Okay, so I was right. St. Louis people have an advantage 
Congrats to Dawn!!! You win the privilege of knowing you are the smartest person around
We went to the Sculpture Park to take family pictures with Daddy-O’s family. It was fun and we got a lot of good pictures, although Boomer was ALWAYS running. Supergirl was quick to pose. Here are some other pictures from that day:
He loved this eyeball.
A typical family picture for us.
Fun with grandma.
Even MORE fun with grandma.
Running from grandma
Supergirl; who apparently was very serious about this posing stuff.
This one cracks me up! She was in heaven!!
Where in the world are the G kids (Round 1 Results) July 30, 2008
Ethiopian Adoption July 28, 2008
This is a topic I have not written about since Boomer has been home. It’s not that we are disconnected, just that, for now, life with a preschooler and toddler pretty much consumes all of me. I have always stayed connected with our agencies group, and find myself paying even closer attention now that my parents are in the process. BTW, they found out this weekend their paperwork has been submitted to court (go Group M!!) but it does not look like they will make it through before the closure, grrr.
ANYWAYS, the director of our agency sent out a very interesting message today. It was discussing the negative image in Ethiopia of all of their babies and children being adopted away. She suggested that no families stay at the Hilton as it is seen as the ‘baby hotel,’ and that families with babies/toddlers not go out and about town shopping, etc. I feel very out of touch and was unaware that public sentiment had become that negative in Ethiopia. While there we stayed at the Hilton and I have to say I did feel VERY conspicuous both in our hotel and everywhere we went. HOWEVER, not once did I experience a negative look or comment from a single person. Everywhere we went the people were so incredibly friendly and polite and absolutely doted on Boomer.
I am curious if this is some underlying current that has not been experienced by adopting parents or if people are starting to see it… I am not Ethiopian, I do not know what poverty is. I have not lived in a country experiencing food shortages, devastating disease, and I have not experienced the loss of family members or my own children. I cannot imagine watching as people from foreign lands come into my city and each leave with one or more children. Children who have lost their families, whether to death or to poverty, children who are suffering.
I know that international adoption is not the answer to the issues faced by the people of Ethiopia. I know the adoption rate in that country has grown much faster than the ability of the system to keep up. I know that no one wants things to get out of control, no one wants unethical practices to become common or even occur at all. That is simply not acceptable.
However, I also know that saying no to international adoption is not the answer. I cannot imagine the number of children who would no longer have the hope of a new home, the number of children who would starve because there is simply no room at any of the orphanages. My son could have faced that fate, but he did not. He is a joyful, healthy, loved child. I don’t think that is a bad thing.
I am curious about the experience of recent travelers, especially those who have been before. I wonder if they have noticed a difference in the general atmosphere of Ethiopia.
Where in the world are the G kids? July 25, 2008
I have a lot of general spring/summer pictures that I thought I would just post all at once, but then I had a better idea. Why not make a game of it? So now I will be the host of ‘Where in the World are the G kids?” (those are our kids by the way). Basically I will post one picture at a time and you have to guess where we were. If you live in the St. Louis area you probably have a pretty distinct advantage, but that’s ok… The only rule is—you canNOT guess if you were actually there with us. Not really fair…
First Pic:
I need to whine….or I need some wine July 18, 2008
I am sick, which totally sucks. Yesterday morning I had a headache which became a migraine. I took some migraine medicine which helped and Daddy-O took the kids to the fire station for a while which also helped. But then while the kids napped I began getting cold and achy and it only got worse. By last night I had a nice fever and just felt like poop. Daddy-O got me an ice pack which helped and about 5 this morning I felt much better. But it’s already coming back. My knees hurt, my head hurts I have a fever, the kids are as active as ever and Daddy-O is at work. In fact one is climbing all over me pretending to be a dog and the other is trying to get me to read the very hungry caterpillar.. This is one of those moments I really miss my mom and wished we lived closer. Blah.
In kid news… Boomer has learned to turn a somersault which he thinks is awesome. And I am completely amazed at how many words he knows. He is so smart.
Supergirl is her normal little self, although quite a bit sassier. She has been studying my face when I’m mad and trying to imitate my ‘angry face.’ Sometimes I’ll be so frustrated with her but have to hide my laughing because she is SO dramatic. We were shopping the other day and walked by the entry where there was a wheelchair. She told me those were for really really old people. I said, yeah, I guess, or for people whose legs don’t work. She looked at me like I was a moron and said, MOM, if their legs don’t work then how would they get back to their car?
