From God's Arms . . .

God Bless America, Land That I Love

2011-09-11T00:54:00.000-05:00

Today, on the 10th anniversary of the horrific attacks on our country, I remember my fellow Americans who lost their lives because of those attacks, as well as their families and friends who live on without them. I honor those on Flight 93 who said, "Let's roll," and then did, saving countless lives while giving their own to do it. And I salute the police officers, firefighters, medical personnel, and all the others who gave (and continue to give) so selflessly to help others. I will never forget!

God bless America, land that I love!

Reason For A Spare Dress

2011-09-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

Petunia has been saying so many funny things lately that I can't recall them all at will. Thankfully, some of them pop into my head later on. I was putting laundry in the washing machine when I remembered this little jewel...

When I picked Petunia up from school a couple of days ago, she was wearing a "spare" dress. I asked her what happened to the one she had on earlier. Her response? "It got jello-ed."

Bwahahaha

That's Good To Know

2011-09-10T00:24:00.000-05:00

This evening Petunia and I were in the living room. I was flipping channels and stopped on a Jeff Foxworthy special from 1998. I watched a portion of it and Jeff was talking about the fact that he'd been married to his wife long enough to have learned a few things. He said, "If she ain't happy, I ain't happy."

Petunia was playing with some toys and I thought she wasn't paying attention to the TV. I was wrong. After Jeff made his statement, Petunia stopped what she was doing, repeated what she had just heard, and then said to herself, "Got it. That's good to know."

When I die, there will be no need for an autopsy. Just let the authorities know the cause of death was suffocation from holding in laughter.

When bedtime rolled around, Petunia told me (as usual) that she wasn't tired. I left the room to brush my teeth and returned to this sight...

Yep, she was fast asleep. Thankfully she didn't wake up when I carried her to her bed. Silly girl!

Tiny Dancer

2011-08-09T21:53:00.000-05:00

Today was Petunia's first ballet class. She has talked about learning ballet for over a year, but, for various reasons, I didn't register her until this year. I found a nearby studio that offers ballet (or, in this case, pre-ballet) as an individual class, rather than combining it with tap and/or jazz. Petunia has been very specific about wanting to take "just ballet, Mom."

After waiting for so long to go to dance class, she surprised herself by becoming a little nervous when the time came for her to walk into the studio. The ballet mistress immediately came over to put her at ease, which allowed me to leave the room without Petunia having a meltdown. Poor little thing didn't know anyone in this class, but we were both very happy to meet another little Vietnamese girl and her mom. Both girls were excited to see someone with an appearance similar to her own, and both moms were excited to see their daughters excited.

I'm not certain how things are going to go from here, but I sincerely hope Petunia falls in love with actually learning ballet as much as she loves the idea of learning ballet. If she does, she's going to do very well.

Here's my tiny dancer before heading off to ballet class...

The pose was her idea, as was the scrunched-up face. She was preparing herself for the flash. Super.

Still posing, but trying to keep her eyes open while shielding them from the flash by tilting her head downward. Funny girl!

Sisters, Brothers, And Flower Power

2011-06-15T00:21:00.000-05:00

Every 2 or 3 days, Petunia will ask me for a dog. She wants a small dog, not a big one. It needs to be a girl and it needs to be black. She wants one "just like Cloudy Boy was, but a girl one instead of a boy one. And her name needs to be Flower Power." (Just for the record, the jury's still out on the name.)

I keep telling her that we'll get a dog when she gets to big school, because she has to be big enough to help me take care of it. (A mom can dream, right?)

Well, today she threw me a curve ball. Our conversation went like this:

P: Mom, I've been thinking, and I realized (new favorite word) that I don't really want a dog.
M: You don't? Really?
P: No, ma'am. I changed my mind.
M: That's not a problem. If you don't want a dog, that's fine with me.
P: Mom, I need to tell you something and it's very important. I don't want a dog because I want a baby instead.
M: You want another baby? You already have so many.
P: Mom, you're so silly! I want a real baby.
M: Okay, sure. When you're a grown-up, you can have a real baby.
P: Nooooo, I want to have a new baby at our house now.
M: And how are you going to have a baby?
P: I'm not. I'm just a little girl. You can have one.
M: I don't think that's going to happen, honey.
P: Why not? I know exactly what we need to do. All we have to do is go back to Vietnam, and go to that place where I lived, and tell the people that we need another baby to bring home with us. There are so many little babies who want families to love.
M: That would be nice, wouldn't it? Having a little brother or sister to play with...
P: No brother! Just a sister. Well, maybe a sister and a brother, but if we can get only one, I want a sister. Maybe I could have a whole bunch of sisters!
M: It would be great if you had brothers and sisters, but sometimes families have only one child... like our family does.
P: We could try, Mom. Just try your best, okay?
M: Petunia, our family is exactly how it should be. But, even if we wanted to adopt another baby from Vietnam, we can't right now. No one in America can adopt a baby from Vietnam at the moment. It's against the rules.
P: It's against the rules? *silence* That isn't a good rule. It's not fair. Who can change it?
M: It's kind of complicated, but it would be a group of people who would have to change that rule. But I really need you to understand that our family is going to have only one very special child.
P: That's me, huh?
M: That's you. And I love our family just like it is.
P: Yeah, we make a good team. *silence* Soooo, maybe we can just get a dog after all.

My brain hurts.

Garden Fashionista

2011-06-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

We were going outside to water the tomato plants, but Petunia said she needed "just a minute, please." She came out of her room like this...

Tie-dye dress... check
Diamond headband... check
Sparkly necklace... check
Snowboots... um, yeah... check
Super, silly girl... CHECK!

Tomato Plants And The Disappearing Shorts

2011-05-21T23:24:00.002-05:00

I FINALLY got the tomato plants into the ground, and I'm really excited that there are little yellow flowers on them already. I'd like to say that Petunia helped get all the weeds out of the bed, but she didn't. Believe it or not, she spent her time relocating earthworms from one section of soil to another. She was telling them not to be afraid and asking them what they thought of their new homes. hahaha

Oh, and I'm not sure what happened to her shorts. All of a sudden I noticed she didn't have them on, but I never got a clear explanation from her. Crazy girl!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T12:10:00.000-05:00

It's on this special day that I say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and moms-to-be out there, especially to my sisters-in-law, niece, and very special friends (you know who you are). I love you all!

To my mom, thank you, thank you, thank you for all the unconditional love and support. I'm eternally grateful and I know I'm extremely blessed to have you as my mother. I shudder to think where I would be without you.

Becoming a mom has been a dream come true. Being a mom to my sweet and spicy girl is absolutely the very best gig I've ever had. Petunia has taught me so many things over the past few years. Some have been wonderful lessons and validation that I'm not a complete failure as a mom. Some have caused me to take a long, hard look in the mirror and see a mom I don't want to be. Those moments are difficult but necessary. I'm trying to set a positive example for Petunia, and learning from one's mistakes, not to mention admitting you made them, is one of the things I want her to learn.

I'm working on finding a nice balance in all aspects of my life. I need it and so does Petunia. Those years of nearly no sleep took a toll on me and, while I know I have it easy compared to some, the lack of sleep did negatively impact me and my life. And that negativity had to have impacted Petunia as well, so I'm doing my best to find the balance one step at a time. We'll both be better off because of it.

I love being a mom and, in particular, I love being Petunia's mom. She's a treasure and will always be my biggest blessing. My cup runneth over... still!

I love her to pieces! (Poor little darling just cannot go without sunglasses. She tried for the photo, though.)

About two minutes before I snapped this photo, she said, "But I'm not tired. It will take FOREVER to go to sleep." Dramatic, much?

She still sleeps with her eyes partially open. I keep hoping that it's just a phase.

A mom-to-be right outside our back door.

We're keeping an eye on her and I must say that she's a good mom already.

Four Years As A Family

2011-04-23T23:49:00.002-05:00

Another year has gone by...too fast. Incredibly fast really. Four years ago today I was in a tiny orphanage in Que Son, Vietnam, seeing and holding my baby for the first time. I still remember being amazed at the fact that not only was Petunia able to smile (I'd seen nothing but solemn faces in the photos I'd received while waiting for travel approval), but she had two teeth. And a little later that day, we became family. I'll never, ever forget the specialness of it all!

I think of Petunia's Vietnamese mother more on this day than any other day of the year. Mainly I think it's because it was the day that her tiny baby girl officially became my daughter, too. There's a bond that will be between the two of us always, and her name is Petunia. There's another reason, though. I don't think I've ever written about it here, but I have mentioned this to a few of my friends. That day, when we were leaving the orphanage to go to the G&R, I felt the presence of someone special. The hair on my arms and on the back of my neck stood up, and I remember looking around to see who was watching us. Of course, there were people around looking at the group who was obviously from out of town, but they weren't the ones I felt. While there's no way to ever know, I absolutely believe Petunia's Vietnamese mother and/or a close relative was watching, catching a glimpse of the person who would become a forever mother to her baby, and silently saying good-bye for the last time. I believe that it's very likely that Petunia's Vietnamese mother didn't just leave her baby at the orphanage and walk away those months before. I believe that she continued to see her or at least keep up with her in some fashion until four years ago today. I also believe that people associated with the orphanage knew who she was. It was such a small town...

I'm not saying that there was anything wrong with Petunia's placement with the orphanage or anything else. I pray that wasn't the case at all. I'm simply saying what I felt then and what I still feel today. Petunia was loved. I'm absolutely certain of that. And I also think she was watched over. I hope that's the case. I only wish that I knew who and where her Vietnamese family is. It's funny (or pathetic really) that when I began the adoption process I was hoping I wouldn't know anything about her Vietnamese family. I remember telling myself it would be easier for everyone. That didn't last long. Well before I received my referral, I remember praying that I would have some information to pass on to Petunia someday, as well as the possibility of finding family members in the future. I regret that I have nothing for her. I wish much health and happiness for her family that lives so far away, and I pray that they can feel how much our child is loved. A part of Petunia will always belong to the beautiful country of Vietnam and her family there. I'm just so very honored and grateful to have been blessed with this child that I love with all my heart.

It's not been an easy four years, but the rewards...oh, the rewards...of getting to be the mom of my sweet and spicy girl make life worth living. I'm sure there are many days when she'd like to trade me in, but she hangs in there with me and I know she loves me very much. Oh, that reminds me of a conversation from a few days ago. Petunia said something (again) about me being her forever mom, and then she asked if she was stuck with me. This wasn't looking good. I told her that I was afraid she was definitely stuck with me, and she said, "Good! Because I'm so glad I'm stuck with you." You know, sometimes it all works out okay.

I've been under the weather the past few days, but I was still going to get a few photos of Petunia for today's post. Yeah, well, sometimes it all doesn't work out okay. She did not want her picture taken. I'm hoping tomorrow is better and I can talk her into a smile or two.

I love my girl. I love my family. My cup runneth over.

It Pays To Be Nice

2011-04-19T18:10:00.000-05:00

Oh, my funny girl! This afternoon we were driving home and Petunia started talking about good manners vs. bad manners, and being nice vs. being mean. After a couple of minutes of discussing these topics, I told her that it pays to be nice. Petunia looked shocked and said, "You mean you get money just for being nice to people?!!"

An Evening With Cinderella

2011-04-17T08:32:00.000-05:00

Friday night Petunia and I went to a Rodgers and Hammerstein production of Cinderella at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville. Show Hope (adoption assistance/orphan care organization) began this annual event last year, and I hope Petunia and I will make it an annual outing for us. Broadway actors as well as local actors performed, and the orchestra was fabulous. The evening was so enjoyable and I loved seeing all the little princes and princesses in the audience...and my princess was only one of many Asian ones there. To add to the specialness of the night, Yuyu went with us so Petunia was extremely happy about that!

Petunia got the opportunity to meet Cinderella, the prince, and others (not the actual actors, but people dressed in costume for the children to meet) prior to the start of the show, but the poor, little thing would not say one word when they talked to her. She wouldn't even tell Cinderella her name when she was asked. She's always shy, but I think she was also starstruck. She told me later that there were too many people around, and she wanted it to be just Cinderella.

Unfortunately, the Schermerhorn doesn't allow you to take photos indoors so I had to try to get some photos of Petunia before we left home. I'm guessing that having her picture taken at that moment was not high on her "to-do" list (she just wanted to GO), because she would not stop talking or really acknowledge the camera at all. Oh, well, I thought she looked lovely. Her favorite accessories were her "diamond" headband and her "glass slippers" with "diamonds" on them. For the record, these pics are the best of the night. *sigh*

And one photo of the concert hall...

Princess Petunia

2011-04-09T22:49:00.000-05:00

We found a princess dress in a consignment store this morning, and Petunia fell instantly in love with it. Without further adieu, I present to you... my sweet and spicy (and giggly) girl... the one and only Princess Petunia!

Better Than Flabulous!

2011-04-07T18:38:00.000-05:00

On our way home this evening, Petunia was trying to get me to agree to serve candy for supper. (For the record, that's never happened.) After failing to agree with her for the second time, she was silent for about a minute. Then she said very excitedly, "Mom, I have the most flabulous idea! Ash-ually, it's better than flabulous. We should eat candy first and then eat our supper. That way we can save the best food for last."

I swear, if you've never tried to stifle a snort, you don't have a clue as to how painful that can be. I needed to guffaw and knew I just couldn't. And, no, I wasn't totally buying into her fabulous idea, but I did promise some Valentine's Day candy hearts after she finished the "best food."

I give her an "A" for effort, quick thinking, and creativity.

Petunia's Little Babies

2011-04-02T11:13:00.000-05:00

My sweet and spicy girl is something else. We were in the car yesterday when Petunia brings up the topic of how we became a family. (Come to think of it, we're often in the car when we talk about this. I suppose it's just because she's sitting still, which seldom happens at home.) I told her how happy I am that I traveled to Vietnam, adopted her, and became her mom. She was quiet for a minute and then the conversation continued...

P: Mom, I know I didn't grow in your tummy.
M: No, you didn't.
P: I grew in another lady's tummy... in Vietnam. But you're my forever mom. Right?
M: That's right. Forever.
P: When I grow up, I want to be a forever mommy, too. I want to adopt a little baby who grows in another lady's tummy.
M: Well, then I hope you do just that.
P: Mom, let me tell you something.
M: Okay...
P: I might want one to grow in my tummy, too. Maybe a baby that grows in my tummy and a baby who grows in another lady's tummy.
M: That sounds like a plan to me. Maybe you should do that.
P: Maybe... but, Mom?
M: Hmm?
P: They would still be my kids, right?
M: Of course they would be your kids.
P: It just doesn't matter how I borns my little babies.
M: *trying to speak around the lump in my throat* No, honey, it just doesn't matter.
P. Okay. Mom, I need to ask you something. When is the sun going to come out so we can play outside? All it does is rain, rain, rain.

I love her to pieces!

A Lesson Learned?

2011-03-22T18:54:00.001-05:00

I'm happy to report that Petunia has not had her nose in the corner since Saturday. Yay! I don't want to jinx anything, but she's been trying very hard to avoid behavior that results in spending time there. I've had to give her a warning a couple of times, but that's it. A lesson learned? Honestly, I'm not overly hopeful, but I am going to enjoy the good behavior while it lasts! I love my girl, regardless of how spicy she can be.

The shadow behind her head, which makes her hair look larger than life, is cracking me up. But, gosh, that big grin is infectious and I love how her eyes scrunch up when she laughs.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who Is The Spiciest Of Them All?

2011-03-19T23:07:00.056-05:00

Wow! Today was absolutely one of those days. My sweet and spicy girl was a ~~little~~ lot heavy on the spice. Her mouth and attitude have definitely been a challenge lately, and today was especially challenging. For whatever reason, she thought she could have a sassy mouth and be disobedient for much of the day, without any consequences. She thought wrong. Petunia is smart enough to know that I mean what I say. She's apparently just too stubborn to admit it. Unfortunately for her, she found herself in this position a total of five...yep, that's right...five times today.

This is a new thing for her. Oh, she's had to sit in time-out many times before, but most of the time she was fine with it. Facing away from everything is a true punishment in her mind, though. She does not like having her nose in the corner. It'll be interesting to see how many times she'll have to visit there before she decides it's just better and easier to behave. Is five enough? I doubt it, but a girl can dream.

I take no pleasure in disciplining Petunia, but it's my responsibility to try to help her become a wonderful woman who respects others. She was full of sass and attitude from the day I first met her, so I know nature gave her those traits. She also lives with me, so nurture is a part of the equation, as well. (I can admit that.) I simply want to teach her the importance of self-control and respect for others.

Geez, Louise! Now I'm going to bed and praying that tomorrow is a better day for Petunia and me.

Take My Picture, Pleeeeeeease

2011-03-16T18:43:00.000-05:00

In response to her request...

First Time At The Beach

2011-03-02T14:03:00.000-06:00

Petunia went to the beach for the first time two weeks ago. We rented a house in Santa Rosa Beach and met my younger brother and his two kiddos there. The weather was perfect! Well, at least it was perfect for Petunia and me because it was sunny and warm, but not too hot. There were no crowds, we were in a beautiful area, and we all had a great time. We stayed four nights before heading to Louisiana to visit with family and friends.

Once again I didn't do a good job of taking photos, because the days are so filled with visiting and going here and there. It was fabulous to see everybody and so fabulous to see Petunia ridiculously thrilled to be with family. Thank you, everyone, for the hospitality. We love you all!

(A note to Bobby, Sandra, and Lily: One of these days we're going to get in touch with y'all when we're in town, because we really want to meet you. There just never seems to be enough time to get all our visiting done. One day, though...consider it fair warning! heehee)

A few pics of my sweet and spicy girl at the beach...

Our rented house...

While in Louisiana...

Helping Papa play a game.

Ready to go see Pinkalicious with cousin Haze and Aunt Janet.

Aunt Janet reading Pinkalicious with Petunia before heading off to the show.

Playing SO sweetly with cousin Helen, who is two. They were the very best of playmates!

