It actually ended up being a pretty nice afternoon (other than the heat). We got to see Sherri and Aaron, who are almost DTC after a loooooooooooong paperchase. (HOORAY!) And we met Kim and Mike who are also getting close to being done with their paperchase.

The funniest thing....we get to the picnic and all the kids are running around playing on stuff and being squirrely, like kids will do. Auntie J gets there and all the kids just flock to her. I swear, she has some kind of voodoo hold over kids. She's amazing like that.

We all so got to spend some time with Uncle Mark. He read "I Love You Like Crazy Cakes" to The Kid. It's been a few days since I read that one, but I guess I forgot how much farting goes on in that book Funny that.

Sunday was much more of the same....except much hotter and no picnic or Uncle Mark. But, it was just a nice day. Check back in a day or so for The Kid's first corn on the cob. Too dang cute.

Two Little Girls

My sister, Auntie J, and I were talking the other day about Old School Sesame Street. They used to have lots of cool little videos and stuff (like the kid with the loaf of bread, the gallon of milk and the stick of butter). Now it's all just Elmo and that annoying Journey to Ernie crap. Don't get me wrong....The Kid LOVES Elmo, and I still loves me some Sesame Street, but I have so many fond memories of the videos they had when I was a kid. One video, though, used to make me cry and cry and cry (and I think also has something to do with my hatred of cats). My sisters used to sing the song to me just to get me to cry for the hell of it, I think. Anyway, I did some digging and wanted to share it with you. The only thing I could really remember was the tiny little plates and spoons and then the cats had to come in and ruin everything. Stupid cats.

The Best Kid

I wondered a lot this past weekend about my ability to be a parent. The Kid was in rare form all weekend and everything was a struggle. If we went somewhere, she wanted to be carried. If I picked her up she wanted to walk and as soon as I would set her down she would throw a tantrum because she wanted to be carried. She would let me know she was thirsty, so I would get her some water. NO! She wanted MILK, damnit! Typical 2-year old stuff, or so I'm told. But it just seemed like it was EVERYTHING. And when we have these little bouts of 'the naughties' I can't help but think "Maybe I'm not a good mom and I'm not doing the best job for The Kid."

But then, just as I'm about to yank that last clump of hair out of my head, something like this will happen.













This was right after I asked her if she wanted to take a bath (I overheard some other moms saying that it was a great mood stabilizer for babies). She tried to pull her shirt off and it got stuck on her head. But did that stop her from prancing around home like it was the latest fashion craze sweeping the nation? NO! But she did throw a fit when I took it off her and put her in the tub.

So, I do have the nagging stinkin' thinkin' thoughts from time to time...but then I think about when I put her to bed tonight and put Towelie in her left arm and Bunny Bear in her right arm. I wrapped her up like a tortilla in the fuzzy pink blanket, rubbed her tummy, kissed her forehead and told her I loved her and that I would see her in the morning. If she had some other mom, they might not know to do all that!

As I'm standing by her crib, and looking down at that sweet little face, pretending to snore and keep her eyes shut, all the while giggling, I can't help but think that I AM the best mom for her. Because she is The Best Kid for me.

Independence Day

The Kid says "Have a safe and happy 4th....or me and my gang, The Little Rascals, will come and bite your ankles!"

A letter

Dear Coby and Devon's mother,

I enjoyed sitting next to you at the mall play area yesterday. I always find it fascinating to meet new and different people. I was very interested in the fact that you have two large Amazonian children. Although the precious angels were clearly much taller than the posted height of 42 inches to play in the play area, you clearly wanted to teach your kids that rules are made to be broken. And for that, I say BRAVO! I also thought it was great parenting on your part to not pay ANY attention to the little rascals as they jumped from the tops of one piece of play equipment to another. Don't worry about all the little kids your adult sized 7 and 8 year old boys could have crushed if they fell. I totally agree. That's not your problem. And I also thought it was a great idea to let them run around as fast as they could, knocking little children in their path over. Boys need their exercise. And, as a mom, I know how hard it can be to find time to keep in touch with your friends. So, I totally understood you calling up one of your gal pals and telling her all about your drunken weekend exploits and how much you hated that 'b*tch' who thought she was so hot. From your accurate and very descriptive account, I can't see why anyone would care for her. And I'm sure none of the kids within earshot heard what you were saying. Kids don't pay any attention to what grownups say or do.

Well, I do hope we meet again sometime, because I would like to deliver this letter to you in person.

Take care!
Wendy

My Little Sweetie

This picture was taken just seconds after she had been screaming her head off because she got stuck between two stools. 

Omaha Part 1

Here's sweet little Lucia. She and The Kid had fun at lunch.
Lucia wanted to give The Kid a kiss, but R didn't know how she felt about that.
Then all of a sudden, she had a change of heart.
After lunch it was time to go for a tractor ride. 

