Things I learned in August

Hair damage.

Letting Jovey do my hair from time to time seemed like an innocent activity.  I even used it as a reward for her not crying while I detangled her hair.  It worked, by the way, but I will not use it ever again.  She snuck up on my while I was reading and started brushing my hair recently.  Which is fine and normal for her.  I didn't know she also had a comb in hand, which she used to wrap round and round to the roots.  I could not get it out. (insert me crying right here)

I do indeed have self control.

I did not kill Jovey after I had to cut off a big chunk of my hair.  I should have donated it for a wig, but I wasn't thinking about others at the time.  I was seeing red, but no blood was spilt.  ;)  Patience, who knew I had it in me.

Miley for president.

I put Miley in charge of most of her birthday/baptism extravaganza.  She did it all.  Planning, greeting, activities, food (well not the actual purchasing, but she did pick out her own cake and what it should say on it, but I wasn't supposed to tell you that part ;), you name it and she had a hand in it.  It was perfect that way.  She loved it, and I think it made her feel invested more in the event as well, if that's possible since it was all about her anyway.  My only complaint; I should have put her in charge of taking pictures too. . . well she could have assigned that job to someone.  Oh well, next time.  I think I'll put Miley in charge of Jovey's birthday too.  Jovey can be her assistant.

Bite me.

Mosquitoes live down here.  How did I live here for 10 years and never get bitten by a mosquito until this past month???!!!  I thought I moved away from those little suckers, but alas three bites later and I believe my blood has been calling them south.  Or it's a fluke.  Or it's a scorpion sting.  Is it weird that that might be preferable?  ;)  At least I could see my attacker and possibly avoid it, well except for the three times in August.  Ahhh dang.  Probably a stretch for the scorpion then.  Sad face.

Netflix makes me sad.

Finished another series, White Collar.  It was a good show.  I hate that shows end.  OK, I realize they have to or else they turn to crap, but still now I need to find a new show.  Oh and Mr. Peabody disappeared from their listing, so that means I should probably buy it, cause it was a good one and the girls watched it a lot.  Netflix is an emotional rollercoaster ride.  ;)

3rd grade two thumbs up.

I don't remember 3rd grade.  I must of really hated multiplication or cursive.  Ok, I actually do dislike cursive, but I don't know if that's the reason I blocked the year, or was it 2nd grade.  I guess I don't remember much at all.  Anyway. . . experiencing third grade again through Miley is turning out to be an enjoyable experience.  It may be too early to call it, but so far the teacher, curriculum, class, experience is all rose colored glasses.  Hallelujah.

Bodyguard duty.

Jovey starts preschool this month.  At back to school night there was a little boy who kept giving my girl the stink eye.  I tried not to punch him in the face.  *self control*  I may be overly protective of my baby.  Or maybe I've seen people treat her differently and now I can no longer tell why people act the way they do.  My view has changed.  White privilege is a thing, and it sucks.  I want to protect her from stupid people, but it turns out I am outnumbered.  ;)  (insert deep breaths)

Lefty loosey.

Speaking of a world made for me. . . right handed people are spoiled.  Jovey is a lefty.  I've been trying to help her write her name.  Oy.  I am not good at being left handed, everything is made for righties.  Try to open your fridge with your left hand, I bet it was made for a righty.  The more I look around the more I see my right hand overlording it everywhere.  Wow.  The computer keyboard. . . not that Jo is using that yet, but still.  Time to work on being ambidextrous, for both of us.

Boom Boom, ain't it great to be crazy.

Bear is terrified of thunder.  This is new.  She didn't use to be scared of it, just strangers, and well lots of other things probably.  Now she's a big chicken during storms.  August was a rough month for her.  Thunder storms every stinkin day.  I carried her around constantly.  My left bicep is pretty impressive.  ;)

Faint of heart.

Jovey can't stand the sight of her own blood.  One scraped knee on a walk led to a whole day of recuperation.  Oh. my. stars.

Voter anxiety.

I have come to terms with this year's election.  I've accepted that I do not agree with the majority of citizens of this beautiful country.  I didn't realize I was such an outlier.  I'm ok with it.  I cannot support the candidates for our highest office, but I am not fretting about it.  It is out of my control.  I will vote with my conscience and be at peace.

