Out with 2010 and in with 2011

Overall 2010 was a great year for our family. It will always be tough to beat 2009 as that to date is the best year of my life but 2010 was still pretty amazing.

So much happened in this last year some of it wonderful and some of it totally unexpected.

We started the year with a 13 month old that had yet to learn how to walk on her own and was in physical therapy.

We hit mid year with an 18 month old that had still yet to walk on her own, was in more physical therapy and was diagnosed with scoliosis.

We hit the end of the year with the most amazing 2 year old who is walking like she is a pro and is officially done with physical therapy.

So while 2010 threw us some major curve balls, it came with a tremendous surprise too. I gained this second family really. All of the wonderful moms I met through Shriner's Chicago are a true  blessing. So the roller coaster ride that is progressive infantile scoliosis came with these amazing women, their kids and their families and  while I don't wish scoliosis on anyone, I am so lucky to have these wonderful people in my life to endure the ride.

2010 also marked the one year of waiting for Little Man. We are now 13 months into the wait and hanging in there. I can hardly believe how fast the year went.

So what's to come in 2011.

Well for Kiya there will be more casts, more fun, new classroom at daycare, fingers crossed she will be potty trained :), lots of time at the park, zoo and on her new Dora tricycle.

For us as a family, we will hit our 2 year referralversary here in just a few days and 2 years as a family close to mid year. We will have another year of trying to figure out this parenting a spirited and lively toddler who is ridiculously smart and full of energy and opinions. 

We might if all things align and get worked out be blessed enough to see our Little Man's face by years end and therefore get to plan our next trip to Ethiopia.

I am looking forward to all that lies ahead. There will be some unknowns and some bumps in the road I am sure but we as a family faced a lot this year and we are still standing due in large part to our spunky little girl who just never gives up.

I know I said watch out world, Kiya is coming last year but given the strength, determination, attitude and focus I saw develop and grow in Kiya this last year, the warning still stands. Kiya is mobile, active and has a lot to say and do and I frankly can't wait to see what she conquers next.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Joy

I am convinced that there is nothing better than being a parent at Christmas time. Watching Kiya's eye's light up at the sight of her Dora tricycle on Christmas morning or just truly enjoying ripping wrapping paper and bows off of everyone's gifts. It was amazing and warmed my heart.

We were so blessed to be able to spend the holidays with all of our family and still sneak in some special just the three of us time too. It was truly a special time.

I did sneak some special time to think about what next Christmas might look like. We won't have our Little Man home yet but we might just maybe know his name and have a picture to cherish. We might not but it is nice to dream and think about him.

I hope that all of my blog readers had a very Merry Christmas and have a wonderful new year.

Kiya's 2 yr. pictures

I know I don't post often anymore so to make it up to whoever is still checking in, here are a selection of photos from Kiya's 2 year picture shoot. She did so great. I was so proud of her. She did have a meltdown while we waited for the pictures but overall did really well.

We tried to take pictures with Santa and that didn't go well at all. She was terrified of him. It was definitely a common problem with all the kids that were around Kiya's age at our mall this year so Santa was used to it. Oh well at least her 2yr pictures were a success.

Where oh where have I been?

Let's see....I started working full time. Yup. It isn't fabulous but it is necessary for now. There is an end in sight once Little Man comes home in 18 months or 2 years or whatever it may be. For now I will adjust. We will adjust.

I work full time as a bank teller. I know you are jealous... It isn't the worst thing in the world but definitely not something I am super passionate about. I do though really enjoy the people I work with and that is the main reason I took the job was because of the people. It is hard to stand on your feet for 8 plus hours a day but I bought some new shoes today which should help :)

So what else is new...I have zero free time since my job is 8-6 hours most days and Kiya starting next week will be going to daycare 4 days a week. She is thriving. This change in schedule so far hasn't been an issue. She is doing better than great. Her daycare teachers just love how her big personality is really starting to shine and just how much she loves to sing. She even went pee pee on the potty at daycare twice in one day. We are nowhere near being fully potty trained but she is definitely starting to really get it.

Kiya is talking more and more in actual sentences. It is too cute. She can be quite bossy with these sentences but still nice to hear. She is loving sleeping in her big girl bed and is getting better about staying in bed. Apparently she does great at naptime for grandma and grandpa and we get about 2 times a night before she just crashes. We haven't had too many more 2am-4am periods where she decides to sing, play, etc. So maybe it was night terrors, teething or just a phase who knows, I just hope whatever it was stays away.

We also hired our first babysitter. I was really nervous but I didn't need to be. Kiya did great. She clicked instantly with the babysitter and they had a great time together. It was a huge relief. The played with stickers and crayons and had a lot of fun.

So as for blogging....may not happen hardly at all during the week but I will try. I miss it but we are all still adjusting to our new lifestyle.

What's in the future...well Kiya was supposed to have her 2 year pictures tomorrow but we are under a blizzard warning so that may or may not happen. We hope at the very least to put her sleigh from last Christmas to good use. No worries we will take pictures :)

The missing piece

I have been thinking about how to write this particular post for a while. This one is solely about our Little Man whoever he is. We have been officially waiting for 1 year well over that now but still. We got Kiya's referral in 11 months, 2 weeks and 1 day. We are likely still 11-12 months possibly more away from experiencing the joy that is seeing our child's face for the first time.

That said this wait isn't on my mind daily. It is there just not the same way it was the first time around. Don't get me wrong, I definitely feel the tug and there is definitely a piece missing in our family but I can't focus 2 years of my life on waiting for a phone call. I honestly don't know how first time parents are surviving the wait. Waiting for the phone to ring the first time around was VERY challenging for me. I can't go back to that place.

Some days though while driving I just can't help but think about Ethiopia, about our Little Man, about the unfortunate circumstances that will lead to him being our son. My heart aches to see his face and to know his story. I pray for his first family. My joy when that phone rings is coming with tremendous loss half way around the world.

From here on out it is possible that our son could be born at any time. His mother could be pregnant right now. He could still be just a glimmer....we just don't know. I was talking to a mom today at the store. She had a little boy and I was buying a dress for Kiya. She commented how she has all boys and couldn't buy those adorable girl dresses. I said it was likely easier on her budget. We laughed and I told her we were going to have a son too. She immediately congratulated me and asked when I was due. I laughed. I explained that we are adopting a son and hope to have him in our arms forever in early 2012.  She didn't really know what to say other than good luck.

I don't really think there is luck involved in adoption. Adoption stems from a want on our end to have a son and an unfortunate set of circumstances on the other whether it be death, illness, poverty, rape, or all of the above. It isn't luck at all. It is quite sad really. We will shed tears of joy while family in Ethiopia are shedding tears of extreme sadness.

That said there is definitely a piece in my heart ready for my Little Man. I am holding it there for him when he is ready to take it. I will continue to pray for him, his mother, his family and hope that when it is supposed to be it will all go as smoothly as it can.

For now and the next year or so, I will keep my Little Man in my heart. I am ready for the missing piece to be filled and I know the heaviness that comes with that piece falling into place. Who knows maybe next year at this time my heart will be filled as just maybe I will be blessed enough to have his picture in hand and story to sort through and can begin to prepare for life as a family of 4.

Wordless Wednesday