Party, Party, Party

So - here are the very overdue (sorry) pics from "THE" party. The delay is 100% my fault...just hadn't had time to download from everyone's emails. So...enjoy these.

Then, Lilly enjoyed the party so much that "playing party" has become a new favorite game. She sets up an elaborate spread of plastic food for her entourage (which includes Baby, Elmo, Bear, Tiger and "Digi-toes" aka the seal). I hadn't gotten around to taking the case of Corona off of the porch since the party...so Lilly enjoyed "serving" it to her friends. I think the pull ups add the perfect touch to this scene.

What A Weekend!

Where to start? Potty Training? Lilly locking mama out of the house? Playing with Jackson? More anniversaries??

SInce the morning after her birthday, Lilly has insisted on wearing Dora Pull Ups to school instead of elmo diapers "NO DIAPERS MAMA, I wear Dora!" SO...I knew she was ready to start the potty training thing again. Friday night I pulled out the potty, and what do you know...she pooped almost immediately!!! Crazy - as I always read how kids tinkle first and then sort of work up to pooping...so I thought maybe it was a fluke. NOPE...since Friday night the child has only pooped in the potty (4 times!)! No poopy diapers!!! YEA!!! She seems to be moving more gradually to mastering the tinkle function...though she has done it a number of times...but still using the diapers (no, excuse me...I mean DORA pull ups!) for that. We shall see how she does at school...but so far...she is doing AMAZING! How funny are this pics...sitting on the potty, pretending to do her nails all in her Georgetown shirt! Mom says we should save this and send it in with a college application in about 16 years!

OK...then comes Saturday..... My birthday is Tuesday, and Mom is going to be out of town, so we were going up to their house Saturday to spend the afternoon and then have an early dinner celebration. Now that Lilly is growing up..it seems there are a TON more things to take with us every time we go anywhere...Saturday included the booster seat (no longer likes the high chair since its for babies), the potty seat, a soccer ball, changes of clothes, etc etc etc. So, in my attempt to be efficient, I was loading up the car before getting her into it. And...to be careful, I made a point of flipping the lock on the front door so that if she closed the door on me I wouldn't be locked out. Good plan. However, my genius child flipped the dead bolt on the storm door with me outside and her inside. That would be the one lock I don't have a key to. For a few minutes she thought it was funny as I tried to get her to flip the lock back, but then she realized I couldn't get in and she couldn't get out. So - she started getting really upset. She kept trying to follow my instructions and change the lock, but she never got it. She kept crying, pointing to my key rack in the hall and saying "KEYS MAMA!" in this pitiful crying voice. I went out to the garage and tried to pop the lock with a screwdriver, but it didn't work. I was getting close to freaking out when I asked her if she thought she could open the back door. The sliding door is on my main key, but I had already slid the safety bar into place, so it still wouldn't open. Through her tears she sniffled "yes" and headed to the kitchen to try and open that door. I ran around back and talked her through it and she DID IT! YEA! She removed teh safety bar, and I was able to use my regular key on that door. Phew! Definietly an adrenaline rush for both of us. She was pretty upset and we just snuggled for a few minutes before we headed off to my parents' house...I am getting that lock changed asap!

Today Jackson came to play for a few hours while his mama took his daddy out for his birthday dinner (his bday is Monday, mine is Tuesday...lots of spring bdays in this bunch!). They had a great time and definietly wore each other out. Took several pics...but these were my favorites, and I think they say it all.

Finally, one year ago today I brought my amazing daughter home from Guatemala. (See picture of her meeting Didgy for the first time) I can remember that day like it was yesterday - I remember being in awe if how calm and brave she was. If someone swooped in and took me from my home and flew me off to another country and another language, I would be a mess...but she just seemed to know I was her mama, and this was her home. I think about all that lay ahead of me this time last year...and how far she has come. She is finally - really in the past 3-4 weeks - sleeping through the night (PRAISE GOD!). She has been healthy since her ear tube surgery in January. She is talking a mile a minute, using the potty, as opinionated as her mama, sweet as an angel, and as non stop as a tasmanian devil. One of the wonderful things about adoption is that there are lot of anniversaries...first day we met, day we were reunited for good, day we went to the embassy, day we came home, and each one gives me a chance to stop, reflect and praise God for the incredible gift of motherhood...and for the miracle that is Lilly!

