More 9

I think better represent what this little princess is really like now at 9 months...

Six Seven Eight Nine

Six Months - 12 lbs 15 oz - 24 inches

Seven Months - 16-17 lbs (no official measurements)

Eight Months - 19 lbs - 25 3/4 inches

 Nine Months - 20 lbs 7 oz - 27 inches 

9 Months

I have a hard time imagining that this is the same little girl who came home less than 4 months ago. 

So, here are photos from that first week (forgive me if they are repeats, but they make my point). 

And here are a few more current pictures. See any difference? 

What has she been doing these past few months? Eating!! And (I hope) falling in love with the three of us. I like to think that the smile on her face and sparkle in her eye are evidence of that. 

Our Village

We celebrated G's baptism yesterday - one day shy of her turning 9 months. She wasn't too fond of the water, but had a great day none the less. We were blessed to be surrounded by family - some by blood, some by marriage, some by the circumstances of life. You know - those people who may not be relatives on paper, but are the ones who are with you during the big events OR the everyday living of our lives. I do believe it takes a village. It was great to officially welcome G into that village. We are so blessed, too, that this village includes our Priest, Father Bob. He married T & me. He gave last rites to my grandfather at end of Poppa's days on earth and helped us to celebrate his life when he was called to heaven. He invited T to investigate the Roman Catholic faith and was there to welcome T when he decided to become a Catholic. He baptized B and now G. He has a gift with people, young and old. B got to help pour the holy water on G - Father Bob wrapped his arms around B and they cupped their hands together as they scooped the handfuls of water over her head.  Though we celebrated after Mass when the church is typically empty, it was lovely to have a crowd stay to welcome G.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

Upwardly Mobile - Part 2

When I put G down, 75% of the time, she doesn't want to sit. She wants to stand. She still can't balance on her own, but if she has something to hold onto, she will do so for several minutes at a time. And it makes her HAPPY. 

She also is trying to get tricky - here she has a book in one hand, her mallet in another and she is holding on with her left elbow!

Mommy's Helper

B is such a great help with G - most of the time. Here, he is "helping" her with her water bottle. She is laughing, which isn't great in facilitating water consumption, but it does help me get dinner ready because she is happy. Often we must explain that if her mouth is closed, she doesn't want a drink and trying to shove the bottle into her mouth will not make her want it more. 

Farmer's Market

Since I have never lived outside this state, I wonder if everyone gets to experience the joy of spending a lazy summer day at the farmer's market. We are so fortunate to have a variety of markets to choose from in our area. Typically it is the same producers selling their goods, but each local market has their own flare. 

One of the largest local markets is near our house and we try to get their several times during the season. Rows and rows of fresh fruit and produce, baked goods and local cheese, meat, plants & flowers. It is right next to a park, so B gets to play and is pretty happy munching on fresh carrots or apricots on the way home. Today, we met T's mom at a market 30 minutes north of here, that used to be our favorite, especially when T lived closer to his parents, before we married. We bought cherries, apricots, yellow zucchini, cauliflower, 3 kinds of herbs, sweet onions. I passed on blueberries only because my parents grow them, but they look and taste fantastic right now. We got some green salsa, too and had a nice lunch. Again, this market is near a city park so B ran and played and had a fresh apricot on the way to the car. 

Funny thing is, we live in a pretty large metro area, especially compared to many of our extended family members. We are the city slickers. But here we are, munching on fruit picked hours ago. I think this helps explain why I have never lived in any other state! 

Yard Work and Fresh Produce

We needed to rearrange a few things in our backyard, due to the addition of the play structure. I have tried 6 times to post these photos and now that I have them here, I realize they are out of order. Oh well. 

Here is G. T is behind taking a break and trying to keep her entertained. She was the chief supervisor on the project. 

This photo gives you a better idea of where the work was being completed while G supervised at a safe distance from B's shovel. 

Here are the snap peas that we picked up at Farmer's Market that morning. I shelled them while the boys worked. Yes, they were delicious. 

Here you see T & B, shovels in hand, removing sod, in preparation to set up a new area of paving stones. 

Seriously, T & I both were using shovels, garden gloves on, mud on our shoes. Real garden labor for the first time in AGES. We moved paving stones from Point A to Point B in the backyard, since Point A is now covered with bark chips in an attempt to keep a safety zone around the play structure. The moss had grown over the stones to the point we had no idea how many stones needed to be moved, nor the size and/or shape of the stones. We both worked on digging, but T did the hard part of placing the stones together in their new location. When we complete the project, I will post photos. No guarantee on a deadline. 

Happiest Boy on Earth

I think B likes the PJs he got last week! 

Upwardly Mobile

Ever since B was little, we've kept toys in our bathroom to help keep him entertained while we shower and get ready. Well G is now pulling herself onto her knees and has discovered the toy drawer. Take a look at her tummy - it is a bit thicker than it used to be. 

Light and Shadows

Yesterday, G was playing in the living room. She was having a blast watching B jump around. So I grabbed the camera. You can see her strange half-crawl, half-sitting posture that she uses to scoot around the house. 

Here she is waving and saying, "Hhhhhhi"

This shows her strangely long tongue.

Here she is waving and laughing at B. 

Shoes Fabulous Shoes

No, she can't even walk. No, she shouldn't be wearing shoes other than to keep her feet warm. However, I just realized that these little Converse Allstars that I bought months before we knew her, months before she was born, actually fit. And they are AAAAAADORABLE. 

She appeared to like them as much as I do. Given that both T and I love shoes it only fits that she is following our lead. 

I fear that before she can walk she will outgrow these beautiful little pink shoes. So, for now, I will put them on when we are leaving the house and if the weather turns cool. 

Happy Birthday!

