Busy Weekend, Movie Review, Photo Award, Ladybug

There is so much to catch up on! We made the most of our weekend and went to Hiawasee (N. Ga. mountains), since I had a work appointment up there! We had a nice cabin; played ping pong, carved a pumpkin, watched movies, ate, cooked, played games, shopped a little, played on a few playgrounds, and made smores (or as we say, "schmoes")! One thing that really stood out were the lakes, or lack of lakes. GA is in the midst of a serious draught and some of the lakes were just gone - seriously, just evaporated - totally. There were docks that were in the mud; dried mud!

I feel so far behind with my blogging, and I have so many wonderful thoughts to share with you people!!! (Ha Ha)

One of the movies that we watched was "Meet the Robinsons." It was about a little boy who grew up for a good part of his childhood in an orphanage. All he ever wanted was to meet his mother and convince her to take him back. He was able to get a "glimpse" into his future and see how his life affected so many in a positive way, all because of his adoptive parents. It was really cute and so clever. I sat there with tears in my eyes (yes, animated movie) as Lewis (the little boy) was able to have a "glimpse" of his bio-mom leaving him at the orphanage as a baby. I was really overwhelmed with thoughts of Ally's biological mom. I just know that to this day, and most likely for the rest of her life, that she will wonder. I can't imagine that she won't live with regret everyday for the daughter that she had to give up. We look at our beautiful daughter and are so thankful that her birth mom chose to take her where she did. The movie took a lot of "hits" in the adoption community, but I don't know why - we loved it and thought it was wonderful! It was a bit "Back to the Future'ish" - one of my all time favs!

We are trying to teach Ally about "trick or treat", so tonight we lured her into her lady bug costume by giving her a Kit Kat bar. Sara (also in her costume) took Ally to our neighbors to practice trick or treating! She was so happy to get more candy (which we took to them to give her!) that we are now expecting that she will want candy each time she "suits up"! It was so cute!

Sara found out that she won 1st Place in her school's Reflections contest for 8th grade in the photography category! She will now compete with winners from the other middle schools in our county. She submitted the pic she took of Ally overlooking the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian. We are so excited for her! I think she is proud of herself, too.

Lots of friends are getting ready to go to China! Donna and her family leave on Wed for Shelby (on Ally's list); Chad and Melissa leave on Nov 9 for Sarah Beth; Darci and family leave next week for Danielle (also on Ally's list). I talked to Melissa today for a while! I'm so excited for them. I can't wait to follow their blogs.

Bend and Snap!

One of Sara and Lauren's favortie movies is "Legally Blonde" (they taped the TV version and watch it over and over). If you have seen the movie, you will know what Bend and Snap is. Well, Sara and Lauren have taught Ally how to Bend and Snap! It's the cutest thing - mainly, because she just smiles so big doing what her big sisters are doing!

It is actually raining at our house tonight! GA is in the midst of a serious draught and water shortage, so we are happy to see the rain. Sara was so happy that she put on her new rain boots, ran outside, and kicked and splashed in the puddles! She had the biggest smile on her face and was just laughing! Still hints of a little girl in my big girl.

Weekend Fun!

Friday's News

A few pics from the week! You can click on View Slide Show then "original view" to see the pics bigger.

We had applied for an "adoption assistance grant" for special needs adoptions right before we went to China in July. I don't know if it's only available for GA families or not, but we applied. Since returning we had heard nothing; and even though I had made several calls and left several messages, I never heard a yes or no. The lady was nice and did return my calls, but I was never home when she called! So we have literally played phone tag for 2 + months (on and off, not every day). But today, I decided to call in the late afternoon and she actually picked up the phone! She had good news for us too! We qualified for the grant and all we have to do is submit a reciept from a portion of our adoption expenses and we will get a check in the mail from the state of GA. How cool is that? Doug jokingly said that Ally came with a rebate!

No More Tears!

This post is not about baby shampoo; it's about Ally at Miss Sheryl's house! She is no longer crying when I leave - not at all! I'm so relieved. I will kiss and hug her goodbye and she will go to Miss Sheryl smiling (sometimes still grabbing me, but smiling). This is just huge - knowing that she is happy there and comfortable with Miss Sheryl and Linzi. What a great thing!

Ally has been extra energetic and we think it may be a side effect of some meds she is taking for a rash on her tummy. She climbs on the dollhouse and the crib and is running like a crazy girl around the house! Loves to chase and climb. She has also been a little more aggressive than usual with the biting and pinching and slapping - usually when she wants me (or whoever) to attend to her!

Her new thing is to do "flipsies." She will hold our hands and climb up our legs and flip backwards. She will finish by putting her hands up and doing a "ta-da"! I can't believe how flexible she is - can't remember if S and L were this flexible at this age or not! She is like a little rubber band!