Petunia was an amazing travel companion in the car. What a trooper! I took this one by just pointing and clicking without looking. I was driving after all. What a sweetheart she was for all the many, many hours on the road.

So I'm Not A Superhero...

2011-02-06T00:28:00.000-06:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I truly wish I could be inside Petunia's head sometimes. Take last night, for instance. We were just hanging around when, out of the blue, Petunia said very thoughtfully and deliberately, "Mama, I need to tell you something. You're not Batman. You're not Spiderman. You're not Buzz Lightyear. You're not a superhero and you don't wear a big cape. But, you're the bestest Mama ever, ever, in the world! I love you sooooo much and I'm sooooo happy you're my Mama!"

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Still don't. I love my sweet and spicy girl to pieces. I love her so much it hurts. My cup runneth over.

I was doing a little housecleaning this afternoon when I realized it had gotten very quiet in the house. I walked into the living room and saw her sleeping soundly in the rocking chair. She gets in the most uncomfortable looking positions! Oh, and I have no idea where the one sock came from or why it's going solo. I ♥ this beautiful child!

Four Going On Fourteen

2011-01-30T00:06:00.002-06:00

Petunia loves new clothes, shoes, hair accessories, purses, socks, coats, gloves, jewelry, tiaras...well, you get the picture. She also loves to shop for those things. Although she really enjoys shopping for herself, she can exhibit a lot of patience and won't try to rush things along when shopping for me or other people. She takes great pains in selecting just the right gift, and she had a ball when it came to Christmas shopping. For birthdays and other occasions, she'll take as long as necessary to find the perfect card because it matters to her that much. We have big fun shopping together but, in an effort to keep the spending down as much as possible, we limit the frequency of our shopping excursions and tend to stay away from most of the stores I prefer. So it's a special treat for us when we do go.

This evening we simply had to get out of the house because we've been home for 2 1/2 days due to Petunia's sinus infection. Thankfully she's feeling much better and, well, let's just say it was absolutely necessary that we ventured out for a couple of hours after being overrun by crankiness. Anyway, we went to a store not far from the house, mainly to walk around, and we found a little inexpensive, cute, cotton dress for Petunia that she fell in love with. It's nothing special, but it is black, which is her favorite color.

She tried the dress on, smoothed her hands over the fabric and said, "Oh, it's just adooooooorable! I love it so much that I just can't stand it! Mama, I cannot believe how adorable this dress is." After adding the super sparkly, Skechers sneakers we also purchased this evening, my sweet and spicy girl was in heaven. What can I say? She's four going on fourteen. (What a scary thought, no?)

I didn't get a photo of her in her new duds tonight, but I'll try to get one later and post it here. Again, the dress isn't anything to write home about, but if her love for the dress comes through, it'll be a great picture.

I Was Speechless (I Know!)

2011-01-23T22:55:00.000-06:00

I needed to get this posted to the blog before I forgot. Oh, my sweet girl!

Earlier tonight Petunia asked me if we would ever go back to Vietnam. I assured her that we would when she was a little older. I told her that I would love for her to see the beautiful country where she was born, and that there were so many places and experiences I wanted us to share together.

She looked thoughtful for a few seconds and then she said, "And then...we can go to where the babies are...to the orphanage...where the ladies are taking care of them...and they need a Mama or a Daddy...and we can bring one home to love...just like me."

I had no words.

She Is Growing...At Her Own Pace

2011-01-20T19:37:00.000-06:00

It's been such a long, long time since I've written an update on my sweet and spicy girl. I really need to take some time to get my thoughts together, because there's so much to write about. I'm honestly going to try to get it done after she goes to ~~high school~~ bed tonight.

In the meantime, I wanted to take a minute to jot down a couple of milestones. Petunia has finally reached the 25 pound mark, weighing in at 25.2 pounds. Yay! She's also getting a little taller and, although our measurement tonight may not be exact, she's somewhere around 35.5 inches. Only a little more to grow before she reaches 3 feet tall. It seems that she was stuck on 24 pounds and 34 inches for months and months, so it's nice to see a little growth spurt.

While I'm thinking about this... Petunia has many babies and is an excellent, loving mommy to all of them. She has conversations with them non-stop and gives voices to her babies. I mean she literally speaks for them. I can't even guess the number of times I hear a question being directed to "Mama" only to find out one of her babies is asking her, and I don't fit into the equation in any way, shape, or form. What's so funny is that she always looks at me like I have two heads when I ask her to repeat what she wants. Oh, and for the longest time she would, when talking to her babies, refer to me as "your mama's mama," as in "Do you want your mama's mama to hold you?" That's now changed and I'm... wait for it... Grandma! Hilarious!

Getting ready to make cornbread. Such a serious little face.

She's very careful when measuring ingredients. No worries about her flinging stuff everywhere.

Crazy Winter Weather In Middle Tennessee

2011-01-10T07:33:00.000-06:00

The snow is beautiful, but it certainly does cause issues for the south because we're just not equipped to handle it like our friends to the north are. Petunia isn't a tall child, but you can still see that several inches of snow has fallen. We're expecting another inch or so tomorrow, and the temperatures aren't supposed to get above freezing for a few days. I just hope everyone stays safe!

I caught Lily Ana mid-stride with the camera, and then had to literally catch her after her next step. We did go back inside right after this. I didn't let her stay outside in just her robe and boots.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T20:31:00.000-06:00

No time for a real post this evening, but I do want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, and fabulous 2011.

Merry Christmas From Tennessee!

2010-12-25T10:14:00.002-06:00

It's so easy to get caught up in Santa, presents, and a tree full of ornaments, but, for Christians, we know that this special day is set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior.

Merry Christmas to everyone from Petunia and me. To all our family and Louisiana friends, we miss you all so much and wish we could be there with you!

Oh, I almost forgot...I'm finally experiencing a white Christmas. (In way of full disclosure, it's actually just a dusting, but we're expecting a little more during the course of the day. Regardless...it's white, it's Christmas, and it's lovely.)

A Little People depiction of the true meaning of Christmas.

Gifts from Mama and Santa waiting to be opened.

Not completely awake, but ready to get the party started.

A note from Santa...

And this is what was waiting for her.
I guess Santa must have gotten tired of setting up all the furniture
and teeny, tiny accessories,
so he left the rest for Petunia and Mama to do.

M&Ms, the perfect stocking stuffer.

Too much tape, Mama!

Petunia and Jasmine showing new Hello Kitty a little love.

Petunia is one blessed little girl.

Getting Ready For The Big Man In Red

2010-12-24T20:54:00.000-06:00

It's finally time to make chocolate chip cookies for Santa...

What? I'm just going to have a little taste to ensure the cholcolate chips are of the finest quality.

Okay, so they're not exactly ball-shaped, but at least no two will be exactly alike. Original...just like me!

The first taste...as a baked cookie, that is.

Perfection. Truly, perfection!

Cookies and milk for Santa. Carrots for his reindeer. Yep, they're all going to love me!

Act Of Kindness

2010-12-21T00:20:00.000-06:00

This evening I experienced a nice reminder of just how wonderful a random act of kindness can be. It was raining as I pulled into the parking lot of the UPS Store. I had six packages to ship and I knew it would take two or three trips from the car to the store to get them all inside. As I opened up the back hatch of my car to remove the first large box, a man walked by me toward his own car. He stopped, turned around and asked if I needed some help. With this gentleman's assistance, all six boxes made it into the store in only one trip. I thanked him profusely for helping me, but he merely smiled and said, "Merry Christmas."

Perhaps to that nice man, what he did was no big deal. To this particular individual, it was a very big deal. I have to say that I felt the Christmas spirit from my head down to my toes. He didn't have to delay going home (or wherever he was headed) to carry several boxes...in the rain...for a stranger. But he did it out of kindness.

I'm going to do my very best to pay this act of kindness forward every chance I get. I like to think I'm generally a kind person, but I want to go the extra mile for no other reason than to make someone else's day better. In addition to that, I'm going to challenge anyone reading this to do the same. I'll bet that you'll make someone smile a little brighter...just because.

A New Mama

2010-12-19T09:08:00.000-06:00

Petunia and I were in the car the other day when, out of the blue, we had this conversation:

P: Mama, I think I'm going to have to find a new lady to be my Mama, because you keep forgetting everything.

M: Oh? Do you want a new Mama?

P: No, I don't. But you're really going to have to start doing a better job at remembering things.

Would you like to know what triggered this line of thought? I forgot to trim her fingernails. Oh, my gosh, get the rope! I definitely deserve to be strung up for that one. Honestly, if the child only knew the number of things I forget these days... Hmm, it seems that the forgetfulness started around the time that she arrived. Coincidence? I think not. :-)

Fourth Referral Anniversary

2010-12-11T20:34:00.046-06:00

Unbelievably another anniversary has arrived. Yep, today marks the 4-year anniversary of receiving my referral. I wrote about the special event here, and I suppose there really isn't a whole lot more I can say about that day now. Maybe just that December 11th will always and forever be one of the most wonderful days of my life, and my cup still runneth over.

Petunia holding the very first photo I saw of her on December 11, 2006.

Petunia and I (and Aunt Kelly) went to see The Rockettes perform their Christmas Spectacular show at the Grand Ol' Opry tonight. We had a large time and Petunia is now convinced that she's going to be a Rockette when she grows up. She's already begun practicing her kicks. Being as strong-willed as this child is, I will not be surprised if she accomplishes that goal. I realize she'll have to grow a whole lot taller before then, but she can probably do that, too, if she puts her mind to it. I'm just sayin'.

Testing. Testing. Is This Thing On?

2010-12-05T23:48:00.002-06:00

Wow! Almost six months with no post here. That's incredible and, well, really pathetic. I can't stand the fact that six months of Petunia's life passed by without even one little story captured on this blog. Tsk, tsk, tsk on me. Having said that, I promise nothing. I won't say that I'm going to spring back into action on a regular basis, but I will at least have good intentions. Ah, but you know what they say about those.

How about a photo or two of my sweet and spicy girl to start things off? These were taken on the last day of October by Yuyu's sister. Let's just say that we were outside and looking at the camera was not on the top of Petunia's short list of things to do.

The lack of posting really began with my third surgery in the past four years -- all of them in July. This one was on my left foot and was ~~agonizingly horrible~~ really no fun at all. I was once again reminded, though, how absolutely blessed Petunia and I are to have family and friends to take care of us when we need them. Hopefully I'll soon have a completely healed foot to go along with the one that was repaired two years ago. I honestly can't even imagine how fantastic that's going to feel. Anyway, that's my story up until present day. My exciting life is sometimes just way too much for me. *yawning*

Petunia is doing great and is about to explode from excitement over the Christmas season. We talk about the true meaning of Christmas, as well as giving being more important than receiving, but the Santa pull is just so strong for her. Understandable. What I do love is that she sometimes talks about Baby Jesus as if he's one of her imaginary friends or one of her babies. Really sweet.

We put up our Christmas tree today and the child oohed and ahhed over every single ornament. I reminded her that I collect ornaments and many of the ones we were putting on the tree are very special to me, so she needed to be careful. And she was. Actually, I think that she really started handling them with kid gloves when I told her that one day they would all belong to her. Yep, that did it. She was so very gentle. Of course, who knocked one of the ornaments off when she was trying to get the star on top? Uh, that would be me. Petunia's face just dropped and she was instantly sure I was devastated. She put her arm around me and said, "Oh, Mama, it's okay. It's okay. Don't be upset." Thankfully it was just a "filler" ball ornament that bit the dust, but her concern was so very touching. Oh, she can be so sweet!

Petunia turned four years old October 10th. My tiny toddler is now a little girl. She talks incessantly about anything and everything. She's very silly and has a wicked sense of humor, which I completely adore. She's a master manipulator and negotiator when it comes to most people, so she continues to try her skills on me. As you can imagine, she and I butt heads on a fairly regular basis because of that. I think she keeps hoping that I'll forget I'm the mom. I try so hard to choose my battles, but geez! She knows what she wants and I guess that's a good thing in the long run. Right? She still has a short fuse and can shoot you a look in a nano-second, but the pitching of fits has thankfully decreased since she turned four. Terrible Twos and Trying Threes were something else, but we survived them. Barely.

Here's a photo of my little fairy princess. Poor thing needed her sunglasses, but her mean mother wouldn't let her put them on. I promise you that she was in the shade. If you ask Petunia what she wants to be when she grows up, she'll tell you she wants to be a princess. She loves jewelry, clothes, purses, shoes, and tiaras. I have to replace the tiara. She had only one and it didn't hold up very well. Maybe we'll have better luck with the next one.

Jasmine is still Petunia's faithful companion. We're actually on Jasmines #4 and #5 now. Thank goodness for eBay! Jasmine #1 was lost a long time ago at Kroger, and #2 and #3 are... well... see for yourself...

Pictured above are (from left to right) Jasmines #4, #3, and #2. (I really didn't have to specify which was which, did I?) They are definitely loved -- almost to death! Petunia is totally aware of the fact that there are multiple Jasmines and is fine with it. She now calls #4 and #5 "The Jasmines" or "The Twins." I'm going to save them all for her. Or perhaps I'm saving them for me. Hmm, I'm not sure.

I realize I'm rambling, and there's still so much more I want to say about my darling daughter, but it'll have to wait for another day. I must, however, include a couple of Petunia stories that I can remember.

Petunia Story #1: Petunia had been playing in the bathtub for an extended period of time when she noticed her fingertips were all shrivelled. She held up her hands and said, "They look like grapes."

Since she doesn't know what prunes are, I said, "Actually, I think you mean they look like raisins. Right?"

I kid you not...the child looked at me like I had two heads and said, "Whatever."

Looks like the teenage years are starting early. Groovy.

Petunia Story #2: A few days ago, I was on my way to pick up Petunia from pre-school. Some unlucky soul had run over and killed a skunk in the middle of the road. The skunk apparently decided to leave his mark on the world as he exited it, because the stench was still more than a little noticeable when I happened upon the scene of the incident. This horrific odor invaded my car instantly. Great.

A couple of minutes later I pulled into the school's parking lot, picked up Petunia, and loaded her into her car seat. Within a few seconds she said, "I smell something."

I don't know why I do it. I really don't. But I asked, "What do you smell?"

She said, "I'm not sure, but it's stinky!"

I agreed and, before I could tell her what it was, she said with a shake of her head, "Mom, it smells like you need to go to the potty as soon as we get home."

Petunia Story #3: I was on the couch watching TV one evening and Petunia was way across the room playing with her babies. All of a sudden she walked over to me and this is how the conversation went:

P: Mama, did you poo-poo in your pants?

M: Uh, no, I didn't.

P: Then did you poot?

M: No, Petunia, I did not poo-poo or poot.

P: Well, I smell something.

M: I can promise you that I didn't do anything.

P: Oh. Well, then it must be me.

She tossed her hands up in the air and went back to what she was doing, leaving me to sit there and choke back laughter.

Disclaimer: The only reason I can include stories like the last two is because I am not guilty of producing foul odors in undesignated areas. She just always blames me.

Okay, I think this was more than enough for now. I'm sure if anyone else should happen to read this then they would agree. One last photo for the night...

You're Making Me Crazy

2010-06-20T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Petunia was asking me the same two questions again and again. She was being silly, but it still got old really fast. I finally grinned, held up my hands in defeat and said, "Enough, Petunia! You're making me crazy!"

She laughed and said, "And don't forget nuts! I'm making you nuts, too. Right, Mama? Maybe like peanuts. I'm the Peanut Gallery."

That girl!

Grumpy, Crusty, & Yucky (Nope, Not Talking About Dwarfs)

2010-06-12T23:19:00.000-05:00

We were supposed to go to a wedding this evening; however, I knew early on that it wasn't in the cards for us. My Petunia has been feeling a little under the weather this week -- allergy stuff mostly -- and today was not her best day. She was really grumpy because, well, that's how she is when she's feeling yucky. I honestly do feel sorry for her when she's sick, but having said that... You know how a lot of people just want to sleep (or at least lounge about quietly) when they're sick? Umm, well, not my sweet and spicy girl. She'd rather be miserable and make everyone within a 100-mile radius equally miserable. She wants to play, but gets upset at the tiniest little thing. She wants to watch TV, but melts into a puddle when it isn't the "right" show on at that moment. She wants to eat, but there's not one single thing in the house that will meet her expectations. She wants to put on her sneakers without socks, but doesn't like the way the shoes feel without them. I pray that tomorrow is a much better day for her. All I have to say is Mama's tired!

Tonight Petunia insisted over and over that she wasn't tired. I went to my bathroom only long enough to brush my teeth, and this is the sight I saw when I returned to the living room...

So much for not being tired.

She still often sleeps with her eyes partially open. Even though her tiny nose is crusty right now, what a little beauty I think she is!

Nana & Papa's Next Visit, Tomatoes, And Poop-Doo

2010-05-23T01:26:00.003-05:00

Petunia has been missing her Nana and Papa so very much (she's not the only one) and she's been talking about them constantly. This morning she began telling me all the things we'll do when they come to visit again. She started by saying that we'd move all her toys from the playroom to her bedroom and the living room so we could set up a bed for Nana and Papa. Not only does she love having her grandparents here, but I think she loves having her toys strewn about the house! Anyway, I tried to get her to talk about it on camera, but, as usual, it was like pulling teeth. Oh, well.

We sort of watched Cinderella twice, and I had to listen for about an hour about how mean Lucifer (the cat), the step-mother and step-sisters are. I wonder how long it will take before Petunia will actually sit down and watch an entire movie. She's almost there.... not quite, but almost. I think I'm going to buy Toy Story for her next. Heck, I still haven't seen it and I'm really excited to watch it. That's pathetic, I know, but it is what it is.

This evening, Petunia and I finally got all the weeds out of the tomato bed and planted our five tomato plants (yay!), and I have to say that she was a pretty good helper. To be honest, it didn't hurt that I told her we'd swing afterwards if she helped me. Yeah, whatever works, right? I'm still not sure how she managed to get dirt in my hair, though.

