Thanksgiving Memories

Every year, my mother would cook a tiny dish of stuffing for me, in the oven next to the big dish for everyone else. Might did not include sage.

As much as I love Thanksgiving, some of the essential elements I'm not such a fan of. I don't understand sweet potatoes, and I abhor pumpkin pie. It should come as no surprise that my mother always made a chocolate one in addition to that yucky orange one. For me.

When she died, I was 25 and she was still cutting the crusts off of my sandwiches.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this year I am thankful that I had a mother who taught me how to be a mother, long before I ever actually needed the skill.

The Baby Shower That Wasn't

Last weekend, we had a baby shower at our house.

Well, sort of.

About two hours before the baby shower, the parents-to-be called to say they were in the hospital with pre-term labor. Most of the friends invited still stopped in to drop off a gift and have some food. Which was nice, because I'm not sure what the Ponablogskis would have done with stacks of light blue plates and the makings of brunch for 40.

Baby Quin was born this morning at 32-ish weeks gestation. He was large for his age, and breathes on his own, and I love him already for making it known from the beginning that he does not abide by the agenda of othes.

Thief

I went to Sam's Club this evening and collected $140 worth of things.

I got to the checkout and didn't have my wallet.

To add insult to injury, Drew had eaten half a box of unpurchased crackers while we walked through the store.

I am officially a disaster. You heard it here first.

Here Comes the Pie

This post is not about Thanksgiving.

We were on our way home from dinner last night, when this song came on the radio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2zSEgw8B3U

Drew sang "Here comes the pie" over and over again.

When we got home, Jeff found the cords on-line, looked over the lyrics, and within minutes, the two of them were playing and singing the song. Jeff: lead guitar and back-up vocals, Drew lead vocals.

By the way, Drew. You will probably not appreciate the tremendous talent your father has in this regard for many years. But that's OK. Because, when you do... it'll likely overwhelm you like it does me.

We had breakfast this moring to a chorus of "Here comes good-bye... here comes the last time... here comes the start of every sleepless night..."

Perhaps we should stick to Twinkle Twinkle.

...Shawty Fire Burnin' on the Dance Floor

Yesterday, Drew and I came downstairs to have breakfast, pack lunch, and generally get ready for the day.

Once I got him situated, I ran back upstairs to get something I had forgotten. When I came back down he had my cell phone up to his ear, and said the following:

"Hi PopPop. PopPop OK? Drewby OK! Bye Bye PopPop." I pulled the phone away and it said "Emergency Call" on the screen. I hung it up quickly, not knowing what else to do.

The 911 dispatcher called back. I explained. He was not amused.

A Gentle Reminder

Dear Baby Drew,

The rules are quite simple. We do not lick the bottom of our shoes, any part of a grocery cart, or THE WALL OF THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM AT GOLDEN WOK. These are pretty much the rules all the time, but more important to note during flu season. FYI.

Love,
Mom

The Mall

I hate the mall so much that I do about 98% of my shopping online. I love amazon.com.

Yesterday, Drew and I went to the mall to look at the Christmas trees at Macys. We may have discussed this before, but I am NOT in the camp of people who complain about how early the trees go up. They could never take them down, as far as I am concerned, and I would be perfectly happy. So there.

I went to the mall to buy a shirt for Drew's Halloween costume. I actually bought make-up and turkey brine. Go figure.

So we circle the 47 Christmas trees about 10 times with the exact desired effect. Lots of oohs and aahs and smiles. After a stop off at Sephora, we head to the food court. I'm in line at the Subway when the mom in front of me tells her whining (3 or 4 year old?) child to "shut the F$#% up". She had lots of tattoos and piercings, and before she walked away with her meatball sub, she told Drew to have a good day and called him sweetie. He was singing at the time, so I was pleased she didn't ask him to be quiet in her very special and unique way.

Drew and I were eating at a small table, likely covered with H1N1 virus residue, when a woman came up to us to let us know that her husband's uncle's daughter's best friend from grade school (or something?) had adopted a daughter from China. I don't mean to beat a dead horse with this, and I get that she's totally well-meaning... but it doesn't detract from the fact that Drew and I might like to enjoy our $5 ham and cheese on wheat in the relative peace that the mall food court allows. I smiled and pretended to be interested in a tale of infertility, paperwork and travel woes...

This would never happen on amazon.com. Never.

