Water and the Family Bed

We awoke to a little extra water in our terrace level yesterday morning. It's quite a shock to one's senses to roll out of bed and begin walking and waking up to dampness underfoot. Luckily, the ski lessons kicked in when I first stepped on to the bathroom tile floor, and I saved myself a broken bone on top of the other hassles the water has brought us.

It was a long day for the Duke.

LL went to her first ever "ride in someone else's car and go to their house without mommy or daddy" playdate a.k.a. "rescue daddy so he can get busy problem solving the flood."

So many changing details throughout the day including a couple of phone calls asking if I could stop work and come home to help. On a Friday? No, dear. Impossible. Especially given what I'd be helping to do. ;)

Friends were called and came and stood and watched and offered advice. Finally, as a last resort, the gentlemen telephoned a plumber, and even he was stumped. A $6,500 estimate later (mind you, that's only for the plumbing rip-out and re-run, never mind the damaged carpet and furniture) we are thinking of options. But not thinking too much because there don't seem to be many options to choose from.

Which brings me to the topic of the post. We didn't sleep downstairs since there is a slight slight hint of the idea of a *smell*. I could have been imagining it. But I coudn't take a chance. Off we all went upstairs.

A king size bed seems like such a large soft surface until you add a wiggly giggly LadyLL to the mix.
The Duke and the cat and the puppy retreated downstairs to the sofa.
1/4 of the bed that remained was for me.
3/4 bed for LadyLL,
And from the looks of us this morning, the cat and I seem to only have grabed a couple of naps.
However, John and LL and KK are still snoring ;)

The family bed concept seems over rated. So does indoor plumbing. Water inside your abode? Silly silly idea. It can only lead to trouble.

It's About Time She Wore That!

Two years ago, I saw an outfit and loved it and bought every piece and knew that we'd wear it to PP's house. As you can see, it coordinates with the decor perfectly. Finally it was cool enough, not to mention LL being home and enjoying visiting friends, and so the jumper came out, and off we went to visit!

The distinguished MissB who hostessed our KK when we were in China, tolerated our LL quite well. And obeyed LL's commands to sit and lie down though she wasn't too crazy about LL wanting her bed. Who can blame her?

100 Good Wishes for Our Director

Our XZ yahoo group put together wishes to accompany a quilt one of our dear members made for our director. The member pulled fabrics, we rushed to reserve our squares, and we sent along scrapbook pages to accompany the quilt and try to express in a small but sincere way how appreciative we are of the care our children received before they joined our families.

After making our pages, I tucked in little extra embelishments, and shipped them off to Texas via fedex... overnight...after LL and I delivered them to the Atlanta airport at 10:15. P.M.. Did you know you can drive to the airport (practically out on the tarmack) and drop off a package so late? Neither did the people at their 1-800 number. It arrived earlier than scheduled and flew with some twenty pounds of other wishes to Beijing about 12 hours later.

The other post shows LL with express stickers on her after charming the late night staffers at ATL. (oh if fedex handled adoptions, we would have our children home so much faster) Notice the planes in the background. Told you it's practically on the field. =O

Here are the four squares from our family. The fabrics are paper dolls from me, dancing dragons in a crowd from daddy, fish from grandmamama and papapa, and blue and white tea set from grandmother.

Shipping the Wishes... with seven minutes to spare

Here's LL with express stickers on her after charming the late night staffers at ATL. Oh, if fedex handled adoptions, we would have our children home so much faster! Notice the planes in the background. Told you it's practically on the field. =O

Click here to view these pictures larger

Pumpkins and Apples

Because one trip to one pumpkin patch is not enough, we went to another farm and got apples and all kinds of yummy "homemade" treats. But we didn't get good photos.

Six Months in Our Arms

There is so much to report, and I want to remember all of it.

(i've started this post a dozen times, but i recently wrote to a friend, and it is that note that i've edited for posting here)

At one month home I was still in tears wondering what we had done to our little one. It was such a hard time. I was tired and clinging to consciousness from physical and emotional exertion. She was overwhelmed every day and trying to figure out the constants and avoid irregularities.

