When we were waiting (impatiently on my part!) to be matched, I read a lot of adoption blogs- written by all members of the adoption triad~ birthmothers, adoptees, and adoptive parents. I loved reading about how the open adoption relationship was going. Some adoptive moms never mention their child's birthmom on their blogs. I always wanted to hear about how things were going. Now that I am an adoptive mom, I am very protective of Cambria's birthmom, but I'd like to say a few things about her.
She sent us a letter last week- it was so sweet and she said she loved us (we love her too!). It was so sweet that I was crying while I was reading it. Tears of joy, of course. I called D and told him the nice things she said too. She sent a bunch of pictures of her and her family members. I loved those pictures! I am putting them in Cambria's photo album so she can look at them over and over again when she is old enough to. I know she will love seeing pictures of her birth family. Her daughter also colored a picture for Cambria. Melted my heart! :)
She thanked us for raising her baby. Oh my goodness- she doesn't need to thank us! She gave us the best gift anyone has ever given us! I love that little girl so much- I am so grateful that I get to raise her! This woman made such a selfless decision to give her baby the life that she envisioned for her. And she picked Dave and me to give her that life!
I am already thinking of the next set of pictures I am going to mail her in March. Along with a nice Easter card. And maybe some of those yummy Peeps or jelly beans! :)
Thank YOU, Cambria's birthmom, for allowing us to be the adoptive parents to your baby girl. We will never forget you. And we are glad we can all watch her grow up! Just the other day, the sweetest thought entered my mind.....it was a vision of me calling you up on the phone 20+ years from now and saying, "Guess what?! We're going to be grandmothers!!" Yes, I realize I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but in my mind I was so excited to share this news with her birthmother. I hope we're all still in contact then. :)
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Old-Fashioned Way
I went to my friend's baby shower today. It was so much fun! She has 3 boys, and is pregnant with a baby girl. I know her a couple of ways....since I live in a small town, a lot of us moms with similar age kids end up running into each other at the same kiddie activities over and over again. I have been on the "same circuit" with several moms over the years. This mom L and I were in MOPS together, mommy-and-me music class together, and our boys are friends at preschool. And we are both members of the "my 3 sons club" and soon-to-be the "my 3 sons and a daughter club".
I was talking to someone the other day and mentioned that I was going to a baby shower, and it was so much fun buying baby girl stuff for her. I said something like, "she has 3 boys, and is finally getting her girl!" The person I was talking to replied "oh, that's great. Where is her baby being born at?" Meaning they assumed she was adopting a baby! Wow, I realize how adoption has come to play such an integral part of my life, and I have a lot of great adoption friends. So this person assumed any of my expectant parent friends are growing their family thru adoption. I laughed and said, "no, she's having a baby the old-fashioned way"! Adoption seems to be so en vogue these days.
And I love it!
P.S. Did I mention that a certain cute baby girl is 5 months old today?! I can't believe it! What a wonderful 5 months it has been!
I was talking to someone the other day and mentioned that I was going to a baby shower, and it was so much fun buying baby girl stuff for her. I said something like, "she has 3 boys, and is finally getting her girl!" The person I was talking to replied "oh, that's great. Where is her baby being born at?" Meaning they assumed she was adopting a baby! Wow, I realize how adoption has come to play such an integral part of my life, and I have a lot of great adoption friends. So this person assumed any of my expectant parent friends are growing their family thru adoption. I laughed and said, "no, she's having a baby the old-fashioned way"! Adoption seems to be so en vogue these days.
And I love it!
P.S. Did I mention that a certain cute baby girl is 5 months old today?! I can't believe it! What a wonderful 5 months it has been!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
In Sickness and Birth
815 pageviews, and only 2 followers. Hmmm....can you tell this bothers me a lil' bit?!
I have been sicker than you-know-what. Started off with laryngitis and a nasty weird cough then I spiked a fever of 101- on antibiotics and had body aches, chills, sweats, and that nasty cough. And my chest was so tight I was having a hard time breathing. I finally gave in and went to my dr. She made me go get the flu test done. I protested (I wasn't fond of having Q-tips shoved up my nose!) but I did it. It was negative. And my strep test was negative. So she is treating me for pneumonia and I am on antibiotics and a lovely inhaler (Advair) and good cough medicine, and over the counter mucinex, sudafed, ibuprofen, motrin, etc. etc. Holy smokes, that is a lot of medication! This illness is kicking my butt. For reals. I am so tired. Usually I can go, go, go with 4 kiddos. This is cramping my style. I haven't been out to lunch with friends in weeks (GASP! I know!) I am feeling a bit better today, but not as much as I'd like.