We loaded up and headed to the Williams Sonoma, where I bought a jar of turkey brine. Yes, I know it's early, but haven't we already discussed my thoughts on Holiday preparedness? I like the Macy's Christmas trees up by mid-August and the turkey brine in the pantry by mid-September. So technically, I'm a little late.

I suspect Drew will feel the same way about such things someday.

Morning Conversation

Me: "Good morning, Drew... Did you have any good dreams?"
Drew: "Yes"
Me: "What did you dream about?"
Drew: "Graham's house".

I wonder if he really knows what a dream is?

I do.

Pumpkin Carving

Last year, we invited our friends over to carve pumpkins, and then realized that there were no pumpkins to be had in the tri-state area. This year, we learned from our mistake. Sort of. We held the event early, and bought pumpkins way far in advance. We just forgot to buy candles to light them up. Whatever.

It may not matter much. Graham and Drew put stickers on tiny pumpkins and were entertained for approximately 3 minutes. Then they got down and practiced their fledgling sharing skills with Drew's toys. With limited success.

It was fun, nonetheless. I love the fall.

Happy Birthday

Tonight, Drew sang Happy Birthday to a list including but not limited to the following:

Graham
Kerney
Grapes
Daddy
Mommy
Thomas the Train
Puzzles
TV
Downstairs
Mommy's car
Panda Bear
Police Car
Lightning McQueen

Then he said grace.

Five minutes later, when Jeff said "I love you, Drew", Drew repiled with "I love cars, daddy".

Bedtime

Typically, Drew goes to bed without much of a production.

Tonight, Drew had a bath and brushed his teeth. We read books and sang songs. He said night night at least twice each to all of the following: downstairs, bobby, monkey, daddy, milk, cars and mommy. Into his bed he went with Monkey, two bobbies (blankies), a teddy bear named Ben and a car in each hand.

When he cried after about 20 seconds, I went in and asked him what the problem was. He held up the monkey and one of the bobbies and said "Monkey. Bobby. Take bath?".

"No," I explained. "Monkey and Bobby do not need to take a bath, but they do need to go to sleep. In fact, look, Monkey is already asleep. Shhh. You're disturbing him".

10 minutes later, when he hadn't settled down, I ventured back in. He stood up immediately, the tears diminished quickly and he explained "Fingers hurt", while yanking on one set of fingers with the others.

"Well then stop pulling on them..." I kissed the victimized fingers and then asked him if he could lay down and go night night for mommy to which he responded with a reluctant "yes" and repeated "fingers hurt... kiss fingers" while kissing them himself.

I guess he and his dirty monkey, dirty bobby, and injured fingers worked it all out, because that's the last we've heard from any of them this evening.

I enjoy that he's smart enough to figure out reasons to stay awake. I don't enjoy that he's smart enough to figure out reasons to stay awake. It's bittersweet, as they say.

Halloween is Coming

The Ponablogski Annual Fmaily Halloween Costume has been decided. You might think it's a bit early, but if you think that, you should know that we've actually been discussing the costume since early August. I won't reveal the actual decision here, because what fun would that be? I will, however, give you the short list of ideas which were rejected.

1.) We rejected the Star Wars option largely because Drew was Yoda last year. Time for us to branch out. In this scenario, I would have been C3PO, Drew: R2D2 and Jeff: Princess Leia.

2.) Drew really loves his Bert and Ernie books. Drew as Ernie, Kathy as Bert, Jeff as Rubber Ducky. It's impossible to find an adult Rubber Ducky costume, so that was also a reject.

3.) I think Jeff would've made a great Harry Potter, and Drew the most adorable little Dumbledore. But where did that leave me?

That's really about all we entertained, except the winner. Halloween might be my favorite part of fall. Or the fall festivals. Or caramel apples. Or the awesome weather. Or all the football. Or that Christmas is coming.

Happy fall, everyone. :)

Sick Day

Drew threw up all night on Friday, but seemed to recover nicely on Saturday. Subsequently, Jeff and I were up all last night engaging in the same and similar activities.


We both called in to work today, which is pretty rare, but since Drew was fine, we decided to drive him to school since they'd probably be better able to take care of him than we, in our extremely weakened conditions. As we were both lay there , praying to die, we tried to amicably decide who would bite the bullet and drive him the 6 miles there and heroically make it the 6 miles back. I made a point that I'd prefer not been seen in public without make-up, but my competitor made a better argument, and I effectively drew the short straw.