Great Weekend & I'm on the Mend...

May 10th is always Mother's Day in Guatemala, so we called Amarillis to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. It was touching, bittersweet, wonderful and hard all at the same time, but I know she was really glad we called.

Sunday was just one of those special days I will always remember. It was Lilly's 2nd birthday, Mother's Day, the anniversary of us being together, and the day that marked the point as of which Lilly has spent more of her life with me than anywhere else. Sooooo...naturally I had planned a big party. I had planned that long before throwing out my back and being unable to do anything by myself. But, back or no back, there were going to be 40+ people in my backyard. Luckily I have amazing family and friends who swooped in to the rescue. Jerry put together the new climbing/slide toy, Jeff & Christine came and helped with the yard, and mom continued her week-long marathon of being superwoman.

The party was great...weather held out for a good hour and a half before the great downpours that had been predicted, so the kids were able to be outside some. It was a wonderful mix of people who all gathered to celebrate with us. Being in ridiculous pain with my back and running around with the party, I took zero pictures....but Kendra, Maren & Dad all assure me that copies of their pictures are on the way soon. I promise to share as soon as I get them!

There were lots of special moments that I will remember...but the most classic Lilly moment happened at the end of the night. Jackson & his parents had stayed to help straighten up, and then after they left, I was laying flat on the couch to try and help my back. Mom, Dad & my friend Sara (who came in from FL for the weekend) were all sitting half dead on the sofas. We could see Lilly playing in the dining room. Then, she very quietly crawled up on one of the dining room chairs, and bellied up to the trough! She just started helping herself to more cake, chip dip, veggie dip (& in those two cases...she went straight for teh dip and didn't bother with a potato chip or a veggie). I said something like "Lilly, what are you doing?" and she just looked at me, and turned back to her grazing. It was hilarious, and I knew I needed to get her, but I really could hardly move. FInally, Sara picked her up and Lilly had icing, chip dip and veggis dip EVERYWHERE on her neck, arms - and most especially a full mouth of dip and face showing the evidence. It was so funny, and so Lilly. She saw what she wanted, figured out how to get it, and didn't let it bother her that we were telling her to stop - or that we were laughing at her. SO LILLY!

Yesterday we were all like zombies from being so tired....but today is the first day my back is actually doing a little better. I was able to sit at my desk for a few hours straight this afternoon before the pain kicked in, so that is definietly a good sign that things are headed in the right direction. Phew! I am really over this whole experience!

I promise to share pictures soon....c

Fun Pics

I am still pretty much out of commission - but I am improving. Mom is still living with us, though, since picking Lilly up off the floor & putting her in bed is just not a move I can do right now!

Thought I would share this pre-injury pic from the two of us at the 5K by the Bay on Saturday...she was soooo pleased with her medal!

Then here are some pics from last night. She was playing with this buzzer / light up toy that our friend Amy had given her...and she was sooo pleased with herself!

Biomechanics Lesson 101 - the Hard Way

Yup...threw out my back this morning - at church of all places! Lilly was starting to fuss, so I leaned over to pick her up and instantly felt that brutal twinge in my lower back. Pain was really bad....sweaty, faint, the whole shebang. Tried to get up to get communion and just about passed out. Luckily some friends were there, as well as a friend who is a local family practice doc. They looked after Lilly & I...and even drive us home in our own car since I was still too faint to get behind a wheel. Mom has moved in for a few days thank God. Have no idea how I am going to get everything ready for our big party on Sunday! Hurts to sit, stand, lay down, roll over....goodness gracious this stinks!