Cereal bowl, hat...What's the difference?

Being on vacation is the best!

This morning, after a visit from my new adoption social worker (more on that in a minute), Elizabeth and I decided to take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and go to the playground for a bit. Also, I was feeling guilty that I had her cooped up in the car and her stroller so much yesterday while we went shopping. I love being off of work and being able to do stuff like this with her during the week!

It was getting close to naptime, so she is looking a little tired in these pictures :)

The social worker had no updates on a court date. Actually, she is waiting to get a completed physical form back from Elizabeth's Doctor. I turned it in to the Doctor's office on the day I got it, 12/18. When I called yesterday to see if it was completed, the nurse told me that it was only partially done, and the Doctor is out on vacation until Monday, so unfortunately, I will have to wait until next week :( But my sw said she'd try to get the court clerk to start scheduling a date for finalization anyway, even without the medical form. I guess this form is required in order to complete the adoption. So you better believe I'll be hounding that Doctor's office first thing Monday morning!

Follow me!

Hello! On the sidebar, I've put a "follow me" link, so if you are a blogger, go ahead and join Elizabeth's fan club :)
On another note, I am loving being on vacation! Today, Elizabeth and I drove all over San Diego county in search of an Osh Kosh B'gosh store that wasn't sold out of pink striped overalls. We went this morning to the outlet store down by the Mexican border, nope, sold out. But luckily up north in Carlsbad, they had some, so after naptime we went up there and got them, and a few other things...Why do little girls' clothes have to be SO cute??!!! Luckily, everything was marked down for after Christmas sales.
Tomorrow, my new adoption social worker is coming to meet Elizabeth! I wonder if she will have any news on a court date...I kind of doubt it, especially with it being the holidays.

My afternoon with Brad Pitt

So today I had a real treat- I got to go out and see a movie in a theater! I saw "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." It was good, and Brad was lookin' fine (except for the parts when he was, you know, a baby who looked like an old man ). It was great to get out and have some adult nonworking time. Thank you so much for babysitting, Auntie Julie!
This afternoon, after I got back from hangin' with Brad, I took Elizabeth to the park. She had a great time on the swing, as usual, and was so excited to see that there were many dogs also at the park.
I am so excited that I am on vacation until 1/5/09! That sounds so far away, but I know it will be here before I know it.

Caught in the act...

Christmas 2008

In the morning after we opened presents at home in our PJ's, we went to a friend's house for a fabulous Christmas brunch. There was tons of delicious food, and tons of presents for all the kids, too! It was so much fun :)



I love this adorable jumper my mom sent her.

Then, this afternoon, we went to another friend's house to eat even more and open yet MORE presents!

We had a great day. It was very busy, and Elizabeth is sound asleep, and I'm not too far behind her!

Merry Christmas!

As you can see, Santa (and Grandma and Aunt Betsy) were very good to Elizabeth this year:)

Happy Holidays to everyone!

7 random things about...me!

Nobody tagged me, but I decided to tag myself and do 7 random things about myself. Here goes:

1) I HATE going to the dentist more than anything else in the world. I'm going to have to change that soon to be a good example for Elizabeth!

2) I know all the words to "The Sound of Music", "Mary Poppins" and "Grease" (and not just the songs, the dialogue, too-dork!).

3) I can tell which episode of "The Brady Bunch" is going to play within the first 3-5 seconds of the show, I've seen them all so many times- super dork!).

4) I have lived on 3 different continents: No. America, So. America, and Europe.

5) About a year before Elizabeth, I had a little Foster daughter who I took care from the time she was 2 days old to 6 months old.

6) I've eaten crocodile (it tastes just like chicken! Not...)

7) I am probably the least picky eater ever (see # 6)

First haircut!

Elizabeth's hair has been...challenging...for me since she came home. I wondered how she'd do at the hairdresser. She cried a little and fussed, but overall did fine. Then afterward, I went and got my hair cut, while Elizabeth went home and took a nap with Auntie Julie :)

You mean Santa STILL hasn't come??

Every morning when she gets up, and every afternoon when we come home, the first thing she does is run over to her stocking to check it out. Still empty!

It's almost official! (or "Christmas a week early for me")

This morning was a beautiful morning, because guess what I did? I met with Elizabeth's social worker and my adoption worker and signed adoption placement papers! Yay! This means that I'm officially Elizabeth's adoptive mother, and no longer her Foster Mother. It was so cool, this day has been a long time coming! Now, we just have to get a court date to make it final. That will most likely be in March. The court is pretty backed up, but March will be perfect, because my parents will be out here (from the East Coast) and hopefully my sister (from Colorado).
Oh, I also got a picture of Elizabeth's birth parents, who I haven't met. I think she looks like her birth father. I'm so glad to have these pictures for Elizabeth when she gets older.

