Making Easter with My Daughter

My daughter is something else! She delights and intrigues me!

This morning I was up early to get a jump start on Easter preparations for tomorrow. Then came her fast little feet down the hallway. With bright eyes and big smile she said 'Hi, Mommy!' 

She immediately became my little helper. As with anything I do with her I talked through each step as we began making homemade banana nut bread. She peeled the bananas and helped mash them. Each step I told her about the ingredients and I let her add them to the bowl. When we got to the bag of flour I got a surprise. 

I said 'now we add the flour.' She looked at me funny. She peeked in the bag before her. Then very clearly she shook her head and said 'No, Mommy.' She pointed outside. She said, 'Flower. Tree.' Then she shook her head yes at me. 

I laughed and laughed. My little girl is so smart. She listened and she understood. And in her limited vocabulary she told me I was wrong! Flour vs. flower 

She cracks me up!

On the eve of 35

It's been much too long since I made an entry here. So much happened in this last year. So much of it overwhelmed to the point I didn't know how I'd ever write it down - so I just didn't. 

I think the word that summed up the year 2013 is 'daughter'. Chris and I finalized our daughter's adoption in August. Taylor Desiree Pierce. The desire of Mommy's heart. That day will forever be amazing. Tears of joy. Laughter. Peace for the first time in a long time. God's amazing plan.

So 34 has been a good year. A GREAT year really! We have breathed deeply and fully and enjoyed every morsel of life to its fullest. I have played and laughed and watched in wonder at each passing day at her growth, her strength, her intelligence, and her beauty. I have shed a few tears watching her change from my tiny four pound baby into this tall little girl who is fearless and challenging.

I've made personal conquests too. I faced my fear of returning to work in pursuit of more than 'a job.' I've met the challenge. I've impressed my employer. I've been promoted. With each day that goes by I feel more sure of myself and my ability to lead and contribute to the organization.

I've run. I've run races. I've run for fun. I've ran when it was raining. I've ran when it was cold and I've ran in the sweltering heat of an Alabama summer. I've challenged myself. I've faced injury and I'm still in recovery, but I run. I run because I love it. I run because I compete - I compete with myself - and I always win. I am still very proud of my half marathon medal - definitely a prized item for this year - but I also already have sights on adding to what I want to be a collection. 

I've spent time with friends. Never as much as I'd like. Mostly this year has deepened existing relationships instead of adding to the mix. My friends are dear precious people - all broken in some way or another - as an I - and all striving to be better, love deeper, and give more. I am blessed by their friendships.

I have learned some things this year. Some are not pretty things though. Some are about me. Perspective. It's the truth. And it's always changing. Sometimes you can say things - you can be adamant in your conviction - you can be telling the complete truth when perspective and circumstance change. You haven't lied and you haven't changed, but the earth beyond you shifted and everything is different. 

Here's hoping that God's hand is on 35. I am looking forward to learning new things about the world - and some about me. I am looking forward to my next medal. I am looking forward to each and every day with My Baby Girl. My Taylor. And with her dad, the Love of my Life. My Christopher.

 Thank you, God, for this beautiful life I have and all your blessings I receive daily and with each breath.

Entering the final phase of Forever

We're almost there. I can't believe we're almost there! Our Baby Girl is 18months old! There were so many times I cried and my soul hurt and I feared I'd lose my child. It's not over yet, but we're so very close. TPR was completed this month and today I signed some updated paperwork so her file could officially be transferred to the adoption unit! What a breath of air that was! We were already given the okay to contact the attorney so it's all typed up and ready to be filed as soon as the adoption unit sends over some paperwork!  I just can't believe we're finally entering this final phase. I believe with all my heart God's hand has been on this from the beginning. This Momma needed a baby and that precious child needed a Momma. Now I pray for strength and guidance to be the best momma I can be for her. Baby Girl, I love you more than there are stars. 

Ready for forever.

May Days

May is well under way.  It has been full of excitement.  First, there was We Love Homewood Day.  This is the first Saturday of May every year and has become an annual tradition for our entire family to attend.  This year I entered the Homewood Spirit Scamper 5k benefiting the Homewood Marching Band and their upcoming trip to the Rose Bowl next fall.  Matt had planned to do this race too and Christian wanted to do the fun run.  Unfortunately, the weather of late has been unseasonably cool AND there was crazy rain the night before; although it was a rain or shine event, the course flooded and they cancelled the race.  Additionally they had to cancel all the day's park activities held walking distance from our home at Patriot Park.  The light at the end of the tunnel however is that the sky cleared and the city put on the annual parade and street dance.  It was perfect.  I love dancing in the street with my two loves; I love seeing my daughter dance with her daddy anywhere.

The following Saturday, May 11th was the Buck Creek Festival in Helena.  This was my first time to attend the festival though it's been going on for over a decade.  My favorite part was the rubber duck race; there was a dumpster of rubber ducks turned loose in the creek!  I loved seeing Baby Girl play in the creek water, dance by the stage, and in general frolic.

