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| If you return to the Main Page, we hope that you will sign our guestbook. We hope to share the encouragement and kind words with Maria someday. |
| 11/27/2006
Well, I may have lost the Mother of the Year nomination today. Okay, I don't think I could even get nominated, but if I could, I lost it...I won't go into details, except to say that for one of the very few times in my mothering history, I raised my voice. I can tell you that I was not "discussing" the Homework Wars with either of my daughters either... Maria had a good day. She was ready to go to Grams' house today and seemed to be in a delightful mood. We both just marvel about where she is right now. She just seems to be growing so quickly, is saying SO much more each day, and just seems so settled in her role as a daughter in our family. I have to attribute much of that to you, the praying family and friends who have walked alongside us throughout the adoption and transition. I don't know why God's goodness always surprises me, but it does. God is good...ALL of the time. (Remind me of that when I am doing Homework Wars with Miss Maria :) If you think of it, please pray for one of my "kids", Brent. His mother has this incredible faith...they are such a neat family. And it pains me to read about the pains they are dealing with. Yet, his mother will be the first to say that in the midst of this storm, God is there. Better get back to cleaning (so I can get my house cleaned tomorrow). Thanks for reading! |
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| 11/28/2006
This will be short...it is late and I am very tired. We had a great day...our most exciting news is that Maria said, "Lauren". Okay, I may have been holding a piece of cheese for ransom, but it worked. After she said it once, she just kept saying it over and over and over. It is like it has built up in her for the last three months. We will see what tomorrow brings...talk to you soon! |
| 11/29/2006
I really need to be in bed, but I just had to share how much fun Maria has become. Just in the last two weeks, we have noticed that she has just blended in with our family in such a beautiful way. Oh, there are still tears and tantrums (especially when tired), but for the most part, this has just been such a fun time! I literally look at her in awe of where we are. It is so much what we had hoped and prayed for, yet in some ways, it is so much more. I can just sense the trust and family closeness developing. Tonight as we read books, Maria reached over and put her arm around me. Then she ran her fingers through my hair...something she just wouldn't have done a month ago! I don't think I can really describe this in a way that does it justice...We just feel Maria's place in our family! Oh, let me tell you, after Maria broke the barrier to say "Lauren" yesterday, she has been saying it frequently. It is so much fun to hear her acknowledge that she really does have a sister. :) I was joking with my mom that maybe she should withold cheese. The other name she has refused to say is "Grams". It may not be the easiest word, but Maria has NO problem saying "Grampops" to my dad. Anyway, we teased about it today. When I picked her up this afternoon, I said, "Say 'Grams'" to Maria. She mumbled something so I repeated what I had said. Then she said it! Again and again! It is SUCH a joy to hear the wonderful words pop out of her mouth. Oh, she is saying "Maria" a lot too, especially if she sees something (like cheese!) that she wants. Then she says, "Maria" over and over to let you know she wants it. She was also looking through her little picture album, saying "Maria" on each page. Oh, another new word is "careful". When I helped her up on the couch, she told me several times "careful". She says many more words and repeats just about everything... Tonight, after MUCH persistence from the kids, we put up our Christmas tree. Now when I say that, I mean we assembled it. There is NOTHING on it. Assembly takes an entire night with all of my "help". I thought this might be a touching family event, though Mark was actually on the road at the time. And for the most part it was. I put on Christmas music. The kids helped me "fluff" and "stuff" the branches in the right place. But for Maria...well, it just wasn't very exciting to her. When I brought the big bag in, she asked several times, "What's that?" And she did push a branch around the house like a broom. But then she decided cars and trucks would be SO much more fun. That was the end of tree assembly for her. She seems kind of oblivious to it right now. We will see what it is like when it is lit and decorated (and has presents under it). :) I better go. Please pray for day care tomorrow. It has been 2 1/2 weeks since she was there! |
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| 12/1/2006
Happy December! This will be a quick update, since I have a million things to do before we get out (and hopefully NOT in a ditch) on the way to Branson. We are enjoying our first snow day. Unfortunately, it is too cold to be outside. Maria is enjoying NOT being at daycare, though we are paying for it just like she was... Since we were dismissed early yesterday, we got to decorate the tree. Maria did help us some with the ornaments and enjoys looking at them. We now have presents under the tree...Mark and I wrapped 75 Christmas books last night! (Every night starting in December, the kids get to "open" one book to read. Most are books from the past few years we just save each year. They love this tradition (I do too other than the wrapping) Let's see, anything new? Oh, Maria's day at day care yesterday was pretty rough. She cried HARD for the first 15 minutes. Mark said she just looked at him like, "How could you do this to me?" Of course, that broke his heart. Of course, she did get to come home early which was good. She was fine last night, a little clingy, until bedtime. Then she was a bit of a monster. I finally got tired of the crying and said, "Good night". She was asleep in two minutes. I am still learning how to read her signals especially fatigue. I was so frustrated with her behavior, but just didn't realize how tired she was. (It is hard to see circles under her eyes like with the other two :) But we are getting there. I better get busy...please pray we stay on the road safely! |