People who are currently in process of bringing their child home from Guatemala and the children of Guatemala need our help. As many of you know, the adoption process in Guatemala has grown increasingly controversial and unstable. Much of it unfortunately involves politics and media. If you want an education on the current situation... read some of the links below.
www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/
www.guatadopt.com
www.sunflowersandladybugs.com/blogspot.asp
If you are busy but have just a second to help out - please click below and sign this petition!
www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html
Thank you in advance. If Little Bitty had been born one year later - she likely would be caught right in the middle of this mess.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A Busy Girl
Little Bitty is a busy girl. Daddy has described her as someone who "gets things done". Here is a sampling of our baby in action over the last 12 hours or so.
She helps me unload the dishwasher...
She brings me a clean diaper...
She throws out the dirty diaper...
Breakfast time? No need to slow down too much - just cram the banana in and keep moving...
Soon after, she's ready to forage through the pantry for a snack (Little Bitty can put back quite a bit of food)...
She makes her snack more easily accessible...
She gets her lunchbox in preparation for her day at school (note how she uses Brother's lunch box as a stepping stone to get to where she's going next)...
Pablo and lunch in hand - this Little Bitty is out the door.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Superheroes in my house
"Hi Lois."
I'm greeted this way more often than not lately. It is then that I know that Brother is either pretending to be Clark Kent or Superman. I have to check out his clothes to know which way to respond to him. If he is in street clothes - then, obviously he is still Clark. However, if he is donning his fleece Superman outfit, including the red cape, then he is Superman. Although, he has been known plenty of times to be in street clothes only because he can't find his Superman outfit or perhaps we're out in public and he didn't wear it - at which point - I have to observe his stance (which is legs a little farther than shoulder width apart and hands in fists on hips) and see he is, in fact, Superman - not Clark even though he's in his civilians. Sometimes it gets even more tricky because he may be Pablo (from Backyardigans) pretending to be Clark - who has then turned into Superman. If I address him by the wrong name - it is very frustrating to him.
This morning - I was thrown for a loop.
"Hi M.J."
Hmmm... M.J. - ahhh - Spiderman's friend! Or is he Peter Parker? By noticing the Spiderman jammies he was sporting, it was pretty evident that he was Spiderman. However, I then inappropriately used the informal name "Spidey" when I addressed him - and that didn't really fly. Apparently "Spidey" is only appropriate in certain situations (like, I was calmly informed, if he is still sleeping and I need to wake him up to go fight bad guys).
I'm greeted this way more often than not lately. It is then that I know that Brother is either pretending to be Clark Kent or Superman. I have to check out his clothes to know which way to respond to him. If he is in street clothes - then, obviously he is still Clark. However, if he is donning his fleece Superman outfit, including the red cape, then he is Superman. Although, he has been known plenty of times to be in street clothes only because he can't find his Superman outfit or perhaps we're out in public and he didn't wear it - at which point - I have to observe his stance (which is legs a little farther than shoulder width apart and hands in fists on hips) and see he is, in fact, Superman - not Clark even though he's in his civilians. Sometimes it gets even more tricky because he may be Pablo (from Backyardigans) pretending to be Clark - who has then turned into Superman. If I address him by the wrong name - it is very frustrating to him.
This morning - I was thrown for a loop.
"Hi M.J."
Hmmm... M.J. - ahhh - Spiderman's friend! Or is he Peter Parker? By noticing the Spiderman jammies he was sporting, it was pretty evident that he was Spiderman. However, I then inappropriately used the informal name "Spidey" when I addressed him - and that didn't really fly. Apparently "Spidey" is only appropriate in certain situations (like, I was calmly informed, if he is still sleeping and I need to wake him up to go fight bad guys).
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sleepless in Tennessee
If someone were to ask me today, "At what age did your kids start sleeping through the night?" - I would answer, "I don't know yet."
Our Little Bitty has had sleep issues on and off since she came home. Actually, if she is in our bed with us - she has no issues. She sleeps like a queen. However, she has never been fond of her crib. So, about a month ago - we did away with the crib. Our Little Bitty 14 month old now sleeps on a twin size mattress on her bedroom floor. This change has actually worked great for her - in fact, the night before last she did not wake up once until 6am. This was HUGE! But, it seems to have been a fluke - she was up around 3am last night wanting to come snuggle. She stands at the little gate at her bedroom door (to prevent nighttime wandering) and calls for us. I can either go in her room with her and help her get back to sleep and then creep back to my room - or I can scoop her up and put in our bed. I'm not completely consistent with which I choose to do. It usually depends on if it is the first time its happened that night - or the seventh (seriously).
Brother was similar to this - and thankfully now does sleep through the night. He's almost 4. Our challenge with him is getting him to go to sleep. However, although our nighttime story and snuggle time is more drawn out than it should be - I do cherish it. Plus -I know that he won't go off to college and still need me to read to him, tell him stories and do criss-cross applesauce on his back.
The funny thing about our kids' sleep habits is that I no longer really want to hear any advice or suggestions on how to make it better. I've read the books, I've listened to what works for others and we've tried many different approaches. Now, I'm just resigned to the fact that this is how it works in our family and since our kids are happy and well-adjusted - I'm just going to keep getting up once, twice, seven times during the night until Little Bitty also outgrows this phase.
