8 weeks, visitors, Three Cups of Tea, and girl power!

Anabel turned 8 weeks on Tuesday. She is growing like crazy (likes to eat, just like her brother), and has seemed so alert and active for weeks now. We continue crossing our fingers that she'll realize how nice daytime naps are sometime soon, but since she generally sleeps pretty well at night, can't complain too much.

Lucas started daycare this week. He is having a fun time playing with the other toddlers at 'Miss Etta's', and everyone loves our sweet boy. Of course they do:)

Last week we had our last round of guests for awhile. My mom, brother Josh, and aunt Linda visited, as well as mom's friend Gennie from Cali. The kids liked all the extra hands for playing and holding. Joan and Linda enjoyed swimming most days they were here, and even put together a nice synchronized swim routine. (Those pics are classified. I made a promise:))

I'm reading a great book called Three Cups of Tea. Got it for Christmas, and was certain I wouldn't get through it within the year with the 2 kiddos. I've found that nursing provides a good reading opportunity if someone else is able to watch Luke. Anyway, it is about a mountaineer who promises to return to Pakistan and build a school in a poor rural village after he is welcomed and attended to after trouble on one of his climbs. This guy subsequently builds over 50 schools, despite shoddy intermittent support in the US, great personal risk (death threats from both muslim extremists and US citizens), and sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His rationale: children everywhere deserve an education (preferably not funded and directed by Al Qaeda), and reaching out to these poor forgotten families with kindness and the hope that education brings goes a long, long way in countering terrorism.

I haven't yet checked the website (www.threecupsoftea.com), but want to pass on another website for an organization which focuses on educating girls around the world. I was introduced to Room to Read by a former patient. Colleen Vojvodich was an amazingly intelligent, bright, and thoughtful woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 42; she died two years later. I consider her my first cancer patient, as I met her during my last year of surgery residency and kept in touch with her until her death. She requested that donations be made to Room to Read in remembrance of her. It's been a few years since her death, but I plan to donate again this year.

6 weeks

another one-handed post w/ A. in the sling... A. is 6 weeks old today, and is more interactive every day. I went to work yest, and I think it's good for me to be getting back to a routine--just part-time for now.

WHEW!!

well,since last post, baby Anabel has arrived! As she's currently in the sling i'm wearing and i'm not an expert in 'hands-free' baby wearing yet, i'm typing one-handed. suffice it to say, our home and lives have changed drastically...

Mama, Luke, and uncle Zach went to the children's museum with a few other families (mostly Guate-tots) Saturday while daddy was working. He had a good time, although was shy at first. Thank goodness uncle Zach was there to help carry that big boy! Mama got tired out so we came home and took naps. The Lucas and mama's tummy pics are from several days ago. I don't know if I've gotten any bigger since then, but I am progressively more tired. I think I've reached the 'ready to deliver' point.

Happy Valentine's day

We had a fun time getting together with other adoptive families today to celebrate Valentine's day. There were about 20 kids there--about half of the adoptees were from Guat, and the other half were from China. (The host couple has a 2 year old from Guat, and have been waiting on a China adoption for a couple of years.) It was neat to see Luke with other little Guate-tots and to share stories with the other families.

We are down to less than 3 weeks until due date (of course, hoping for a little sooner, as all pregnant women must). Tired, easily winded, moderately stressed--at least the easily winded should get better after the delivery!

Luke is doing great. He has become hooked on Yo Gabba Gabba (crazy show on Noggin if you haven't seen it--uncle Zach is hooked, too), so with his limited TV time, that's a big fave. His dad was proud when he pointed out nearly all the weird characters correctly the other night. He's using a couple more words--he says yes appropriately, and sometimes 'daw' for dog. I just have a feeling he has a ton of words in there he's going to spill out all at once sometime in the next few weeks. He's pretty effective at communicating with the signs we've taught him and with gestures and sounds he's chosen, but it will be nice to have a little more specificity than "mmm, mmmm" and pointing.

Time to update, since I'm not really interested in the SuperBowl! These are a few pics from our 1st Christmas and winter in the SW. Although that summer heat is tough, we sure are glad we don't have to battle icy highways and shovel snow this year.

Luke got the big bear from mama and dad for Christmas and it was love at first sight. He loves to play in the back yard, pouring water, piling rocks, throwing the ball--all fun stuff. I am 35 wks in this pic--soon it'll be a month to go!