Anyways~ I am listening to this audio book on CD (Yes, I am cheating and listening to it instead of reading it, but I spent a lot of my days driving kids places, so I listen to my books while I'm going to pick them up or after I've dropped them off places.) They like to listen to Top-40 Pop music when they're in the car. :) The book is called Spring Fever, and it's by Mary Kay Andrews. It takes place in....you guessed it....North Carolina! Where my baby girl was born! One of the characters in the book was born in Gastonia....like my daughter! And one of the characters likes Bojangles restaurants....Cambria's birth mom and her friends/family like Bojangles, too! I was telling Cambria's birth mom this the other day. And then I saw on FB this guy I knew since 5th grade said he had family in Gastonia. Funny- I never heard of it before Cami's birth, and now I'm hearing about it several times! When she is older, I would love to take her to Charlotte and show her around the place she was born. Everyone was so sweet and nice there- Southern hospitality.
Anyways- hope everyone had a good Valentine's Day with their loves. I was sick, but still managed to take a bunch of pictures of Cambria in Valentine's day attire. :)
I have been sicker than you-know-what. Started off with laryngitis and a nasty weird cough then I spiked a fever of 101- on antibiotics and had body aches, chills, sweats, and that nasty cough. And my chest was so tight I was having a hard time breathing. I finally gave in and went to my dr. She made me go get the flu test done. I protested (I wasn't fond of having Q-tips shoved up my nose!) but I did it. It was negative. And my strep test was negative. So she is treating me for pneumonia and I am on antibiotics and a lovely inhaler (Advair) and good cough medicine, and over the counter mucinex, sudafed, ibuprofen, motrin, etc. etc. Holy smokes, that is a lot of medication! This illness is kicking my butt. For reals. I am so tired. Usually I can go, go, go with 4 kiddos. This is cramping my style. I haven't been out to lunch with friends in weeks (GASP! I know!) I am feeling a bit better today, but not as much as I'd like.
Anyways~ I am listening to this audio book on CD (Yes, I am cheating and listening to it instead of reading it, but I spent a lot of my days driving kids places, so I listen to my books while I'm going to pick them up or after I've dropped them off places.) They like to listen to Top-40 Pop music when they're in the car. :) The book is called Spring Fever, and it's by Mary Kay Andrews. It takes place in....you guessed it....North Carolina! Where my baby girl was born! One of the characters in the book was born in Gastonia....like my daughter! And one of the characters likes Bojangles restaurants....Cambria's birth mom and her friends/family like Bojangles, too! I was telling Cambria's birth mom this the other day. And then I saw on FB this guy I knew since 5th grade said he had family in Gastonia. Funny- I never heard of it before Cami's birth, and now I'm hearing about it several times! When she is older, I would love to take her to Charlotte and show her around the place she was born. Everyone was so sweet and nice there- Southern hospitality.
Anyways- hope everyone had a good Valentine's Day with their loves. I was sick, but still managed to take a bunch of pictures of Cambria in Valentine's day attire. :)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Interesting Bumper Sticker
I'm not a very political person. In fact, this past November is the first time I've voted since the Clinton election (the first election, since everyone asks me which one!) Anyways, I was driving behind this truck today, and they had this bumper sticker on the back of their truck:
Ob.ama- because everyone else deserves what you work hard for!
That hit the nail on the head, in my opinion. So true. I am actually a registered Democrat, have been since I was old enough to vote. But I just couldn't bring myself to vote for him. We are getting killed in taxes, and it's just going to get worse now that he's been re-elected.
Our country is in a sad state, and I just can't believe this country re-elected him. My husband works so hard, and it kills me that we have to give so much away to people who are lazy and don't want to work and would rather sponge off of everybody else. Now, don't get me wrong. I am a very generous person. We give to the poor. We give to several charities. This past weekend, we just sponsored a child in Haiti- we are paying her school tuition for the year. (My kids go to public school- for free!) Yesterday, my husband took my son to church to feed the homeless/ poor at their community cupboard supper club. Our family donated the food and our time. I am generous with birthday presents for others. We participate in the adopt-a-family program at Christmastime. We don't just buy them one toy. We buy everything for two children- clothes, shoes, toys, etc.
But it is disenchanting for us to work so hard while others just sit around on their asses and don't even try to do anything for themselves.
I remember when he was running for the first election 4 years ago, and so many people were on the bandwagon and I obviously was not. Everyone kept asking me why I wasn't enthralled with him like everyone else seemed to be. My response? "Nobody is this good. If someone seems too good to be true, they usually are. Plus, he's gonna raise my taxes." BINGO! Ask yourselves this: is our country in any better shape than it was 4 years ago? Not really, huh.
Anyways, end rant on politics!
I can't believe it's been a week since I've blogged on here. I was so sick last week. I had to cancel BUNCO that I was supposed to host at my house last week. GASP! I never cancel BUNCO at my house! Cambria has a little cough and stuffy nose- her first little cold. :(
She has eaten rice cereal, oatmeal, and is now on baby applesauce. She loves the baby food applesauce!