Did I mention what a great morning I had today? Signing adoption papers for my daughter...As far as I'm concerned, there could be no better Christmas present :)

Rainy Monday+ no nap= Grumpy Elizabeth

Today was cold and rainy. Everyone was complaining, but I kind of liked it. Makes it feel a little more like Christmas. We are very spoiled here in So. California, and expect sunshine and 75 degree temperatures every day. And that's usually what we get, so it was a nice change, I thought.
This afternoon, my Foster Care licensing social worker came over to do her annual review of my home. Since Elizabeth is still legally my Foster Child, I have to keep my Foster Care license updated. That visit went quickly, no problems. Basically all she was looking for was a functioning smoke detector and that Elizabeth has a bed (crib) to sleep in. I now deal with 3 county social workers: my licensing worker, my adoption worker, and Elizabeth's social worker.
Ok, on to reason for the title of this post...When I picked up Miss E from Day Care, they told me she had not slept at all today. Apparently, she kept popping up and chattering, and would not fall asleep at naptime. That's my girl :) By 4:30PM, when I got her, she was in full crank mode. We had an appointment we had to go to after work, and she was a terror in the waiting area- crying, screaming and just being a whole lot of not-fun-to-be-around. When we finally got home, she continued being fussy, but I was determined to keep her up until her regular bedtime. She ate some dinner, had a bath (which cheered her up a lot), and crashed at 7pm sharp. Not a moment too soon for me!

Elizabeth and Santa (or "Saved by the Bell")!

So, in keeping with tradition, today Elizabeth got to sit on Santa's lap. I'm not sure she was too thrilled about it...

Here is a "before" shot...

When I first sat her on Santa's lap, she cried, but then he handed her a bell, and she was ok. Not overjoyed, but at least not crying! Here are some pics I got with my camera:

And just for fun, here is December 2007. What a difference a year makes! Last year, she slept through most of it!

Happy 17 month birthday!

Christmas stockings!

After my brother, sister and I were each born, our Grandmother knit us each a Christmas stocking. Now, my awesome sister has taken over that task for the next generation. She made ones for my nephews, and now for Miss Elizabeth! I love that Elizabeth now has the official family Christmas stocking. How cool is that? Thank you, thank you Aunt Betsy. We love you!

Fun list

I "borrowed" this from Aimee's blog, feel free to use it on your blog, it's kinda fun. The things I've done on this list are in red.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4.Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (I'm workin' on it!)
16. Had food poisoning (OMG, it is THE WORST...)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (when I was 2 years old!)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (Dachau, Germany)
67. Bounced a check (a long time ago, oops!)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
0. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one (my Grandparents)
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Anniversary Day fun

Elizabeth and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary on Sunday by going to the zoo, and then to the playground. Elizabeth LOVED the petting zoo! It was hard to get many pictures of her, because she is so fast!

She would swing all day if I let her!

Happy one year anniversary, Elizabeth!

So, one year ago today was the most incredible day of my life. It was the day that my Elizabeth came home. I remember the social worker brought her to my apartment at about 11am. Elizabeth was sound asleep in her car seat, wrapped in a green blanket. It was pouring rain outside, and I was so worried about her getting wet as I took her out of the car. She woke up pretty soon after I brought her inside and was very alert and smiley. I know the two social workers there were trying to talk to me, but I don't think I heard a word they said. All I could focus on was this beautiful, perfect little 4 month old baby girl who I was just meeting for the first time. I couldn't take my eyes (or hands) off of her.

I am so grateful, and so blessed to be Elizabeth's mother. I've been given far more than I asked for. I just wanted a kid. I didn't think I'd get such a good one! I didn't think I'd get this amazing, beautiful little girl, who is my daughter. We are such a perfect match, and so attached. It is truly a miracle; she is a miracle. I will never, ever know how I got so lucky.

So now, I leave you with a recap of the last 12 months. The best 12 months of my life .


Nov. 30, 2007 December, 2007:

January, 2008:

February, 2008:

March, 2008:

April, 2008:

May, 2008:

June, 2008:

July, 2008:

August, 2008:

September, 2008:

October, 2008:

November, 2008:

My little princess

Elizabeth decided to "borrow" Bridget's tiara on Thanksgiving. Thanks for sending me this pic Dusty :)

Thanksgiving 2008

We had a wonderful time eating Thanksgiving dinner and playing at the Wilson's house today!

There were 4 dogs in the backyard that Elizabeth was so excited to watch through the sliding glass door!

Thank you Wilsons for a great Turkey Day :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Can you guess what I'm most thankful for this year? I'll save the long sappy post for our 1 year anniversary coming up on Sunday :)

Here is the art project she did at Day Care. Isn't my baby girl talented?!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!