Drew through a fit heavily dosed with tears and histrionics on my leaving. I was roughly 3 minutes into my drive home, fantasizing about a cocktail of Sprite and phenergan, when the phone rang. He was so angry, he threw up on his teacher, the absolutely lovely and delightful Ms. Abby. Back I went, feeling horribly guilty on top of everything else. I really do love his teacher, and hate the idea that it was my kid who got her day off to a roaring start. At moments like these, I feel like a truly horrible parent. I tried to keep from crying when I loaded him and his monster truck lunchbox back in the car. He was smiling, for the record.

So we all crawled back in bed, and I may have dozed off for a few minutes to Jeff snoring and Drew (between us)discussing a myriad of subjects amongst himself. I laid there, in my cozy bed, under layers of down, in the dark, with the rain pouring outside and with everyone I love most at arms-length.

Maybe sick days aren't so bad. Sans the vomit, that is.

Graham Crackers

We bought a box of graham crackers a couple weeks ago to make smores. Then we realized there's no firewood within a 500 mile radius that wouldn't require us to both trespass and weild an axe.

Just as well, we discovered how much Drew loves the crackers, and more specifically how much he loves to torment the dog with them. Don't worry, she is victorious at least 50%
of the time...

Wedding Reception Behavior

Playing peek-a-boo may or may not be considered bad manners.

The Wednesday Wedding

We went to a wedding last week, on Wednesday. 09/09/09.

It was a very beautiful wedding, and Drew enjoyed himself immensely. When the bridesmaids came down the aisle, he became increasingly more excited with each one, at first whispering, and in the end practically shouting "pitty fowers". They really were quite pretty flowers. When the music was playing, it wasn't so much of an issue, but when the bride appeared and the music stopped, we headed out to leave the minister, bride and groom to conduct the more pressing business at hand.

Drew and I stood in the back (it was an outdoor wedding) with a drove of other toddlers and their associated (exhausted-looking) parents. We shared our collective notion that it will likely be a few years before we enjoy a wedding as it is meant to be enjoyed: in relative peace and quiet, wearing a lovely outfit and sitting in an actual seat.

Lessons Learned

When Drew held up his Monkey to me last night, he uttered a word I couldn't understand. After reapeating it about 3 times, he looked at Monkey and said "No... Monkey!". Then he took Monkey in the dining room, and sat him in the time-out corner. Finally I understood he had been saying "Monkey time-out". He stepped back and stared at him for about 5 seconds, and then said "beep beep" (a clear imitation of the timer on the microwave). He then picked Monkey up, hugged him and said "No naughty, Monkey".

I hope Monkey learned the lesson Drew intended to teach. This all happened about 30 minutes after Drew had experienced practically back-to-back timeouts for throwing various objects at my face. On the phone with Daddy a few minutes after short-term incarceration #2, I heard Jeff ask if he had been naughty, and Drew say "Yes. Two time-out".

True Love

Drew's been enamored with a girl in his class named Hope for months now. He recently learned her last name, which I feel I should not announce here, for privacy sake.

All day and all night, Drew talks about Hope Lastnamehere.

"Drew, should we go outside?"
"Hope Lastnamehere outside?"
"No, I don't think Hope Lastnamehere is in our backyard. I'd be shocked in fact, if she was"

"Drew, what movie should we watch"
"Watch movie with Hope Lastnamehere?"

Every morning:
"Ride mommy car go school see Hope Lastnamehere?"

Last week it was Hope Lastnamehere's birthday... At pick up, I told Drew to get his lunchbox and tell everyone goodbye. He grabbed his lunchbox, then hugged and kissed her and said "Happy Birthday, Hope Lastnamehere!"

You're a lucky girl, Hope Lastnamehere.

Bossy

This morning, Drew pushed against me with his monkey in the kitchen. He then pulled the monkey back and scolded "NOOOO Monkey... Mommy cooking waffles."

Yesterday afternoon, he grabbed his stuffed cow, Moo, and demanded he drink some milk. He had Moo's head in one hand, his sippy cup in the other, and crammed the two together violently while yelling "Moo thirsty. Moo drink milk. Yes."

Perhaps I need to re-evaluate the tone of my parenting.

Referral Day

Two years ago today, we got the news we'd been waiting for. A five week old baby boy born in Yuanlin, Taiwan had been referred to us.

It's impossible to believe that so much time has passed.

We took Drew to the Build-a-Bear workshop to celebrate. He reviewed each of the potential animals in front of him and for each one he said "Hold it?". One by one, he gave each a good hug and kiss before settling on a light brown bear. The sound device in his left hand has a recorded message from us that says "I love you Drew... I love you son...".

