Two Years

Today marks the two year point in waiting for our child from Taiwan. We are hopeful that 2010 will be our year and we will get our referral and we will finally be able to make our Bella Boo a big sister. She cannot wait to have a sibling and we know she will be the best big sister.

The adoption journey is definitely not for the faint of heart. For some, it happens quickly, without notice and for others, it means many hurdles and a long waiting game. Either way, the outcome is amazing and worth every moment along the way.

Raggedy Ann

I had two Raggedy Ann dolls as a girl, brilliantly named "Little Annie" and "Big Annie".

Little Annie was made by my great-grandmother, complete with a hand stitched heart on her chest and "I love you" written in pen inside the heart. Little Annie has had a leg replacement a time or two but otherwise, in perfect shape.

Big Annie was picked up by my Dad on one of his trips around the time that my little brother was born. I suppose the intent was to soften the blow of this new little person invading my territory. Big Annie was just about my size at the time. I remember playing "school" many times with my dolls and the Annies were cousins who happen to have the same name. They are some of the few dolls that have hung with me all these years and when Bella came along, I wanted to pass them on to her. RaRa was nice enough to update their orange, gold and brown attire with some updated digs.

The one last notable part related to the Annies is a picture that is forever ingrained in my mind of my ~3 year old tow-headed little brother dressed in Big Annie's dress, knickers and pettifor (my idea - not his). When Bella wanted to put her bear in Little Annie's clothes, I couldn't resist seeing if she wanted to try on Big Annie's clothes.

two naked Annies

Safe and Cute?

Come on? How many people make a helmet look good?

Bella is doing really well on her trike and it was time to start wearing a helmet as she pedals around the neighborhood.

Spring Recital

Bella got her spring recital costume a few weeks ago. She tried it on for us and was feeling a little silly that night. Her class's theme is "Broadway Baby". We don' t know what song they have yet but we have heard another class practicing to Jailhouse Rock. It looks like another great recital!

Happy Easter

Our 2nd annual Easter tradition...dye and decorate eggs, egg hunt in the backyard and a yummy Easter brunch on the patio.

Easter 2009


(notice the height difference?)

Easter 2008

Stella

Long before Bella came along, I had read everything that I could about bonding and attachment. One thing that I wanted to do was give her an attachment object - something that could be with her during nap, at night and as she transitioned into preschool. She got this bear shortly after we got home from China and it was perfect - super soft, the perfect size and the best part

(for me) - machine washable.

She wasn't all that jazzed about stuffed animals at first and so by the time "Stella" came into the mix, Stella was no longer in stores and so we just had the one which was a risky gamble. To this day, Stella is guarded at all costs. She eats, talks and likes to "watch shows". She rides around the house in a grocery cart, rides on the back of the tricycle, eats meals with us, sits on the hamper in the bathroom as we take a bath every night, rides in the car with us and much more.

Stella's most magical power is how quickly Bella's thumb pops in her mouth and how she immediately makes everything in the world okay. Daddy and I both hope that 13 years from now when she starts driving a car or going on a date, that we can clutch sweet Stella and everything in our world will be okay.

Part of the Basket Loot

a magnifying glass