Letters to My Daughter - End of Summer

Mija,

It's 6:30PM on Sunday night.  You are laying on the couch next to me falling asleep.  I'm sitting here dreading going back to work tomorrow.  You went back to school on Tuesday but my going back officially signifies the end of summer.  We've had such an amazing summer.  It makes me sad to see it go but I know that we both need to get back to structure, routine and bed times!

It was so great for both of us to have this time together.  We had the same amount of time together in the winter but I think we were both so in shock that we didn't really get to enjoy it.  This summer was all about fun, family, and being together.

I learned so much about you.

*I learned that you prefer to stay up late and sleep in.  We got back into our habit of staying up until 9 and sleeping in until 8.  You are definitely struggling to get back on a school schedule.

*I learned that you do not like to be hot.  Bogota is so high that it never really gets hot there.  You've been outside for a couple of hot days this summer and you become very crabby.

*I learned that the only thing that makes you crabbier than being hot is being tired.

*I learned that you are an amazing traveler.  You have been from one end of the country to the other this summer and have done amazingly well.  You seem to thrive on travel---just like your mom.

*I learned that you love to swim but you have no idea how to do it.  You want to be let go in the pool but you don't even try to stay up.  You just sink like a rock.  I learned that you need to take swimming lessons soon.

*I learned that you don't really know how to play with children your own age.  If you can't be in charge, you don't really know what to do with other kids.

*I learned that you love people and love to meet new people but you still want mom nearby.  Even in the midst of playing, you will come check in with me to make sure that I am sharing in the excitement.

*I learned that you like people on your terms.  You aren't fond of people who are too in your face.  You prefer the ones that are ignoring you.  You like smaller groups of people and can get overwhelmed in a big crowd.

*I learned that you are even more famous than I thought and that you charm everyone you meet.

*I learned that 5 sounds so much older than 4.

*I learned that you have no idea what a birthday is but you love the attention that it brings.

*I learned that bandaids don't fix your owies.  They actually make them worse in your mind.



You've learned a lot too.

*You've learned so many new words.  You can say Mom now.  You call me that all the time when it's just the two of us but switch to Natty when other people are around.  Sleeping (seepin, seeping) is one of your favorites along with "Wait."  We were all pretty sure you were saying "Zip It" when we were camping but I haven't heard that one in a while.

*You've learned how to unbuckle the seat belt on a plane and in a car.  This is a problem.  I think you're going to be in your 5-point harness seat for a while.

*You've learned not to be afraid of falling water.  You will now play in sprinklers and take a shower.  You still don't really like the rain but it doesn't stress you out nearly as much as it used to.

*You've learned that sometimes we stop at a gas station just to get gas or go to the bathroom.  We don't get a snack every time.  This was a heartbreaking lesson for you to learn but you seem to get it now.  You get so excited when you do actually get it snack.  It's precious.


I have absolutely the best summer with you.  I loved watching you meet so many of the important people in my life and charming each and every one of them.  I loved the days that we got to sleep in and cuddle in the mornings and the nights when I let you fall asleep on the couch next to me.  I loved taking you to almost every kind of medical specialist around and having almost all of them tell me that you are doing amazingly well and completely healthy.  I loved that my only job this summer was to be your mom.

Sadly, summer can't last forever and I have to earn a paycheck so we can continue to have fun.   I can't wait to see what the fall brings for you.  I'm excited to see you play soccer and take swimming lessons.  I'm excited to see how much you learn in school.  Most of all, I'm excited just to be your mom!

Love,
Mommy

July Journey - Part 3 - Extra Week in NY

Due to an issue with my car, we ended up spending an extra week in NY.  (I won't publicly embarrass any one but let the record show that it was not my fault!)  While it was annoying to wait a week for car repairs, the timing was great.  We didn't have any commitments during that time and I'm off of work for the summer.  So, we spent an extra week in NY hanging with my parents and brothers.  We kept ourselves pretty busy and got some visits in with family and old friends.

My rental car for the week.  It was pretty fun to drive this thing through the winding, hilly roads of Western NY.  Rob hated the car and announced it every time he had to wait for one of us to let him out.  (Apparently he's not a fan of child locks on back doors.)

Sara makes friends every where we go---including Little League games.  This little girl asked me why she talked funny.  I just told her she was still learning English.  Her response:  "I can still play with her, though.  Right?"  Yes, sweetheart.  You can!

She's a little bit vain.  This was a disastrous trip to Walmart.  Never take a brother obsessed with toys and a 4-year-old who hasn't seen most toys into Walmart without some sort of backup.  (My mom disappeared to attempt to get some actual shopping done.)  

We got to visit with my brother and his girls.  This is Sara's cousin.  They aren't really convinced that they like each other at this point in their lives.  They both LOVE to be in charge and that doesn't always work out very well.

They sure are cute, though!

Nana is getting buried but I'm pretty sure she's loving it.