When we got to the swingset, she was very upset about what the birds had done to her property. In her defense, it was quite a mess. She said, "Look at what those meanie birds did to my swing and slide! They got poop-doo all over them!"

After ~~the two of us~~ I got it all cleaned up (apparently the princess couldn't bring herself to clean poop-doo) we played until it got dark. I told her we needed to go inside because we couldn't see very well anymore. Her suggestion? Get a flashlight. Nice try, Petunia.

What a nice day!

I Love My Mama

2010-05-15T19:16:00.001-05:00

Okay, I'm a little embarrassed and somewhat let down at this moment. I was cooking supper when I heard Petunia in the living room singing a song. I listened and realized she was making up lyrics to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" and it was about how much she loved Mama. My heart swelled to the point of bursting, and I went into the living room to let her know how much that meant to me.

I hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head as I thanked her for singing such a beautiful song about how much she loved me. She looked at me, tilted her head in slight confusion, and then she said, "Oh, I wasn't singing about you. I was teaching my babies this song so they could sing it to me."

I slunk back into the kitchen. I can laugh now, but... That girl!

We Love Nana and Papa!

2010-05-13T23:48:00.001-05:00

It was so much fun to have Nana and Papa here for a visit. Petunia was like gum on their shoes... she honestly could not get enough of her grandparents. I loved them being here as well, and they also provided me with a much needed break. I'm not sure if everyone realizes how nice it is to not be "on duty" 24/7. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my sweet and spicy girl, but I rarely get a break to do something (or nothing) and it's wonderful when they come my way. For example, I went to Target by myself, and I was able to take long showers without worrying if Petunia was alright. Ahh, but it's the simple things in life that mean the most.

Nana and Papa were here during the tragic storms/flooding that devastated middle Tennessee. I'm so heartbroken for those who lost loved ones, their homes, or suffered any other kind of loss due to the flooding. I personally know several people who fit into those categories, and I truly can't imagine what they're dealing with right now. We made it through without any catastrophe. We had to stay in the house all that weekend, and I don't even want to think about how it would have been for Petunia and me to be here by ourselves. We would have made each other crazy due to severe cabin fever, I think.

We had to take cover once when the tornado sirens went off. I wasn't sure how Petunia would react to that. As I hustled her into the closet, she asked me why we were going in there. I explained that sometimes the weather gets really bad and we had to go to the safest place in the house, so we're going into the closet. She looked a little worried and said, "But how long are we going to have to stay.... HEY! Can I play with that flashlight?" And all was right with the world. Silly girl.

My parents were also here for Mother's Day. Yay! My mom is fabulous! My dad isn't so bad either, but we're talking Mother's Day at the moment. We didn't do anything special, but it was nice to have Mom/Nana here to celebrate with.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mom and Dad for everything. Petunia and I love you... a bushel and a peck!

As usual, I was horrible about getting the camera out. I managed to get one... that's one... photo of Nana and Petunia together. I know, I'm so lame.

Petunia, in her LSU dress, basking in all the attention she got from Nana.

Petunia strolling with her babies (and whatever else she has in that stroller). Notice the balloon she has tied to her wrist? Well, that was supposed to be for me as part of my Mother's Day present, but I haven't been allowed to play with it. *sigh*

Dancing to the music from Glee. The balloon is in place and she's got "special sticks" to help her twirl. Yeah, I haven't figured that one out yet, but she was doing some pretty great twirling, so maybe they really do work! Check out the definition of her arms. My girl has some muscles!

My Yuyu! (Or Is It Mercedes?)

2010-04-27T21:36:00.002-05:00

The other night Petunia was playing in the living room when I turned on the TV. We were experiencing problems with our cable box, so we were watching in black and white. (Talk about a flashback to my early childhood days!) Anyway, the end of Glee (la-hove this show!) was on, and the cast and a choir were singing "Like a Prayer" by Madonna. Petunia got up and started dancing and checking out the people on our screen. All of a sudden she said, "Oh, there's my Yuyu!"

I asked her to point out Yuyu, so Petunia pointed to a girl on the TV and said, "She's right there! But, Mama, her hair isn't the same color."

I thought I would die laughing. I really did. Petunia was pointing to Mercedes!! Hilarious!

Not very familiar with Glee? Don't know who Mercedes is? Well, take a peek and tell me if you think Yuyu and Mercedes are twins who were separated at birth. (If anyone needs clarification, Petunia's Yuyu is on the left and Mercedes is on the right.)

Oh, my silly, crazy, wonderful Petunia!

Family Day Anniversary #3

2010-04-23T23:05:00.045-05:00

Today marks the third Family Day anniversary for Petunia and me. There are so many memories of meeting my darling girl for the first time in Vietnam and the three weeks we spent there together. There are so many more memories we've made over our years at home as mother and daughter. I'm still blown away by how much I love Petunia. The best thing ever, though, is that she loves me, too. My cup runneth over.

Our tradition for this day is to go eat Chinese food (I know, I know, but there is a reason) with Petunia's Yuyu since she was in Vietnam when Petunia and I became family. Ahh, good times.

As a special treat, Petunia got more buttons for her button collection. She is one happy girl! My parents are coming up for a visit in a few days and Petunia has big plans for them. Nana and Papa, I hope you're both ready to do some serious playing with lots and lots of buttons!

How many barrettes can one small child clip into her hair? Well, I'm not sure of the exact number, but this was a start. And why she thinks she has to make a silly face every time the camera is pointed her way is beyond me.

My sweet and spicy girl that I love so very completely.

Doing Donuts Flintstone-Style

2010-04-18T23:02:00.000-05:00

Here's a video of Petunia doing donuts in her little convertible. It was her first attempt at driving her car and it didn't take her long to get the hang of it. Notice that Jasmine and the diaper bag are along for the ride. This clip is less than exciting, but I thought my family and a couple of friends would be interested in seeing it, only because they love us.

Please ignore the ridiculous giggling and commentary from the person holding the camera. Said individual shall not be officially identified.

Fun On The Farm And Driving Miss Petunia

2010-04-13T22:29:00.001-05:00

Saturday Petuna and I went to a farm to see some baby animals. It was a beautiful day and it was great to be outdoors. There were chicks, ducklings, piglets, calves, lambs, and kids (both the goat and human varieties) at the farm. What adorable little babies!

This little guy stole my heart. I promise you that I wanted to tuck him into our backpack and take him home with us. This picture absolutely does not do him justice. What a little doll!

Petunia liked the calves. She noticed their big eyes and very long lashes. She kept saying, "Awww, Mama, they're SO cute!"

There were horse-shaped swings made from tires and Petunia was shouting, "Ya-hoo!!" Hilarious!

Honestly, though, she was the happiest when picking the flowers (weeds) that were scattered about. My girl la-hoves her flowers.

When we got home, I decided to weed the flower beds so it would look like people actually live here, and Petunia decided to have some big fun in her little Cozy Convertible. I took a short video of her driving her car Flintstone-style, but I'm having trouble uploading it to the blog. Hopefully I'll get that done a little later.

A big, cheesy grin for Mama.

She's feeling the need... the need for speed!

Those tiny little feet can totally generate some power.

KISS... Family?

2010-03-21T22:49:00.000-05:00

Petunia loves talking about family. While she knows who her family members are, it doesn't stop her from asking if other people are her family, too. Tonight the TV was on, but we were playing and weren't paying attention to what show was airing. Suddenly footage from a KISS concert is on the screen and Petunia stops what she's doing to watch. I begin to look for the remote, because I'm not sure what she may or may not witness, when the conversation happens:

P: Mama, who are those people?

M: They're men who play in a band. They just dress up in costumes when they play music and sing.

P: Are they my family?

M: Um, no, honey, they're not our family.

P: Good... because they're kind of scary to look at!

Oh, my funny, sweet and spicy girl! I never, ever know what's going to come out of her mouth next.

Silly Face, Witch Hair & Ruby Slippers, And A Bird House

2010-03-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

Petunia wanted me to take a picture of her new bird house so we could show Nana and Papa. I asked her to smile and she said, "No, I want to make a silly face!" And then she did.

We took the pigtails down and was greeted with... well... let's just say it isn't her best look. She saw herself in the mirror and said, "Mama, look! I have a witch's hair on my head!" The giggles soon followed. I thought it was cute that she had her "ruby slippers" on tonight.

And this is our new bird house just waiting for a little bird family to move in. It's hanging in our cherry tree that is covered with buds. We can't wait to enjoy the beautiful blossoms!

My Irish (For The Day) Girl

2010-03-18T23:28:00.000-05:00

Here's Petunia in her pigtails and St. Paddy's Day green.

Sneaking a shot of my sweet and spicy girl when she was momentarily distracted.

And this is the look she gave me when she realized I had captured her. Poor thing, her jeans will barely stay up. They are just too, too big for her little tushy. But, hey, they're long enough! That's something at least.

Button, Button, Who Has The Button?

2010-03-15T23:42:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite pastimes was playing with buttons. I inherited that love from my mother. My mom had this wonderful old tin full of all kinds of buttons, and I adored them all. There were beautiful ones, unusual ones, plain ones, fancy ones, etc. I could get lost in the world of buttons and would play with them for the longest amount of time. I loved all the colors, shapes, textures, and sizes of the buttons, and I would take great care in sorting them in different ways.

The tin that housed the buttons was special to me for some inexplicable reason. I'm not sure where it came from or what the original use of the tin was, but I do know it had a scent that was very much its own.   I can still remember what it smelled like. It wasn't a pleasant scent, nor was it a foul one... it was simply the scent of the button tin. It's a good thing that I love my mom unconditionally, because a couple of years ago she did the unthinkable. She threw away the button tin. Egads!  I was momentarily devastated, but all is well now. (I love you, Mom!) In her defense, she had no idea how much I truly loved that tin. She knew I loved the buttons, but she never thought for a second that I would have wanted that tin.

The funny thing about that is that I have a bionic nose and a sense of smell to prove it. The fact that I actually liked that smelly button tin is so very weird. I think it's simply that it was a big part of my childhood and I would always associate that tin with happy times. (That sounds so much better than admitting how weird I am, doesn't it?)

Now I realize that Petunia couldn't have actually inherited a love of buttons from her Nana and me, but sometimes my sweet and spicy girl reminds me so much of myself.  She also loves to play with buttons. I mean she really loves to play with them. She talks about the colors, shapes, textures, and sizes of the buttons. She matches them and sorts them and make designs with them. We have a blast playing with buttons together, and we usually play with them a few times each week.   How something so simple can provide so much enjoyment and entertainment is beyond me, but I love that my daughter is able to take pleasure in something that I enjoyed so much as a child.

I actually use our playtime to talk about the similarities between buttons and people.   I talk about how we all look different and how we come in all different sizes, shapes and colors, but how beautiful we are when we're mixed together. I can't say that she completely understands what I'm trying to say, but if she doesn't, she will one day.

Tonight Petunia was playing with her buttons, and she looked at me and said, "Mama, look at all these beautiful little buttons. I have a rainbow for my own self."

She makes me smile.

Note to self: Get more buttons. We need even more variety.

Here she is, just beginning her fun for the evening. Hmmm, what are we going to do with the buttons tonight?

Love my girl's cheesy grin and wild hair. We had just taken her hair down for the night and look how "big" it is. Craziness! Oh, well, we do live in Tennessee. :-)

The Dragon And The Ladybug

2010-03-11T21:02:00.000-06:00

Petunia Story #1
The other morning, I was helping Petunia get dressed and we were discussing the things that still had to be done before we left the house. We had to fix her hair, she needed to brush her teeth, and she needed to decide which purse she wanted to carry. (You think I'm kidding, don't you? Um... well... I'm not. Deciding on a purse is something she takes very seriously. And it's a decision that is made every single day.)

Anyway, when I mentioned that I still needed to get dressed and put on my shoes, Petunia looked at the velcro rollers in my hair and said, "And you HAVE to take those rollers out. You can't go to work with rollers in your hair. Everybody would look at you and say, "Oh, no! Look at Susan {insert last name here}! She looks like a dragon!"

Petunia Story #2
Yuyu sent Petunia a big ladybug pillow as a gift. When I brought the large giftbag inside, my sweet and spicy girl was beside herself with excitement. "Oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness!" she kept saying. She was clapping her hands with great anticipation. She was super delighted with the pillow and she told me, "Mama, Santa Claus brings me presents and my Yuyu brings me presents."

Let's just say that Yuyu is feeling a little full of herself now. She said something about ranking up there with Santa... Nobody's going to be able to stand to be around her, at least for a while. Just kidding, Yuyu!

A Boyfriend Or A Boy Friend?

2010-02-22T22:13:00.000-06:00

Petunia was looking at a photo of one of her classmates, and she said, "Mama, this is Duncan. He loves me so much!"

I asked her if she loved Duncan, too. She shook her head and carefully explained, "No, I don't. He's just a boy who's my friend."

Ah, the ol' "boy friend" thing. Got it!

Why... WHY?

2010-02-18T22:18:00.000-06:00

This morning I woke Petunia up and carried her into the living room so we could cuddle for a minute or two before I continued with the morning routine. Her eyes were still closed and she was snuggling up against me as I started to sit down. At that moment, the Westminster chimes on the clock began to chime. Without opening her eyes, Petunia pulled away from me a little, sort of slumped her shoulders in complete annoyance and said, "Why... WHY does that clock have to ring All. Day. Long?!"

She then opened her eyes, pushed her hair back, and said, "Mama, (insert heavy sigh here) I'm awake now. I guess I'll just eat some Cap'n Crunch."

Yep, 3 going on 33.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T22:28:00.000-06:00

Today was a wonderful day for us, and I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. I'm exhausted so I won't write anything tonight. However, I promised to post more photos from Petunia's session in October, so here they are...

Silent Night

2009-12-24T23:54:00.000-06:00

My Petunia is sleeping all snug in her bed, and I hope she's having visions of sugarplums right now. Santa has already popped in and delivered her gifts. He was smart and didn't bother with ribbons and bows, because they seem to frustrate Petunia if they don't immediately come off the packages.

Petunia told me over and over that she wasn't sleepy, and she certainly wasn't acting like she was. The next thing I know, she's zonked out on the sofa. Thankfully, she didn't even stir when I brought her to her bed. I'm praying for a good, full night's sleep for her. I'm already getting a very late start, but I hope she stays asleep until at least 6:00.

It looks like her feet are touching the floor, but they aren't. She's just hanging there!

I think she's going to be thrilled when she wakes up. I took a picture of what Santa left. (I guess he came when I was getting ready for bed. Good thing I didn't walk in on him!) I think I'm more excited about seeing Petunia's reaction in the morning than she's going to be when opening her presents.

This year we didn't put all the ornaments on the tree. I thought it would be a good idea to keep some of the more fragile ones tucked away... just in case. Also, Petunia was in a serious hurry to get the ornaments on the tree, so there is nothing extra, like ribbon or beads. The tree may be a little bare this year, but it's still pretty enough for Petunia to ooh and ahh over.

I'll do my best to post something tomorrow. Merry Christmas!

I Know, I Know

2009-12-21T06:26:00.000-06:00

I know I promised a post, but we've been having severe sleep issues for the past week. Severe. I don't know what's going on. Over the past eight nights, I've gotten a total of only 25 hours of sleep. That's it. Apparently Petunia can handle it, but her mom? Um, not so much. Let's just say that I'm exhausted and leave it at that.

For my family and friends, I'm sorry I don't yet have Christmas cards out to you. Please see the above paragraph as a way of explanation. They will get to you, but I have a feeling it won't be before Christmas.

Petunia, despite the lack of sleep, is having the time of her life this holiday season. She loves it all, and is beyond excited about everything associated with Christmas. I hope I can do it justice when I finally sit down to write.

Okay, I have to drag myself back to my room to finish getting ready for work. Have a great Monday!

Referral Anniversary #3

2009-12-11T22:35:00.000-06:00

I don't have time to write at the moment, but I couldn't let this day go by without aknowledging its importance. Three years ago today, I received The Call from the agency telling me to check my email. I saw pictures of tiny Petunia for the very first time. It was an emotional time then, and it's still emotional for me to think of it now.

Happy 3rd referral anniversary, Petunia. I love you to the moon and back!

Note: For some unknown reason, I can't get a photo to post. I guess we'll try again tomorrow.

We're Still Here And Everything's Okay

2009-12-05T23:06:00.001-06:00

I haven't posted in way too long! How nice that some of you have actually missed my stories about my sweet and spicy Petunia, and thought enough to check in with me. It was completely unintentional, but I think I really did need a break from blogging ~ not that I do it very regularly these days. Unfortunately, I've also taken a break from reading my friends' blogs, and that's completely unacceptable. I can't even imagine what all I've missed, and I promise to try to get somewhat caught up soon. My comments may be few, but I will manage to at least say hi over the next several days.

Petunia is fabulous. I'm sure there are a zillion stories to share about her, so I'll really need to sit down and try to remember some of them. I haven't been taking pictures of her ~ shocker ~ so I'll pull the camera out and try to capture a few decent shots. Gosh, I still need to write Petunia's 3-year old update. Oh, I have a lot to do, don't I?

If I continue to write, it'll just be more of a big rambling mess. I truly don't have anything specific to blog about tonight, but I will absolutely try to get back into the swing of things in a day or two. In the meantime, here's one image that makes me grin every time I look at it.

Petunia's Photo Session ~ A Tiny Peek

2009-11-02T19:10:00.000-06:00

The proofs are in and I love them! Somehow Keri managed to capture both the sweet and spicy sides of my Petunia, and I couldn't be more proud of how cooperative my little one was during her photo session. There were even smiles, giggles, and belly laughs. (If you live in the Nashville area, I'll be happy to share Keri's information if you're interested in working with her. Just email me. She's really fantastic.)

I'd love nothing more than to post all of the photos today, but some of them are going to be surprises for family and friends, so I'll need to wait until after Christmas. Okay, okay. I hear all the sniffing and crying, so I guess I'll post a few for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy...

Jasmine's Afraid

2009-10-31T19:12:00.001-05:00

Petunia just came up to me and said, "Mama, Jasmine's afraid. She's afraid of pumas."