But two is just the best age! I can hardly imagine parenting a baby younger. It is magical to watch her put things together. I don't remember that she has left a clingy milestone until I realize that it's been days or weeks since it was last manifested.

The exhaustion passed (or I just got used to it?). The temper tantrums of throwing herself backwards on the floor passed. The "i'm so mad i could swallow my fist" passed. The "i could hit you, but instead I'll burst into tears"passed.

What remains is the loving little girl we hugged that day when she terribly wanted her nannie and not us. But now the love and affection and cuddles and kisses are her gifts to us. What remains is a smart little cookie who is combining ideas into new thoughts. What remains is no longer the scared little bird but a"fla-mim-no" as she says it. A bright pink bird learning to balance and having a blast figuring it all out.

It is a joy to be able to continue to relish every little first and notice the changes as she continues to grow.

Pumpkins! and lots of pictures

This is the story behind the perfect pumpkin patch photo of three cousins. Pictures like everything else in parenting hardly ever simply happen.

On the other hand, like everything else in parenting, getting there is more than half the fun.



On Friday evening, the Earl and Countess rang to let us know they along with LadyL the first and LordW would be journeying to the Duchy, and before they could tell me the details of their plan, we had decided that LadyLL and I should join them on an excursion to the pumpkin patch.

Earlier than usual for a Saturday morning, we spooned down breakfast and departed for what is rumored to be the premier pumpkin patch in North Georgia, Burt's Farm. I had heard stories of traffic backed up for miles and frustrated parents turning around and heading back the hour and a half to Atlanta to purchase pumpkins from local corner vendors. Horrors! But that was not to be the case for us in our first venture to Sacred Pumpkin Land.

After a complicated rendezvous including removing LL's super duper securely attached race car seat from our car and my brother expertly attaching it to their giant home on wheels, we were off to Amicalola Falls to Burt's. It felt like fall with a high temperature of 50* and drizzle. But as we traveled, much to LL's delight on turning and twisting roads, the rain let up. When we arrived, the sun was shining on the pumpkin parking lot, the land yacht was parallel parked in three moves, and we joined hundreds of families among the pumpkins.


I was surprised to learn that one does not venture into the actual pumpkin patch to select the pumpkin. Actually, Burt's Farm is a wide open area with the pumpkins already harvested and grouped more or less by size and separated by varieties.


In addition to the expected giant orange pumpkins...


Notice this one was $100- ummm... step away from the pumpkin, babygirl!




Is it big or little? That's right! Biiig!



there were blue moons, creamy whites,

little sweets,

(and look at the big line for the hay ride!

we decided it was too cold and wet for such silliness)

and dozens of smaller squash that parade as miniature pumpkins

LL thinks W is funny and likes that he comes when she calls him ;)

...plus giant boxes of various gourds.

Here are the cool apple gourds. Their surfaces have the same coloration as watermelon. LL was intrigued and probably thinking it was indeed the most glorious pile of watermelons she has ever seen.

It apparently is a requirement that all families with children under age ten travel to the mountains to select a pumpkin. And though the mommies and children seem to have fun, many dads spend at least some of the time standing there looking like this next photo. Perhaps a big screen TV and some leather recliners would lead to bigger sales numbers since mommies and children could shop and collect pumpkins and squash for hours if dads were being entertained.

After the struggles to try to get the perfect photo of your children with the pumpkins....






Please stay still...





Smile, don't laugh kids!



The pumpkins are loaded into wheelbarrows, and more fun ensues.


"I pull it!" LL declared.


a little excercise swinging on the wheelbarrow...

"Free toddler with purchase of pumpkin."

Buyer beware ;)

meeting other little kids wondering through the big pumpkins...


As I continued to survey the crowd, several families seemed deserving of awards for their accomplishment of completing the journey in style.

Best Hat



Best Use of Stroller


Best Tiny Baby Costume
There were two couples each with a baby this small there together.
They got lots of attention.

It was time to hug pumpkins bye-bye...

and head for home watching tv. She was pretty surprised and tickled to see a tv in the big land yacht!

It was a fun day indeed!