We couldn't have picked a more perfect little boy for us if we'd had all the children in the world to choose from. Even if we held and hugged and kissed them one at a time.

RIP John Hughes

So far, 2009 is shaping up to be a really terrible year for 80s pop culture icons.

In honor of the late John Hughes, Jeff and I held the (first annual) Ponablogski John Hughes tribute film festival this weekend. We watched both of the John Hughes films that we own: Uncle Buck and The Breakfast Club.

Drew did not participate. Because of language issues.

The Vacay Pics, in no Particular Order

I really love this picture...

He also kissed the turtle several times... 'keesss... tuh - tle...'

Jack considers his next move...

Lori and Freeman...

Pretty girls...

Jeff shared a ride to the airport with Auntie Stephani, who made him giggle. A lot. I never had a cool Aunt when I was little and he has many. I'm very jealous.

Post Panera grilled cheese lunch.

Shana and Haley enjoy the kiddie pool. Two families with children from Taiwan were able to meet us for a day at the beach. It ended up being an hour at the beach, due to uncooperative weather, but it was nice nonetheless.

Shana and Kevin with Mia, Haley and Kyan; Alan and Beth with Brady. Me and adorable on the right.

He cruises the pool deck.

I was a little shocked he finally gave in and enjoyed (tolerated) the water a bit...

Uncle Bradley....

Uncle Robby...

With cousins at the zoo...

Drew and Brady at the zoo.

The day at the zoo is over, a farewell pic...

Drew gets some assistance at the ice cream social. His cousin made him a sundae that included vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, half a gallon of whipped cream, and approximately 14 cherries. He ate 3 bites.

I love this kid.

Vacation

I apologize for my brief absense from the blogosphere. I wish I had a good excuse. I really can't believe it's been almost three weeks.

Drew and I just returned from vacation in Florida. Jeff was unable to go at the last minute, and we all missed each other terribly. Drew used the vacay as an opportunity to reaffirm his hate for sand, deepen his love for his cousins and expand his language skills...

I know I seem to say it a lot, but I wish I could freeze time. For example:

Drew and I had a conversation/argument that lasted practically the entire trip down about the nature of the vehicle we were in: I explained repeatedly that it was an airplane. I showed him the clouds out the window. I viewed the actual plane itself when it was at the gate before we boarded. I cited numerous articles of evidence from Sky magazine.

"Mommy Rupee ride bus. Mommy seat (points), Rupee seat (points, grins at flight attendant)."

"No Drew, Mommy and Drew are on an airplane... we're flying through the air on a big plane...:

"Mommy Rupee ride bus. Mommy seat (points), Rupee seat (points, grins at flight attendant)."

You get the idea.

I think it's safe to say that Drew was a fan favorite at the resort. He grinned and kissed and winked his way into the hearts of practically every guest there... every time he showed up poolside, in the lobby, or on the beach it seemed like adoring fans were there to greet him.

He was nearly constantly on this hip of one of his cousins: Kenzie, Emily and Skyla. They read him books, they fed him ice cream, the taught him how to jump on the bed. Several nights I put him to bed in his portable crib, and listened to a desperate round of him calling out each of their names in hope that they would rescue him for this horrible fate known as bedtime.... "Kenddddie.... Emmmmmie.... Kyyyylllllaaaa".

Very sad.

He swam in the 'pitty ocean' and more than once it rocked him right to sleep in his little inflatable turtle... He enjoyed his bunkmates Jack and Freeman by running through the condo with them at full speed talking about cars and trucks and pools. He swam in the kiddie pool with his Taiwanese friends Brady, Mia and Kyan who visited us the first day we were there. He saw elephants at the zoo.

It was a wonderful trip, but we are glad to be back with the daddy. It's always good to come home. I'll post pictures in the next few days... promise.

The Barnyard Bash

The Ponablogski Boys

The Currency of India

Rupee.

That's what he calls himself.

Up until this week, he's never called himself anything, except to make a closed-mouth sort of grunt at the mirror when asked.

Rupee reviewed all of his birthday party pictures tonight, and labeled practically every person, location, animal, vegetable and mineral in them.

"Ruppee. Ruppee Daddy. Matttttt. Mattttt Daddy. Ow-sie (outside). Gogdy (doggy). "

According to the internet, as of today, one Rupee is worth approximately 1/49th of an American dollar. 2 cents.

I think mine is worth substantially more.

He Woke Up a Year Older...