Then she turned to walk off, held Jasmine against her chest, patted her tiny bear's back, and said, "Don't be afraid, my Jasmine. Mama's got you."

Just as I was typing the above, I heard her playing on the couch. She's pretending to drive (complete with car noises) and telling Jasmine that the pumas won't be able to run as fast as the car. AND she told Jasmine that pumas really like biscuits, so she apparently threw some out the car window to distract them. :-)

That girl and her imagination!

Back In Our Own Beds

2009-10-27T22:04:00.001-05:00

Petunia and I made it home safe and sound last night. It's always nice to get back into your own bed, isn't it? We so enjoyed spending time with family and friends in Louisiana, but we wish we weren't there because my dad had to have surgery. However, we're so thankful that everything turned out well and he is on the mend. Thanks to those of you who offered up prayers on his behalf. They were certainly appreciated.

Petunia is missing her Nana and Papa so very much. We got in our car at the Nashville airport, and we were on our way home, when Petunia said, "Hey, Mama! This is our car?! And this is my seatbelt (carseat)?!" After I assured her it was, she was so happy. Then she said, "Now, let's go to Nana and Papa's house." So sad.

I'm really tired tonight, so I'm not going to write anymore. Instead, I'll just post a few random shots.

My silly, sweet and spicy girl!

One of her sensory issues involves sensitivity to bright light. In the mornings, it takes her a little while for her eyes to adjust to the light, so she wears her sunglasses during breakfast. Here she is watching Blues Clues and eating Cap'n Crunch. She's not much of a morning person.

Getting ready to blow out the candles on her birthday cookie at the party my family gave her.

You simply must lick the icing off the candles!

Playing with Uncle Eric in the playroom at Nana and Papa's house. He's such a good sport.

I got this photo of one of my nieces, quite honestly, by chance. Isn't she beautiful?

A potty seat makes a very nice picture frame! (Let the record show that this is a brand new, unused potty seat.)

A birthday present from Aunt Kelly and Uncle Robert. Her gifts were waiting for her when we got back to Nashville. She was, in her words, "so excited!" (You can see our countdown to our trip on the fridge. Petunia loved getting up each morning to "put an X.")

She also received a really fun tutu to play in. She always runs to this spot when she wants me to take her picture. Funny girl!

Prayers For Pop

2009-10-24T09:23:00.000-05:00

Petunia and I are in Louisiana because my dad had surgery Tuesday. He's at home and is feeling better today, but I'm asking for prayers for his full recovery. He's going to be fine, but I just want him to feel top-notch sooner rather than later.

My family gave Petunia a birthday party last Sunday, and it was good to get most of the family together. Four family members weren't able to make it because of school or work, and we certainly wish they could have been here. Petunia was excited about having her cousins here to play with, a "Happy Birthday" cookie, and lots of gifts. It was a fun day!

Other than that, we've not done anything special. We've just hung around with Nana and Papa, and that's been more than fine with Petunia. She's going to have to be surgically removed from her Nana, I think, when it's time to go home. Seriously, my mom can't turn around without bumping into Petunia. She was very concerned about Papa, especially when she saw him in the hospital, when he was hooked up to IVs, oxygen, etc. She really didn't know what to think of that. Slowly, as he's felt better, she's back to seeing him as regular ol' Papa.

I'm so not looking forward to getting on the plane in a couple of days. I'm not ready to leave everyone yet, but Petunia is absolutely not going to want to leave her Nana and Papa. Monday may be a loooong day. Tuesday means back to school and work for Petunia and me, and that will probably be a struggle for my sweet and spicy girl. Any change in her routine is hard, but something big like this is often much harder. Any prayers and good thoughts will be appreciated regarding this, as well.

I have lots of blogs to catch up on, but that'll have to wait until we get home. I can't wait to see what everyone's been up to.

A (Trick Or) Treat From Nanny

2009-10-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

Petunia's Nanny and family sent a special package to Petunia for her birthday. The cute outfit she's wearing in the photo below was one of the gifts. Naturally, the skirt was a little too big for her, but my sweet girl really wanted to wear it. Being the good mom that I am, I put leggings underneath the skirt, and the extra bulk helped to keep the skirt in place. The shirt says Too Cute to Scare. Thanks, Nanny, Uncle Steven, Ebeth, Emmy, and Skippy for the birthday surprises. Petunia loved everything!

Tomorrow is Petunia's well-child visit with Dr. White, or in Petunia speak, Dr. Wipe. I'm sure the report will be a good one.

Oh, I wanted to be sure to document this. I recently posted about Petunia saying her orange crayon was "orange like a punkin-head." At the time I thought she was just referring to a pumpkin, but calling it a punkin-head because that's one of her nicknames. Well, I discovered the truth the next morning. We were driving to school when Petunia said, "Mama, look! Look at all those punkin heads in that yard." The house and yard were decorated for Halloween, and there were lots of jack-o-lanterns everywhere. Ahhh, punkin heads.

Apparently they were talking about jack-o-lanterns in school the past couple of days, because this morning she said, "Mama, I see some 'Jack and Annas' right there." Aww, man! I wanted her to keep calling them punkin heads, at least for this year. (I know that's wrong, but it's so adorable when she says it.) So we talked about all the decorations and I thought that was that. Wrong again! This afternoon she started talking about the 'Jack and Annas' she was seeing. Then she said something about the 'Jack and Annas' on the punkin heads. What? After a couple of confusing moments, I figured it out. The jack-o-lanterns she was pointing to had inflatable ghosts popping out of the top of them. She was calling the ghosts 'Jack and Annas'. You know what, she can call them whatever she wants to, but, bless her heart, she just can't quite get it right.

Cute shirt and skirt compliments of Nanny and Co.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Petunia!

2009-10-10T23:39:00.001-05:00

My little baby is a baby no longer. She's now my ~~big~~ little 3-year old. I can honestly say that I love this age. There are still, of course, the throwing of the occasional fit and the Sybil-like moodiness that most toddlers display, but those moments truly get outweighed by the fun times.

Today Petunia and I had a complete and total blast! It began with her sleeping in until almost 7:00 a.m. I know! I'm only sorry that I got up as early as I did but, hey, my body is thoroughly programmed that way by now. She woke up in a fantastic mood and never slowed down. My sweet girl kept me cracking up all day long. She's just so funny!

The first order of business, besides singing Happy Birthday and going through our morning routine, was to go get Petunia's 3-year old photos made. Unfortunately, we have no professional 2-year old photos because of the aforementioned Sybil-like moodiness, so I was hoping for a better session this year. We were trying a new photographer, who turned out to be really great with Petunia.

It took a few minutes for Petunia to warm up to Keri, but then she began to be herself more and more as time went by. There was no crying and there were no tantrums! Yay! I won't be able to see the photos for a few weeks (darn it), but I'm expecting great things because Petunia was really ~~working the camera~~ cooperating more than she's ever done before. There was even some very genuine laughter going on. Naturally, her spicy expressions made an appearance, too, but she wouldn't be Petunia without them, now would she? I can't wait for everyone to see the dress she had on. It is awesome! I mean, truly awesome! And it fits Petunia perfectly. I just could not have been more pleased with that find.

After the photo session, we went through McDonald's drive-thru to pick up lunch. (Cut me some slack... she's 3! She likes to eat at "My Donnells.") We ate lunch, took a much ~~too short~~ needed rest, and then it was gift-opening time. Petunia had a ball opening her gifts. I finally started counting how many times she said either, "Thank you for my happy birthday presents, Mama." or "Thank you very much for my special presents, Mama." I counted eight times, but I bet she said it at least a dozen or so. Her manners are really kicking in -- love it!

We played and played this afternoon until Yuyu came over. As usual, she almost had to rent a delivery truck because of the number of birthday presents she brought with her. To say that Petunia was in heaven is an understatement. Not only was she opening gift after gift, but her Yuyu was there to play with her. Thank you, Yuyu, for the gifts and for being such a wonderful Yuyu to Petunia.

After supper, we had birthday cake. Can you believe my sweet and spicy girl blew out her candles? Yep, she showed no fear at all this year. If you don't know how her birthday went last year, you can read about it here. Wow! What a difference a year makes.

She finally went to sleep a little while ago, so I'm going to head to bed, too. This was a wonderful, wonderful day! The love I feel for my Petunia is like nothing I've never known before in my life. She constantly amazes me, sometimes frustrates me, and always loves me -- no matter what. My world would be so lonely and dull without her in it. Thank God she lights it up every day.

Happy 3rd birthday, Petunia! I love you so very much. My cup runneth over.

After re-reading this, I have to say that I don't feel like I did our day justice in this post. It was such a great day! I'm just really tired, I guess. A 3-year update will be coming, but it'll have to wait for another day. Night-night.

One final note: My friend Kelly took some photos of Petunia (and Gracie) last weekend at the zoo, but there were no smiles - from either girl. The reason? I think it was just too damp and cold, and probably because there were too many people around for Petunia to get comfortable. She never let her guard down at all, when it came to the camera. Kelly's an amazing photographer, and I can't wait for her to get another crack at Petunia the next time she's in town. If you haven't seen the sneak preview, please check it out at Kelly's photography blog. You'll get to see pics of sweet Gracie, and you'll also get to see my Petunia kissing a caterpillar. The caterpillar pic and the one of Petunia standing on the bale of hay are my favorites. Again, I want to say a special thanks to Kelly for being so sweet and working with such a tough crowd!

Tearing into gifts -- she was a pro!

Looks like the birthday cake was finger-licking worthy.

Petunia sporting a milk mustache.

Orange Like A...

2009-10-08T23:07:00.001-05:00

My parents sent Petunia some crayons for the bathtub, and she loves those things. Tonight she was drawing on the tub and started to talk about the different colors at her disposal. She then began to hold them up one at a time while making up a little song. I wasn't paying too much attention until she reached the last color. She was singing:

This color is red... red like a stop sign.

This color is blue... blue like the sky.

This color is green... green like the grass.

This color is yellow... yellow like a school bus.

This color is orange... orange like a punkin-head.

Okay, so Petunia is not her only nickname. She has several. And, yes, I must admit that I have called her punkin-head ~~on many occasions~~ once or twice. Am I permanently damaging my sweet girl? Should I just go ahead and find her a good counselor now?

Come Swat It

2009-10-07T06:33:00.000-05:00

This morning I was in my bathroom getting ready when Petunia came running in. Our conversation went like this:

P: Mom, there's a bug in the living room!
M: There is? What kind of bug is it?
P: I'm not sure.
M: What kind of bug do you think it is?
P: I think it's a squito-ma-bite!
M: A mosquito?
P: Yes, ma'am. A big squito-ma-bite. And it's going to bite me and I'm going to be very upset.
M: Okay, I'll be there in one minute.
P: Hurry, Mama. I need you to come swat it.

I had a strong feeling there was really no bug of any sort. She has a fixation about them at the moment, and she's constantly spotting bugs that aren't there. Buuuuut, I went into the living room about 30 seconds later and asked her where the mosquito was. She said, "It's right here!" Then she proceeded to stomp her little foot on a small piece of lint. Yep, she squashed that lint like a... well, a squito-ma-bite.

My sweet girl keeps me laughing so much. I love her to pieces!

Que Son Girls Get Together Again - Finally

2009-10-04T19:18:00.000-05:00

After more than two years, which is way too long, Gracie, Lucy, and Petunia were all together again. They were roomies in Vietnam for a few months and it's important to their moms that they stay in touch. There was a bonus this time, too. Annie, who is also from Que Son, was part of today's group. We were so happy to finally meet her in person. By the way, she's just yummy! How fabulous to see our friends again!

We met at the zoo this morning, mainly because so many other places to meet don't open early on Sundays. The weather really didn't cooperate at all, but we managed to have fun anyway. Can you believe there weren't any meltdowns? To be honest, Petunia was a little grumpy this morning, but she brightened up after a few minutes. Too bad the weather didn't do the same. Kelly's hubby, mom, two sisters, and two nephews joined us, and it was great seeing them again, too.

We were so excited today to be with our special friends. Petunia and I are very blessed to have Kelly's family and Sherri's family in our lives. Thanks so much for taking time out of your schedules to spend a few hours with us. We love y'all, and we can't wait to do this again.

Kelly is the professional photographer, but I'm going to post a few of my own anyway.

My sweet and spicy girl waiting for everyone else to arrive. It was chilly!

Gathering a bouquet of leaves.

Guarding the strollers (I guess) and taking the job very seriously.

Precious little Annie. She's fast on stairs!

Kelly and three of the Que Son girls. Guess who's missing. Yep, Petunia. Come to think of it, I don't think we got even one shot of all of them together. Sad, isn't it?

Petunia And Gracie Together Again

2009-10-03T23:23:00.004-05:00

This is going to be super short because I've got to go to bed. Petunia and I met up with Sherri, Gracie, and Aunt Terri at the mall this evening. We ate at the food court, let the girls play in the little play area, and chatted. We really love getting together. The girls didn't stay still long enough to get any good photos, but here are a few so-so ones. Tomorrow we all get to spend a couple of hours with Kelly, Lucy, and Annie. Yay!

All ready to go. Petunia's purse and Jasmine are in the car.

Gracie on the move (and a little blurry). Sorry about that.

Both girls climbing in the life raft.

Petunia sticking her landing after coming down the slide. Too funny.

She Looks Just Like Me

2009-09-28T21:28:00.003-05:00

Sybil was here this weekend. *heavy sigh*

In the afternoons, Petunia's school often combines two classes into one when the number of children are fewer. This afternoon I walked into Petunia's classroom to pick her up, and a little Asian girl ran over to me, pointed to Petunia, and said, "Hey, Her Mama! Her Mama! She looks just like me!"

I think it was so sweet that this little girl (she's from a different class, so I don't know her name) was super excited that Petunia looks like her, but I think it's hilarious that she called me "Her Mama." I mean it was all I could do to keep the laughter in.

So there you have it. I documented a story that wasn't really even a Petunia story.

Going To Tar-jay

2009-09-20T23:22:00.003-05:00

This non-stop rain is beginning to give us cabin fever. After watching the weather forecast, it looks like we're in for another full week of rain. Geez, Louise! Anyway, Petunia and I were feeling restless, so we decided to go to Target (no, I really don't call it Tar-jay) just to walk around and browse a little. One of us had excess energy to get rid of. I don't want to mention any names, but her initials are P-E-T-U-N-I-A. :-)

I was getting my shoes on when I heard Petunia, who was in the kitchen at the time, say something to me. I walked into the kitchen and told her I didn't hear her. She said, "I was just saying, 'Let's go, amigo!'" She's always coming up with something new to make me giggle.

Notice ever-present Jasmine and one of her ever-present purses were in hand. Can you see Jasmine's band-aid? Well, Jasmine #1 had an altercation with a permanent marker at school. I tried to remove the stain but nothing worked. Petunia was a little distraught over the whole thing, so I decided to treat it like a bo-bo and put a band-aid on it. Apparently that made everything all better. Fast forward several days and Jasmine needed to take a spin in the washer. The dilemma? Jasmine #2 doesn't have a scar from a permanent marker. Ah, but #2 can still have a band-aid -- orange. Believe it or not, Petunia has not tried to remove the bandage... not even once. I love it when a plan comes together.

I Don't Feel Like Singing Right Now

2009-09-16T21:25:00.005-05:00

This evening Petunia suddenly appeared from her play room, and brought me a bowl with some play food in it. She sort of shoved it at me and said, "Here's your happy birthday cake, Mama. I don't feel like singing right now, so you'll have to sing "Happy Birthday to You" by yourself. Okay?" And off she went. That was so hilarious to me!

Is this not the funniest expression on her face? She's finally able to wear the pajamas given to her by my niece Gol, her hubby Jason, and their daughter, "Baby Helen." Petunia loves that there's a tube of lipstick on her shirt. Forget the monkey wearing a tiara... there's lipstick, people!

The younger kids aren't allowed to bring backpacks to school, but we have to load up some toys every Thursday for our visit to OT. This photo was from a couple of weeks ago, and Petunia asked me to take a picture of her backpack. She said, "Now... I'm going to turn around, Mama. You take the right picture, please." If I had missed the backpack in the shot, I guess that would have been the wrong picture?

Check out the attire! (Let the record show that she did not go to school in this ridiculous outfit.) This evening she selected brown leggings, a multi-colored, striped hat, and one of her 739 bags to go with her black and white dress. That toe has always had a mind of its own!

Close up of my sweet and spicy girl in her striped hat. I love that girl!

Eight Years

2009-09-11T23:15:00.004-05:00

My heart is still heavy, even though eight years have passed. The horrific 9/11 tragedy isn't a distant memory for me. I remember everything about that day, especially because I was out of state... away from everyone I loved... wondering how I was going to get home. It's amazing how much I needed to be with my family that day.

My worries were nothing, however, compared to all of those directly impacted by the unspeakable actions of a group of people who thought nothing of stamping out beautiful lives and wreaking havoc. I cannot possibly imagine what the people in the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and the airplanes went through that day. I also cannot imagine what the families and friends of those people went through, and are probably still going through.

I pray for them all, especially on this day. God bless America.

Petunia, The Makeup Artist

2009-09-07T22:29:00.003-05:00

Two posts in one day? Yeah, I know! But I just had to document this little story.

This evening Petunia came up to me and said, "Mama, sit down, please. I need to brush your hair." I was happy for the excuse to stop folding clothes. After she brushed my hair for a minute or two, she pulls out a makeup brush (I had given her some freebies I had stashed away) and several little cups. She told me she was going to put makeup on me and that I needed to be very, very still.

I have to admit I was the tiniest bit nervous. I had instant visions of her poking my eyes out in the name of beauty. She's very careful around her own eyes, but I'm just sayin'. Anyway, she gave me a running commentary as she was applying imaginary makeup to my face.