Our friends Chad and Melissa called to tell us they got their TA for Sarah Beth! Now they just have to get their confirmed CA date and they can book flights! How exciting.

Ally is Ally

What does that mean? Of course, Ally is Ally. What I mean is that she really looks like an Ally to me now. We have had her exactly 3 months now. After waiting for so long, with just a guess of how she would look, she now looks like an Ally. You know how people's names just usually seem to fit them after you get to know them? That's what I mean.

3 months - We shared our videos with my sister, Ellen, and her hubby, Paul, last Thursday night as they passed through on their way home to KY. It was amazing to see the same little girl so scared and tiny. Not that she has grown a lot, but she doesn't look so much like a baby as she did when we first got her. She is spunky and fiesty - we saw none of that 3 months ago. I think I must have been in shock too, at the time.

She has topped 20 pounds, so she is growing. She doesn't have much of an appetite, but she is doing OK. She not only loves school busses, but also airplanes! Still working on "please" - she has "thank you" (or as she says, "tankoo") down pretty consistently (without prompting). She will do her sign for "more" and try to say it for many things - food, spinning, chasing, plopping onto the big bean bag chairs in the basement, etc.

Lunch with 6, 7, 8, and 9

Yes, an explaination is in order! Recently, Ally and I had lunch with some new friends! 4 of us moms of the kids on the May Waiting Child list from Hope. Our girls were #6 Danielle, #7 Shelby, #8 Ally, #9 Frannie. (I think I have the order right - Donna, correct me if I have Danielle and Shelby mixed up)

I still marvel seeing Ally and Frannie together - just little miracles sitting beside us. Also, I'm so happy to have made so many new friends throughout this process! They were so cute riding in the car together. Also, they held hands during the prayer. Ally and Frannie shared nilla wafers and crackers, passing them back and forth.

Ally LOVES chocolate milk now and gets so excited when I give it to her. She rode in the Gator (Daddy's band's) on Sunday night and was all smiles! Tonight she enjoyed listening to her big sisters' IPods (dancing with headphones on) - so cute! She is saying (or giving it a good try) muffin, cookie, doggie, bus (her very favorite thing). When Daddy asks her who he is, she loudly replies, "Ma Ma Ma Ma" and just laughs. She knows that he is daddy because she calls him that when she sees a picture of him. Pretty funny!

She is getting a little whiney when she doesn't get her way, and she has been pinching and slapping and biting. She is very stubborn (smile - 2 year old) and has had a few time-outs in her little rocking chair. We, of course, have things to work on!

I'm just still amazed everyday that she is ours! What a cute little smile.

Zi in the News!

Our friends, the Burkes, are being featured in the Atlanta's newspaper's Living section tomorrow. We met them in Guangzhou at the end of our trip to China. We really had so much fun with their family and consider them friends for life. Since they live in Lawrenceville, we have seen them a few times since returning home. Zi is their little China boy. Click on the Slide Show as well! What a great article!

After Amanda (Zi's mommy) sent me the link this AM, I emailed her right back. My first thought was that most likely there will be several families that will read the article in tomorrow's paper that will be "nudged" toward adoption. God uses many ways to touch people. I think of how many people read the AJC (Atlanta's main paper) and just can't help but imagine that there are families just like ours (a few years ago) that are "tossing" the idea around in their heads and hearts. If I had read this article in the summer of 2005, I would have cried and cried - knowing that God had put this article in the paper JUST FOR ME! So, as today comes to a close, I will pray for that family (or families) who will feel God's nudge as they read the article about little Zi. It may mean a few more orphans in China (or elsewhere) will be closer to a family!!!!! Does it get any better than that?

You can see a few pics of Zi from our trip by scrolling back to the July 24th post.

Once You Notice that Your 2 Year Old is Quiet...

It's probably too late! That is how it happened yesterday afternoon when Ally was suddenly quiet. I found her in Lauren's room with a jumbo purple crayon happily drawing on her wall. I also found evidence of Ally's "art work" on the wall in the hall and our bedroom. Luckily, it all washed off pretty well. She even helped with scrubbing and carried around the wash cloth for most of the afternoon.

Ally attended her first football game at "Daddy's school" tonight! She was most interested in wiggling, running, and eating popcorn, shockers (super sour sweet-tarts) and Sprite. She did like the little football from the cheerleaders!

Mom Song

I just emailed this to several of my friends! It is the most hilarious song I've heard! It's called the MOM SONG.

This will make you laugh outloud - whether you are a mom or have a mom!!!

Congrats!

To our friends, Chad and Melissa, who received their LOA today for Sarah Beth. Hoping their TA comes as quickly as ours!

Also, to Shelby's parents - they got their TA today and will travel THIS month to get her! Shelby was on Ally's list with Hope!

One other congrats is for a family manner! Doug's cousin, Amy and her hubby Todd have a new baby girl, Addison. She was born on Saturday in Ohio and is doing great!