He Turns Two

Dear Baby Drew,

Someday, you might wonder what we did on the last day that you were one year old.

You had waffles and strawberries for breakfast and wore plaid shorts and a polo shirt with whales on it to school. On the way there you told me about all the cars and trucks we passed, while clinging to a red a green matchbox car, one in each hand. When we got there, you were mad and fussed a little because you couldn't take your little cars inside school. When you saw Miss Abby, you smiled really big. You had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch and when I picked you up, you announced you were Miss Emily's boy when she asked. We met Graham and his mom and dad at the park, where Catherine took your picture over and over again. You loved the swings. We went to Cheapside for dinner where you demanded pizza and I had a black bean burger... my favorite. We came home and you went to sleep and I made cookies to take to school for your birthday: Chocolate Chunk, from the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook.

When you woke up after sleeping only an hour tonight, I held you and your blankie in my arms, and sang you the same song I have sang to you, literally, every day of our lives together. As you fell back to sleep, I realized that the next time you would wake, you would be two years old. And I cried. Daddy called me on his way home from work to tell me he had stopped to get your gift. It's no secret and you probably know by now that it's a tricycle. I think you're too little for one, but he doesn't.

He is probably right, and I am probably in denial.

They might seem like trivial details, but they aren't to me. Someday, when you are big and grown and out of my sight, I will want to remember every single last trivial detail of what it was like to be your mother when you were just one year old.

Happy Birthday, sweet baby boy. I love you so very much,

Mom

Multi Media

I got a text message this morning from Drew's teacher, with this picture, and the text:

"Kathy, Drew can wink!"

That he can. That he can.

I forwarded it to Jeff, and asked him what it feels like to have the most adorable, most hilarious, most loved child on earth. It's a very exclusive club...

Time Out

This morning, Baby Drew got out of bed and somehow managed to carry a bear, a cow, a bobby (blankie) and an orange plastic baseball bat from his room down the hallway to our room. Typically, he likes to transport assortments of items such as these to our bed, hoist them up onto it, and then climb up there himself.


This morning, Kerney was still up there snoozing when he joined her with his collection of toys. He immediately picked the baseball bat, wound up like Barry Bonds (bases loaded, tied up in the bottom of the ninth), and made contact with her head. She yelped.


As he sat contemplating his horrifying actions in a make-shift time-out corner, he glared at me sourly showing, seemingly, no remorse.


I wonder if this is how it all started for Michael Vick and that kid in Florida who skinned all those cats last month. Jeff noted last night that you don't have to teach a child to be bad... you have to teach them to be good. They somehow seem come into being knowing the ins and outs of naughty. I'm sure Jeff's didn't invent the idea, but he's right nonetheless.

RIP

There was a big poster of the Jackson 5 on the wall of my first grade classroom. I don't know why. It was probably 1981.

I watched the Thriller video on MTV (back when they really played videos) for the first time circa 1984. It scared the life out of me, and I may or may not have slept in my brother's room for about 3 weeks after that first viewing.

In middle school, I went to the roller rink every weekend. Bad. Beat it.

When I was a Senior in high school, the Superbowl halftime show brought me, literally, to tears. The world really did need healing.

People my age, thankfully, can remember a time when he was just a fairly normal guy with abnormal talent.

Here's Drew's tribute to the deceased King of Pop. This happens to be my very favorite MJ song... purely coincidental.

Catching Up...

In the beginning, Drew's language was "delayed".

Suspecting this, we consulted a speech therapist last fall who came to our house, unloaded a truck full of complicated apparati (read: toys), and after asking questions and completing a series of complicated diagnostic worksheets, she concurred.

That seems like a long time ago.

On Sunday, Jeff called me 6 times at the grocery. The phone was on vibrate, and I was so caught up in the whimsy of fresh summer produce that I didn't hear it vibrate. When I finally called him back, I assumed he was on his way to the ER, or standing in the front yard with Drew and the dog, watching the house blaze.

"Drew knows all the last words in the book about trains, Kathy... he knows all of them. We haven't read it in weeks, and I picked it up and paused on each page and he filled in the last word... he didn't miss any."

He thinks we have some kind of savant on our hands and I tend to agree...

Tonight, while on the couch, Drew unexpectedly poked me in the eye and grinned. I explained that we do not touch anyone's eyeball, including our own.

"Naughty..." he responded, quite seriously, while nodding his head in apparent agreement.

Home Improvement

Jeff and I are enjoying the new flooring he installed last week. I am really impressed with my husband's home improvement skills. There may be lots of projects in his future.