P: Mama, I'm going to put some on your eyes. Don't move, okay?
M: Okay, I'll be as still as a statue.
P: Now I have to put it on your cheeks... then your nose... then your eyebrows... now your chin.
M: Are you all finished now?
P: No, ma'aaaaaaaaam. Not yet. Be still, please.
M: Where else do you need to put makeup?
P: I just need to put a little more on your whole noggin.
M: *trying so very hard not to laugh out loud*

She then quickly brushed the brush over my entire face and declared the task complete. I thanked her for her services and she told me I was welcome.

As she headed back toward her play room, she turned to me and said, "Oh, I almost forgot. You look so cute, Mama."

A Growth Spurt?

2009-09-04T19:30:00.004-05:00

She must be growing! On two different days last week, we had to go to Plan B for the outfit of the day, because I couldn't fasten her buttons. Her clothes were too small! Thank goodness she waited until the end of summer before deciding to outgrow some things.

My sweet and spicy girl and I went shopping Saturday for some new clothes for her. Even with her growth spurt, we still had a difficult time finding cooler-weather clothes that fit properly. The majority of what we bought came from Baby Gap, and I can't tell you how happy I am that the child's going to have some pants for the fall/winter. We found some 12-18 month jeans that will do the trick because of an adjustable waist. I just hope she doesn't grow any taller for a little while, because the pants are barely long enough as it is. We bought some 18-24 month leggings that are baggy (because Petunia doesn't really have a tushy to speak of) but somehow manage to stay up. They're also plenty long. Yay! I think she's pretty much set for now.

Petunia will go for her 3-year check up next month -- can you believe my little baby is going to be three years old in only one more month? *gasp* It'll be interesting to get her official weight/measurements. Right now I only know that she is wearing:

Shorts/Skirts: size 6-12 months
Shirts: size 12-18 months
Dresses: size 12-18 months
Pants: size 12-18 months - if adjustable waist
Leggings: size 18-24 months - although they won't look like leggings because of the bagginess factor
Shoes: size 5 - almost

You know, it really is cute that she's so petite, but it's also so crazy difficult finding clothes to fit her that are truly designed for a 3-year old. I mean, it just doesn't look right for her to walk around with giraffes, ducks, or lambs on her shirts. I'm afraid Petunia may be in for a lifetime of getting her clothes altered.

In other news, my dad turned the big 7-0 yesterday. (Happy birthday, Pop!) My brothers and their families all got together to help him celebrate, and I have to say... I was so sad Petunia and I weren't there. We did call him and Petunia and I sang Happy Birthday to him. I love living in Tennessee, but it totally stinks that we can't see our family anytime we want. Well, I guess they know we were there in spirit. We're trying to figure out when we can go down for another visit. We were going to try to go for Petunia's birthday, but it looks like that won't happen. We'll figure something out -- I'm certain of it. To our family... We LOVE you all!

Sybil's Departure & Petunia Stories

2009-08-25T20:58:00.002-05:00

Sybil must have decided to visit someone else's house today, because my Petunia was back! She was so sweet this morning so I was hopeful for a good day at school. (She hasn't been getting in trouble, she's just been fussy or upset.) When I picked her up this afternoon, there was a wonderful note from her teacher letting me know how sweet Petunia had been. She let me know that Petunia had her laughing all day with her little antics. And the cherry on top was that she was amazingly sweet this evening. We had so much fun. She even put on a mini-concert for Nana and Papa over the telephone tonight. They're her biggest fans. Well, next to me, of course. Regardless if she's Sybil or Petunia, I love my sweet and spicy girl ALL the time!

Her teachers really do love her, too. I found out that they decorated a special little pail for Petunia to take outside at school. They know how much she likes to gather things like clover flowers, weeds, little sticks, special pieces of mulch, etc., and they wanted to give her something to put them all in. How stinkin' nice are they?

Here are a few little moments I want to be sure to document:

For the longest time, Petunia would refer to motorcycles as bicycles. I tried multiple times to tell her they were motorcycles, but she wouldn't make the correction. One day we heard a motorcycle going down the street and she exclaimed, "I hear a bicycle!" I knew she wouldn't go with motorcycle, so I decided to tell her it was really a motorbike. Since that day, she now refers to motorcycles as... are you ready for this?... motorbike-cycles. Oh, so close!

The other night America's Funniest Videos (or whatever it's called) was on, and they were showing some clips involving babies and toddlers. One of them really caught Petunia's attention because she started laughing and saying, "Oh, my gohhhhhhhhsh!" She's said "Oh, my goodness!" a million times, but this was the first I heard of the other. The southern accent was very apparent!

Last night Petunia decided one of her babies, Cailin, needed pajamas on (several of her babies are naked 98% of the time), and I heard her talking to the doll. "Cailin, we have to put your 'jamas on, becaaaaause I don't want you to freeze to deaf!" The moral of this story is, although you are convinced they aren't listening to a word you're saying, they hear everything. I hear myself in Petunia every single day. And, yes, I say some really stupid things.

She loves to wedge herself behind me when I'm sitting on the couch. I then pretend to try to figure out why the couch is so lumpy. I look over both shoulders and pretend to see nothing, all the while talking loudly to myself. When I announce that I guess I'm just going to lean back and try to relax even though it's lumpy, she can no longer contain the giggles. She starts saying, "It's me, Mama! It's Petunia! I behind you!" And the belly laughs take over. The other night she added, "Mama, you're just so silly!"

One day she hated everything about everything. She had nothing good to say at all. I finally looked at her and said, "You are just negative today." She looked back at me and said, "No, I Petunia!" What made me laugh is that she actually calls herself Petunia sometimes instead of her given name. Cracks me up!

Petunia has an ABC puzzle/game thing that has each letter on a block, with a coordinating picture. (For example, A - Airplane, B - Books, etc.) She loves to put this together over and over again. Tonight she finally said "R for Rhinoceros", but it came out "rhino-dah'-ceros." I cheered for her because she worked hard to pronounce it (almost) perfectly. She probably said the word three or four more times, but each time it came out differently. No matter, though... she was really proud!

Just A Swingin'

2009-08-23T16:48:00.004-05:00

Petunia asked to swing this afternoon! I had my doubts that she'd actually stay on the swing once I put her in it, but she did and had big fun. She had me push her for about 15-20 minutes, and trust me when I say that was a huge deal! I was almost in tears watching her giggle and say, "Push me more (meaning higher), Mama!" She also had to do a little sliding, and she walked across the platform every time. Way to go, Petunia! I'm just so proud of her and how far she's come in such a short period of time.

The weather was nicer than nice this weekend, with partly cloudy skies and a high of 78-80 with low, low humidity. Of course that's just crazy because it's August in Tennessee. The extended forecast is calling for great temperatures this entire week, and only one or two days will reach 90 degrees. I'm totally loving it, because I can't stand hot weather. In fact, autumn cannot get here soon enough for me.

Well, this is a short post, but I've got a million things to do. More later.

Saying, "Push ME!"

Silly girl, with silly hair, making a silly face. I just love her to pieces!

Thank You For The Prayers

2009-08-22T07:49:00.003-05:00

Thank you for all the prayers sent up on behalf of my mom. She's recovering nicely, although she's going to be sore for a while. I talk to her every day on the phone, and I can tell that she's feeling a little better as each day passes. I know she's got family and friends there to help her out, but I hate that I'm not there to help, too. However, if you read the last paragraph, you'll see why it really worked out for the best that Petunia and I are at home.

Please keep my mom on your prayer lists, if you will. She's got a way to go before she's feeling 100 percent, and I know the prayers help.

This has been a super busy week, the sleep issues have resurfaced somewhat, and Sybil and I both have been very cranky. (Yes, you read that correctly. Sybil has returned after an extended absence!) Hopefully we'll get back on track soon, and I'm going to do my best to post again this weekend.

Please Pray For My Mom

2009-08-18T23:13:00.002-05:00

My mom had surgery this morning, and she's having a bit of a hard time right now. The doctor's are hopeful that tomorrow will be a better day for her, but we'll just have to wait and see. I hate not being there, but she insisted that I stay home. I should have gone anyway. I would be so appreciative, and I know my mom would too, if she was added to your prayer lists. If praying is not something that you do, will you please remember my mom and send good thoughts her way? Thanks so much.

As If My Other Ramblings Aren't Boring Enough

2009-08-16T21:53:00.005-05:00

Time has completely gotten away from me! The best thing that happened this week is that Petunia had a super day at her occupational therapy session. Not only did she do nearly everything that was asked of her (still wouldn't get her hands messy intentionally), but she had a total blast. You should have heard the belly laughs coming from her when I would stack up big cardboard blocks only to have her knock them down by swinging into them. She was on a tube-shaped swing that she straddled as if she were riding a horse. For whatever reason, this was an acceptable way to swing that day. I found myself having as much fun as she was. How awesome it was to see her like that!

On the down side, I had to make an unexpected visit to the dentist because part of a filling broke, which also caused a part of my tooth to break. (Nicki, I know you're with me on this.) I'm currently sporting a temporary crown, but I know it could have been worse. I go back at the end of the month to get the permanent crown, and I'll also have my teeth cleaned. I wouldn't be too surprised to learn there are other things that need to be taken care of. Thank goodness for giggle juice and my iPod! That's all I have to say.

Wait! There's more! After several years of illness, my computer finally has no pulse. It's a complete goner. I wish I could say I'm sorry to see it go, but that would be a false statement. Oh, I'm terribly sorry I had to shell out a few nickles for a new one, but I honestly think that old thing was a lemon from day one. Petunia and I bought a new one today, and it's now up and running. The day will hopefully come when I can get what I want, but I think the one I got will serve my purpose just fine. It's really nuts to think about how inexpensive some PCs are these days. I remember when you had to practically mortgage your house to pay for one. I'm thankful that I spent way less than I thought I would have to.

Yesterday I went to get my hair cut, and Yuyu came over to stay with Petunia. I told her that Petunia was in a foul mood and that I hoped she wasn't coming down with something. (She had asked me several times to hold her, which totally isn't like her on a typical day, but she wasn't exhibiting any signs of anything.) Anyway, I really wasn't completely shocked to see my home number pop up on my cell phone. Yuyu called to report that Petunia had just thrown up and was feeling less than perky. I'm sorry I wasn't home with her when she got sick, but I'm glad her Yuyu was with her. (Thanks so much, Lelah, for taking such good care of my Petunia.) She had another episode before I could get home, then two more afterwards. What was worse than her vomiting was the fact that she was having such horrible stomach cramps. She wanted me to hold her, then she wanted to lie down. Then she curled into the fetal position before lying on her stomach. I wanted to cry because she was so obviously uncomfortable, and I wished I was experiencing those cramps instead of her. I truly would have taken them away from her if I could. She didn't have a great night, but I'm happy to say she was feeling much, much better this morning. She was cranky as an old crocodile all day, but I guess she was entitled. I'm hoping for a good night's rest for both of us.

Speaking of rest, it's still going okay. Petunia's had a couple of nights that weren't good, and she's decided to get up before the chickens a few days, but it's still remarkably better than what we've been experiencing before. With the exception of yesterday and today, she's been in a really fun mood. I'm absolutely loving the extra sleep we've been getting. And to everyone who is struggling with sleep issues, my heart goes out to you. Hopefully you all will turn a corner really soon.

Some things I want to remember:

Petunia has an alphabet puzzle. Instead of saying "M is for Magnet" she says "M is for Maggot." Gross, I know.

The other day she was playing with something and she dropped it. She huffed a little bit and said, "Oh, for the love of Pete!" (I wonder where she gets that from. lol)

After about the fourth attempt to make one of her stuffed animals sit up straight, she looked at me and said, "That's just ree-dicalus, Mama!"

Singing me the ABC Song.

That simply cannot be comfortable.

Seriously. She had the whole couch to herself.

Trying hard to hold the laughter in, but...

failing miserably. I love this crazy, sweet, and spicy girl!

Not Perfection, But I'll Take It

2009-08-04T21:37:00.002-05:00

So far, so good with the sleep. It isn't as fantastic as the first two nights, but it's so much better than what we've been dealing with for so long. Petunia has been in such a good mood each day, and my energy level has been up. She's been so much fun and I've been a much better mother. I don't think I'm a bad mother, but you know what I mean. I've been more fun, too, and I've definitely had more patience.

This weekend I actually felt like doing housework and cooking. Let me tell you, it's been a long time since I felt like doing that. It always seems that I do just enough to get by, because I'm simply too exhausted. This weekend was a different story. Also, Petunia and I played like a couple of crazy girls, and we had a blast together. I even asked her if she wanted to go somewhere or if she'd rather stay home, and she chose to stay home. In fact, she said, "We just stay here and play. Okay, Mama?" *sniff*

On a different note, OT didn't go as well last Thursday for some reason. Petunia just absolutely refused to do anything that was asked of her. Refused! The only thing she halfway did was put together some little plastic flowers, but she truly enjoys doing that. Mindee assured me that this happens sometimes, but I couldn't help but feel like it was a total waste. I'm praying my spicy girl is a little more cooperative this week.

Despite her lack of cooperation last week, I still believe that some improvement is being made through OT. When we washed her hair Sunday night, she didn't fight me when I rinsed her hair. This was the first time in months and months and months. She was still pretty tense, and we had to take a short breather in the middle of rinsing so she could regroup, but she willingly let me continue rinsing out all the shampoo. This was huge!

Also, tonight we're having pretty strong thunder storms, and Petunia didn't get upset about the thunder. When it first started happening, she got up on the couch with me, but she didn't cry or jump in my arms. After a minute, she said, "It's tundering. Do you hear it?" When I acknowledged that I was hearing it, she touched my face and said, "Don't be scared, Mama. Okay? I'm wight here wit you." Then she got back down and started playing with her babies. Again, this was huge! My heart just about burst!

Yikes! It's 10:00 and it's time for me to be in bed. I made a pact with myself to be in bed by 10:00ish. I should have a photo or two to post, but I don't. Maybe next time.

Thanks to everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers regarding the sleep issue. I appreciate it so much. Please, please keep it up! I love my sweet and spicy girl, and the newly found sleep has been so beneficial for both of us. Sweet dreams, everyone!

The Sandman Was Here!

2009-08-01T09:31:00.004-05:00

For the past two nights we've had an overnight guest. The Sandman! I don't even know what to think of this -- I'm just so happy!

Thursday night Petunia slept from 9:00 pm - 7:00 am, and I had to wake her up. That same night, I was asleep by 9:30 (I know!) and did not wake up until 5:00. I felt so great Friday, but never, even in my wildest imagination, did I think I would be fortunate enough to get two full night's sleep in. a. row.

Imagine my surprise and pleasure when Petunia slept from 9:30 last night until 8:00 this morning. Did you read that?! 8:00! She and I are both in the very best moods EVER. I woke up at 6:00 this morning, but I still got some precious sleep. In fact, I don't even remember dreaming anything, and I usually remember every morning. That, my friends, is some good sleep.

As much as I would love for this to continue, I'm not holding my breath. So then why am I making such a big deal out of these two nights? Because they were consecutive nights of good sleep. In the month of June, we had only two ( count them... 2) nights that Petunia stayed asleep, but they weren't consecutive. And, they were only about 6-7 hours for Petunia and 5-6 for me. That was good, but, ooooooohhhhhh, these past two nights were 1000 times better.

Please pray, send good thoughts, or whatever you believe in, that Petunia will soon be on a regular sleep schedule (like the past two nights) so that we can both be at our very best all the time. I've been dealing with serious sleep deprivation for over two years now (over three if you count the months of going through the adoption process, when I had severe insomnia), and I'm becoming more and more zombie-like. I would love to feel more human again. Thanks in advance.

Now a couple of personal messages to friends...

Happy 3rd birthday, Lucy! I hope your day is as special as you are. Have a fun, fun, fun day, and know that Petunia and I are sending you big birthday hugs!
To Kerri, thank you so much for the tip. It didn't really do the trick at first, but maybe we've turned a corner. We'll see. Please know that I have every intention of calling you, but it never seems like the best time. We'll connect, though. I promise!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Last night she was playing "teacher", using her crayons and paper as visual aids. (Notice that she found another Jasmine. I had just laundered it and Petunia was helping me get the clothes out of the dryer. She was so excited to have two Jasmines.) Anyway, she finally told her "students" that it was nap time and this is what happened. Love it!

It's Not Weally Pink

2009-07-28T21:11:00.004-05:00

P.S. - Tonight Petunia and I were playing a matching game with some animals. I was calling out the names of the animals that needed a match, and she was selecting them for me. Here's how our conversation went...

M: May I have a tiger, please?
P: Here you go, Mama.
M: Hmmm, now I need a giraffe, please.
P: Here's your giwaffe.
M: Petunia, do you see a penguin?
P: I found it! I found the penkwan. But, Mama?
M: Yes, love?
P: It's not weally pink. It's bwack, yike my hair, and white, too.

I love my girl! I weally do!

Note: I knew she'd been calling a penguin a penkwan, but I just thought she was having trouble with the pronunciation. Poor thing... I'm so sorry I didn't realize (until tonight) that she really did think I was talking about a "pink one."

Petunia and OT: Update #1

2009-07-21T21:56:00.004-05:00

Petunia's occupational therapy sessions have been very educational for me. I'm really learning so much about my sweet and spicy girl. She's always excited about going to see Mindee... until we walk into the building, and then Petunia turns into the worst Meanie Girl you've ever seen. Ever. Last week, after about 10 minutes of Meanie Girl, Mindee decided to try something different by having me participate in the activities. It was amazing to see a complete and instant change come over Petunia and watch her turn into Miss Cooperative. She was so much more comfortable with me "playing", too.

She may not have done everything that Mindee asked her to do, but there have been a few successes in the short time she's been attending therapy. First of all, she's beginning to let go of her need for control a little bit, at least while she's with Mindee. I love that her trust in her therapist is growing. Several times she'd look at me when Mindee asked her to perform a task, and she would follow through as soon as she got a nod from me. Other times, she didn't look my way at all, but just jumped in with both feet.