Omaha Part 2

Pic #1 - Little Miss Firecracker riding a tractor.
Pic #2 - Enjoying a book with Aunt Amanda.
Pic #3 - Wrastlin' with Aunt Amanda.
Pic #4 - Wrastlin' with Uncle Kevin

One Year Ago...

One year ago today, I was a nervous wreck. I had found out through my November DTC group that referrals were on their way. The night before, I had even called DHL and pretended to be someone from my agency. I asked if there were any packages on the way from Beijing. The nice lady I talked to gave me a package number that I tracked all night long. I saw the package was delivered at 8:30 in the morning and after that, I just sat and stared at the phone. I kept checking my email to see when referrals would start popping up. I was a nervous wreck and it was all I could do to keep from calling my agency and screaming at them 'GIVE ME MY BABY!'. But I just waited....and waited....and waited. Finally at noon, I was about to go insane. What could POSSIBLY be taking them so long??? Geez! Everyone else in my DTC group had already got their referral call. Where in the hell was mine??? Then, I started to panic. Maybe I didn't get a referral? Maybe something was wrong with my paperwork and they weren't going to give me a referral. I made myself sick with that thought for about a half an hour and then the phone rang! It was my agency calling to tell me that I had a daughter and that she was beautiful. Well. I cried myself silly and that was all I heard from the rest of the conversation. Everyone says to have a sheet with you when you get the call so that you can ask questions and get some info about your baby. HA! I had the sheet by the phone but I never wrote down a single thing or asked a question. She ended the phone call by telling me that she had just sent an email with my daughter's picture and that I could come in to sign the paperwork at any time. I hung up the phone and ran to the computer and saw this picture. I cried and laughed at the same time. What a sweet and funny little face!

As soon as I regained my composure from the phone call and seeing the little cookie face for the first time, I jumped in the car and took off for my agency. I think I got there in about 30 seconds. As I walked into the office, they had balloons and a pink baby t-shirt with the agency logo waiting for me. I cried again. We went back to the conference room and they showed me the other referral pictures.

And then, she asked if I wanted to accept this baby! Uhhhh....HELLO!!! Hell, YES! After that, I signed some things and then went to go track down Grandmumsy and Auntie J. Grandmumsy got to see The Kid for the first time in a hospital waiting room. I'm sure everyone else sitting there thought one of us got bad news because we were both crying like buffoons. Then we went to Auntie J's office and called and asked her to come downstairs. As she walked up to my car (with Ms. Rhonda serving as photographer), I held up The Kid's picture. If anyone from her building happened to be looking outside, I'm sure they thought Auntie J was having a fit or seizure of some kind.

At the time, I would have said that that was the best day of my life. If only I had known how much better things were going to be. I look into my daughter's face sometimes and can't remember a time when she wasn't right next to me. I can't remember what it was like to not want to rush home everyday to see her sweet little face or how much I can miss her throughout the course of a day. Some people seem to think that I must miss my life before The Kid, but I guess what they don't realize is that before The Kid, I was missing exactly what I have right now.

BUSY!

Busy weekend leading up to another busy week and weekend. Sorry for my lack of pictures. I should have some great ones after next weekend. We will be visiting the Omaha contingency....and maybe taking in the Art Festival here in town.

If anyone out there can tell me.....what is the best way to get a toddler to speak more than the first sound of ANY word? I know that if she would say the full word, she would probably have a vocabulary right up around 100 words or so. As it is, it is all BA, DA, Uhh, Doh, Ma, Buh , LI, and Fuh. And it's not like those are just random sounds she is making. Fuh is ALWAYS fish or foot or food. BA is always ball and baby. She understands EVERYTHING you say to her, and she always knows what something is when you ask her what it is, it's just never more than the first sound. I just want her to talk.....I can't wait for her to start saying embarrassing things in public. It's all about getting the ammo I need so that I can embarass her when she's in junior high.

Oh, and for the record? Her hearing is just fine.

Crummy weather weekend

Last weekend, it was really hot and humid in these here parts. So, like any sane person, we decided to go sit out in the heat and have a picnic with Uncle Toddo.
Very GQ, Uncle Toddo!!












This weekend, it was cold dreary sweater wearing weather. This was The Kid after she fell asleep in the car. She didn't wake up when I got her out of the car, brought her inside or put her down on her Pooh couch. What woke her up? I turned the tv on. She is more and more like her Grandpa every day.....

And finally....not to toot my own horn or anything, but see that cute sweater over to the left? I made it. Just had to share. 

The Zoo!

Auntie J, The Kid and I went to the zoo with Joe and Gracie K. Although you can't tell by The Kid's face in any of these pictures, we all had a great time.

The Zoo 2: Electric Boogaloo