Turn.  Turn.  Turn.

I don't remember being sooooooo ready for the summer weather to be over.  Do I block this part of the year out each time?  I am done with the heat.  It is a killer in July and August.  Thankfully we have felt the break, the shift.  We are that in tune with the weather that we can feel Autumn coming, deep in our bones.  It's a gradual change in temp here, but the fact that it isn't 100 from the moment we wake up until we go to bed, is progress.  A change is coming and I LOVE this time of year. . . or I will in a week or two.

Preparing for disappointment.

So our Halloween costumes this year. . . well they'll be a little different.  I'm afraid they will not live up to your expectations.  The few I've told, seem let down.  I need a low key year here people.  And my girls are picking them this time around, and get off my back about it.  ;)  ha.  Ok, you probably don't care about our costumes, but I feel like you do.  I have issues.  ;)  Jovey is experiencing some disappointment in our costumes since she found out that the wings I am making for her will not actually allow her to fly.  She had that much faith in my costume building skills, and I failed her.

Hiccups as torture.

I don't know what's happening here, but my girls have had an epidemic of hiccups in August. . . and I am slowly going insane listening to them.  No really, hiccups are evil.  ;)  Side note:  Have you ever heard Dave hiccup?  Trust me, you'd remember.  Then you'd believe me that they may be the most obnoxious thing to plague mankind.  Evil, likes fru-its of the de-vil.  ;)

Disney addiction.

So Disney created a new princess on the Disney channel.  Her name is Elena. . . of Avalor. . . and my girls LOVE it.  Something about a strong girl singing catchy tunes and they are hooked.  Adoring fans.  Well played Disney.  Just FYI, if you're thinking of getting something for Jovey's birthday in November, I'm sure she'll still be a HUGE fan of Elena. . .

House plans.

If you mention that you have plans to build on to your house, then people will ask you every time you see them/talk to them if you have started or when that will be happening.  I can't answer this question anymore.  I can't.  I'm never sharing any information with anyone ever again.  Yes, I'm looking at you. ;)

cute x 2

Jo doesn't like boots, so she wouldn't wear the cute pink boots to go with the outfit.  Also, she didn't like having the coat buttoned up, so we could only recreate the picture so much.  ;)

cue the wavy lines and tinkling music

This morning I woke up and thought, 'oh good it's Tuesday, I can wear my lounge pants and comfy sweater cause I have nowhere to go today.' . . . and then Dave said, 'Happy Anniversary honey.' . . . and then I went back into my closet to put on real clothes.  Bummer.  ;)

Fourteen years ago I married this boy.  Bright and early the day after it had snowed and I had slept little.  Spilling juice down my lap while getting ready.  Driving up a hill in the dark to watch the sun rise so beautiful and peaceful and that's when I remembered that I forget Dave's ring back in my hotel room.  Standing perfectly still after hearing an awful ripping sound while getting my dress on and then frantically searching for the disaster only to find none.  Lipstick on my veil from all the congratulations.  Frostbite from taking pictures outside.  Antibiotics for a wicked cough on my honeymoon.  Lost restaurant reservation.  Hours of driving.   A bruise from the corset.  No time for cake for us.  Being forced to open every gift after the reception.  So tired.

It was a memorable day.

I am so very blessed. . . we survived it. . . and the 14 years that followed have been just as momentous.

Happy Anniversary back at ya honey, and don't worry, I'll do my hair today too.

deja vu

Above:  2010 Miley
Below:  2014 Jovey

It's just how we use this chair.

one year later

It's been a year.  A whole year since we flew around the world with our baby.  It doesn't feel like that long ago.

What I've learned in one year:

No child is too young to remember.

Many people will ask about her past because it interests them as a story.  Sometimes my girl isn't seen as a person.

I don't think about the fact that we don't look alike until someone (and this is always the first thing people say to my baby), asks Jovey to point out her mama.  I understand it's their way of verifying that our 'bonding' is successful, cause they can't tell by just looking at us.  We don't look alike, therefore it's obvious our love didn't come immediately shooting out of the birth canal.  ;) The question confuses my baby.  It makes me feel like I'm being tested.  Innocent words do weird things.