Second, she stayed on the swing platform for at least five minutes by herself while the three of us played with some toys. I know this doesn't sound like much, but I actually shed some tears over this small victory. Although Petunia loved to swing at one point, the very thought of it now is enough for a meltdown. It's pure fear! To see my child having fun while swinging -- regardless of the short length of time and regardless that the platform is only a few inches above the ground -- was such a joy for me. In an instant, she decided she had had enough and needed off that platform immediately. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. A few minutes were better than zero minutes!

When Mab and her girls were here, Petunia decided to get on her rocking horse, whose name is Marlo. She received Marlo for her birthday last October, but has never been on it. She talks to it, pets it, and lets all her babies ride on it, but she's never wanted to give it a try. Not only did she get on Marlo, but she rocked back and forth several times. Since they left a couple of weeks ago, she's been back on the horse only once but, hey!

And finally, she's trying so hard to work through her fear of heights. Petunia loves to slide, as long as the slide isn't a crazy one, but she can barely handle being on the platform after climbing the ladder. It freaks her out, so she usually scoots on her butt or crawls to the slide part. At therapy last week, she was on the platform several times and walked every single time. She was a little apprehensive, but she did it with zero persuasion. Saturday evening Petunia and I were in the backyard, when she decided to slide. I was really nervous for her, but kept quiet. (Those of you who know me know how difficult that was!) The first time she crawled on the platform. The second time she held on to the side and shuffled across, but she was standing. The third time was a little better, and the fourth time she made herself look down to the ground. I could tell she was struggling a little, but she was really brave and accomplished what she set out to accomplish. Oh, and the pride she felt after that! She was all smiles and kept asking me, "Mama, did you see me slide? Did you see me?" My heart was so full for her.

Keep in mind that Petunia's issues aren't super bad, but she does have several to work through. To watch her meet these challenges head-on is such an inspiration to me. She's going to succeed -- I just know it. And if you haven't experienced sensory processing disorder first- or second-hand, it may be a bit difficult to understand how these small triumphs can really be so grand, but I promise that they are.

Petunia's first ride on Marlo, the rocking horse. I'm not sure of the reason for her silly expression. I suppose it's just Petunia being Petunia.

Crawling across the platform the first time.

But she ran back for more... again and again.

A few more tries and she did it! Look at that smile!

My proud girl saying, "Yook at me, Mama!"

Enjoying a frozen treat and basking in her glory. (Yeah, I know her hair's all crazy, but it was the end of the day and she played hard.)

It's Circle Time, Everybody!

2009-07-17T22:01:00.003-05:00

I've mentioned before how much Petunia will pretend play. She does it all the time, and I enjoy being the silent observer. Tonight she was gathering things up when she announced, "Okay, it's circle time, everybody!" (They have circle time at her school.) She climbed up on the couch and put her puzzle pieces, rubber duckie, Bitty Bear, and Jasmine in a circle. Then she started telling her "students" about the books she was going to read to them. She told them all that they needed "to be quiet, quiet." Apparently the "students" weren't paying attention** because she had to follow that up with, "I mean no talking, peeze." The reading began just as I took the picture above.

And then she spotted me. Poor little thing was startled by the camera, but she quickly started laughing about it. Notice that she grabbed her books up. Nobody was going to get her books!

Do you remember me writing about how much Petunia and MacLeod (may he rest in peace) are alike, and how I'm convinced they had a little conference before he left this earth so he could fill her head full of all kinds of things? Well, Petunia has decided that she likes to hang out on top of the couch. Uh-huh, you guessed it. That was one of my Cloudy Boy's favorite lounging spots. Okay, technically, it's a different couch, but I'm just sayin'. Coincidence? I think not.

Mab, this one is for you. I don't know how I missed this shot when looking through the few pictures that I took while y'all were here, but I love this one of your beautiful girls. I'll email it to you. Hug my sweet "boys" (haha) for me!

I really do have a lot to write about, especially Petunia's OT, but it's going to take some time, and I just don't have it in me yet. The sleep issue has been particularly rough lately and I'm exhausted. The past few nights have been better, but it's simply not been enough for me. I'm about to go to bed and pray for a full night of sweet sleep for both my sweet and spicy girl and me.

Tomorrow Petunia and I are going to take a drive to a nearby Amish community. I really want some good produce and other goodies. Petunia likes looking at all the animals on the people's farms, and it usually turns out to be a nice day. The weather is supposed to be fantastic this weekend (highs at about 79-80 degrees), and we plan to take full advantage of it. I think Petunia's Yuyu is going to go with us, as well. That will totally make Petunia's day because she's been asking to see her Yuyu for a while. I hate that we don't live closer to her. My girl loves her Yuyu and, unfortunately, just can't see her as often as she'd like. Oh, well, I suppose it makes their time together that much more special.

** When I wrote that, I remembered something Petunia told me a couple of days ago. I asked her if she wanted milk or water to drink, but I didn't hear her answer. I asked her again, and she walked over to me, shook her head a little and said, "Mama, you weally don't pay attention. Milk, peeze." Not only did she enunciate those last two words very slowly and clearly, but I promise you, she actually sighed as she walked back to the table. She wasn't even being a smarty-pants. It was more like she felt sorry for me or something. Yes, I lost it! She kills me! She really does.

Days Go By... Really, Really Fast

2009-07-09T22:15:00.006-05:00

Petunia and I loved having Nanny, Ebeth, and Emmy up for a visit. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling very well -- the usual head rot -- so I wasn't the best hostess in the world. But Nanny has been my friend since we were put on this earth, and I guess she'll let it slide this time. I was super tired (due to the usual sleep deprivation with a side of head rot) but we were still really happy that we had friends here for a week. We celebrated Ebeth's 11th birthday and July 4th, did a little shopping, and just hung out. Ebeth took the plunge and had her ears pierced! She did great!

Petunia kept referring to Ebeth and Emmy as "the boys." I honestly don't know where she came up with that, but it was really funny. She had a blast playing with "the boys" and Nanny. I think they had fun playing with her, too. Thanks so much, you three, for visiting us. We love you lots and miss you tons already.

This is the best picture I got of the three of them. Petunia definitely wasn't interested in participating, Ebeth had her eyes closed, and Emmy was skinnin' and grinnin'. Love those girls, though!

I need to write an update on Petunia and her OT sessions. Soon...

Because I've been such a blogging slacker, I've already forgotten a few Petunia stories (PS) that I wanted to document. Maybe they'll come back to me later, but for now I'll document one I can recall and one from today.

PS #1: Today Petunia mentioned on three or four different occasions that there was a bug (and/or spider) in the house. I would come running only to see nothing. I don't know if dust bunnies kept rolling past her (believe me, it's more than possible) or what, but I never saw a thing. A couple of hours after the last "bug sighting", Petunia was walking, at a very fast pace, across the kitchen floor when she suddenly fell down and slid about a foot. She was carrying a huge armload of toys, and I honestly think she tripped over her own foot, but, yes, I just had to ask the question.

M: Petunia, what did you trip on?
P: Um, I tink it was dat bug!

PS #2: A couple of weeks ago I put Petunia's supper on the table and was about to lift her onto her chair, when I told her she needed to be careful because the food was still a little hot. She said, "Wait a minute, Mama. I'll be right back!" She ran into her playroom and returned with...

her oven mitts from her little kitchen. "Now I ready, Mama!" I definitely didn't catch the cute facial expression, but I'm glad she posed for the picture at all.

I hope my memory returns and I'm able to get those other stories down in written form. Wish me luck. Okay, I'm going to try to go to sleep. I hear Miss Thang talking and giggling in her room. Looks like it's going to be another one of those nights. Yes, it's now 11:38 p.m. and the child is still wide awake. I bet we've got a few more hours to go before sleep comes.

I know I owe some emails and phone calls to a few of my friends. I haven't forgotten. You'll hear from me soon. Have a great week everyone!

Prayers Needed For A Missing Child

2009-06-29T22:20:00.002-05:00

The cousin of one of my friends, Sherri, is missing. She's only 10 years old, and she vanished from a tiny town in Washington state. My heart hurts for this little girl and the people who love her. Please click on this link for the full story and a photo of Lindsey.

For those of you who believe in prayer, please pray for Lindsey's safe return, and pray that she and her family have the strength necessary to get them through this tragic time.

Petunia and OT: The Beginning

2009-06-27T22:40:00.007-05:00

A few months ago it became pretty clear to me that Petunia has some sensory integration issues. She's always been very clingy to me and very wary of strangers, but that alone would not necessarily be a major cause of concern. But then, one at a time, other issues began to occur. Petunia loved to swing, and then she was terrified of it. She was fine with me shampooing and rinsing her hair, and then she acted as if I were trying to kill her. She began to have more problems with the intense need of keeping her personal space from being invaded, messy hands and clothes, bright light, loud noises, certain foods, and a newly developed fear of heights. There are a few others, but those are the main issues, and I'm being told that they may be contributing to her poor sleep habits. (Of course, they may have nothing to do with her sleep habits and I'm in for a lifetime of sleep deprivation.)

It took a couple of tries to find the right occupational therapist -- Mindee -- but we're now on the journey to conquering Petunia's issues. One of the great things about Mindee working with Petunia's is that she's not just an OT, but she's the mom of a 3-year old girl who has sensory issues as well. Of course I don't mean that it's great that her daughter is experiencing what Petunia is, but it's great in the sense that Mindee can also see things from my perspective. Mindee says Petunia reminds her very much of her daughter, especially in the attitude department. That definitely makes me feel better.

My sweet and spicy girl is expressing both sides of herself during her sessions, but Mindee simply goes with the flow. She won Petunia over immediately. For those of you who have met Petunia in person, you know that she will never go to a stranger within a mere 5-10 minutes of meeting them. Ever! Not only did she go to Mindee right away, but she allowed her to hold her hand, pick her up, take her shoes off and put them back on, and constantly touch her hands and arms. I cannot begin to tell you how surprised I was to watch this all unfold. The person (excluding some family members and Petunia's Yuyu) that has come the closest to immediate acceptance has been Daphne or, as Petunia calls her, Dackney.

With the exception of holding her fork/spoon and crayons properly, Petunia is on track or ahead developmentally. Mindee was very happy about her verbal communication skills, even though she has had to hear, "But I don't want to do that. I not yike that. No, I not do it!" non-stop for the first 15-20 minutes of each session so far. Mindee told me that the problems we're dealing with are not really severe. She put most of them in the mild to moderate range. She said they're only bad enough that I'll truly be able to see great progress being done from week to week. I guess what she said is true, because Petunia stayed on the platform swing for about 2-3 minutes without crying, and she stood on the loft without immediately dropping to sit or crawl to the slide during the most recent session. (Yeah, she loves to slide. She's just afraid to stand that high off the ground.)

I was prepared for Petunia to get upset, cry, yell, and completely freak out. I really was. But what I hadn't counted on was how I would feel when I couldn't comfort her until the OT said it was okay. I know she's being pushed very gently into doing things she's afraid of, and I know Mindee is not going to allow her to be upset for very long before I get to hold her for a minute, but it's still hard knowing I'm not in control of the situation and I'm not able to comfort my daughter right away. It's been fabulous to see Petunia willing to go back for more "work" after a quick hug and kiss from me, though. Really, that's all it's taken so far. (Okay, let me clarify... I know that I could scoop Petunia up anytime, and I could stop the sessions altogether, but I'm having to stay quiet and remain in the background so she can learn to deal with her fears.) It's really alright, but I'm just saying that I wasn't prepared to have my heart ripped out of my chest because I couldn't keep my little girl from experiencing things that obviously made her uncomfortable, afraid, and upset. I'm sure I'll progress quickly, too.

I'm so grateful that I was open to acknowledging that my child was struggling in certain areas, and that I didn't talk myself into believing that it's just a phase or that she'd outgrow it all. I could have so easily buried my head in the sand and refused to admit she needed help. I'm grateful that the problems we're experiencing are so minor when compared with those of some other families. I'm grateful for my family and friends, particularly Daphne and Kelli, who are familiar with sensory integration issues due to their professions, for listening to my concerns and offering wonderful advice and support. I'm grateful for Petunia's pediatrician for taking my concerns seriously and spending a lot of time answering my questions. I'm grateful for Petunia's dayschool, because the director and teachers are willing to do whatever needs to be done to ensure Petunia's progress is not hindered in any way during her time there. And finally, I'm grateful for Mindee, because I can't imagine someone more perfect to help my daughter. How blessed are Petunia and I?

We're going to sessions weekly right now. It'll all depend on how quickly Petunia progresses as to how long we'll work on the issues. I can't wait for the day to see Petunia be a little more carefree and less guarded about everything. Watch out, world!

Petunia loves playing with her Little People Noah's Ark and it's "aminals." She pairs them up and/or stands them in straight or curved lines. She holds conversations with them, feeds them regularly, and carries them around in her purses. I love watching her pretend play.

I wish this shot were a little more clear. Petunia is in her bikini, singing Wheels on the Bus to one of her babies. See her hands holding the imaginary steering wheel?

Time To Play Catch-Up

2009-06-21T21:05:00.004-05:00

Where does the time go? I've been so busy and so tired (remember, Petunia doesn't sleep) that I've been feeling like a zombie most days. I'm so behind on posting, reading other blogs, and responding to emails. Sorry, my friends, but I'll get to them all -- promise! We did have a full night's sleep Thursday night, and as glorious as that was, it still wasn't nearly enough. Anyway, I've got lots of catching-up to do, so I'm going to jump right in.

Actually, no. I'm first going to wish all the dads out there, especially my dad, a Happy Father's Day! I'm blessed beyond measure when it comes to my dad, and I'm forever thankful to have him. Petunia and I wish we could have been with you today, Dad/Papa, but we were there in spirit. We love you!

Now I'll jump right in...

We really enjoyed having my parents and Hannah here for a week. Not only was Petunia spoiled while they were here, but I was, too. I had help with some of the housework and cooking, and they really helped me get some yard work done. They got things down from the attic for me, and put other things up. (That's a really difficult thing to do by yourself.) I certainly didn't expect you to spend your time here working, but I hope you all know how appreciative I am for all your help. We love you and miss you tons! (Not a day has gone by without Petunia telling me she wants to go to your house. The phone conversations just aren't enough for her anymore. So pitiful!)

Last weekend we had the opportunity to visit with some friends, Chandra, Cliff, and Boo, Daphne and Ben, and Kelli and Aiden. They all came to Nashville for a little blogger friend get-together, and we had the best time! We had met everyone in real life except Kelli and Aiden, so I was super excited for the chance to meet them. (It's easy to wonder if you'll like your blogger friends before you meet them in person, because all you know of them is what they write. No worries, though. Kelli is wonderful, I liked her immediately, and I'm sure we'll be friends always, which is how I feel about the others.) Chandra, Cliff, and Boo came Saturday morning and hung out with us since it was too early to check into their hotel. We loved spending that time with them.

I wanted to fix dinner for my out-of-town friends Saturday night, and they were gracious enough to come to our house. Everyone was just so easy to get along with, and the kids are too adorable for words. On top of it all, the kids played so well together. They all have such different personalities, but it was fantastic to watch them play. Boo is a little charmer, a little reserved at first, quite the dancer, and full of smiles. Ben is high-energy, all boy, has a grin to die for, and is a total babe magnet. Aiden is the youngest of the group, but he hung right in there with the older kids. He looks cute in pictures, but they do not do him justice! He's such a handsome little man who likes to explore and stay busy. He has a smile for everyone, but he likes to be sure his mom is nearby. I did not do a good job when it came to taking pictures, but my friends have some great pictures on their blogs, so hop on over and check them out if you haven't done so already.

I've said it before, but I have met some fabulous friends online because of the adoption connection. I often feel like the most fortunate girl in the world. The friendships, for example, with Chandra, Cliff, Daphne, and Kelli, are real ones, and I'd hang out with them anytime. And I love, love, love their children! Petunia has been around Daphne several times, so she'll usually go to her within a couple of minutes. I know she remembered Cliff and Chandra, but it still took her a little time before she allowed them to chat with her. Kelli, on the other hand, was not someone she'd met before, so she didn't give her much attention Saturday. It was so funny because Petunia kept asking me, "Who is 'that mama'?" Sunday was better though, and she warmed up a little more. I guess it also helped because Kelli and Aiden were the only ones who were able to come back to our house on Sunday. Kelli and I really got to talk, and the kids were so good that day. I had a great time on Saturday because it was so busy and fun, and I had an equally great time on Sunday because it was laid-back and relaxing. Thanks everyone for being willing to come into town for the weekend. I'm sorry Petunia and I didn't make it to the park to meet the other families... next time though. I'm already looking forward to doing this again! Hopefully some of our other friends will be able to join us next time.

Our next guests will be arriving on July 1st. Nanny, Ebeth, and Emmy are coming for a whole week! Ebeth is so sweet. Her birthday is July 2nd, and she asked her mom for a trip to Nashville instead of a birthday party. This is actually the second time she's passed up a party to come up here. I love my best friend and her sweet daughters! As much as Hubby and Skippy the dog will miss "their girls", I'm sure they'll enjoy an estrogen-less week at home, while getting in some quality nap time. We can't wait to see our friends!

I have several Petunia stories to document, so I'll make an effort to do those this week. My girl is funny!

Petunia spent some time with Jen-Jen and Evan yesterday, and Jen was able to get a few cute pics while Petunia played. Thanks, Jen, for sending me the photos!

The self-appointed brother/sister duo.

In the words of Inspector Clouseau, "What's that you said?"

Her shiny, black hair. Her gorgeous complexion. Her amazing eyes and crazy long eyelashes. Her perfect nose. Her sweet, tiny mouth. I know I'm biased, but I think she's just beautiful!

And there's always a silly face to be made!

I love her profile, too. Oh, my sweet and spicy girl!

I wasn't ready to see her looking so grown-up.

They're either praying or letting Jen know 'enough already!' with the photography.

Photos For A Sunday

2009-06-07T08:38:00.006-05:00

Petunia's grandparents and one of her cousins are in town for a visit. We're always so happy to see them and spend time with them. My sweet girl is in heaven! I'm notorious for forgetting to take pictures when things are going on, so I will try to get one or two of everyone before they leave.

