What a difference a year makes

It has been one entire year from the day I sat in that little room in an orphanage, waiting to meet the most perfect little girl. One year from the day that I walked out of that orphanage with that little girl, my daughter. A year seems like such a short time and at the same time I feel like she has been with me forever. I am amazed at how my girl has grown. How well she has handled the multitude of changes that she has faced. And how sad it makes me when she continues to struggle with some of those changes. Sad to think of what her life must have been like for the 3(+) years she spent without a Mama. Sad to think of what she must have experienced to result in the emotions that still surface from some of those struggles.  Yet, through those struggles she is blossoming into the most amazing little girl!  I still don't know how it is possible to love someone so much. I could not imagine life without her...

When I look at the picture from her referral, the few pictures that were given to me before she became a daughter, she looks like a different child. The eyes of the little girl in those pictures are not the same as the little girl who is looking at the world with such a different perspective now.

 She has a smile that lights up her entire face, that makes those eyes sparkle. Watching her experience life outside of those brick walls is the best experience I could ever have.

She has been adjusting to a new school, teachers, new friends. Playing with friends at church and enjoying the fun of paints, markers, glue & glitter. She LOVES playing in the park and could spend hours swinging back and forth in the swings or hanging out in the playground tunnel.  We spend a lot of time playing 'babies'.  She is such a little Mama... dressing, undressing, wrapping up her babies in blankets, rocking them, feeding them, pushing them in her little stroller, 'singing' them to sleep in her little baby bed.  It's so enjoyable to watch her play.  To watch her show such love and tenderness to those dolls, it gives me hope that she must be aware of how much she is loved and can turn around and express that in her play.

 

 She has progressed beyond expectations with her motor skills.  From first steps over Christmas break to watching 'run, run, run' around the room now. She tries to climb EVERYTHING, not wanting to be left back from any activity.  She watches other kids and tries so hard to mimic their actions and movements.  She, of course still has a lot of progress to make, but I am so impressed with how hard she tries and how far she has come.    

 

 She is so smart.  She picks up new 'habits' on a daily basis...little things that she's seen others do, words that get voiced for the first time, putting signs together to let us know what she wants, how she's feeling, what she's thinking! I love watching her take in her surroundings, knowing that she's taking in so much more than she's given credit for. 

She's such a caring little girl.  She gets very concerned when her friends are upset and she loves to 'pat' and love on babies.  (I've been told repeatedly she needs a baby sibling..haha!) She is also very aware of others when they are hurt or sad and we quite often hear her version of 'Are you okay?'  She is still learning how to  play appropriately with friends and interact socially with her peers but she loves to watch and tries hard to be a part of the group.  It's so fun to watch her chase friends on the playground or request to swing because another friend is swinging.  It's also very heartwarming when her friends follow her around...wanting to climb on the monkey bars because Josie is or reading books because that is what Josie chose to do.  She is quite the social little thing and seems to attract people where ever she goes.  She can't walk down the hallway at school or head out to the playground without numerous kids (and adults) calling to her...'Good morning, Josie', 'Can Josie come swing or slide or play with me?', 'Hi, Josie', 'Bye, Josie', 'Have a great day, Josie'.  

 She's kind of popular and loves it (most of the time)!  And I love that about her.  Not that she's popular, exactly but that she 100% accepting and inviting to ANYONE.  (Yes, we do run into stranger-danger issues, but that's another topic!)  She will wave and say hi to everyone who passes her, no matter what.  She will befriend any child...no matter what.  She fortunately does not see race, religion, ability, size, social class....and on and on.  She greets one of her her best buddies, who happens to use a wheelchair, just the same as she does ANY of the other kids at school or church or at the playground or wandering around at Target.  She has such a big heart...and I LOVE that about her.

 

We have been quite busy over the past year. Starting school, enjoying holidays, doctors appointments, flying on a plane, a couple of vacations, therapies (and LOTS of them!), birthdays, Mother's Day, baptism, moving after only being home for a short time and then, moving again just this past weekend! Our recent move will hopefully allow for even more growth and more opportunities for my little goose. I have not been the best at keeping updated but have thoroughly been enjoying our first year together.  I will really try to do better as I know so many people are curious as to how this sweet girl is doing and now we are farther away from MORE people who have fallen in love with a little Josie Rosie Posie.  