In the meantime, I drink plenty of coffee and Diet Coke to keep me sharp during the day (yes, that is debatable). In fact, since I now buy my coffee here: http://www.juananacoffee.com/ my caffeine consumption is actually making the world a little bit better place.
Our Little Bitty has had sleep issues on and off since she came home. Actually, if she is in our bed with us - she has no issues. She sleeps like a queen. However, she has never been fond of her crib. So, about a month ago - we did away with the crib. Our Little Bitty 14 month old now sleeps on a twin size mattress on her bedroom floor. This change has actually worked great for her - in fact, the night before last she did not wake up once until 6am. This was HUGE! But, it seems to have been a fluke - she was up around 3am last night wanting to come snuggle. She stands at the little gate at her bedroom door (to prevent nighttime wandering) and calls for us. I can either go in her room with her and help her get back to sleep and then creep back to my room - or I can scoop her up and put in our bed. I'm not completely consistent with which I choose to do. It usually depends on if it is the first time its happened that night - or the seventh (seriously).
Brother was similar to this - and thankfully now does sleep through the night. He's almost 4. Our challenge with him is getting him to go to sleep. However, although our nighttime story and snuggle time is more drawn out than it should be - I do cherish it. Plus -I know that he won't go off to college and still need me to read to him, tell him stories and do criss-cross applesauce on his back.
The funny thing about our kids' sleep habits is that I no longer really want to hear any advice or suggestions on how to make it better. I've read the books, I've listened to what works for others and we've tried many different approaches. Now, I'm just resigned to the fact that this is how it works in our family and since our kids are happy and well-adjusted - I'm just going to keep getting up once, twice, seven times during the night until Little Bitty also outgrows this phase.
In the meantime, I drink plenty of coffee and Diet Coke to keep me sharp during the day (yes, that is debatable). In fact, since I now buy my coffee here: http://www.juananacoffee.com/ my caffeine consumption is actually making the world a little bit better place.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Rubber lizards and nutzers
I've been reading several other blogs for sometime now. I enjoy learning about others experiences in the adoption community and in motherhood/parenthood, and also life outside all of that. I kept an online journal during our adoption of our daughter last year - but have taken the last several months to just live and not post updates. Now - I'm ready for a fresh start and new format.
I like the ideas of blogs ... you can solicit feedback from others with similar and different experiences. Or use them as an outlet to document the adventures, frustrations and general mayhem that goes along with parenting. I feel that this is similar to actually making a baby book in some sense. Anyway - it's the closest thing to a baby book that my children have. And - finally, the fact that our family and friends are spread out around the states motivates me to do this and give them a way to share some of the stuff that they aren't here to see in person.
So - here we go. Today's blog title is actually referring to my two children's favorite things. My soon-to-be 4 year old son LOVES rubber lizards. He recently declared to my husband that he is going to be a scientist when he grows up.
Daddy: Really, that's a great career. What will you research?
Son: Lizards
Daddy: Oh, cool. I think those type of scientists are called herpetologists. Maybe we should buy you a lizard as a pet soon and you can start to learn more about them.
Son: Oh - no, Daddy. I'm just going to study rubber lizards.
Our daughter is just 14 months. Aside from The Backyardigans, I think her favorite thing is her pacifier - known in our house as a "nutzer". There is a story behind that (nutzer) - but perhaps not so interesting as to take up time to write about it.
Note how nutzers really flatter any attire. And I know, I should have started this blog a couple days earlier on National Talk Like a Pirate Day. I would have had the perfect picture to go along with a pirate dedicated post.
I like the ideas of blogs ... you can solicit feedback from others with similar and different experiences. Or use them as an outlet to document the adventures, frustrations and general mayhem that goes along with parenting. I feel that this is similar to actually making a baby book in some sense. Anyway - it's the closest thing to a baby book that my children have. And - finally, the fact that our family and friends are spread out around the states motivates me to do this and give them a way to share some of the stuff that they aren't here to see in person.
So - here we go. Today's blog title is actually referring to my two children's favorite things. My soon-to-be 4 year old son LOVES rubber lizards. He recently declared to my husband that he is going to be a scientist when he grows up.
Daddy: Really, that's a great career. What will you research?
Son: Lizards
Daddy: Oh, cool. I think those type of scientists are called herpetologists. Maybe we should buy you a lizard as a pet soon and you can start to learn more about them.
Son: Oh - no, Daddy. I'm just going to study rubber lizards.
Important distinction. The job market is pretty narrow, but with the right planning and perseverance, I think he can make a go of it.
Our daughter is just 14 months. Aside from The Backyardigans, I think her favorite thing is her pacifier - known in our house as a "nutzer". There is a story behind that (nutzer) - but perhaps not so interesting as to take up time to write about it.
Note how nutzers really flatter any attire. And I know, I should have started this blog a couple days earlier on National Talk Like a Pirate Day. I would have had the perfect picture to go along with a pirate dedicated post.
I'm not sure of the format that this blog will take. I'm new at this and will have to find my groove. In the meantime, I'll share a couple more photos so that I can make it worthwhile for at least my family to log in and check it out.
Brother giving Little Bitty some love
Off to School
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