My beautiful Flower Girl

Mike & Steph our very special friends got married tonight and LT was so lucky to be a flower girl. Needless to say, she didn't make it down the aisle but she was a show stopper on the dance floor ;)

We are very very blessed with amazing friends in our life. A major THANKS for all the support we get. Love is in the air.

Working it Through

In case you're wondering.

Attaching is still a big focus specifically LT attaching to me. Never ever underestimate the awareness & commitment this ongoing process takes. I would not trade it for the world but it's hard & exhausting & emotional. Those of you who know...know. Those of you who are waiting, learn about it.

Walking on Sunshine

Simone, Mimi & Liv Tunsitu having fun in the backyard this morning. Love these girls.

Secret Midnight Cuddle

LT is an amazing sleeper and really likes her room. Last night around midnight I started to miss her so much I went her her room and brought her into my bed for cuddle sleep. It was heaven. I probably just laid there for several hours holding her. Then I decided she should go back to her bed as I don't want to interfere with her sleep routine. She didn't wake up. Since it worked so well, I may be doing that more often. It will be my little secret ;)

Older children adoptions

The idea of first and foremost filling the job as a parent. Just a parent. The other stuff (love, bonding, like) may not come for a very long time.

Really important post that needs more attention. Thanks Coffeemom.

The Foot Stomp

Where did this come from? It rolled in like a storm. A week full of foot stomps.

It's always the right. It usually comes with a strong "Stop It" or "Don't Open" or "Don't Close" or "Mine" or "I don't Go"

Anyone else?

I saw this quote and it made me think that maybe this is what the foot stomps are about for her...

"A person's a person no matter how small." - Dr. Seuss

Tribe

The one bit of excellent advice my social worker gave me on my first home study visit was to find my tribe. She said not just other moms or adoptive moms but single adoptive moms. They are your tribe and they will be the main ones to get you. She was right. This is not to say I don't have other truly amazing friends but there are nuances that play into finding your tribe which is essential for every parent.

Just finished a quick review of fellow single moms Liz & Shannon's blogs and I feel so inspired that these women are brave enough to share right where they are. The fact that they even share their insecurities shows me that they are aware, reflective, adjusted, motivated mothers. Liz with a more academic approach and Shannon will visceral reactions (confessional Fridays) both really connect with my spectrum of mommy mindfulness/madness. I started this blog to share & scrapbook and it's morphed into that an more - the ultimate support group.

Really "single momminess" needs to have it's own wiki page full of all the things that are inferred but not spoken:

- find your tribe - other single adoptive moms

- Be aware - it's not depression it's just called "zoning out" and is just an essential reaction that has to creep in due to massive hyper - productivity

- RESPONSIBILITY. nuff said.

- you will feel like you're not enough 95% of the time

- No complaining allowed - you chose this!

- The truth is every single adoptive mom I've come across is EXTRAORDINARY, INSPIRED, MULTI -FACETED, DETERMINED & LOVING MOMS who seem to be VERY humble about their capabilities.

Shout outs to my tribe & thank you for your constant inspiration. And feel free to add to the wiki page... ;D

Ethiopia - The Whole Experience

Ethiopia: The Whole Picture from Paul Hassell on Vimeo.

Hula

Grandma's present - Hula girl outfit and bubbles. Yeay!!!

Jazz Night with Grandma

Wordless Wednesday

Cultural Lessons

We are lucky enough to have an Ethiopian Cultural School that just started near us. This weekend was a first class. I expect amazing things to flourish by virtue of this community.

Happy Days

Another Great Time with Friends. Friday night Jazz on the Grass

Then Ethiopian Cultural School (so much fun)

Then Date Night with handsome Noah

Doesn't get much better than this!

T-Shirts...can say a lot!

Stumbled across 3 T-Shirt companies that I love and want to promote:

Little Gurus - Awesome sayings of empowerment


Bernos - African/Ethiopian pride

Common Threadz - NonProfit where orphans design t-shirts to help orphans

4th of July Weekend!