My girl had a spark in her eye from the beginning, which was rare when we looked around at all the children.  I didn't realize that her spark was just a shred of what it could be.  I thought she'd avoided the dulling that happens, she hadn't completely, but she was strong and now her spark is a full blown sparkle in her eye.  Going back and watching the videos of her from the beginning are really hard for me now.  I can see her struggle in them.  I'm so proud of her growth.  She's so brave.

International adoption changes you.  Visiting orphanages and playing with those children.  I can't stop thinking about them.  I don't know if I ever could, or if I'd ever want to.  Every child deserves a family and since I can't be that for all of them I'm trying to find my way to make a difference for those kids.

Sisters are the best thing ever.  I may have taken that for granted growing up.  Seeing my girls together brings light into my life.  Sisters are awesome even though one of them has learned to pull hair. . . the one closest to the terrible twos.

Some days I feel like persuading everyone I see to adopt.  They NEED to do it and I'm annoyed that they aren't.  Other days I can see how it is a difficult path that maybe isn't right for everyone.  I've never been so torn on an issue.  I may have multiple personality disorder now.  ;)

I'm pretty sure I had a pod person experience.  I am not brave.  I do not do things that are so foreign and out of my control.  I do not travel around the world.  How did I end up making these decisions and surviving them?  I cannot believe that I did any of that.  Seriously, I really can't.  I am so very grateful for the alien possession that happened so that I could have my daughter.  ;)

I understand why it's annoying when people touch your kid's hair.  Especially black curly hair.  Ask first please.  And don't rub it, ever.

I never liked matching outfits.  Miley loves them, always has.  She wants to match us constantly.  I can now see why it's important for her, and important for Jovey.  It gives her a sense of belonging.  A way to be connected to us all.  I rarely notice the stares anymore, but Miley does.  Miley introduces Jovey as her sister to anyone that talks to us, even just a passing hello.  She wants them to know that we are family.  I'll not be bothered by matching outfits if it gives my girls a little more connection and shortens all conversations with complete strangers.

Doing Jo's hair is not such a daunting task.  This may change.  Trying not to worry about that though. Headbands are awesome and keep people from calling my girl a boy.  :/

Jo's coconut lotion makes it even harder for me not to eat her little face.  She smells so delicious and those cheeks are just so juicy.

One year's distance from air travel has not changed my feelings about airplanes/ports/security.  I don't know how much time is required for me to want to do it again. . . well to that extent. . . or ever.

Every child is different.  Obviously.  I kept looking for Jo to have issues like other adoptive families children, but things just didn't happen that way and I worried that they didn't.  Crazy, but true.  I had to stop looking at her as part of that group, but as an individual.  She is her own person, and yet she is very similar to another little person I know.  My girls don't share blood, but you wouldn't know it from their personality traits and they have a lot in common with us too.  We are freakishly alike.

I appreciate my sleep.  Bed time is a great time for the whole house, which is why I'll have to cut this life-lesson-list off here.

I am the luckiest mama.  Jo just reminded me of this one.  Lucky two times over.

out of body

It's the end of April and the other day I realized that last year at this very time we were headed to Ethiopia for the very first time.  The very first time we met our baby J.  And now I'm crying.

I can't believe it's already been a year.  I know I complained about waiting through the whole 2 year experience.  The blog has plenty of evidence of it.  Today, it feels like it went so very fast.

In the middle of the wait, the not knowing when or how it would end made it seem indefinitely long.  Those eight weeks between visits were gut-wrenching for me.  Now from this side I think 8 weeks flies by.  I got a lot of comments and questions about why it was so hard during that time.  I was always shocked to hear these comments, cause it made no sense to me why no one could understand my distress.  I guess it's hard to understand when you're not experiencing it.  I can see it now, from the detached side.  I must have looked crazy.  I can't find the words to describe that painful time.  I like looking at it from this side much better, so I won't try to explain it now to relive it.  I survived.  It strengthened my faith.

