Who does she look like?

Me?

Or her dad?

P.S. It's pretty sad how few photos I have with me and BB! I'm always behind the camera...sigh.

Bad Blogger

My bloggy friend Marcia gave me an award the other day, and I have YET to respond to it! Thank you Marcia...I promise that I am working on a post. I just can't get it together lately! And, AND I am having guests next week from Tuesday until the following Monday! Busy busy busy!!

We had a nice Christmas. AB got lots of fun things and had a great time. He is truly just the cutest little guy!! BB was so attentive and watched everything that was going on. We went to the movies to see the Alvin and the chimpmunks movie and BB sat and watched the entire movie. She never even made a sound. Best baby ever!! She definitely did NOT get that from her mother! =)

One year ago today...

True love began. I had no idea what was in store and I was terrified. But now, one year later, I have a gorgeous baby girl sitting in my lap as I type.

 And a gorgeous little boy sitting in the floor wrapping gifts for his friend. Who would have thought? Thank you God for my beautiful children. Thank you for giving me the best gifts of all.

Merry Christmas to you! I hope that all of your dreams come true this year.


P.S. Look who was totally busted! I caught her in action!

Generosity

A couple of months ago I got a mass email from our social worker asking for foster parents to give her a wish list for their kids Christmas gifts. Well, I assumed that this did not mean us....AB is in an adoptive placement. Not foster care. Turns out that he was included and I was amazed! So, we gave her a list of his likes. We went to the agency Christmas party last weekend and they told us to make sure and get the gift bags before we left. They absolutely loaded him up with stuff! Nice things...legos, skateboard helmet, clothes, transformers, science kits...I was so blown away by their generosity. We let him open a couple of things and the rest we wrapped and put under the tree. Not only is it wonderful for him, but it gives us a boost as well. We don't go nuts for Christmas, but we did want him to have a nice one. And it will be. But that made it even nicer.

Fast forward to Friday when a package arrived on my doorstep. It was another package of gifts from CPS for AB! What?! It was full of all kinds of neat toys. Nice things!! Once again...blown away.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that all of these toy drives, etc., are set up for kids just like AB. Imagine what his Christmas would have been like in foster care without the generosity of people who simply care about children. I have made a committment that we will, from this point forward, donate toys, money, etc. for the holidays. It really hits home...and I've been very selfish over the years. No more! I want a child to feel special, just like AB did and does. It truly warms my heart to think of those people who gave so much to this little Texan...that I get to call my son.  Thank you. It means more than you know.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

I Hate Pacifiers

I thought, in the beginning, that BB would not be taking a pacifier. You know, because I would be breastfeeding and have gallons of milk and I didn't want her to have nipple confusion. Then I woke up and realized the girls were as dry as a bone. Since that didn't matter, we started giving it to her and realized that it really did soothe her. But she has this pattern...it goes something like this...

GIVE ME MY PACI NOW!!!
NOM NOM NOM NOM
Calm Baby
Spit pacifier out
GIVE ME MY PACI NOW!!!
NOM NOM NOM NOM
Calm Baby
Spit pacifier out
GIVE ME MY PACI NOW!!!

NOM NOM NOM NOM
Calm Baby
Spit pacifier out

TIMES INFINITY!!!!! Makes me want to RIP OUT MY HAIR!! (and it usually happens around 4 am)
 
So, we have an Angel Care Monitor. Ever heard of it? It is a sensor pad that goes under the baby's mattress and alarms if no movement is felt for at least 20 seconds. It really gives me peace of mind!! But, since moving BB into her baby bed, the blasted thing has gone off several times. She has been breathing every time. It's just if she moves too far off of the sensor pad no movement is "sensed" and the alarm sounds. It happened several times on Sunday and Monday and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was going on! Finally, I pulled the bed apart to inspect everything and just happened to look at the sensitivity setting. 5 is most sensitive and 1 is least. Well, my lovely husband decided to change the setting to 1 because he thought that was the right thing to do. Arrrrggghhh!! I could have choked him! So, I put the setting back to 5 and we have had no problems. Until last night. Now, I have no idea how our brains work and how our bodies can be in motion while we are still asleep. But let me tell you, I woke up standing over BB's bed with my hand on her chest. My heart was pounding and and I was terrified!!  It took me a few seconds to realize what happened. The alarm went off (at 2:30 am) and my husband and I both jumped up to check on her. I don't know how we didn't slam into each other in the process! I managed to throw the covers back, jump out of bed, step over 2 dog beds in the floor and get to her. All without falling or stepping on a dog or knocking over my husband. She was fine and breathing...she just scooted to the edge of the bed and her movement wasn't being picked up. This apparently happens to alot of people. I will take the false alarms because heaven forbid something truly did happen, at least I know that it works. But man, did I almost have a heart attack!! The sensor pad is probably 8 inches square. Why can't the company just make the sensor pad larger and then this wouldn't happen? Maybe I should call and tell them what I think!

Randomness and Photos

We finally bought BB a baby bed! It is in our bedroom and it looks great!  She seems to like it so far! imagine it's much more comfortable than the pack n play.

The first time in her new bed!!!

We put up our Christmas tree on Sunday. AB was such a great helper!  It's a slim line tree so it doesn't take up too much space. It's very sparkly with all of the ornaments on it.

I have been pretty busy with the holidays and just being a full time mama! It's wonderful. It is so hard to believe that this time last year I sobbed and sobbed because I just knew that I would never have children. What a difference a year makes....I am beyond blessed and thankful.

I start back to school in  January. I'm looking forward to getting the ball rolling but I know it's going to be hard. My husband is going to watch the kids while I take a night class...physiology. It will be hard but I will do my best! Hopefully that will get me an A.

AB is doing great and we are just having the best time. Our little family is bonding and it feels so awesome! We are still shooting for his adoption to be finalized in February. I'm crossing everything I've got!

BB is doing great too. She still eats like a little bird...only 1.5 - 2 ounces at a time..most times. She will take 3 ounces once or twice a day...and then 4-5 ounces (on a good day) on her 11 pm bottle. She has been going to sleep around 6 pm.... there is no keeping her up when she's sleepy. I'll normally feed her around 8 and then again around 11. After her 11 pm bottle she sometimes will sleep for 4...maybe 5 hours. Then she's up every 2 or so hours until 8 am.  I am exhausted and actually got a horrible migraine the other day. H had to come home from work so I could sleep it off. I slept for about 4 hours and was able to function a little after that. I could have slept for 5 days I think.

I have also developed (what I think is) plantar fasciitis. Imgaine the worst pain ever in your heels and walking makes it even worse. Yeah...fun times. That whole exercise thing I wanted to start? Definitely not happening right now. I have been walking my dogs but my heels absolutely kill me when I do. And getting up during the night? I can hardly walk. I don't mean to complain, but it hurts!!

So, here is an adorable photo I took of BB when we were at my in laws house. She woke up about 11 pm and was pretty awake. My mother in law was holding her and she posed like this. It was sooo funny! I took it with my cell phone because it was handy.  I picture her saying something like, "What a day!"

This is a gorgeous Strausburg Children's dress that my mother in law bought. If you have never been to one of their stores, I would highly recommend you go! They have the most beautiful dresses. All smocked and beaded. Just gorgeous!

And finally, tummy time...score!! Normally BB screams her head off when she is on her belly. But today, she actually enjoyed herself for about 2 minutes!