Monday Madness update...

A new schedule started, and an extra busy weekend, and a rant...

Avery is quite the girl! She is the happiest little girl we know. She brings so much love to our lives, and so much happiness. Everyday is a new adventure, and when she smiles it lights up the room.  She can say "Hi" now when prompted. She knows who Mama, and Dada/Baba are. She can pull herself up off the floor and stand by herself now. She now pets the kitties very nicely. We are getting our nap routine down finally for the afternoon. Everyday a little more progress. We are having the time of our lives!!

We've had a lot of visitors this week, and a lot of new faces, and a lot of relatives to meet. A bit overwhelming at sometimes but she's such the trooper...

Daddy went back to work full time this week, and Mommy went back to work a few hours on Tuesday-Thursday to finish up some previously scheduled camps. It was hard for both of us this week. You could tell that Avery knew something was different...Daddy was gone most of the day, and and Mommy left for 2 hours. Although she's happy to have anyone play with her, so it feels as if she doesn't notice you are gone for the time that you are, but when you come home and get the "happy" dance...you know she knows you were gone. Plus, for the remainder of the night she's a stick tite to me...so she knows, and misses us. But I have to do it again this week, then I have 2 weeks with her, before the Fall schedule. Looking forward to my 2 weeks with her before the grind starts...

Grandma Scofield (Margaret), and Grandma Newton (Judy), babysat this week, while Mommy was gone-thankgoodness for Grandmas!!

We went to an International Adoption picnic on Saturday at a friend's house. It was great to see and meet everyone, a lot of fun. China, Ethiopia, and India were represented. Russia and Guatemala were also supposed to be there, but couldn't make it. There were over 20 children at this picnic, some biological, but a lot adopted. We met a lot of new people, and their children. Re-connected with some people we had met while going through the process. Traded stories of our trips, and how everyone's children were doing and adjusting. Avery was the youngest adopted child there, and we were the ones who had adopted most recently. Talking to other adopted families is the best, everyone gets your joys and frustrations. They understand a lot of what you've been through, and what you're going through. The connection of adopted families is deep, and you can't really describe the level of camaraderie you feel, but it is so needed!

One of my former dancers who now lives in NYC was home this weekend with her boyfriend, and they came over to meet Avery. We are so excited to have our dance family meet our daughter. I have taught probably by now over 1000 kids, and we still remain in contact with a lot of them. It was so nice to see Alex, and meet her boyfriend Matt. We won't get to the city this Fall, but we can't wait until Avery is old enough to go, and we can share NYC with her-one of our favorite places to go!!
















Sunday was the Newton/Sischo get together. A lot of Gary's family had not met Avery yet, and this was their chance to meet our newest member of the family. Avery was napping though when we arrived, fell asleep in the car on the way over and actually stayed asleep for another 90 minutes when we got to Grandma & Grandpas. She needed the rest though-missed our nap on Saturday due to the picnic. It was great seeing everyone, and having them meet Avery. She takes a little bit to warm up, but then she started to smile, and giggle, and perform like she always does...she's a ham. She was a little overwhelmed though-Mommy knows. It was a lot of new people at once in a close space, and a lot of people close to her face, and loud, and a lot of people wanting to hold her etc.  But she did fine, maybe Mommy not so much. I can feel when she's overwhelmed, and needs a break, so we would get up and walk around some more. We were so happy to see everyone, and have them meet Avery. We don't get together that often...about once a Summer. We were glad we finally could be there with our daughter. It had been a long time coming. We were always the ones at these get togethers without children, and they really were not any fun for us in the past because we felt very left out. So it was nice to have that change-finally!!

I have learned a lot in the weeks we have been home. A lot about Avery-obviously, but a lot about people. I learned that when I wrote about the one hard night/day in China there were some people that almost relished in the fact that we had a hard day. I didn't expect that.

I have been very good at ignoring people's opinions on how we should be raising Avery, or handle certain situations. People seem to forget sometimes that we are her parents, and we're not idiots!! I am almost 37 and Gary is 39, we have good heads on our shoulders, and a lot of common sense, we don't need nor want everyone's opinions-sorry to be blunt-but there it is!!

This whole thing-becoming parents hasn't just been 3 years, it in actuality has been 10 years. We started to try to have children in 2000. So now that we are parents we are selfish, and wanting every moment we can with Avery. Please remember we've only been together going on 5 weeks. 5 weeks, that's not very long. So Mommy doesn't want to hand Avery over all the time. Mommy wants all the hugs, and kisses, and snuggle time she can get. Please remember that even though Avery is all smiles, and hams it up, and seems to be comfortable with everyone, we are still working on the bonding. Everyone says to us how well she is adapting-well she is!! She is doing great but we have to limit some things right now, and that's our decision and no one else's.

I feel sometimes that I am under a microscope, and need to watch my p's and q's. But I'm the Mom, why do I have to walk on egg shells shouldn't it be the other way around?

Everyone needs to take our lead. We are taking Avery's lead as we said we would. But right now Avery needs Mommy & Daddy time more than anything. The schedule is going to change again, and Avery needs to feel secure in our home, and with us, and know we are always here and always coming back. So do not feel offended when we don't offer her to everyone all the time, or want her back quickly. Please do hand her back to one of us in a timely fashion, and hand her back to one of us instead of to someone else.

I will say that as the Mom, I miss her when she's not in my arms or playing at my feet. And when someone else has her, I want her back immediately. But think about it, waiting 10 years to be a Mom (and Dad). Trying different things, and being disappointed all the time. If you knew all the feelings Gary and I went through over the 10 years-put yourself in our shoes.

So it's not being "funny" about situations. It's our way of dealing with things. You can like it or not, but that's how it is, and will be.

That really wasn't a rant. But also remember that this blog is Alli's journal too. So feelings, and emotions are part of it. It is my way of getting things out. So I will not hold back here...

There's the Monday catch up!!