I'll write more later, but here are a few pics in the meantime.

The other morning Petunia and I made blueberry muffins. I gave her the bowl to lick the batter and she had to really decide if she wanted to do that or not. (It involved using her finger to scoop up the batter and that's a big deal to her. I have a separate post coming soon about that.)

Finally taking the plunge!

And the first taste!

"I yike it!" No more dipping her finger into the bowl, though. I helped her out by giving her a spoon.

This was from last weekend and I don't remember what she was telling me. Heck, I can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, much less one of the gazillion things Petunia told me last weekend.

Maracas and makeup brushes make very good drumsticks. And a little stool? Yep, the perfect drum!

More drumming and singing.

She's so happy Nana is playing the drum with her.

There's no doubt that Hannah is part of our family. She LOVES to read. How she can read with motor-mouth Petunia around is beyond me, though. We love Hannah!

And last but not least... the greatest Papa in the whole world! Petunia has several fetishes, and one of them is a necklace fetish. She decorated Papa and... well, can you say Good Sport?!

A Few Photos By Jen-Jen

2009-05-30T21:52:00.007-05:00

Petunia isn't even cooperative for Jen-Jen anymore when it comes to having her picture taken, but I think a few of them are still cute. I don't have it in me to write anything tonight, so I'll just post some shots of my sweet girl and call it a night.

I just love her scrunched-up, laughing face.

Doesn't she look like a girl on a mission?

My sweet girl loves flowers.

These two love each other so much. It's just too sweet to watch them together. Honestly, he's the big brother she doesn't have, and she's the little sister he doesn't have. A perfect match!

A Well Deserved Blog Makeover

2009-05-29T22:12:00.003-05:00

So what do you think about the new look? I love it! When I first started this blog, I promised myself that I would do away with a generic look and get a customized blog design one day... IF... and that was a big IF... I kept up with my posting. It's just that I had always hated to write in a journal, so I didn't really hold out much hope that I would keep up with a blog. It seems that I've surprised myself, because I'm soon to reach the 3-year mark of blogging. Not only have these years of writing been enjoyable, but the friendships I've developed and the support I've received have meant more than I know how to express. I'm incredibly happy I started blogging. Having said all that, I felt it was definitely time to reward my efforts by getting a blog design that was just for me.

After much research, I decided to contact Danielle, The Design Girl, and I instantly liked her. She has somehow created the perfect look for this blog. I don't toss out praise lightly, but Danielle is absolutely fabulous at what she does, and she's so very easy to work with. She was extremely prompt in answering my questions, and her emails came across as friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I honestly felt as if I was working with someone I had known for a while. So if you're in the market for a new blog design and you'd like to work with someone who is terrific, I highly recommend The Design Girl. Danielle, thank you so much for the awesome job you did. It truly is perfect!

I'll post a few new photos of Petunia soon. Have a great weekend!

Petunia's Parisian Pad

2009-05-24T23:33:00.006-05:00

I said I wasn't going to post photos of Petunia's "big girl" room until it was totally finished, but I think it's close enough. I still have a couple of things left to do, like buy a small rug, a new hamper, and maybe one or two other things. And I also want to make a new bow keeper. BUT the room is basically finished. Poor little girl, she's been out of her crib for about eight or nine months, and I'm just getting around to fixing up her room. I can't believe it took me that long to decide what to do. Oh, well...

First of all, I need to say how much I appreciate Jen. She kept Petunia all day. There is no way any work could have gotten done had Petunia stayed at home. No way. Jen also tried to take some portraits of my girl, but the child was not in the mood to cooperate. She still got a couple of good shots... like the ones of Petunia and Evan smooching!

Now let me send out a huge thank you to my friend, Lisa, who happens to be Petunia's Aunt Popo. Without her and her fabulous artistic abilities, the room would be just another ho-hum bedroom. Because of Lisa, this room is a masterpiece! Oh, and the only payment she received (not that I'm unwilling to pay her) was a big hug from Petunia. Thanks so much, my friend. You're extremely talented and extremely sweet.

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I couldn't find the comforter set in a twin size, so I had to alter the comforter and the bed skirt from a full size to a twin. I used the full sheets to make the window treatments, because I was able to find twin sheets for the bed. I also improved an existing lamp that we had. I'm not the most craftsy person on the planet, so I'm praying that nobody sneezes in that room. If that happens, everything may just fall apart. :-)

The best thing of all is that Petunia loves her new room. She was so interested in looking at and touching everything last night. She absolutely didn't want to go to sleep, and she stayed up until nearly midnight! She kept saying, "My Aunt Popo made dis for me! Yook, Mama!" It was really wonderful to see her take it all in. Today she kept wanting to hang out on her bed. Once when she was in there I heard a conversation she was having with herself. She was saying, "Who made dese pitchers? (meaning the art on the walls) Aunt Popo! Who she make dem for? ME! Who made dese dwapes? Mama! Who she make dem for? ME! Then she giggled and rolled around on her bed. Color me crazy, but I really think she's nuts over her new room!

Now, without further ado, I present to you Petunia's Parisian Bedroom!

The comforter has several Parisian scenes all over it. Lisa painted my favorite one over the bed.

The pink poodle and the lamp post are also from scenes on the comforter.

A close-up of the bistro scene. And isn't the pink motorbike pillow just too much?!

When I asked Lisa to sign her work, she wrote 'We'll always have Paris. Love, Aunt Popo.'

This is one of the times when Petunia was just hanging out on her new bed. Check out the way she has her foot resting on her knee. That's just too funny to me.

Isn't She A Little Young For This?

2009-05-24T00:14:00.003-05:00

I've got lots to write about... hopefully tomorrow... but I had to post these pics. Jen-Jen was kind enough to have Petunia over to her house all day, so work on Petunia's room could commence. (It's looking really, really good, but no photos until it's all finished.)

Petunia and Evan love being together, but I'm thinking she's just a little on the young side for such behavior! Oh, my spicy girl!

I ♥ Faces - Blurb Book Contest

2009-05-18T23:04:00.003-05:00

So there's a first time for everything. I decided to enter a photo into the contest this week over at I ♥ Faces , even though I know nothing about taking pictures, and I certainly know nothing about editing. The contest is about faces, and I think, as most mothers do, that my child's face is perfect. I love, love, love how Petunia looks when she's very still and deep in thought. And I love how the sunlight is caught in her hair in this particular shot. I even love the redness of her cheeks because it was a blustery day, and cheeks are supposed to be a little red on days like that.

I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

Short Stories

2009-05-15T23:28:00.004-05:00

PSDJ 1:

Petunia was looking at a photograph (that she's seen a thousand times) of my younger brother's family. Apparently, just at that moment, it dawned on her that my brother is bald, because we had a conversation that went like this:

P: Mama, Unca Kip's hair!

M: Yeah, he doesn't have any hair, does he?

*Petunia's face kind of falls, and her sad look appears*

P: What happened? What happened to his hair, Mama?

M: Sometimes people, especially daddies (all men are daddies), get to a point where their hair falls out.

*Petunia gives me a look of disbelief*

P: It falls out?!!

M: Yeah, it falls out... but it doesn't hurt.

P: Aww, my Unca Kip.

Petunia kisses the photograph, right on top of Uncle Kip's hairless head.

PSDJ 2:

Petunia and I were talking to my parents over the phone, when she decided she wanted to sing a little song. Why don't you all sing along...

Ring around the rosy
A pocket full of posies
As-ses, As-ses, they all fall down

PSDJ 3:

On the way to school yesterday, Petunia started up this conversation out of the blue...

*Petunia's voice and face are very, very sad*

P: Collin say NO to me. (Collin's a little boy in her class)

M: He did?

*Her voice gets even more sad*

P: Yes, Collin say NO to me and I not yike it.

M: Why did he say no to you? Were you Meanie Girl to him?

P: No.

M: Did you say no to him?

*All of a sudden, the sadness dissipates*

P: I say NO to everybody!

M: Mmmm, shocker!

Ribbons and Boogers

2009-05-12T22:20:00.003-05:00

Now isn't that a catchy title for a post? This is a blog about Petunia after all, so the title really shouldn't raise any eyebrows.

Today I ran into Hobby Lobby for a couple of things for Petunia's playroom. I'm finally getting around to decorating it for her. It may have a lot of toys in it, but the room always felt empty to me. I had an inspiration piece, but I didn't have much creativity flowing for the longest amount of time. Recently it hit me, though. I knew what I wanted to do and, except for a couple of changes in the plan, it's all coming together. It won't be fancy, but it will be cheerful, and I can't wait to see what Petunia thinks of the final result. I'll post photos when the job is completed. Oh, and her bedroom makeover is coming in about two weeks -- so excited!

Wow, did I get off course! Anyway, I was in Hobby Lobby and found this bag of ribbons, in various colors and sizes, for $1.99. I used to love to play with ribbons when I was a little girl, so I thought I'd surprise Petunia with them. They were a huge hit! She said, "Oh, my goodness!", clapped her hands, and then the ribbon party began. We played with those things for over an hour, and I don't think I've ever tied so many bows in one short period of time in my life. Of course, this will always be a supervised activity, because Petunia thinks everything should be a necklace, and I don't want to take any chances when it comes to her wrapping things around her pretty little neck. Mainly, though, she was into sorting the ribbons by color and having everything, especially her, tied up in a bow. Both of us had such a good time playing with those little strips of color.

Yeah, not the greatest shot of Petunia, but we had to get a photo of the ribbon girl. She thought the huge bow on her head, with the flowing "tails", was simply a hoot. She kept brushing the ends of the ribbon back over her shoulder like she was channeling Cher. Too funny!

Now for the PSDJ:

Why my dainty little girl is gaga over boogers is beyond me. I mean, seriously, I don't go around picking my nose at every opportunity, so I'm not setting a bad example. Hmmm, maybe when it comes to boogers, no example is necessary. Maybe all kids are programmed to mine for gold, so to speak. This evening I looked over at her and she was two knuckles deep... again. I know you want to know how the conversation went.

M: Petunia... baby... please, please keep your fingers out of your nose.

P: But I have to put my fingers in my nose.

M: Why do you have to?

P: 'Cause that's how I get my boogers out.

M: You're gross.

Note to self: Never, never ask her that question again.

Petunia And The Bully

2009-05-11T22:23:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! It was a very low-key one at our house, but sometimes that's just perfect, I think. I always knew I was meant to be a mother, and now Mother's Day is all the more special because I get to be Petunia's forever mom. I'm so thankful for my mom -- the best in the world! -- and for all my mom friends, both in real life and in blogland. The world is such a richer place because of all these wonderful ladies.

Two years ago Petunia, her YuYu and I were on a plane, making our way home from Vietnam. That was such a long trip! I found out something about myself back then. I discovered that I can stay awake for approximately 50 hours straight and still function, at least on the most basic of levels. Petunia could. not. sleep. on. the. plane. She would take quick little catnaps here and there, most of them lasting no longer than 30 minutes. Heck, by the time she went to sleep and I settled down enough to try to sleep, she was waking up again. It was truly a test of endurance. Our trip (flying time and layovers) was 41 hours. We had some pretty lengthy layovers! Then when we got home, I was completely wired and couldn't rest. You absolutely can be too tired to sleep.

Anyway, yesterday I spent a little time reliving our last moments in Vietnam and the return trip to Tennessee. What a wonderful, tiring, amazing, crazy, fabulous trip! My sweet and spicy girl was mostly sweet on that trip. She showed her spicy side only a couple of times, and then for no longer than 15 minutes. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Gee, I'm just rambling! Isn't it fun, though, to close your eyes and remember special times in your life? I love how it's all so vivid to me, even two years later. I hope those memories never fade.

Okay... it's time for my PSDJ:

Thursday Petunia bit someone for the first time ever! Initially I was mortified, but I felt a little better when I heard the story from her teachers. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like the idea of her biting anyone, but... well... let me tell the story.

Petunia and her classmates were standing around a table shredding colored paper for an art project. A little boy, who is somewhat of a bully, kept picking up handsful of the paper and throwing them on Petunia. According to her teachers, she told him to stop three or four times, but he just kept on. Then, out of nowhere, he decided to grab her, possibly to give her a hug. Well, people, let me tell you that Petunia doesn't like anyone invading her dance space on a good day. She absolutely doesn't want someone getting touchy-feely when they've just succeeded in ticking her off. Apparently this is when she decided to bite him, and she got him close to the armpit, right where the arm connects to the torso. You know that really tender spot? Uh-huh. I guess if my girl is going to do it, she's going to make sure she causes the maximum amount of pain possible.

Again, please don't get me wrong. I don't condone biting at all. In fact, she's been bitten a few times over the past 18 months or so and I didn't like it one bit. I absolutely couldn't believe it when they told me that she'd bitten someone, especially this late in the game. I know she's got a temper, but she's never resorted to biting. The good news is that her teachers said the little boy wasn't mean to her at all for the rest of the day, and the next two days were pleasant ones in the classroom, with no incident reports for Mama to sign.

What made me feel better is that she stood up for herself. She's the tiniest one in her class, although she's one of the older ones, and a couple of the kids just try to bully her. The teachers say she usually gives them a tongue lashing and walks away, but I guess the Thursday incident simply pushed her over the edge. I mean, she was trapped in the arms of this boy! Petunia is so feisty that it's hard to imagine people walking all over her, but she is so petite that I worry just a little about that possibly happening. I hope she's able to always stand up for herself, but I would prefer that she do it using non-violent methods.

So there you have it. My little girl can draw a line in the sand AND take care of anyone who crosses it. Is it wrong of me to be just a little proud? I know it sounds awful for me to admit that, but... I'm just saying...

This was taken Thursday night, the day of "the incident." I had gone to take a quick shower, and I panicked a little when I turned off the water and didn't hear her. I ran into the living room and this is what I saw. She's got her head on my robe, while lying on one pillow and using another to cover herself up. This is definitely the sweet side of my little Petunia.

Not Much To Report

2009-05-05T22:35:00.004-05:00

The news of the day is that I have pink eye. It's really not too bad. I'm just thankful that I'm the one with it instead of Petunia, although I'm fairly certain that she's the carrier who gifted me with it, because it's been going around her school. Of course, I was contagious today, so I had to stay away from the office. We've had a lot of people out lately, for one reason or another, and I knew nobody would appreciate it if I added pink eye to the existing ailments. At least I was able to bring work home, so the day wasn't totally wasted.

PSDJ: I called Petunia's YuYu this evening to check on her, because she's been sick the past couple of days. Petunia had to hold the phone and talk to her, too. I told my sweet girl that YuYu was sick and her little face got very sad. Before she gave the phone back to me, she said, "Hope you feel better, YuYu." Not always, but much of the time I prompt her with things to say on the phone, but I did not even mention that sentence to her. For such a spicy girl, she has an amazing amount of compassion for others when they're sick, sad, crying, etc. My heart just melted. *sniff*

I've been wanting to get some pictures of Petunia playing with her Mega Bloks. She LOVES them and can spend the longest amount of time with them. Her favorite things to build are towers, and tonight I was assigned the task of building the base of her newest masterpiece. After that is was time for me to back away and for her to get really serious. Oh, occasionally she wanted me to put a block or two in a specific place, especially when it got too tall for her, but it was abundantly clear that she was the structural engineer and I was the hired help. I just love watching her at work.

The blocks are assembled a few at a time before being attached to the masterpiece.

C a r e f u l l y attaching the smaller group of blocks to the larger.

Even with crazy hair in her face, she keeps her focus.

And then the wrecking ball comes. (Nicki, I think of you when these things are all over the floor, because I'm constantly stepping on them!)

Petunia salvages one small section to be used as a saxophone of sorts.

Then she says, "Take my picture, Mama!" Just as I click, she decides a little nose-picking is in order.

I told her what happened and that she was gross. This is her reaction.

Taking a couple of minutes for a milk break.

And then the construction starts all over again.

Paci Is For Babies - Not Big Girls

2009-05-03T23:04:00.004-05:00

I hesitated to type these words, but here goes. In our house, the beloved paci is no more! Tonight marks night #4 that Petunia hasn't even asked for her paci when it was bedtime. Not only did I want to document this monumental milestone for Petunia and me, but I thought perhaps there was another parent out there who would be interested in our process to be paci-free.

First of all, Petunia took a paci only to go to sleep at night, so you would think it would be no biggie for her to give it up. Yeah, uh-huh. I wanted it to disappear long ago, but I waited until I thought she was in a better place to handle giving up this thing that brought her comfort.

A couple of months ago I started telling Petunia that a paci was really for babies, and since she was becoming a big girl, she might want to start thinking about giving hers to a baby who didn't have one. (As far as Petunia knows, she only has one.) Let me tell you that she was so very sad for these nameless children, but she wasn't ready to give up her own paci for any of them. I just kept bringing it up in conversation every two or three nights, talking about the day when she would want to give her paci to a baby. Well, when my sweet and spicy girl makes up her mind, it's pretty well made up. While she would sympathize with the poor babies who didn't have a paci of their own, she still didn't cave when we talked about helping them out. In fact, Petunia said, "We go to da store to get paci for da babies, 'k?" That method worked out perfectly, didn't it? LOL

I remembered reading somewhere about parents who cut off the tip of the paci a little at a time until the child didn't want it anymore. I knew how that would work out in our house. One glance at that thing and Petunia would have heads rolling! I had to do something that was a little less obvious. Another tip I read a long time ago was to puncture the paci with a pin so that it would flatten whenever the child sucked on it. Now this was something I was willing to try.

Wednesday night I took the sharp point of a knife and put a decent size puncture in the paci. You honestly couldn't tell it was there by just looking at it. So bedtime was upon us, Petunia asked for her paci, and I pulled out the altered one for her. She grinned and put it in her mouth. Immediately the thing came out of her mouth and she was rubbing the end of it like she was dusting something off. Back into the mouth, then more rubbing off the imaginary annoyance on the tip. After a couple more times, she handed it to me and this is how our conversation went:

P: Mama, fix it.

M: What's wrong with it?

P: It got sumpin on it.