Where did you go? July 15, 2008
or where did I go? I’m not sure which.. I’m feeling a little lonely out here in the blog world 
I guess we’ve been pretty busy, mostly doing nothing. I’m trying to stay very dedicated to working out. Right now I am going 3 times per week, but I am wanting to start going more often. I feel better when I am there, and I am beginning to feel a ‘need’ to work out. So far I have lost 0 lbs, in fact, according to the scale tonight I have gained 2 My heart rate has not dropped AT ALL. But I plan to keep going. We had a minor problem with the childcare, as twice in a row I was met at the door by a worker informing me how much trouble Boomer was having, hitting, pinching, pulling hair. I told them he would sit in timeout, but apparently when they tried that he just got up. The little stinker. So now I have this huge anxiety about taking him. But last time he did much better. I walked in to find a big kid dancing with him. I wanted to hug his neck
What else, not much.. Life with a preschooler and a toddler is just pretty crazy. There are days I’m not sure I’m going to make it to bed time. But they usually find a way to make me laugh. Our house is a total disaster, and I’ve been terrible about cooking, because I just really haven’t felt the energy to do it. Although we are officially trying to eat at home more.
And that’s all. Just feeling a little lonely around here
Exercise still hates me (and other things) July 8, 2008
I met with a ‘personal fitness coach’ at the Y and worked out an exercise routine I am excited about. She gave me the homework of finding my resting pulse and worked out what my target heart rate should be while exercising if my resting pulse is average. I soon discovered in order to reach that target heart rate I only had to walk to the equipment. In order to keep it there I had to move so slow some of the equipment actually turned itself off. Seriously. I finally decided to check my resting pulse. Let’s just say it’s high. High enough the fitness lady looked concerned and suggested I talk to my doctor. So my father-in-law (a doctor) says it is still normal, just high. I’m just THAT out of shape. It’s very frustrating that in order to keep my heart rate in the ‘target’ zone I must walk very slowly. This means (according to the machine) I’m burning about 100 calories a workout. Grrrr. Then Daddy-O runs on the treadmill and waltzes upstairs informing me he just burned 1100 calories. WTF???
In other news….. I need to post a correction. In the big announcement post I said my brother is turning 9. My mom informed me yesterday he is turning 10. Yikes! How have I had that wrong for so long??? Sorry Nathaniel!
Also we went to the zoo yesterday with our other Ethiopian adoptee friends. We were in the snake house and Supergirl and Minnow were checking out the Kimodo Dragon when I overhear her telling Minnow ‘Look–see that lizard. He will bite you and follow you until you die then eat you.’ Sorry Dawn I think maybe I shouldn’t read the exhibit info to her anymore. At least not in the snake house..
And finally, tomorrow night our children will be staying the night at grandma’s house for the first time ever. With the exception of my trip to Ethiopia we have not left our children (okay Supergirl was still with Daddy-O even on that trip) overnight. Ever. I am nervous, and excited, and nervous. I know they will be fine and will have tons of fun. But still…
Happy Anniversary M!!! July 7, 2008
7 years, crazy right? It’s going by too fast. I love you so much, even when I’m tired and grouchy (which is too often). Our life is truly better than I ever could have imagined. All though I always knew anything was possible with you. So happy number 7, hopefully 70 more to come
Here is a quick review of the last 7:
Year 1: Crazy house in Cushing, onslaught of bugs from the neighbor’s house, mice that started stealing our mousetraps. Neighbor kids in the middle of the street with no shoes eating a 5 pound bag of sugar. Same kids playing ‘Jackass’ with lab goggles, a wagon and a ramp. The hammer stealer. And us and all of our dogs moving in with your parents.
Year 2: Living with your parents, the fax machine incident, the many late nights playing Halo with Chris and your dad, our very first house. Working at the airport.
Year 3: My graduation and first ‘real job.’ The day I told you I was pregnant, you had already guessed I was about to tell you. You telling people you knocked me up. My big fat giant belly. Shopping for baby stuff with NO idea what we were doing. You FINALLY getting the job you have always wanted. Life coming together
Year 4: Italianfest where we both became VERY nervous at the thought of having a girl. The next day,the whirlwind that was the birth of our daughter. How suprised we were to see a girl, how we weren’t sure it was a girl. Learning how much we could love this new 3rd party in our family. Waking Supergirl up at 6 to have Christmas morning before you went to work.