Jovey has been home 10 months.  When I realized she had been here longer than she had been in Ethiopia, it made me kind of sad.  Another thing that is hard to explain.  Of course I'm happy she's home with us, but Ethiopia is still a part of her, a big part.  Everyday we're getting further from Ethiopia and I don't want her to lose it.  Ever.  We loved it there.  I wish she could remember it.  I look forward to bringing her back to see it again.  I just hope they have invented teleportation by then cause I still have very strong feelings about that flight.

It's been such an intense experience that I wonder if I'll still have the same emotional response I do right now thinking on it, in the next years to come.  Will I always remember it so emotionally vivid?  I look back at my instagram feed and see the post the morning I found out we were going to bring our baby home and I feel it. . . that crazy crying happy emotion I couldn't contain at that moment.  It's a rush I always want to remember.

I try to remember the first moment Miley held Jo, especially when Jo is teasing Miley and they are annoyed with one another.  It helps relieve the frustration.  ;)  Flashback:  It was 11 at night and we were so tired of traveling, but Miley was wired with excitement and it energized us as well.  We walked in the door and I was afraid that my bouncing Miley would scare the crap out of Jovey, but she didn't.  Miracle.  ;)  Mie immediately wanted to hold her and feed her a bottle.  You may remember the video.  Miley was a natural.  ;)  Jo didn't seem to mind though and just sat and smiled up at her.  Remembering that moment gives me peace when the girls are acting like sisters, and peace when they are acting like the best of friends as well.

It really has been the best year.  The hardest year.  It's weird how those two can go hand in hand.

We're going through the temple this weekend.  One year from the day we saw our baby smile up at us, we'll be sealed as a family.  It seems fitting.

birthday or milestone

 Miley isn't the only one who is celebrating a significant day this week. . . the big red balloon has an anniversary of sorts.  It's survived a whole year in our house!  Yeah, and it's just a balloon.

It's taken quite a beating from numerous kids.  As you can see, Miley was bounced right off of it while I was taking these pictures.  It survived even the second jump.

I bought this balloon for my sister's engagement pictures. . . . time for wavy lines and fade out into memory lane. . . one year ago. . .

It may have shrunk a little, but it's still alive and just as fun for Miley to play with. . . which is how it has survived my purges of stuff.  It's been close a couple times to the end of my scissors, but something stopped me.  Probably the size of it, or the color, cause doing harm to something red is just not in me. 

I can't end it now that's it's lasted a whole year.  I've got to see how long it will survive without my interference now.  We'll probably have a funeral for it at it's demise, since it's been with us so long.  ;)  

Happy Birthday Balloon, I guess.  ;)

10 things from 2010

Let's reminisce about good old twenty ten, shall we?

1. Favorite movies from 2010. . . Tangled, Harry Potter 7.1, Inception
2. Favorite books read. . . Book of a Thousand Days, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, Fablehaven #5
3.  Favorite holiday. . . Halloween of course, but truly, it was the best this last year
4.  Favorite picture. . . like I could just pick one. . . how about 10, it's a theme, and let's start with Miley pics. . .

first piggy buns, aaahh.  I actually can't believe that happened in this last year, seems forever ago.

the ones with Dave and I, possibly the only ones

and the fam pics. . .

last one courtesy of Framed Photography

5.  Best news received. . . that we were done with the adoption paperwork and approved to adopt.  Seriously, it's so much greener on the other side. 
6.  Biggest accomplishment. . . I'd say that was the engagement pictures I took of Tiff and Josh.  I had never really done it before, and I was very pleased with how they turned out.
7.  Favorite gift. . . Hands down the ring Dave gave me for our anniversary.  It's perfect.
8.  A first in 2010. . . having a backyard.  We've never had one before.  Ten years of nothing behind us, and I can't imagine ever doing that again!
9.  Best vacation. . . July 4th in Idaho.  The zoo, the mountains, the park, and fireworks.  What more could you want?  Oh and the fact that both sides of our family can hang out and celebrate it together.  That's awesome.
10. Favorite cupcake. . . made, that would be White Chocolate Strawberry; bought, Coconut from The Sweet Tooth Fairy

Thursday, the third day

A picture of you and friends. . .

