My Third Birthday Party

Collage by Miss Estelle


Hi everyone!

We had a BLAST at Emily's third birthday party. We threw it several weeks early to beat the heat. It was a purple tea party, with Daddy and Uncle David (Caroline's brother) serving the tea. My gosh, what fun for everyone.

The little girls and their mommies looked absolutely beautiful. A week later Emily is still singing "Happy Birthday to Meeeeee!!!" (while playing air guitar--this is the Beatles' version, mind you). She's also talking about and showing us her "Birthday House" (the clubhouse).

The above photos and the next slideshow are all by Estelle, Summer's mommy. Isn't she great? Estelle is now a professional photographer, and can be reached at missmedic2@aol.com for bookings.

Thanks to Russ B., Papa Lewis, and Grandma Lee for these great photos!

Special thanks to EVERYONE who helped out--Miss Estelle for the family portraits, party planning and decorating, Miss Natalie for special tea party planning, my parents, mother- and father-in-law (decorating, babysitting, and especially to Maria for the cooking), Miss Isa for the face painting, Jackie for hair/nails/face, and Daddy and Uncle David for being the best butlers ever!! And thanks to all the moms and dads who came, dressing beautifully for the occasion.

Love,

Caroline

Two Years Since Referral!!

BEFORE


Serious, pensive, silent, barely crawling, unresponsive, sick, scared, food issues, underdeveloped, desperate for affection...and yet, obviously loved by her orphanage caretakers. (Note: the baby room in the Cenxi City orphanage is now closed, since all abandoned newborns are immediately moved into foster care.)

AFTER


Chatterbox, Miss Independent, fearless, happy, Wigglemaniac, potty trained, developmentally on target, mermaid, dress-up queen, Daddy's little girl...and obviously loved by family and friends.

My gosh...it's been two years from today that we received THE CALL. One of the little old ladies who was with us that day has since passed away. We're eight months waiting for Madeleine, and no closer to her. We're getting ready for Emily's 3rd birthday party this weekend...a dress-up tea party that promises to be lots of fun. The sheer awe of having her has mellowed into a feeling of sheer family love.

I find myself thinking of her birth mother more and more, wondering how often she thinks of Emily. How her hair feels so silky after it dries...how soft and light her eyebrows are...that adorable, round little bottom...her tiny, muscular calves...that pouty face she makes when she doesn't want to share...what it feels like to brush her tears away...and to hold her, squeeze her, hug and kiss her...and her ensuing giggles of delight. I read a book on American birth mothers and how they felt the loss the rest of their lives. I wish I could tell her birth mother, "she's happy, she's healthy, and she's incredibly loved. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your incredible gift." But there's just silence.

Happy Anniversary to all you adoptive moms and dads who received THE CALL this week. What a wild ride it's been...and continues to be...

Love,

Caroline

Happy Mother's Day!

How's your second year as a mother, you ask? Here are a few highlights:

- Ahh, the joys of potty training. Waking up at 3am to the sounds of, "MOMMY, I POOPED!" over the baby monitor while Daddy sleeps blissfully on. Or cleaning up an accident at 4am while Emily decides to start her day. Racing to a public toilet and swiftly untangling tiny undies from equally tiny shorts...hanging onto a tiny body to keep it from falling in the potty...gazing down at her beaming, upturned face when she's successful. Being cheered on in the toilet to the sounds of, "Dood dirl, Mommy, YEAY!" and then having a tiny hand attempt to wipe me.

- Buying everything purple--juice, ice cream, clothes, floor wax--to satisfy a little one's craving for consistency. Finding ways to accessorize with purple ANYTHING (sunglasses, nightie--as a scarf, socks) just to get us out the door in the morning.

- Hearing The Wiggles non-stop on the tv, in the car, and at night on the stereo(singing lullabies) for two solid years until they're ringing through my skull. Finding myself humming their tunes during quiet times, and wondering what they're having for supper on the other side of the world.

- Excitedly jumping up and down in the driveway with Emily when Daddy comes home like a knight in shining armor--with a complete child's kitchen set that he spotted at a garage sale for ONLY $10!!! (True story--they retail for $200.) The purple Jasmine outfit was only $1, and she wore this "nightie" ALL DAY LONG.

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So it' not all about ME, ME, ME today, since it's 8am and we've already done potty cleanup, fed and watered the dog, pulled the cat out of the bathtub (don't ask), dressed Emily in a fairy costume (her choice), and tried to explain that we missed the Wiggles show on tv by oversleeping.

Then we hear Daddy rise and quickly whisk Emily away, to return with a balloon, greeting cards that make me cry, and a lovely bracelet made of exotic sea beans.

So what's been the best part of motherhood, so far? Besides everything? I'd have to say this past Friday, when I picked Emily up from preschool. She ran out the door as she always does, wearing her purple sunglasses, shouting my name, and pulling her purple Dora backpack behind her. Only on this day she shouted "Mommy, Happy Mommy's Day!" and handed me a bouquet of paper flowers, cut in the size and shape of her little hands. Oh my darling, precious little girl. You're the best gift I could ever hope for.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies. Please, feel free to leave your favorite kiddie stories in the Comments section. We'd love to hear from you.

And a special Happy Mother's Day to my own Mommy...you're the best! Now I know what all that hard work was for. And I'm really sorry about Mrs. Trout's tulips.

Much Love,

Caroline

Welcome Amelia Mary Schraner!!!

Happy Birthday to Amelia Mary Schraner! Kevin's sister Tracey and brother-in-law Mark welcomed Amelia to this world on May 1st, 2007. Amelia weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long. This makes daughter #2 for Tracey, but daughter #4 for Mark! Poor Mark, even the family dog is a girl. :D

Happy Birthday, Amelia!

Day Two of Amelia's Life