Ice, Boredom and New Hair Do's

So this is the ice on the trees this morning. It's melted now but it was another COLD day! The side roads and sidewalks have been COVERED with ice, so any activity outdoors is pretty treacherous. It wasn't bad when it was snowing, but the ice rain and sleet has frozen over all of it and anyone daring to walk outside can count themselves blessed if they don't slip at least once along their way.



Needless to say, we spent another day indoors. The girls have been so good about playing inside, but I know that they miss the sun and the ability to run outside of the four walls they are stuck in. We get more creative each day and I am learning what it means to have a family on the east coast in the dead of winter.
Here is a small window into today's most exciting activity.
Side note: Forgive the haze over the pictures. Something was smeared on the lens.
The "before" hair:




The "after" hair:




It took me a while to get them both done, but it was MUCH faster than twisting them the other way. Macie's hair is getting WAY too long to do that anymore, so I am trying to learn new ways to do it. She liked it when I was done too!



There is a lot of room for improvement, but for a first attempt, I didn't think it was too bad.

Snow Day!

Today is the first day that the snow has actually stuck long enough for the girls to play in it. They loved it!

Time

I missed my girls yesterday.
Now I can see that I really started to feel it the day of the inauguration. Ella had been on Garrett's back all morning long and the afternoon was spent playing, but somehow, I had gone all day without spending set aside time just holding my baby girl. As we settled into our bedtime routine that night she curled up in my arms and an empty spot in my heart that had been silent all day suddenly sighed in relief at it's fullness. I took a deep breath enjoying the moment with her in my arms and the night went on as usual.
Yesterday though, stands out more somehow. I went to yoga in the evening (which was a first). I debated a while about this, as yoga is scheduled during the hours that we normally put the girls down to bed, but after a long talk with Garrett and a lot of thought about what was best for the family, we decided I should just try it and see how things go. So, I went.
We have gotten to a point now, where the girls know that momma will be back when she has to go somewhere (to be honest, this was far less of a problem than I ever anticipated). So when I left the house I wasn't that worried about the first half hour, it was more a concern about ACTUAL bedtime that had me a little unnerved.
I made it through the class though and as I moved from one position to another the worry for the girls dissipated and became something entirely different. As I laid in our final resting pose, my lips turned up and I restrained the tears that were building behind my closed eyes. I had identified exactly what I was feeling. I MISSED MY GIRLS! I missed tucking them in. I missed kissing them goodnight and telling them I loved them as they drifted off to sleep.
I pulled myself together and drove home saying a silent prayer of thanks to God for allowing me to feel such an immense love for my girls. I got home and checked in with Garrett, who informed me that the night had gone on without incident. Bittersweet joy filled my heart as I tiptoed up the steps to kiss them both goodnight. They had done well for Daddy and if they missed their momma, had kept it to themselves.
Ella was out cold, but as I leaned over to kiss Macie, her eyes opened and a smile spread across her face. Only a mother would understand the joy of that moment. I smiled back, blinked back tears, told her I loved and and tucked her in for a second time. As her eyes closed and I walked quietly out of the room I breathed in a new kind of air. The kind that brings peace to a mother's heart.
I know that this whole thing might sound strange, or even cold to some. For a mother to not miss her children- how could I possibly say such a thing, but it's not that simple. These lives have been my everything from before they even came home, but to know them now and learn who they are has been an adjustment beyond what anyone can put into words.
I have had time away from them and it has been much needed, but in those moments, I had yet to feel the closeness to them that led me to actually MISS them. It's hard to explain without getting into a bunch of different aspects of what adoption is, but I'll try to put it in terms that might be able to help you understand, as crass as they might be.
It's like I've been baby-sitting someone else's kids 24/7 for the last 7 weeks. All the feelings that you want to have as a parent are set aside during this time in order to survive and do what is best for the kids. The longing to give that love that you give each day and have it be returned. The dream of your children running to you simply because they can, not because they are fearful of something or someone else. The hope for the days and the feelings that you know will come, but may be a long way off. All of those things are put on the back burner so that you can focus on living in the moment and being the best mom that you can be with everything that you have to give in the now. Those feelings are carefully set aside and protected in order to survive the wait of the bonding process, but each day more is shared and enjoyed and felt.
Over the last few days it's as if the girls have decided that they are ours and my heart has taken notice and begun to feel again. I don't know if I can explain it any better than that, but regardless of whether or not it is understood, it is amazing to feel and even more amazing to see all the changes that it is making in all of us.
Time works it's magic in all things. It heals. It protects. It transforms. It creates families.
I missed my girls yesterday. They are napping and I miss them now. What an AMAZING feeling (big sigh). So THIS is motherhood!!!

The Big Day.

A water main in our neighborhood broke. That was how the morning started. We had the morning all planned out with the girls and the plan went in the trash. We melted ice and washed hair, faces and brushed teeth, made breakfast and ate.
Garrett and I layered up and got to work clothing the girls. 3 pairs of socks, 4 pairs of pants, two three long sleeve shirts, fleece sweatshirts, snow bibs, mittens, beanies and full jackets later, we all headed out the door. The air was FRIGID! It was in the teens this morning, but we figured it would warm up and the girls were bundled up beyond reason so we decided we could take it on.
When we got to the metro station, the train was already full (we are pretty far out of the DC area, mind you) so we squeezed in and hunkered in a corner until we hit our transfer station and finally headed up the tunnels and into the district.

