My Big Strong Girl

When we'd visit Lil at the orphanage last summer, we quickly learned she LOVES to swing.

They had what's called a "Babysitter" style swing - with back support.

Lil with a treat on the orphanage swing -- the only swing they had.

I considered getting her a Babysitter swing when we got home, but a physical therapist suggested I wait.  She told me swinging is really good for helping core strength -- and it was obviously motivating for her.

For Christmas, we lost our minds, and installed two swings in the basement,

this therapy swing,

and this regular swing (which Lil enjoyed, despite the look on her face).

(Both swings and mounting hardware available from IKEA)

And now that the weather is finally starting to cooperate, we've been able to get out to the swingset again.

So, here she is, Miss Lily-Lu swinging, all on her own:

My Wonderful Husband

Brian wrote me a computer program -- a whole program -- to simplify one of my projects with Reece's Rainbow.  I didn't even think it was possible, and he wrote it, late at night after the kids were in bed, in just a couple weeks.  This program turns something that used to take me hours a day into something I can do in less than an hour.

He's amazing!  And, today -- he's finally the same age as me!  For about the next 5 weeks, we'll be the same age (I married a younger man!  How scandalous!) and I couldn't be any luckier or happier with who I chose to marry.

Plus, the kids are pretty darn fond of him, too!  (Who am I kidding?  I turn invisible when Dad gets home from work....)

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Ramblin'

Ruby said SEVEN words together tonight!  I think that's a record.  I asked if she wanted pizza for dinner tonight.  She said, "Yeah!"

And then a minute later, she said, "Pizza-for-dinner!-I-like-that-Mama!"  really fast, all smooshed together.


She often talks really fast and it sounds like babbling, but more & more lately, if you listen very closely, you can hear the words she's throwing in there.

Wildlife

The other night, the kids were watching The Kratt Brothers on PBS.  It's a wildlife show that's part real-life, part animated.

During the live-action part, they were showing some footage of a squirrel running around, talking about how they gather nuts.  We were telling the girls that was a squirrel ... and Lilya said, "No."

I love her serious little Ukrainian "No."  It's very solemn.

So, she says, "No," and signs "Outside, cat"


So funny, and very clever!

Big Plans. HUGE!

I'm committing to blogging more.

I've got exciting things to tell you about ... like a matching donation fundraiser on Reece's Rainbow, and Ruby's birthday wish, and how my 7-year-old is smarter than I am ... well, you knew that one already, right?

But do you remember my blog auction, for Lil's adoption?  Do you remember what item was so popular, we had to have FOUR sets of them to giveaway?

Well, I've got more of those, for a giveaway in May.  That's next week!

What?   You weren't reading me then?

You want a sneak peek?

Sure ... just promise you'll keep coming back!

Lil Update

When Lil came home, we were halfway potty training with her.  She was potty-trained, but wouldn't always ask ... so we let her regress.  There's some who say you should let your adopted child regress in some areas, so you can 'baby' them like they never had, and to work on bonding.

I don't want to go into too much detail -- I don't want Lil to grow up & read my blog and say, WHY are you talking about me going to the bathroom? -- but I do want to share about how well she's doing.  (So, future Lilya, it's because I'm proud of you!)

It wasn't really intentional, but we let the potty-going slip last fall.  So many appointments, so much running around -- and she was TERRIFIED of large toilets out in public at first.  Then she had her tonsils out ... it was a crazy busy winter.

About a month ago, I told Brian I was done.  I was getting NOWHERE with Lil going potty again, so I had to get serious.  I took away the pull-ups.

That first day, she had an accident, and we put dry clothes on her.  Later that day, she had a small accident -- she started, felt the wet & stopped.  We were taking her to the bathroom every 30 minutes -- it was exhausting, but it worked.

I emailed her teachers, and they said, "Go for it!"  so we sent her to school in underwear.

Since then, she's probably had 2 small accidents.  Gradually, we let time slip to 45 minutes ... then an hour.  Now, she'll even go a couple hours and stay dry, but we still try to take her more often than that.  In the car, at the store -- dry.  She lets us know when she has to go -- we had to make a pit-stop on our way home from visiting Brian's family on Saturday.  We travel with the little fold-up potty ring, and she's still apprehensive about it, but not fearful.

Lil in a cockpit at the EAA Museum

Our Lilya is a rock star, and we love her so!

(Ruby is doing very well with potty training, except she doesn't have that start-and-stop down yet, to prevent accidents.)

Happy Easter, Lily!

(pun intended!)

7 going on 15

Braden, with MY new cell phone -- playing Angry Birds.  And beating my scores.  The first time he picked the game up.


But really, it's the hooded sweatshirt that makes me sad that my boy is so grown up....

Remember those swings

we put in the basement for the girls, for Christmas?


They're still a big hit!



Also from Christmas, my dad & stepmother got the little girls pink Michigan sweats, which are adorable & very much appreciated, since I'm still a Michigander at heart ...

And YES, Michigander is a real word, no matter how much Brian thinks I made it up!

Uno!

Braden's really into Uno lately -- which is my all-time favorite card game.  Lucky for him, we have Uno Attack, Uno Tippo, Travel Uno, and more.


The littles even love joining in -- they can identify all four colors.

It makes it hard for Brian to win when Lil's sitting with him, yelling out & signing "Bluuuee!"

Dad's Clean up Crew

My growing girls!

Lil's new cheesey face for the camera -- and Ruby says "cheeeeese" when I take her picture.

Jumping!

(I love how Ruby doesn't take her eyes off the camera ... big trouble brewing with that girl ...)

Sweet sisters

Ready to dance!

Our new breakfast companion

This little guy announces his arrival -- he taps his beak on the window. Repeatedly!

His beak is so orange, it's almost like he's a cartoon!

Sing it now ... "I always feel like, somebody's watching meeeee..."

Extra Curricular

I wrote on Facebook earlier this week:

Ru & Lil have swimming from 9:35-10:05 on Mondays ... 10:05-10:35 is the most exhausting half hour of my week, getting them showered & dressed & out to the van!


And today, I want to share that one of the best moments of my weeks is also at the local Y, at 10:40 Thursday mornings. Thursdays are hectic -- Ruby gets home from school at 10:00, and we have to leave right away to head to dance class. Class starts at 10:10, and usually I'm herding the girls through the door shortly after that.

Then, I wait in the hallway and watch my girls through the darkened glass. There are 6 girls in this group, a full 1/3 of them belong to me.  They're cute and awkward and rarely are all six girls doing the same activity at the same time, but it's so fun to watch.

And at the end of class, the teacher opens the door and all the little girls rush out into the hallway, and Ruby yells, "MOM!!!" like she hasn't seen me in days - and I get a great big hug from both of them.   Definitely worth all the rushing around we do to get to that point in our morning.



Next week is the last class of this session, so keep your fingers crossed -- if we're all healthy, and we go to class, I'll get to go in & take pictures!

I'm still here -- are you still there?

It's been suggested that my blog is a little neglected lately...