Technically this is just one friend so I switched the plurals. . . you know, make it pictures and friend_. . . But anyway, we have a bazillion pictures together. . . because she is the coolest person I know.  Meet Kirst, my favorite person.

Hey Kirst why don't we ever take pictures together anymore?  I couldn't find anything more recent then college, how sad is that?  Experienced photo burn out I guess, similar to my daughter right now.

E2

Pokey, how we've missed you.  I guess, sorta, well probably not, but it's fun to reminisce.

We get to revisit our very first apartment today, Pulling Courts E2, well maybe not it specifically but the area, the town.  We haven't been back there in years.  I tried so hard to find some photos of our first apartment and came up with nothing.  Well nothing that showed more than the carpet or a wall crammed behind our giant heads.  I had to steal the outside shot above from the internet, how sad.

The truth is that this little place was a hole.  Which is probably why I didn't bother taking better pictures of it.  It was our little hovel of a first place that I'm proud to say we decorated the crap out of, to hide it's awesome 70s/grossness.  The fridge was green to match the amazing green wood paneling in the living room, and the green linoleum in the bathroom.  The carpet was a trendy gray/formally-brownish shag, classic.  It was so tiny too.  The walls were pretty thin as well.  We became well acquainted with our neighbors that way.  I remember one night being awoken by someone coughing, so we called them to see if they'd like some cough syrup.  I guess we could have just yelled it through the floor, but it was the middle of the night and we weren't thinking. 

We survived there for four years while we finished school.  I'd say we never looked back, but I guess that's what I'm doing right now.

Since we probably won't be back in this area until. . . actually I can't foresee another reason to be here, so I guess that means I need to go and haunt all my old residences (a grand total of four) and take pictures to make Miley look at and reminisce with me about my good ole college days.  I'm sure my camera pointed at their windows will totally creep out the new tenants too. . . that will be fun.

bringing it all back

So, I'm not a fan of sharing my birthday.  ;)  I do get to share it most of the time though because I was born around Father's Day.  It kind of ruins the whole lets celebrate my birthday when we're shopping for a gift for Davey.  ;)

I love Dave and I totally think he's a great daddy and should get a little something to celebrate, but it can't help but dredge up some irksome birthday memories. . . where everyone got a present on my birthday.  Makes a gal feel special. . . and appear slightly selfish I get that, but come on people. . . here's the flashback for ya. . .

Three different birthdays of my youth created a gift explosion in the fam. . .

One year I asked for rollerblades.  They were great.  My bro liked them, bought his own.  The parents agreed with their greatness and bought the sisters some as well.  OK, I guess it was alright to have the kiddos rollerblade with me.  It could be just a fluke.

Next year. . . I asked for a mountain bike.  I got one.  It was cool, or rad.  I don't remember what the year was so I can't recall the term I would have used.  ;)  My bro agreed with the awesomeness and bought one for himself.  The parents thought this was a good idea for a family activity and bought the sisters and themselves new mountain bikes as well.  What the?  Now thinking this wasn't a fluke and some horrible trend that was starting.

The year after that. . . I requested a new tennis racket.  It was a very nice gift.  I was older, so I wouldn't use terms like cool or rad anymore.  I appreciated it immensely.  My bro wanted to learn to play and bought one of his own to play with me.  Seeing the fun we were having my parents once again bought some for themselves and my little sisters (the next week) who weren't even big enough to really handle them.  uhhhh.

Learned my lesson and only asked for cash from then on. . . or clothes.  We weren't a family that was into matching outfits, thankfully, except for the little girls.  ;)

I probably would have been alright with the setup if it worked for the others birthdays as well, but their gifts were just not cool enough to copy.  I guess my parents didn't feel we all needed Barbies or Legos to play as a group.  Not that those weren't totally cool gifts too guys.  ;)

Yes, Jared I recognize that you got gypped as well, since you had to buy your own.  Sympathy and pity back at ya.

Mom, I'm not really mad about this, just a funny flashback to share.  Strange birthday memories and not a expose on your parenting skills.  ;)  Though, if you feel inclined to give me three more presents to recoup the experiences,  I wouldn't turn them away.  ;)  And I may consider taking this post down as well.  ;)  I'm kidding, I wouldn't take  it down.