Here is a short recap of our last 12 months and a promise to be more regular with the updates!

June 2014

 We spent about 5 weeks in Colombia, bonding and finishing up the adoption process.

July 2014

We arrived home in the US on July 7, 2014.  We were able to enjoy some time just bonding at home and slowly exploring Josie's new surroundings.

 August 2014

Josie started preschool at Leaps and Bounds. Mama went back to work. We began to get settled into a new 'normal' routine.

September 2014

Josie joined Buddy Ball and we enjoyed the last days of warm weather playing in the pool and at the beach.  This little girl sure loves to swim!

October 2014

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Josie celebrated her first Halloween with a dress up day at school, trunk or treat at church, trick or treating through neighborhoods and some pumpkin carving.  Needless to say she enjoyed it all!

November 2014

We took a mini-vacation up to Virginia and Josie got her ears pierced! We went to her first live play...'Click, Clack, Moo' (she has a strange fascination with cows!) and celebrated her first Thanksgiving home.

December 2014 

All things Christmas! She wasn't sure of Santa at first but after seeing him multiple times, she quickly decided she liked the white beard! She also became a professional at opening presents and LOVED all of the lights and decorations.  She was very happy to get to put baby Jesus in the manger Christmas morning and sang Happy Birthday to Him! We took a vacation to Chicago to celebrate Christmas like I did as a child.  Josie loved flying on the airplane!

(And Josie got glasses!)

January 2015

Josie started walking!!! Hooray!!

We enjoyed our first trip to the library...she loves her books! And enjoyed some time outside on a few warm winter days.

 

 February 2015

Josie got invited to another birthday party, she loves cupcakes! She celebrated her first Valentine's Day at school and enjoyed receiving and passing out all of her Valentine's.  Mama ran the bridge again...this time with the little goose waiting at the finish line!

March 2015

Quite the celebratory month! Josie turned FOUR!! She also got baptized ~ on her birthday! Josie took her first trip to the zoo, fed the giraffe and loved playing with the monkey. We celebrated National Down Syndrome Awareness Day (3.21) and really spent most of the month eating cake and cupcakes!

April 2015

 We celebrated Josie's first Easter at home! She loved coloring eggs and going for egg hunts.  We hunted eggs over and over.  Mama had a birthday and got a new bike and trailer.  Josie LOVES going for bike rides to the park! We took a trip up to Maryland to see our new town before moving. The countdown began for the big move!

May 2015

Josie went on a class field trip to the beach with her teachers and friends.  She loved getting to hang out in one of her favorite places with some of her favorite people. We celebrated our first Mother's Day together.  I love that I get to call this beautiful girl my daughter and that she calls me Mama!  Josie had her last day of school - it was very bitter sweet.  I'm going to miss the relationships she's made and I know she is going to miss her friends and adults that she greatly bonded with~even if she doesn't realize that good-bye on that last day of school, was good-bye for a long time! We finished packing up and at the end of the month, said our good-byes and jumped in the car to head north. 

June 2015 

 We began our new adventures in Maryland and hope to meet some more amazing people and create some new friendships.

This sweet and beautiful girl has touched so many people in her short little life.  I know she will have a big impact on so many more people and I am so happy to be a part of her life as she blossoms and grows. 

I love her with all of my heart.  She is amazing.

2015..February already

Whew...It is crazy to me that we are already over 6 weeks into the new year!  Before we know it, I'll blink and it will be July and we will have been home for a year.  I already find it so hard to believe that my girl has been my girl for 8 MONTHS! wow. just. wow

I know I have not updated for quite some time.  As in, months...almost 4 months, but life has been constant and I have been spending my time keeping up with the busy, busy, bundle that is my daughter!  We had a very busy few months with a move, illness, holidays, vacation, more illness, more holiday and lots of living life in between.  I think we've settled into a good routine after the past couple of months (adjusting to the move, holiday, illness, vacation, etc.) and hopefully I will do a better job of giving at least a monthly update of how amazing the darling girl is doing.  The last post was mid-November, so here is a little catch up of the past few months...