My friend's funeral was this past Saturday. Dead at 43 from that dreadful breast cancer. Sucks. The funeral memorial service was nice- so many great speakers to celebrate her life. We've gotten some snow here since that morning. The boys' basketball games got canceled Saturday morning due to the snow. I talked to Cambria's birthmom on Saturday morning too. I'm so glad we can have an open adoption where they can have some peace knowing how she is doing and receiving pictures and letters. And Cambria will grow up knowing who her birth parents are and the story of her life. :)
I can't believe it's Valentine's Day this week! Weren't we just opening Christmas presents like a minute ago?!
Well, that's all for now. 700+ views of this blog, and only 2 followers. :(
Ob.ama- because everyone else deserves what you work hard for!
That hit the nail on the head, in my opinion. So true. I am actually a registered Democrat, have been since I was old enough to vote. But I just couldn't bring myself to vote for him. We are getting killed in taxes, and it's just going to get worse now that he's been re-elected.
Our country is in a sad state, and I just can't believe this country re-elected him. My husband works so hard, and it kills me that we have to give so much away to people who are lazy and don't want to work and would rather sponge off of everybody else. Now, don't get me wrong. I am a very generous person. We give to the poor. We give to several charities. This past weekend, we just sponsored a child in Haiti- we are paying her school tuition for the year. (My kids go to public school- for free!) Yesterday, my husband took my son to church to feed the homeless/ poor at their community cupboard supper club. Our family donated the food and our time. I am generous with birthday presents for others. We participate in the adopt-a-family program at Christmastime. We don't just buy them one toy. We buy everything for two children- clothes, shoes, toys, etc.
But it is disenchanting for us to work so hard while others just sit around on their asses and don't even try to do anything for themselves.
I remember when he was running for the first election 4 years ago, and so many people were on the bandwagon and I obviously was not. Everyone kept asking me why I wasn't enthralled with him like everyone else seemed to be. My response? "Nobody is this good. If someone seems too good to be true, they usually are. Plus, he's gonna raise my taxes." BINGO! Ask yourselves this: is our country in any better shape than it was 4 years ago? Not really, huh.
Anyways, end rant on politics!
I can't believe it's been a week since I've blogged on here. I was so sick last week. I had to cancel BUNCO that I was supposed to host at my house last week. GASP! I never cancel BUNCO at my house! Cambria has a little cough and stuffy nose- her first little cold. :(
She has eaten rice cereal, oatmeal, and is now on baby applesauce. She loves the baby food applesauce!
My friend's funeral was this past Saturday. Dead at 43 from that dreadful breast cancer. Sucks. The funeral memorial service was nice- so many great speakers to celebrate her life. We've gotten some snow here since that morning. The boys' basketball games got canceled Saturday morning due to the snow. I talked to Cambria's birthmom on Saturday morning too. I'm so glad we can have an open adoption where they can have some peace knowing how she is doing and receiving pictures and letters. And Cambria will grow up knowing who her birth parents are and the story of her life. :)
I can't believe it's Valentine's Day this week! Weren't we just opening Christmas presents like a minute ago?!
Well, that's all for now. 700+ views of this blog, and only 2 followers. :(
Monday, February 4, 2013
Oops! My Bad.....
My mom informed me that the TV show is actually called Down.ton Abb.ey, NOT Down.town Abb.ey! Oops! My bad! See.....I told you I didn't watch that show!
She also said, "You should watch that show, it's wonderful".
Maybe I will. For some reason, I'm not into Period pieces. Just like I'm sure a lot of you read my list of favorite TV shows, and rolled your eyes and were sitting there shaking your head!
The other thing I like to do that doesn't exactly fit in with my girly-girl personality is to watch professional basketball games. I LOVE going to watch the Phoenix Suns play live, and I'm always bugging Dave- asking him when he's going to buy me basketball game tickets!
And now for some family updates:
Joshua had croup last week, and he so lovingly shared his germs with me, and I have been sick for 5 days with laryngitis and a horrible cold. I haven't had a voice in 5 days. It sucks so bad. I talk non-stop, so it has been hard to function without being able to talk. Thank God for texting and emailing!
A special thanks to my mom for coming up here and helping me watch the kids this weekend while Dave was working and I was sick in bed.
Cami tried oatmeal baby food for the first time today, and she did great with it! YAY! (Better than she did with rice cereal.) So we'll do a few more days of oatmeal, then move on to the fun stuff....baby food- applesauce, bananas, peaches and pears.
I'm so excited to experience this phase with her, but I'm sad that the time is going by so fast. I am enjoying her so much and love having a baby girl. How can she be 4 months old already, and eating baby food?! She is so happy and is always smiling and laughing and squealing! She is very close to rolling over all the way....sooo close! She got another vaccination last Friday (they were out the week before when we went for her 4 month check-up) and she didn't even cry! I was amazed.