Sunday, May 12th was Mother's Day!  It was wonderful!  I went to church with my mother, then spent the rest of the day with The Loves of My Life!  We had Zoe's chicken salad as a picnic outside the zoo, followed by a wonderful zoo trip!  Baby Girl really gets excited over some of the animals and I love to see her face light up!  We ended this fun day with a trip to Steel City Pops.  This was Baby Girl's second Pops experience; she loves the strawberry!  I had the passion fruit flavor and Hubby had the peanut butter. All were phenomenal! Baby Girl even stole mine away from me so she could have both!  (I couldn't begrudge her; both is my favorite too) LOL

Thursday the 16th was supposed to be Baby Girl's TPR trial.  There was a technicality on timing however and the trial has been postponed until June 4th.  The Judge did here Baby Girl's social worker's testimony on the matter however.  The social worker resigned from DHR and was moving across the country this weekend.  All this transition makes me very uncomfortable, but I am SO thankful that she was able to testify to the details of the case before her departure.  We were able to sit in the court room this time and listen to the deposition.  While I am SO EXCITED to be moving forward to our forever in the case, it was very sad and hard to hear the "facts" of the case.  I wanted to be there in case she ever asks me about it, but I would never want to tell her what was said. 

Today, the 18th, was very busy.  It included Baby Girl shoe shopping, a birthday party, a Sam's shopping trip, and a 3mile run!  I am thoroughly worn out and will be going to sleep very soon.

Walk Me Home 2013

Yesterday I ran my second 5k. It was the Walk Me Home 2013 5k supporting foster care in the greater Birmingham area. It was great! This event is part of a national awareness and in 2012 was the largest event nationally. While that's exciting, it's also sad because there's just not enough recognition. Anyways, for me it was wonderful! I brought Baby Girl with me and Sabrina came to watch her while I ran. I ran the course at Veterans park and met my time goal! Then, Baby Girl and I put the blue ribbon symbolizing foster care on the tree together. She is my forever love, but I was thinking of Baby J too. Those two girls have forever changed our lives and I'm so thankful that we chose to walk this path. I thought of my husband too; without his openness, love, and support none of this would be. It was a beautiful morning, filled with a good cause, a good friend, and the Loves of my Life.
My time was 35minutes; down from 42minutes in February. I'm getting faster, stronger, and most definitely leaner.
Next week is the Homewood Spirit Scamper; I'm hoping to drop my time even a little more :)

A Beautiful Day in the Park

What a wonderful day we had today! Baby Girl and I visited friends at Silvertron and had some yummy french toast! We hung out with Melissa and her baby boy, Beck, at Avondale Park! She had a Long nap after that big fun! We spent our afternoon closer to home at Patriot Park where my boys joined us and some friends too!
It was just a beautiful day with my girl. Nothing more and nothing less. To others it might not even be worth writing about, but she's my world so what else would I write about?
My Girl is getting so big! She climbs to the top platform with me right behind and all by herself she gets seated and slides! She says 'weeeee' when we swing! She 'cheeses' for pictures! She's starting to wipe her own hands and she wants to put on her own shoes. I think my least favorite development, though it's completely precious and is completely selfish that it's something I don't like, is that she's putting herself to bed now. I say, 'Are you ready for night night? Do you want to get in your bed?' She toddles down the hall, paci in mouth and starts trying to pull on her crib to get in. When did she get so big?! Where is my baby I want to rock and hold close? I love her so much!!
I just can't believe how fast she's growing all the time! She changes what seems like every day! I love her snuggles; head on my shoulder and sigh of relief snuggles in mommy's arms. They are not as many as I'd like, but they are more precious than gold.
Today there was that threat looming on the edge of unrest, of drama, but I'm really proud of myself for keeping it at bay. I'm proud of myself for remembering that conversation and the ensuing promise I made to her and myself after; I am HER mommy and I will be the best one I can be. I will not let myself get distracted from that. I will continue to be me - the best me I can be - for all my children.
I love my family.

It's my birthday!

So it's my birthday today. I'm not usually overly excited about birthdays, but I have to say this has truly been the best celebratory birthday fun! My wonderful husband threw me a birthday party in the park for my friends and their children to come play. It's EXACTLY what I wanted. Not a huge fuss, not a huge mess to clean up, just hot dogs, chips, fruit and cake at the park. We slid down the slide and we took turns swinging. My Baby Girl loves the park! Big Sister and Princess P came too! My boys were there. My friends and their children were there. It was great!
So now the question begs what will the next year bring? Well, it'll bring the adoption of my daughter. It'll bring a vacation at the beach and hopefully another in the Quarter. My boys will both be in middle school. The Love of My Life will hold my hand. It'll bring another full and happy year.
A wise woman once told me their 30's were so much better than their 20's. It's so true. I love the skin I'm in. I love my 30's. I love my boys, my husband, and God knows I love that sleeping Baby Girl.

So here's to another fabulous year!

Happy birthday to me! I am so thankful for this life I'm privileged to live each day! Thankful for every breath.