November~

We finished the month with a little Thanksgiving celebrating.  Including a school feast, (yep, I got to go eat a Thanksgiving lunch with my girl at school.  I love being a Mom!) a little church 'Thank-you Meal' choir program and our family gathering to enjoy some good old turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.  Josie also decided that it would be good timing to come down with croup and miss a week of school prior to Thanksgiving break.  This girl and her little airways and low tone mixed with bronchial illness are just not a good combo.  Thankfully we have quite a stash of albuterol on hand and our lovely pink 'Claudia the Cat' nebulizer and an amazing pediatrician who will fit us in asap to determine if a stronger treatment is needed or not.  Can I just state for the record that I HATE croup!!  But the girlie is a rock star and after days of breathing treatments, steroids and some good old, TLC, she was back to her silly, bubbly, self.  The positive of being sick...someone took her first few steps while on a steroid high!  What a moment that was! I knew she was close but watching her toddle two, then three, then four steps from one place to another made my heart skip a few beats.  She is so determined...I love that will of hers.
 

December~

We took a little vacation, before 'school' vacation, and flew back to Chicago for a week.  It was possibly the best little vacation ever.  I got to spend a week, taking my daughter to all of the places and doing all of the activities that I did as a girl.  We went to Marshall Field's (yeah, I am aware that it's Macy's now, but it will also be Marshall Fields in my mind.) and ate under the giant tree in the Walnut room.  We were visited by the fairies during our meal, ate delicious pot pie and hot cider and left with souvenir Santa Bear mugs and LOTS of glitter.  Josie met Santa and LOVED him (and he, her...it was a mutual bonding).  We walked around in the cold downtown, visit American Girl, ate more delicious food and did more site seeing.  I will try to write a post about our trip later.  It was a pretty great week making lots of lasting memories.  We also enjoyed a couple of weeks out of school, which meant TONS of Mama and Josie time.  The best time ever!  Josie also experienced her first Christmas...and WOW! What a Christmas it was.  Just about every aspect that could have been excellent, was.  She loved the tree

(including finding one and cutting it down!), the lights, the music, the stories, the crafts and on and on.  We did Advent activities to add to our tree and decorations, she learned about the real meaning behind the holiday and still sings (signs) 'Away in a Manger', even weeks after the holiday.  She also learned about Santa and will sometimes still 'Ho,ho,ho' if she sees something that she thinks looks like Santa.  I may need another post on our first Christmas home experience as well.  It was truly magical.  One of the big highlights of our extra time together was...walking. Yep, the initial couple of steps turned more into 10 or so at a time...she's pretty amazing!




January~
    

We finished up our school vacation and started a fresh new year.  Someone took a few days to transition from our weeks of 'vacationing' and extra Mama and Josie time, but she eventually got back into routine and was gladly showing off her new walking skills at school.  Josie is now walking all.over.the.place!!  She still needs to build up stamina and does still stumble a bit, but holy moly this girl is on the move!  She has also decided that she can climb on everything and discovered that standing on tiptoes gives her an extra inch to reach a little higher.  The edge of just about EVERY surface in the house is now off limits.  Paper sitting at the edge of the dining room table, reachable.  Cup sitting on the edge of the kitchen counter, reachable.  Books at the edge of the 3rd shelf on the bookcase, reachable.  Thankfully she hasn't actually discovered that she can really reach things in some places, but once she realizes it...all bets are off!  We had a few warm winter days and spent time at the park, doing her favorite thing...swinging!  She also took her first trip to the library and loved it.  We have been back quite a few times to return and borrow new books.  I love that she loves to read!  J also got invited to a couple of birthday parties.  Her first since being home.  (She actually got to attend her first birthday party for her friend Sophie while we were still in Colombia!  You can read about that here.)  Josie's friend Stiles turned 5 and had a party at a gymnastics center....which included lots of bouncy houses, spring mats and foam pits.  The girlie LOVED her time

 there and we will absolutely be looking into tumbling in the future.  We also got to hang out at her friend Walker's 3rd birthday party and play sports outside with friends.  It's so fun to watch her socialize and hang out with friends, just like every other kid.  I cherish those moments.  It makes my heart so happy to see her blossoming. 