Year 5: Moving to our new house. Supergirl’s first birthday. The fire academy. You hitting a deer on the way to the academy. Your graduation. Our decision to adopt. Sending the application and the homestudy. My venture back to work. Our first outing that lasted past Supergirl’s bedtime–when we came home at 3 and she was sick. The guilt.
Year 6: The adoption journey and stress that came along with it. Seeing our son for the first time. Trying to prepare for becoming a family of four. Enjoying our time together. You spending a lot of time with Supergirl as I worked a little more.
Year 7: Bringing home our son. Trying to adjust to having 2 children (I think we are FINALLY there–just took us a year). Learning who our new son is, the crazy energy that he brings into our home. Many, many many laughs. Loving our family so so much. You becoming superdad as I worked fulltime for a semester. Being so exhausted every day.
I am very much looking forward to our very first all night outing. The kids will have a lot of fun with grandma. And we will sleep in VERY late
I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (forever and ever butthead)
Oh BOY! July 4, 2008
Boomer is something else. His energy level is pretty unbelievable and he NEVER slows down. He does things that fascinate/confuse/frustrate me all the time. For one thing he hardly ever watches where he is going. And, of course, if he is moving there is only one speed–running. So he runs into things about a million times a day.
He refuses to sit down to go down the stairs and he thinks its funny to just jump off the top stair when I am near him to send me into a complete panic trying to catch him.
He loves running down the hill that is our front yard. This includes our steep driveway. He runs too fast, loses control and falls flat on his face, but then does it again and again.
He loves to do things with his eyes closed, including running and eating. It’s so funny to watch him reach around for his spoon and then try to find his bowl. I have no idea why he does this.
He also loves to have his head on the ground. He especially loves to dip the top of his head into puddles, he think this is very funny.
He likes going underwater in swim class and to dip each of his ears in the water. He is the only kid in his class that likes these things…
He also loves to dig his fingernails into your skin. He just walks up to you and scratches the heck out of you. Not fun. He pinches in the same way. We are trying 1-2-3 Magic mostly to deal with the hitting/pinching/scratching/biting/spitting… However he doesn’t seem to mind timeout too much. He just sits and entertains himself quite well. Talking, singing, screaming (not in a sad or mad way, just in his own fun way). He most recently learned to make himself throw up while in timeout and thinks that is fun too.
He had his first emergency room visit this week. We ALMOST made it an entire year. He had a dislocated elbow, which popped back in while they were trying to X-ray it. Don’t ask how it happened, long story involving kiddie sized trampoline and hair pulling… It was very scary and I cried a lot. He cried a little until it popped back in, then he was just really ticked off. We received a lot of comments from the nurses about how bad his temper is. Thanks for that ladies, we really hadn’t noticed. Plus, to his credit, he did just have a dislocated elbow! I told them they will probably be seeing much more of us in the next few years. The boy has absolutely no fear, never stops going, and likes to do things with his eyes closed. Bad combination. Plus he is just a little clumsy. Yesterday we were at a playground where he climbed everything and went down all the slides just fine. Then managed to trip and fall on the sidewalk making his head bleed.
I need a nap.
Big Announcement July 1, 2008
Can you guess what it is????
No, we are not adopting again…
No, I am not pregnant again…
No, sadly, we did not win the lottery… (again)…
I am getting a new little brother!!! Yay!!! When I was a freshman in college I learned that I would be having a new baby brother. What a shocker that was, since it had always been just me and my big brother! Now that baby brother is 8–soon to be 9 years old. And we are about to get ANOTHER new brother.
You may have read my dad’s words I posted shortly after our trip to get Boomer (almost exactly one year ago). Clearly he was very moved by the experience, by the incredible culture, people, and tremendous need. A few months after getting home he told me they had requested an information packet from AAI. Shocker, YES!!! A lot of thought and research has gone into their decision. After getting over the initial shock I am now very excited. Not only will I have a new brother, but Boomer will have an Ethiopian uncle!
They have recently accepted the referral of a seven-year-old boy who I must say is absolutely incredibly handsome. HUGE HUGE dimples They are now hoping and praying to get a court date before the closure so they can get him home. My dad and aunt will be travelling. (although I really wish I could afford to go with them)
So anyways, that’s the big news. I have been sitting on it for so long I was seriously about to explode