I am fortunate to have a best friend who has been by my side for the last 23 years. Seriously. Today is her birthday and I wanted to share with the blog world what a wonderful woman and friend she is to me. We met in 7th grade and have pretty much been side by side every since. Typically, we are doing things differently, but nevertheless, we are doing them together.

Fate has help a bit. We went to the same college and pledged the same sorority - but we didn't do it to be together. We both looked at all of our options and made the best choice - with the luck of having one another there too. 

She was the first person to see my engagement ring. Here we are at my wedding. She stood by be for that and all the events leading up to the big day.

We have been there for 4 babies, hosting baby showers for each other. Here she is with her mom at my shower for G. She is the first person (after T) to know about me trying to get pregnant with B or that we were considering adopting G. I know I can call her at 3 am if I need help or at 12 noon if I just need to chat. She never gets mad if I hang up quickly due to a screaming child. 

My life wouldn't been nearly as happy or complete if it weren't for this very important friend in my life. I feel so blessed to have a best friend like her. Happy Birthday, J! Enjoy the day. 

Ode to play group moms

Before I had children, I had this notion that when B was born, I would instantly reconnect with all of my friends who had children of their own. But a funny thing happens when you become a parent, as the baby grows, you grow with them. The mother of a newborn is a different animal than the mother of a 6 month old, 12 month old, toddler, school-age child, etc. So the beautiful thing about my play group mommy friends is that they GET IT. Their babies are the same age as B, give or take a couple of months. We were sleepless together, teething together and now potty-training together. We discuss vacation plans, minivans and pre-schools. It's not that my other friends can't help, but we are all so caught up in being parents and all that it entails that it's hard to make time more than a 5 minute phone call or the occasional summer BBQ, typically spent feeding the kids, etc. So, with the play group moms, we get the continuity of our weekly chats, even if interrupted several times, that really makes these new friendships a solid foundation for a happy-mommy life.  

We have been meeting weekly for 3 years. During that time, we have shared so much. Birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and occasional evening or the rare weekend away from the kids and the addition of many babies. T & I were the last couple to go from 1 to 2 kids when we brought G home from Ethiopia. This great group of ladies even planned a unique kind of baby shower for me -  they surprised me with a day of wine tasting, including a limo so we could all taste as much as we wanted. Here we are - shy one member - posing outside a little winery. It was a day well spent and I really appreciate the time. It actually took place months ago (March 8). 

Thanks ladies. Your friendship really means the world to me. 

They grow up so fast...

Today our play group met at a local park to play in the fountain, have lunch, and just do our weekly routine. The photo above doesn't seem that exceptional, until you really understand what is happening. Most of the kids had been getting wet in the fountain. B opted to stay dry. Here, 5 of the 6 kids have decided to take off for the swings, which are pretty far from where the moms had set up camp. B is apparently sharing his two cents about something. When you look a bit closer, you see that they really are developing their own relationships, own dynamics, their own little play group. 

You see, we have called it play group from day 1. The kids, at that time, were just babies. We had our first meeting in late summer and the kids were all born between March and July, so they weren't even crawling yet. We have met each week since, without fail. THAT WAS 3 YEARS AGO. Now, we all have to miss the gatherings from time to time and the group has shrunk from 12 to 7 moms, but this core group has been very dedicated. At times we call it by its true name, Moms' group, but mostly we call it play group. The babies didn't really start to play together until the last year. But here, for the first time, they are off, totally on their own, talking about who knows what. 

I should say that the group is really growing, too. Of the 7 families, we all now have 2 kids. So, when we get together, we have 7 moms & 14 kids. It's great!

Happy 4th

We spent the morning of the 4th at the zoo. B was a bit camera shy, but G loved it. They were decked out in the old Red White & Blue. 

We got to see two bald eagles being fed - T tried to catch a photo of them through a waterfall. If you look closely,  you can see them below. They are such beautiful animals and a fitting symbol for Independence Day!

Vote of Approval

With our new play structure firmly in place, I have found a great new babysitter!! 

They are happy there and can't get out without help. When I asked B if it would be okay if we just left them there for a bit while we got a few things done around the house, he informed me that they are, "just too little to be left alone, Mommy!"  

Though he's had some tentative moments coming down the rocket slide, he is pretty happy with it. 

I am taking both of their smiles as a true vote of approval. 

The Long Wait

We decided to have a play structure installed in our backyard, hopefully done before we have a BBQ this weekend. It was nearly halfway complete before I clued B in on what was happening out back. (He was a school when they arrived and dozing in the car when we got home, so he didn't notice the truck outside.) I expected him to hear the drill and the hammering, but he wasn't really paying attention. Finally, I told him to look out back.  I told him that it wouldn't be ready to play on until tomorrow afternoon - hoping to prevent a mad dash downstairs. He was perfect. In awe. He stood, very quiet and very still, watching the installer work his magic with his power tools. Lucky for B, it was done just after bedtime, so he is good to go tomorrow. Lucky for me, Daddy is off from work the for next few days, so I have someone else to help me supervise!

G the Alarm Clock

Whenever B needs to get out of bed and G is already awake, I bring her into his room and let her help wake him. She is so giggly whenever she sees him that it typically makes him start to smile and wake up happy. Today, he had a bit of a tough time waking from his nap, but it didn't phase her. She loved it just the same. 

8 Months

Can she really be that old already?? 

Well, G would prefer sitting to laying down. She is pulling up to her knees, pushing and pulling her way across the floor (slowly but surely). She makes breathy sounds that sometimes sound like real words. She shakes her arms and legs when Daddy walks in the room and starts to whine and cry if he doesn't pick her up within a few moments. She also laughs at all of Daddy's jokes. She still prefers the company of her brother. Oh, and she weighs 19 lbs and measures 25 3/4 inches!!!!!