That brings us to February and my attempt to hopefully stay caught up.  We have few pretty big events coming up, including a first birthday home (how can she be turning FOUR already!) and a baptism...so happy to be getting that done in our current church before we move!  Oh yeah, at that, a move (which isn't actually happening until the end of the school year, but involves quite a bit of planning!)

I will try my best to stay up to date from here on out.  There are certainly always things to blog about...just need to keep track of the time to write!!!



   

   

   

  

World Adoption Day (a few days late!)

This post is a few days late.  I know it shouldn't be this difficult to stay on top of daily posts, but some days really are harder then others.  Sure, I can find the time but as I sit here typing I'm also thinking of the 512 other things that I could or should be doing. (Even if one post does only need to take 10 minutes...so does cleaning the bathroom...)

November is National Adoption month and the 9th was World Adoption Day.  The first one ever!  To celebrate, there was a photo op going around of adoptive families taking pics with smiley face drawn on the palm of their hands.  I loved seeing all of the pics and if my own sweet girl had not been lovingly tucked into her bed and already snoring away by the time I realized this photo op was trending, we would have been on time. But, as it goes, our pic was a day late.  It's still ridiculously adorable though. 

                                         I mean who couldn't love this little squishy hand!!

                         

I must tell you I got scolded at first, for writing on my own hand and then a very silly face as she looked back and forth from her hand to mine with smiles faces on them both.

      

I wasn't even going to try to attempt getting our smiley faced palms AND our faces all in a pictures. That's an insane thought in this house! The girlie loved looking at her hand in her mirror and spent a good 15 minutes 'talking' to the reflection of her smiley hand! (Sorry, no pictures. I was too busy staring at my adorable daughter enjoying her little moment of joy!)  I am so blessed that this little girl is a part of my life and I am especially thankful that I get to hold that squishy little hand, every day!

 I'm not going into great detail about adoption month in this post, just letting you enjoy a smiley little hand! 

                                         I will share something else though....this handsome boy...

          

who would love for someone to bring him home, so next year, he could have a smiley face on his hand and enjoy the silliness of his smiley faced palm reflecting in a mirror.  Don't you want to hold him in your lap and draw a smile on his squishy little palm next November?

       

Family Dinners

   As a kid, we sat at the table and had dinner on a very regular basis.  Talked about our days, joked, laughed and enjoyed the company of our family.  Sometimes there were faces at the 'yucky' food we had to at least try, most often the meals were delicious and seconds were often enjoyed.  Sometimes we got to choose a meal.  Mom would let us pick our favorite dish, sides and dessert.  It seemed like such a big deal to get to choose dinner!  There were certainly nights that one parent had a meeting or one child had an event or it was just simply a 'lazy' night and we had sandwiches or cereal.  (Which were also fun and kind of like 'treat' nights.)   We also enjoyed a meal out on occasion or a carry in from a local restaurant.  Pizza and movie nights were accompanied with handmade milkshakes (and most often the pizza was probably made at home as well!) 
    I have fond memories of sitting at the dining room table with my family.  It's a tradition that I wanted to share with my daughter.  Actually sitting at the table and enjoying meals together as family.  We do sometimes have to eat 'on the run' so to say.  There are also evenings that we eat at church or I am working and the girl is  eating at Grandma and Grandpa's.  But every Sunday, we all make time to enjoy a meal as a family. 
     My mom enjoys setting up the table, we sometimes eat on my Grandma's nice dishes just because.  There is usually a tablecloth and the table has seasonal decor.  There are places set for everyone.  Food comes to the table in serving dishes and is passed around for everyone to get a helping.  There are conversations, laughter, jokes, memories.
   Every once and a while, the meals happen at a restaurant or get moved a bit due to occasional obligations.  But it is a tradition that my daughter is learning about.  A tradition that she'll hopefully remember into adulthood.  And maybe even carry on to her own family one day...
   I'm very thankful for the memories created around the dining table.  I'm thankful for the delicious food we have to put on our table.  And I'm especially thankful that my daughter has a family to be able to enjoy a family dinner with.

