It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

The snow is falling.  I think the shopping is done.  The presents are waiting to be wrapped.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  

I should write a full-blown update but this is what you're getting tonight.  Fun Christmas/Winter pictures.  

Christmas tree is up!

Thanksgiving dinner with Uncle John and Grace.

She loves her Uncle Bryon.

Hanging out with Grandpa.

Reunited with Claudia.  

She lost her first tooth.  

It was very traumatic for both of us.  

Getting dressed for the ball.  

Princess Ball with Grandpa!  

(They both loved it.  Don't let Grandpa tell you any different.)

Helping teach the Ballroom dancing lessons.

A bit blurry but the girl loves to dance--from the moment she arrives.

The real Santa Sequence

Singing after the ball. 

Carriage ride.

Story time at Gigi's Playhouse.  

Learning to shovel.

Overwhelmed

I've been really overwhelmed lately with the thought that this time last year Sara was gearing up for another Christmas in another orphanage.  She was in a nice place so I'm sure they did something for Christmas Day but not to the extent she will celebrate this year.

Sara has been given the opportunity to go to a Princess Ball held at a local hotel and sponsored by the Oak Lawn Children's Museum.  If you know Sara at all, you know that this is a dream come true for her.  She loves all things princess and dressing up.  She loves to eat and dance.  This is pretty much her ideal day.  I'm so honored that she was chosen to go and I know she will love it.  This is what really started me thinking about how much her life has changed.  

Her life has changed not just because she has a mommy who loves her but because she has a whole community of friends and family that love her.  I didn't buy her these tickets.  Someone chose to give them to her.  It's a father/daughter event so I can't go with her.  My father is taking her.  She doesn't have winter dress shoes.  A "fairy godmother" is taking her shopping before the ball.  As much as I want to do it all for her, I just can't.  

I have friends that jump at the chance to help out with her, to watch her, to love on her.  I have a family that can't wait to see her and spend time with her.  I have a church community that has been incredibly accepting.  I have a Gigi's playhouse around the corner where I am simply Sara's mom because it's all about the kids.  

This time last year, I was planning a Thanksgiving Pity Party with my friend Angie because our girls weren't home yet and wouldn't be home for Christmas.  Our girls were unaware of how hard their moms were working to bring them home.  They were celebrating another Christmas without us and we were counting down the days until mid-January.  

This year, we are planning a fun outing with our amazing little princesses.  Both girls are growing and developing and learning so quickly.   Both are girls are loved and accepted in our families, churches, communities and in their schools.  

So, as I stress about packing, work, and my to-do list, I need to take a deep breath and remember that this Thanksgiving is different.  This Thanksgiving I am grateful for the little girl who has forever changed my life.  I am thankful for those who helped her get home.  I am thankful for those in my life who continue to encourage me as I figure out this parenting thing.  I am thankful for people who laugh along side of me at her antics.  I am thankful that I have the privilege of being Sara's mommy.  

Easter

Sara's first American Easter was pretty low key--on purpose.  I'm not going to get
on a soap box but I think we can all admit that holidays have become way too commercialized.  It's nice to have a child that doesn't know what she's "missing."  She seemed to know what Easter was when we talked about it but I don't think she had any expectations.

She woke up to an adorable Easter basket from a girl at work.  (How amazing is she?)  It had a bunch of great gifts that she loved.  Almost all of them featured Disney Princesses---a big hit in our house.  Not an ounce of candy in it.  Perfect!

It took her a while to get the hang of unwrapping the presents but she did get it.  (All the gifts she's gotten since she's been home have been in gift bags.)  She didn't want to rip the paper so it took us quite a while to get everything open.

She LOVES any excuse to get dressed up and she LOVES new clothes.  She found it terribly amusing that mommy put a skirt on.  (I rarely wear skirts.)  She was running around me flipping the skirt up and laughing.  If I had known it was going to be the highlight of her day, I would have taken a video.

After church, we went to Laura's house for dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt.  Dinner wasn't a huge success but I refuse to fight with her about food in public.  (I got her to put a green bean in her mouth and she acted like I was trying to kill her.  Seriously.)  

Joleigh was nice enough to leave some eggs behind for Sara.  She's not very good at looking for things.  (I think the vision issues have something to do with that.)  She got much better at it as we hunted.

Sara and her new friend Joleigh.  It's hard to believe Joleigh is only a year older than Sara.  She's so much taller!  Laura and I have both had trouble finding spring jackets for our girls.  Thus, Sara has no coat and Joleigh is wearing a winter jacket.

She definitely loved the jelly bean ones (her mouth is full!) but wasn't at all interested in the ones with pennies.  Silly girl!  After I refused to open any more eggs for her, she started asking other people at the dinner if they would help her.  The girl is determined!

After a busy day and no nap, Little Miss Sara is sleeping soundly in her bed--early!  Tomorrow begins another new phase for her.  I go back to work. Tuesday she starts school.   Time to adjust to our new "normal."