M: Where? I don't see anything. Can you show me where?

P: I don't know, but it is on it.

*I brush it off for her and hand it back. Into the mouth it went, then back out again.*

P: Mama, get it off!

M: Baby, it doesn't look like anything's on it to me. I'm sorry. *fake gasp* Oh, you know what must be happening? You know I've been telling you that a paci is really for a baby, right?

P: Yep. (I love how she says yep, although we strive for yes ma'am.)

M: Well, when you get to be a big girl, paci just won't work for you anymore. It'll only work for a baby. I think paci knows you're a big girl now.

P: It knows I a big gull?

M: That sounds like what must be happening, doesn't it?

*At this point, Petunia is starting to believe me, but isn't quite ready to drink the kool-aid yet, so she puts the paci back in her mouth and pulls it back out immediately.*

P: I don't want paci anymore, Mama. 'k?

M: Okay, we'll just put it over here just in case.

And that was it! Okay, before everyone starts judging me for telling a little white lie, let me remind you of some "holiday" white lies and "special occasion" white lies that get told over and over and over. At least that's how I justified doing this. It was for Petunia's own good and I don't feel guilty about it.

So, I definitely recommend the "puncture" method if anyone reading this is or will be wanting to help get rid of their child's pacifier. Color me happy and send me off to dreamland!

Seagulls And Just Trickin'

2009-04-29T21:54:00.005-05:00

PSDJ:

I love the movie Finding Nemo, and Petunia enjoys it, too. Well, to be completely honest, she enjoys bits and pieces of it. It'll be a while before she can sit and watch anything over 20 minutes long. Anyway, in addition to the Dory character, I think the seagulls who are all saying, "Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine." repeatedly and very fast are really funny. Part of the reason is that the first time I saw the movie, Petunia was just getting cranked up on her newest favorite word, "Mine." When she would get going on the Mine, Mine, Mine stuff, I used to tell her that she sounded like the birds in the Nemo movie.

Well, this evening we were washing her hands when she saw her sunglasses on the counter. She started saying, "Mine, mine, mine, mine" all frantic-like. Then the funniest thing happened. She completely stopped herself mid-mine, grinned up at me and said, "I sound yike the burrds in Nemo, huh Mama!" She started laughing at herself before I could even agree.

Bonus PSDJ:

I really love watching Petunia find humor in something. Even if it isn't terribly funny, she can make it seem 1,000 times more so. She's always telling me something crazy and then she'll say, "I trickin' you!"

A couple of days ago she showed me a bobo and said, "Ms. Peggy bite me." She stuck out her bottom lip and tried her best to look more than pitiful. (Oh, I should mention that Ms. Peggy is one of her teachers at school.) I asked Petunia when the incident took place, and she pointed to her play room and said, "We was in dare."

I grinned big and reminded Petunia that we were at home and Ms. Peggy was nowhere in sight. I said, "Are you sure you want to tell me Ms. Peggy bit you?"

She laughed, pointed her tiny finger at me and said, "Aww, Mama! I just trickin' you!"

Petunia singing me a song.

Polka-dot pajamas and fairy wings.

I asked her to smile so I could see her teeth. She said, "No, I want you to see my tongue."

She told me, "Now you can see my teeph."

"No more pictures, Mama. Peeze" (Notice magic wand and Pez dispenser in her hands.)

Petunia And Her Petunias

2009-04-26T18:12:00.004-05:00

First of all, I want to thank everyone who left a little message for Petunia on this post. I think, when she gets older, she will be thrilled to read every single one. You were all so sweet, and I really appreciate you taking the time to write a few words.

Today was a beautiful, and I do mean BEA-U-TI-FUL, day, so we went outside for a little while, then on to run errands. The sun is really hard on Petunia's eyes -- thankfully she's begun to wear sunglasses -- so her eyes are all scrunched up in most of the pictures I took today. We even took some with her standing in the shade, but that just didn't matter to her eyes. Some of them were cute, though, so I thought I'd post a little Petunia cuteness. The newly planted flowers in our beds are... yep, petunias. They're really going to be pretty once they grow some.

Enjoy...

Petunia deciding she's going to pick a flower. At this moment I'm telling her NOT to pick one. I knew what would happen if she did. I mean, they just got planted.

Well, she did and it did. It came up roots and all.

Giving her petunia the smell test. (To be completely honest, she still kind of blows through her mouth instead of sniffing with her nose. She'll get it sooner or later.)

She looked at it and said, "Oooo, Mama! It smells so peety!"

To Petunia From YuYu

2009-04-25T22:19:00.002-05:00

For anyone who may not know, one of my good friends, Lelah, traveled with me to Vietnam to bring Petunia home. She and my little girl have a special bond simply because of that special trip. Lelah loves Petunia, and, does Petunia ever love Lelah! The plan was that Lelah would be called Aunt Lulu, but we all know that my sweet and spicy girl has a mind of her own. Aunt Lulu is now YuYu, and probably always will be.

They may not get to see each other very often, but there's no question of their special relationship when they are together. As Petunia's Mom, it's really beautiful to see Lelah, who was never really around children much at all, and Petunia, who still suffers from stranger anxiety, be at total ease with each other.

Anyway, I asked Lelah if she would like to be a guest contributor to this blog in honor of the 2nd Family Day anniversary for Petunia and me. Since she was in Vietnam when it all happened, I thought it was a nice idea. I guess Lelah thought so, too, because she decided to write a letter to my daughter, and I know one day Petunia will be thrilled to have it. Thank you, Lelah, for all the friendship and support you've given so selflessly. You're a true friend to me, and you're the best YuYu ever to Petunia. We love you!

My sweet Petunia, it's been two years since I saw you for the first time. As you grow older, you will find that there are moments in your life that you know will change your life forever. On that morning, as our van sped towards the orphanage, I knew that I was in the midst of such a defining moment.

If I close my eyes, I can remember the sights and sounds along our drive as clearly as if I were there again. The journey to the orphanage is one I will never forget. The roads were very bumpy, often a combination of gravel and pavement, riddled with holes. The sights and sounds were almost too much to take in, traffic going in every direction, horns blowing, people walking in the midst of it all -- it was truly organized chaos.

The morning was clear, the sun bright, and already it was quite warm and humid. I saw houses and businesses, dilapidated, in a state of disrepair, some repaired with cardboard or other material. The sight of such poverty saddened me. But then, I began to notice the beauty around me. The roads were full of people, some on foot, most on bicycles or motorbikes. There were children in school uniforms, navy blue and bright blue in color. High-school age girls wearing white, flowing ao dai. Tiny, elderly women, shriveled, their faces a roadmap of lines forged by life experiences. Beautiful. I was struck by how this could be you, if fate had taken a different path.

I am fascinated by the traffic, the multitude of motorbikes and pedestrians that I see. I saw a woman and her three children on a bike, holding on for dear life, as they darted through the traffic. A man with a large cornucopia-shaped basket -- full of baby pigs. A couple of people with baskets of fish on their bikes. A woman with three 50-lb. bags of rice on her bike. Sprinkled in with the motorbikes, I see the occasional dog, tough looking, dodging the traffic and pedestrians. All sights of normal everyday life in Vietnam.

As we left the more populated areas, I was struck by the beauty of the land around me. We passed rice fields, with workers already hard at work, harvesting the rice by hand. Ponds filled with hundreds of beautiful pink and white water lilies. Mango trees, banana trees. I am humbled by the simplicity and beauty of the life I see around me. And then suddenly, we're there.

I am breathless, my heart is pounding. I am so excited for your Mom, whose life is about to change forever. I was given the assignment of videotaping your Mom's first meeting with you. Not being known for my grace and poise, I was a bit apprehensive that I would trip and miss the opportunity to record this moment forever. I remember walking in the door of the tiny orphanage...and there you were. It was like your pictures came alive.

I can't describe what an honor it was to be a part of you meeting your Mom for the first time. I was smiling through tears as I watched her hold you for the first time. It was as if I was watching all the pieces of her life fall into place, and she was finally complete. After filming the two of you together for a few moments, I then got to hold you for the first time. Precious.

I was struck by how much love and care you had received at the orphanage. The nannies that had taken care of you were so obviously attached. I will never forget one of the nannies. She did not speak any English, so we could not communicate very well; however, when it drew close to time for us to leave with you, I noticed that she had tears in her eyes and was crying quietly across the room. Even though we did not speak the same language, her eyes met mine, and I felt her pain and sadness. As we communicated visually, I wanted her to know just how much love your life was going to bring you, and I think she understood that.

Having you in my life has changed me in so many ways. The past two years have been so special, watching you grow and change. I love you, and I am so proud to be your YuYu!

Celebrating 2 Years As A Family (Lengthy)

2009-04-23T21:54:00.006-05:00

Petunia and I celebrated our second Family Day anniversary today. Not only did I see and hold her for the first time on this date two years ago, but we became mother and daughter forever. I wrote this post last year on our first anniversary, so I thought I'd add a little (or a lot) more this year.

When we pulled up to the orphanage that beautiful morning, I remember trying to soak in everything and get ready for the introduction of my life. It was only a short distance from the van to the door of the little place Petunia called home, but it seemed to take an eternity to get from point A to point B. I think I may have even held my breath as I walked. When I entered the orphanage, there was a small bed directly to the right of the entrance. There she was, grinning from ear to ear.

I can easily recall the crazy thoughts that were going through my mind those first five seconds. 'Oh, my gosh! There she is! There's my baby! She's got two teeth. I didn't know she had teeth. Of course I didn't know. She was never smiling in any of the photos I received. But it's definitely her. Wait!! What if it isn't her? I know it is, but what if I'm wrong somehow? They'll never let me have my baby if I can't even recognize her. Shut up! It's her. I'm sure of it.'

I think what really got to me is that I was sent pictures of Petunia every month that I waited to travel, but they all were shots of a non-smiling little baby. You've all seen how different she looks when she's smiling as compared to when she isn't. I think it just threw me a little. In my heart, I knew instantly that little baby was Petunia, but my head started trying to cover all the bases. I told you they were crazy thoughts, and all in such a very brief moment in time.

Anyway, I remember taking in how tiny she was, how beautiful she was, how mesmerizing her eyes were, and how her hair was starting to stick up (which is what I had hoped for -- too cute). I wanted to grab her up right away, but she was being held by our facilitator's wife, who wasn't looking like she was going to give her up anytime soon. I realized, in a split second, that I could really see her and talk to her very well while she was being held by someone else. My little Petunia was very happy at that point, and I really didn't want to upset her. I could wait another two minutes to hold her. I knelt down and touched her gently, spoke to her a little, and tried to keep the tears that were filling my eyes from pouring down my face. I silently counted her fingers and toes, and I brushed my hand over her seriously soft hair. Then I held out my hands to take her in my arms for the first time.

She never cried, but was very interested in looking at this extremely white woman who came out of nowhere into her little world. She let me hold her, and all the tension, worry, and stress from the past 1 1/2 years simply melted away. This was the reason I was put on this earth. I was a mom.

We were told we would be at the orphanage only 45 minutes before we had to go to the G&R. It was then that it occurred to me that I was going to have the rest of my days to spend with Petunia, but the nannies who had loved and taken care of her for the first 6 months of her life had less than one more hour with her. I decided then and there that I would let the nannies hold her as much as they wanted. She was passed around from one precious caregiver to the other, while they hugged and kissed her, laughed with her, then squeezed her tight before shedding tears. It was one of the most beautiful and one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed. I still thank God for those wonderful ladies.

I held a couple of other babies and told them their waiting parents loved them and would be there soon. I took a few pictures, and I tried to listen to translated instructions on how often and much Petunia ate, and how to mix her formula. I changed her into the dress I brought for her -- a tiny, tiny, dragonfly-print dress -- and then we all headed back to the van. The nanny Sherri and Kelly nicknamed Nanny V rode in the van with us to the G&R. She held Petunia for a while, then squatted on the floor of the van so Petunia could lie down on the seat. Nanny V put her soft hat under Petunia's little head so she would be more comfortable, and kept her hands on her all the time to keep her safe during the bumpy ride. I was sitting in the seat behind them, and it broke my heart into tiny pieces to see Nanny V's shoulders shaking as she cried silently, knowing this was the last day she would hold this special little girl in her arms. Again, it was so beautiful and so sad at the same time.

Finally, we got to the building where the G&R would take place. It seemed like we waited forever before the ceremony started. Nanny V had Petunia almost the entire time, but my baby was getting restless and very tired. We were at the end of the ceremony, where we were being invited and encouraged to bring our children back to Vietnam to visit one day, when Petunia had had enough. She started crying and she didn't want me to be the one to comfort her. Nanny V took her from me and gave her the rest of her bottle. Petunia was better after that.

We all had to leave for an hour or so while some paperwork was being handled, so we drove to a little cafe to get something to drink. We had gotten to Vietnam the day before and into our hotel late that night. Then we left the hotel at 6:30 that morning, and we hadn't had any caffeine for quite some time. We were so tired and we were dying for Diet Coke. We asked for it, and let me tell you how desperate we were to get it. They must have gone to some outdoor storage room, complete with a dirt floor, to get the bottles of Diet Coke. They were dusty, cobwebby, and had pieces of leaves hanging off of them. On top of that, they were hot... not warm, but hot. Lelah and I looked at each other, popped off the caps, wiped the tops off with a napkin, and chug-a-lugged those bad boys. Ahhhh! Petunia was an angel while we were there. Then it was back to get the paperwork, and then we started the long, bumpy drive back to the hotel.

What a glorious day it was! I'm so grateful and humbled that I was chosen to be the mother of this particular sweet and spicy little girl. I may complain about lack of sleep and lots of attitude, but the truth is that I wouldn't be complete without my Petunia. I know it was, in reality, two years ago that I became a mother; however, it seems like I've been Petunia's mom my whole life, even though it also seems like we were in Vietnam just yesterday. Life and love are funny things.

A lot of people question whether you can really love a child at the time of adoption. I say you can. Maybe it isn't that way for everyone, but it was for me. I loved the idea of Petunia when I saw her pictures, but I truly loved that baby from the first minute I looked into her eyes and saw her grinning with her two teeth showing. The love that I feel for her today is just as real, but it is so much deeper. I know, however, that it's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Here's my Petunia on April 23, 2007, riding in the van on the way to the G&R...

And here she is today, two years later, not wanting to cooperate for an anniversary photo...

My cup truly runneth over.

Take My Picture, Mama

2009-04-22T21:36:00.003-05:00

On two separate occasions, Petunia has asked me to take her picture. The problem is that she doesn't want me to take her picture when she's looking cute. I don't think there are words to describe her look in these two shots, so perhaps you should just see for yourself...

The Queen of Accessories!

PSDJ: This evening Petunia got bent out of shape about something and broke out her signature move -- acting like she's going to hit you, but she just hits air instead. I know it shouldn't get to me the way it does, but she does it so often (the child has a really quick temper) that it goes all through me. Today I tried to be calm about it, and this is how our conversation went...

M: Petunia, that's not nice at all when you do that. I'm asking you now not to do it anymore.

P: But I want to do dat.

M: What I'm saying to you is I don't want to see you do it again.

P: It what Meanie Girl does?

M: Yes, and you know what? You've been Meanie Girl to Mama, to your teachers, and to your friends at school. In fact, I think you've done that to everybody, and I want you to stop doing it so people will want to be your friend.

P: I not do it to Jasmine. Jasmine my friend.

M: *trying desperately to think of something clever and wise to say*

P: See, Mama. *smiling sweetly and loving on Jasmine* Jasmine my friend.

M: *feeling completely defeated and staring blankly* Uh-huh. *walking out the room so Petunia doesn't see me laughing like an idiot*

I really wish my brain wasn't so tired all the time. I end up saying the most ridiculous things, and I feel absolutely lame when she stumps me. There was a time, pre-motherhood, when I could have come up with some really good stuff. Oh, those were the days.

Despite this little conversation, Petunia has been a very good girl for the past several days. She's been really funny and fun and cute and happy. She's been getting the giggles a lot lately, and doing a lot of teasing. She's also been finding it a little easier to warm up to people she doesn't know well, as long as they don't invade her space, of course. How wonderful is that? She's still incredibly wary of people, but I have noticed some small improvement. If she would just sleep, then life would be nearly perfect!

I love my sweet and spicy girl!

A.A.A.D.D.

2009-04-21T22:55:00.000-05:00

~If you haven't taken a minute to comment on my previous post for Petunia, please do it for her. I promise I won't ask again.~

I'm sure most of you have read this before, but this truly is the story of my life...

Recently, I was diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. - "Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder." This is how it manifests:

I decide to wash my car.

As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the hall table. I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full. So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only one check left. My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye--they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So,I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, the trash hasn't been taken out, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I'm really baffled, because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really, REALLY tired!

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it...... but first I'll check my e-mail.

Not only do I have the age thing going on, but I also have a raging case of "Mommy Brain". I don't see things getting better any time soon, so I'll just have to make the best of it.

Will You Do This For Petunia?

2009-04-17T22:31:00.004-05:00

This blog is fun for me, and I love going back occasionally to relive special moments, but it is ultimately for Petunia. I think one day she'll be very happy to have some of her life documented forever. Within the next couple of years, I'm going to find the time to turn my blog into bound books for her.

She will see the comments from some of the people who check in on us regularly, but there are others we don't know about who keep up with Petunia's life, too. So that got me thinking. How great will it be for Petunia to someday know that people from lots of different places were interested in her little life? If the roles were reversed, I'd like to know. Wouldn't you?

Here's where you come in, and I really hope you're willing to help. If you stop by on a regular basis to see what's going on in the life of my sweet Petunia, will you please leave a comment for her? I'm not, in any way, asking for anything fancy or lengthy, or for you to comment on a continual basis if you don't want to. I'm just asking if you will let her know where you're from. If you'd like to add a special message or wish for Petunia, or if you'd like to tell her a little about yourself, that would be fantastic, but I'd at least like for her to know the place you call home.

Will you do this for Petunia? My sweet and spicy girl and I thank you in advance.