Cows and cupcakes

   I missed yesterday's post.  I didn't have to work, had the girlie home sick still and took advantage of getting to just be Mama all day.  (Which was great, by the way!)  Josie is seeming much better.  We're still on breathing treatments and the poor nose is pretty stuffy, but she's got more energy and I'm seeing more of 'my girl'.  We got out yesterday for a little walk, hoping some fresh air would be good, and got to enjoy a through-the-fence view of a local airshow.  She thoroughly enjoyed the walk and all of the planes and had more energy after our walk then she's had all week!

"Cow" complete with Mooing

   We've had tickets to the local Historic Ritz theater to see "Click, Clack, Moo - Cows that type" for a few weeks! And even though the girlie has not been 100%, I thought she was well enough to sit in the theater for an hour (and no, she's not contagious now!)  It was a children's musical based on the book by Doreen Cronin "Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type".  Which we own and Josie loves, because, well, it's all about cows.  She wore part of her Halloween costume and had to bring "cow baby" with.  I think she's obsessed.  She was SO good during the performance.  She sat, mostly in my lap, enthralled by the actors on stage.  Dancing, singing, cows (and a chicken and a duck and a farmer)...life could not get any better!   She stared wide eyed at the stage with a big grin on her face, sometimes almost in a trance and sometimes with a look of disbelief.  I would LOVE to know what her little mind must have been thinking.  We met the cast afterward, out of their costumes and she was a little confused.  Pretty sure she just wanted to see the cows!!!  I'm so thankful that we have an arts and theater program to present this opportunity.  Thankful that Grandma thought to buy tickets to something she was pretty sure Josie would love (and boy was she right!!)  Thankful that Josie was feeling well enough to attend.  And thankful that she was able to enjoy watching the 'animals' that she is in love with, live, on stage, singing and dancing. 

We stopped at Smallcakes, a local cupcake bakery with the most delicious (and HUGE) cupcakes, on our way home.  My girl is not the biggest 'sweets' eater but LOVES her cupcakes!! (and cake and icecream!)  She only got a part of the giant treat (I can't even eat a whole one on my own!) but Mmmm...did she enjoy every morsel. She was covered, literally, in chocolate but it didn't matter.  She enjoyed every bite of that treat.  I'm so thankful that she is able to express her likes and dislikes.  Thankful that she has such joy in such little things and shares her happy emotions with exuberance!!  And very thankful that I get to be on the receiving end of that sharing.

Reflections

You probably thought this was going to be some deep thought filled post about reflecting on the past, the future, life in general.  Nope, sorry. (Maybe next time?) Today, I'm being literal.  

I am thankful for actual reflections. Two specific reflections.  

This one....

I am so thankful every time I look into my rear view mirror and see this reflection. 

That little face peeking back at me, melts my heart every time! 

And this one....

She LOVES herself in the mirror. Smiles, kisses, laughs, makes faces.  

This is the reaction to ANY mirror that she catches herself in.  Or any surface that might give her a reflection...elevator doors, stainless steel appliances, glass doors in restaurants or grocery stores...if there is a reflection, she needs to give some love to that little girl on the other side.  This is our mirror at home.  (Which she loves extra because she can also climb in/through it!)  She pulls toys over to the mirror or watches herself read.  She stands up and sits, squats and spins.  Her mirror is great therapy without her even realizing it!!  And I love how happy she is making faces to herself and see the smile reflect back.  

I'm so thankful for something so simple that makes her so happy.