Kinsley is more Sara's speed.  She's used to being told what to do.

Unfortunately, this was just before we were headed out to a church party.  Summer has worn her out.

Sara went on her first canoe ride at the church picnic.  I really did not want to swim in that pond but once she saw other kids in it, there was no way she wasn't going in.  As much as she thinks she doesn't need me in the water, she does.
On a side note, I love how welcoming my parents' church family has been to Sara (and my brothers).  It's pretty much the only church that we've been too that I haven't been totally stressed out about her behavior.  (She's not bad but I don't want her to be the kid people are talking about later.)  Apparently, I've told her to be quiet a few times in church because she shushed the greeter as soon as we walked into the sanctuary.  

My little girl is growing up!  She looks so mature in this picture.

On Monday, we went to Circle C Ranch to meet up with a friend who was dropping off her daughter.  I worked there for 4 summers in high school and college.  I have some amazing memories from that place as a camper and as staff.  It was fun to go see how little has changed in 20 years!!

Monday morning shoot out.  My sister and I were trying to figure out how many of these Wayne has been in and how many we've seen!

Sheriff Red.  (I thought he was old when I was a camper! That was more years ago than I want to admit.)  

The view on the drive home.  It doesn't get more beautiful than this and makes me wonder why I ever left.

My parents' house is grand central station with teenage boys, cats, construction workers, etc.  Sara managed to sleep in the middle of the living room floor for two hours!

Headed to my Aunt's house for lunch on Tuesday.  A girl has to be prepared with her life jacket just in case she gets the chance to go swimming!

My mom and my Aunt trying to figure out their iphones while we were at the playground.

Sara has no fear.  She was climbing stairs and ladders; going down huge slides.  She really wanted to slide down the firemen's pole but that's where I drew the line.  I'm glad she's brave but a little fear would be good!

 I stole this picture from my Dad.  They took her in the car wash---something I haven't done because she's afraid of falling water and loud noises.  They said she was fine but she told me a LONG story when she got home about it.

8 states; 3 weeks; thousands of miles and millions of memories.  It was so great to get to spend so much time with Sara and for her to spend so much time with her grandparents.  I've seen her grow leaps and bounds this summer.  School is all well and good but real-life experiences are just as important.

We have one more trip left and then it's back to "real life" for both of us.  I have no idea how we'll get used to going to bed on time and getting up to an alarm again but I guess we'll figure it out.  Summer can't last forever.

July Journey - Part 2 - Camping in Maine

My Dad's entire family is in Maine.  My sister, brother, and I were all born there.  Some of my dad's family have been super supportive of Sara and her adoption.  So, a bunch of us loaded into my parents' RV and headed to Maine for a week.

Traveling is exhausting.  

Massachusetts.  Cut me some slack.  It was late!

Sick of traveling.

Listening to music with my dad while waiting for my sister to fly in.

Sara with my great aunt and uncle.  It made me realize how much she would have loved my grandfather.

Rob loves taking care of her and helping her out.  Unfortunately, she doesn't always want to be cared for.  She's kind of independent.

She loves her Tia!

Checking out the Atlantic Ocean.

The view from our campsite.

She loves her grandpa.

This was her favorite activity any time Janelle was in the loft.  I was convinced she was going to go through the windshield.  

My Aunt Kathy gave her this adorable purse.  She loves it!

We rode a train from Belfast to Waldo.  Sara and Rob loved it!  She even got brave enough to stand up for a while.  

And this is why I got NO sleep all week.

Belfast, ME

This is how we "camp."  In an air-conditioned RV with electricity.  

If Sara couldn't get an adult to share their phone, she played on the GPS like it was a phone.  Messed the settings all up.

My aunt hosted a picnic.  (I think it was actually my uncle's retirement party.)  Sara got to meet most of my cousins, aunts, and uncles all at once!  She charmed them all, of course.

Making S'mores with my cousin's daughter.

She refuses to sit in her little pink chair.  She finds the biggest chairs she can find and then men are all too charmed by her to kick her out.

Dragging my cousin around by his wallet chain.

Chilling with my cousin Jason.

In the ADORABLE sweater my aunt made her.  I can't wait for it to be cold enough for her to wear it.

Chatting with Aunt Kathy---one of her biggest fans and supporters.  Aunt Kathy has reposted so many pictures of Sara that she was recognized by a group of older men hanging out at a Dunkin Donuts in Belfast.  She's famous every where!  

She loved having big girls to play with.

My grandmother.  You have to sneak pictures of her because she won't pose.

Right in the middle of the action.

It's not a trip to Maine without some yummy seafood!

Newington, NH.  Did you know you can camp overnight in Walmart parking lots?

Breakfast with Tia and Nana.

There's something about Maine that always feels like going home.  It was so nice to see Sara accepted and loved by my extended family.  People I don't even know were excited to meet her.  This little girl has charmed her way into the hearts of many!