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!