Our tickets were in a designated section and we found the line quickly, but the longer we searched for the end of it, the more we realized that our chances of actually seeing the speech in our area were going to be slim to none. The line for our section stretched around 6 city blocks and that wasn't even the end of it. by the time we hit the Smithsonian air and space museum we were frustrated and the length of it and decided to take a break from searching for it and get a bite to eat.
It was a bit funny taking the girls beanies off. We had some serious hair going on, but we all go the giggles and enjoyed ourselves a bit.
We decided to head to the main strip of the mall where there appeared to be a bit more room to breathe. We finally stopped around the Washington Monument and found our place with thousands of others watching the big screens and waiting for our commander and chief to make his first speech as President.
We enjoyed Aretha singing (who wouldn't) and were wowed at the thousands around us saying the Lord's Prayer that was led by pastor Rick Warren. We were awed at the smiling faces of everyone around us and all the different ages, races and backgrounds.
There wasn't an angry word heard by my ears all day. Even those directing the crazy heard of a crowd that we were, stood on the tops of vehicles and laughed at their own attempts to try to yell over the chanting and repeated questions by those unfamiliar with the area. Military personnel, law enforcement, FBI, and who knows who else were all there in abundance. They were lining the streets and more than happy to assist anyone with questions.
There really isn't much that can express the feel of the day and the mass of the crowd. Everyone was excited to be a part of an amazing moment. We met people from all over the US and saw many others from far outside of our own borders. We were proud parents to two beautiful girls that we are so thankful to have finally brought home.
Macie and Ella had another wonderful day. We brought them home and treated them to hot chocolate and continual praise for the amazing little lives that they are.
An Update on them: They are totally, mind blowingly, well behaved kids. They are the best! Not only that, but Macie decided yesterday that she was done with pull ups. We thought it might be a fluke, but sure enough, all day long she went without a single accident in her big girl panties. Today, we noticed that our little Ella did the same thing. Not a single accident in her diaper! Is this normal (not that I am complaining AT ALL)?
I feel like the last two days, well three really, they have simply decided to love and accept us as their parents and thrive in their new lives. It's almost as if they have just turned a corner and are more than happy to just continue forward and enjoy where they are at. I'm failing to express all that goes into that, but if you could see them, you would know. It has really been amazing.
Anyway, I'm rambling.
All that to say, it was an amazing day. We are so thankful that we got to be a part of it and even more thankful to be moving forward and onto a new chapter in American history and in the lives of our family.

"We Are One" Concert in DC

We had the best day today! I was so proud of my girls and my family. After short naps, we decked the girls out in layer upon layer of clothing, loaded them onto the metro and headed into DC for what would be one of the coolest days I have ever experienced.
Not only was the crowd amazing, but the music was great and the speakers kept it short and sweet. After 4 hours of being carried in Ergo's, our girls were loaded back onto the metro and taken home (with a celebratory stop at McDonald's for some much needed dinner). Not once, in the entire time out in the 34 degree weather did the girls complain or even whimper. They enjoyed little snacks and giggled as they observed all the going's on during the whole thing.
There was plenty to watch. Between the cameras and the hundreds of thousands of people, there was no shortage of diversion for their little eyes, but even so, I COULD NOT be prouder!

We were quite a way's back, but the video screens worked great. Everyone in the crowd was excited to be there. Here are just a FEW of the people we saw today.
Steve Carrell.
Mary J. Blige

Stevie Wonder.
Jack Black.


Jon Cougar Melloncamp.
Jon Bon Jovi.
Garth Brooks.

U2

James Taylor, Beyonce, Forrest Whitaker, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Martin Luther King III, Laura Linney, Usher, Sheryl Crow, Tiger Woods, Samuel L. Jackson.... the list goes on and we saw them ALL!!!!
It was a long afternoon, but it felt like it flew by and both Garrett and I are SOOOOOO happy with the girls. THEY ARE THE BEST!!!
We'll post more after inauguration!

So Maybe We Don't Have ACTUAL Seats, but....

but we did get our invitations and we are in the gated, high security area with AMAZING views of the capital!


They are packaged like you would expect White House invitations to be packaged and we feel REALLY important to even have them in our hot little hands. Official seals are on each piece of the invite and we are one of the lucky 240,000 to have recieved them.




Just a bit of the days program, but look at some of the names.

That's right folks- take a look at that name! Can you believe it! So cool!

We are behind all the VIP's who have direct seats at the capitol. We will be standing throughout the ceremony (or running in place depending on the cold), but our reserved area only covers a tiny portion of the actual capitol mall that is expected to be covered by millions.

We are hoping to take a dry run at the capital with the girls tomorrow. It will be a short trip, as the weather is expected to be much colder tomorrow than it will be on inauguration day. Regardless, we will try to get some good pictures so that you know what to expect when we post about the actual event. It's only 4 days away!

Go here!

Go here. Make a comment. It's for a good cause. Do it every day- it makes a bigger difference than you know and it doesn't hurt you one bit!

Kissing attacks between sisters. Gotta love it!


A smiling Ella recovers from being covered in Macie kisses and a horribly joyful fit of the giggles. Macie recovers a little quicker and gets sucked into a good Reading Rainbow video.


OK- so I have mentioned the whole changing cloths issues at our house. I am the first to admit that this problem likely started with me, but I will no longer apoligize as this picture would never had been taken had I not exposed the girls to my own flaw!

Let me explain. We got a package in the mail a couple weeks back containing more gifts from Hawaii. Well, the girls could barely contain themselves and dove in quickly. Before we knew it, Ella had completely transformed herself into Hawaii's Winter Princess.

Note momma's socks pulled up to her knees, the long sleeve shirt and the summer shoes.

I mean- HOW CUTE CAN YOU GET?!?!?!?!