On Friday night, I took Zack and Jake to the sock hop dance at their school. I had bought tickets way before I was sick and I said I would take their friends too. So I went, and couldn't talk to anyone there. But the kids had fun. Zack and some of the other 5th grade boys started a flash mob, and were singing to all the trendy hip hop songs complete with choreography (Gangnam Style, Call me Maybe) and then started a train around the perimeter of the gym to songs like "Moves Like Jagger". Then a bunch of girls were all singing and dancing and holding hands in a circle, and my son leads the group of flash mob boys into the middle of the circle! They crashed the girls circle, and were dancing in the middle and laughing and having so much fun. I'm so glad I took them.
Joshua thinks that since he turned 5 years old a couple weeks ago, that he is supposed to start kindergarten now. Like the day after he turned 5! I laughed and told him he starts school in August, whenever the next school year starts after he turns 5. But I'm glad he's ready to go to kindergarten! It will be kind of bittersweet though, because most of his BFF's aren't going to his elementary school. Oh well, he is friendly and outgoing and I'm sure he will make new friends right away. In August, Josh and Jake will be in elementary school together, and Zack will be in middle school which is right next to the elementary school. One drop-off, and one pick-up for mama bear.
Well, that's about all that's going on here. I think it's time for a nap. This sickness is really kicking my behind. SIGH.... I better rest up. We have some busy days coming up-filled to the brim with stuff. BUNCO, friend's birthday celebration dinner, charity fundraiser event, Jacob's friend's birthday party, MOPS, haircuts for me and Zack, religion class, basketball practice and games. guitar lessons, piano lessons, homework, etc.
She also said, "You should watch that show, it's wonderful".
Maybe I will. For some reason, I'm not into Period pieces. Just like I'm sure a lot of you read my list of favorite TV shows, and rolled your eyes and were sitting there shaking your head!
The other thing I like to do that doesn't exactly fit in with my girly-girl personality is to watch professional basketball games. I LOVE going to watch the Phoenix Suns play live, and I'm always bugging Dave- asking him when he's going to buy me basketball game tickets!
And now for some family updates:
Joshua had croup last week, and he so lovingly shared his germs with me, and I have been sick for 5 days with laryngitis and a horrible cold. I haven't had a voice in 5 days. It sucks so bad. I talk non-stop, so it has been hard to function without being able to talk. Thank God for texting and emailing!
A special thanks to my mom for coming up here and helping me watch the kids this weekend while Dave was working and I was sick in bed.
Cami tried oatmeal baby food for the first time today, and she did great with it! YAY! (Better than she did with rice cereal.) So we'll do a few more days of oatmeal, then move on to the fun stuff....baby food- applesauce, bananas, peaches and pears.
I'm so excited to experience this phase with her, but I'm sad that the time is going by so fast. I am enjoying her so much and love having a baby girl. How can she be 4 months old already, and eating baby food?! She is so happy and is always smiling and laughing and squealing! She is very close to rolling over all the way....sooo close! She got another vaccination last Friday (they were out the week before when we went for her 4 month check-up) and she didn't even cry! I was amazed.
On Friday night, I took Zack and Jake to the sock hop dance at their school. I had bought tickets way before I was sick and I said I would take their friends too. So I went, and couldn't talk to anyone there. But the kids had fun. Zack and some of the other 5th grade boys started a flash mob, and were singing to all the trendy hip hop songs complete with choreography (Gangnam Style, Call me Maybe) and then started a train around the perimeter of the gym to songs like "Moves Like Jagger". Then a bunch of girls were all singing and dancing and holding hands in a circle, and my son leads the group of flash mob boys into the middle of the circle! They crashed the girls circle, and were dancing in the middle and laughing and having so much fun. I'm so glad I took them.
Joshua thinks that since he turned 5 years old a couple weeks ago, that he is supposed to start kindergarten now. Like the day after he turned 5! I laughed and told him he starts school in August, whenever the next school year starts after he turns 5. But I'm glad he's ready to go to kindergarten! It will be kind of bittersweet though, because most of his BFF's aren't going to his elementary school. Oh well, he is friendly and outgoing and I'm sure he will make new friends right away. In August, Josh and Jake will be in elementary school together, and Zack will be in middle school which is right next to the elementary school. One drop-off, and one pick-up for mama bear.
Well, that's about all that's going on here. I think it's time for a nap. This sickness is really kicking my behind. SIGH.... I better rest up. We have some busy days coming up-filled to the brim with stuff. BUNCO, friend's birthday celebration dinner, charity fundraiser event, Jacob's friend's birthday party, MOPS, haircuts for me and Zack, religion class, basketball practice and games. guitar lessons, piano lessons, homework, etc.
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