Hallmark Channel

I have always been one of those people who really loves Christmas BUT also enjoys Thanksgiving and usually don't want to miss out on the Thanksgiving decorations and festivities to get straight to Christmas.  This year is a little different.  I am still looking forward to Thanksgiving.  We do have a 'Thankful Pumpkin' in the center of the table and the walls will continue to be covered with turkeys, Indian corn and pilgrims.  Hand prints and Foot prints will be turned into feathers and turkey bodies.  And the meal itself will be thoroughly enjoyed by all. 
          However, I've officially been sucked into the Hallmark channel Christmas movie marathon "Countdown to Christmas".  I will also admit to playing Christmas music in my car today.  I'd try to blame it on my daughter and in a way I can and will, this is her first Christmas and I want her to get a good experience of holiday tunes!  But the truth is, I turned on the Hallmark channel this weekend, while the girl was napping and caught a glimpse of 'Hitched for the Holidays'.  I know, it sounds as cheesy as it really was.  BUT it was full of Christmas spirit, music, people being neighborly, Santa and all of the magic that comes with the Christmas season.  I do know the real reason for the season and my daughter will learn all about Jesus' birthday, but I also am fine with letting imaginations stretch and allowing Santa to come visit on Christmas eve.  I love the feeling of Christmas, how people just genuinely seem to be happier, share more, give more and smile more.  Watching the cheesy, full of make believe, Hallmark countdown to Christmas movies, just gives me a little extra happiness while waiting for Thanksgiving to get it's day, before Christmas can entirely take over!!! 
      So today, I am thankful for my TV....thankful for cable and especially thankful for Christmas movies.

Bath time (Day 4)

My girl is not feeling so great right now, and it kind of stinks!  Scratch that, it stinks A LOT! She's in a steroid crazed/sleep deprived/coughing is for the birds kind of mood. She is still trying to play and be happy, but is obviously not feeling good at the same time. It's heartbreaking for this Mama to have to go to work and leave her....even though I know she is in good hands and having as much 'fun' as possible, with "Bamma".

The one thing that is making her the happiest right now is the bathtub! She loves her time in the water. I'm convinced she thinks she's part fish, or maybe mermaid?  She's fearless in the water. Splashes like it should be an Olympic sport, flips, rolls, kicks, scoots.  She has no problem with her face/head getting fully submerged to blow bubbles or simply because she thinks it's funny to stick her face in the water! She loves to put her head under the running faucet and best of all...turning on the shower while she's sitting in the water!   She loves to sit under the spray of the shower, some times head tipped up letting it rain down right onto her face! Pure joy!

      

I'm SO thankful today for the fact that we have clean, warm, running water so my sick, sweet girl can enjoy some happy play time in the tub! Or really, more like, three happy play times in the tub!

Sick Days

Let me clarify.  I'm not thankful for being sick or for the fact that anyone needs to be sick to constitute a sick day.  My darling girl woke up this morning (or in the middle of the night rather) wheezing, crying, coughing (trying to anyway) and gasping for a deep breath.  Due to having Down syndrome, she has tiny airways and very low tone.  This makes coughing a challenge.  Which means something as simple as a little cold can turn into something a little more serious for my girl.  It was a scary few minutes for both of us.  She was panicked trying to catch her breath and I hated seeing my daughter struggle.  We have our own nebulizer machine and an ongoing supply of Albuterol (with a never expiring prescription for more!)  She had a breathing treatment at 4am and snuggled back into Mama's bed.  After a quick call to the after hours nurse, we had an early appointment with the pediatrician. End result - croup.  Yuck.  We left with a steroid prescription and an extra breathing treatment a day.  She'll be out of school for the week, missing the class trip to the fair.  Not really how we wanted to start our Monday and a new week!

So, what I am thankful for?  Because that certainly doesn't sound like anything positive!!

I'm thankful for an understanding boss and co-workers who respond to my before 6am texts with, 'all is good, just take care of your girl!' 
I'm thankful for friendly and helpful after hours nurses who leave notes to help get your sick child into the office asap. 
I'm thankful for our pink 'Claw-dia the Cat' nebulizer. It makes those treatments just a little more pleasant.
I'm thankful for a very good pediatrician who is not super quick to just prescribe medicine but to make sure that every symptom is addressed to make a proper diagnosis.  (And prescribe medicine if needed after a thorough exam!)
I'm thankful for a friendly and helpful pharmacist who offered to bag and carry my items from CVS to the check out so I didn't have to juggle my goods and my sleeping daughter. 
I'm thankful for parents/grandparents who stop by with 'sick' food and special treats, because every little girl needs new books, crayons and comfy socks when they are home sick!
I'm especially thankful that my daughter is home, with her Mama, to be comforted and cared for when she's sick.  No more sick days alone in an orphanage.  Only sick days snuggled in Mama's arms from now on.

Who would have thought there would be so many things to be thankful for about a sick day!