Two years

Two years:

Today marks our daughter's 2nd Gotcha Day anniversary (or as our dear friend Maylee Beezir refers to as Family Day). Most of the time I don't think about how Allie joined our family - it's as if she's always been here. The transitional period was not always pretty - and at times it was well, ugly. When Allison joined our family - she was weak, thin, delayed developmentally and ALWAYS needed to be held to avoid implosion. Today, she is a strong, healthy, bright little ball of sunshine, who still ALWAYS likes to be held. What a cuddle bug. She can light a room with her sunny personality and radiant smile.

Gotcha Day is a reminder of how our daughter joined our family and how far we've come. It makes me stop and appreciate that she is with us and how lucky we are. We have been so blessed. (Gotcha Day also gives us one more reason to celebrate and get together with our China family.)

.....and that's a wrap:

I feel like I've met some amazing blog friends, and some IRL. But, with most things, this blog has come to an end (update: long hiatus). There just isn't enough time in the day with two small kids, school, dogs, yadayadayada to keep updating. I will be keep following the blogs of my new (and not so new) friends along with blogs of some cool waiting Moms - as I'm much to nosey to miss their referral announcements - not to mention they need all the support they can get.

***BTW, that creature Scott was holding is a conch (so we were told by a 10 yr old at the beach). Pretty gross, huh. Can you believe people eat these things? Yep, as fritters.

water babes

Huh, beach blanket? Sand toys? Why bother lugging that stuff. Can't get my little fishes out of the water. They even eat their lunch while standing in the water. Nothing like a PBJ with sand and salt water...yum. I know, there's a rule about waiting 30 minutes after a meal to swim, but try and tell my kids that. No complaining of belly aches all week, so they must have been fine.

There's nothing my kids love more than playing in the ocean (well, the bay, sans strong waves and undertow - much more fun for the kids AND mom). The only draw back to taking kids to the shore is schlepping the 100 pounds of cumbersome beach paraphernalia. Remember J0hn Candy in Summ*r Rental? I always think of that movie as I have a bazillion things in my hands and hanging off my arms & shoulders. So, I'm ordering this today - no more bruised arms for moi.

***Wanna guess what kind of sea creature Scott is holding in the first picture?

(we had no clue, but the 10 yr old hanging out with the kids informed us...nothing like being outsmarted by a 4th grader)