Drew likes it so much, he's even delighted to help clean it.

Drew's swiffer mop harassment of Kerney is amusing, and we really do put forth our best effort to make sure he doesn't actually hurt her. Besides, if it really bothered her, she'd remove herself from the situation, right?

These two certainly do seem to love each other more and more every day. Drew laughs like this every time he's around her, and I really do love her for tolerating him...

There I said it. I love the dog. Someone call the media.

Drew Drew Vocabulary Translations for Novices

"Awful" - Waffle

"Party" - Strawberry

"Pork" - Fork

"Poon" - Spoon

"Hot" - Macaroni

"Daddy Potty?" - Daddy is anywhere except standing next to him.

"Bobby" - Blankie

"Ree Ree... Ree Book " - Please read this book to me.

"Nack" - Snack. Food of any kind.

"NOOOO, my nack". - Kerney, please do not try to eat my food.

"$hit" - I am officially the mother of the year. Also, I'm glad we didn't actually rear-end the mini-van.

Lucky Girl

I recently read a really nice memoir, by Mei-Ling Hopgood, a grown Taiwanese adoptee. In Lucky Girl, she details her adoption from Taiwan as an infant, her childhood in the United States and becoming aquainted with her birth family as an adult.

I liked the book because it felt like an honest account of her identity struggle as an adoptee. Though I doubt Mei-Ling wrote the book to calm the fears of adoptive parents, that's what she did for me. I fear that a day will come, and it will, that Drew realizes that our family is different, and it breaks me heart to think that for a single second, it will make him feel insecure about who he is. The book (unwittingly?) suggests that that if you love your child, give them a happy upbringing in a stable home and throw your entire support behind their needs/feelings regarding their birthfamily, that they might just be fine and functional in the end.

Which is good, because that's pretty much what we plan to do.

Also, her descriptions of places where Jeff, Drew and I have stood brought back happy memories of temples, night markets and steamers full of Din Tai Fung dumplings that were so delicious it felt like they exploded in your mouth. Also probably not her motivation for telling her story. Whatever.

I say read it. Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and another to a review published in Adoptive Families magazine, which I feel like I should warn you, is no where near as insightful as mine. Duh.

And while we're on the subject, here's a link to our favorite pork dumplings. Cook them for 13 minutes in a bamboo steamer over a simmering wok, and I promise they will change your life. Forever.

Conversation

Drew is becoming quite conversational. In the car, for example.

Drew: Cuck. BIG Cuck!
Kathy: Yep... that is a big truck
Drew: Yep (nods head)

(5 seconds pass)

Drew: Car. Beep Beep Car!
Kathy: Yep... that is a car
Drew: Yep (nods head)

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. The entire drive to school.

If you do not verify for him that what he thinks he is seeing is in fact what he is seeing, he will keep stating it until you do.


Drew: Car. Beep Beep Car!
Drew: Beep Beep Car! (louder)
Drew: Beep Beep Car! (even louder)
Kathy: Yep... that is a car
Drew: Yep (nods head)

Gatlinburg - 2009

Somebody put some pants on those kids...

If you can't get them all to look in the same direction, it's almost as good is to get NONE of them looking in the same direction.

Sweet...

Sweeter...

It was a day of careful attention to nutrition...

I wonder what he wished for...

Sucker. Car. Dancing. All necessities to happiness present.

" So, Kathy... what would you look like with no make-up or hair dryer? " The kid totally saves this pic... He insisted on an encore, and said the word "Neigh" continuously while giggling for about 10 minutes.

I assumed he would either love or hate this ride, but there was no line, and he and Jack were the only two kids on it, so I took a risk that paid off big time. He loved it!

Drew. Jack. Thomas.

Cutest. Kids. Ever.

Family Vacation

I grew up in a nuclear family of sorts, with one mom, one dad and one brother.

My mother and father met in July of 1971, and were married in October that same year. They drove to a neighboring state to take care of the logistics and notified all friends and relatives on their return. At this point in the story, my father would always mention that the whole deal cost him $115. The marriage license was $39 and the fuel pump that went out on the way back was $76. He would announce this as though it was an integral detail of the story.

It should not come as a surprise, that my father may or may not have been the cheapest man who ever lived. He was 62 when I was born, and retired the next year and moved us all to Florida. Every summer, we would drive to Kentucky to spend several weeks. The drive itself would take approximately 4 days. I don't know how.

Along the way, we would eat suspect food at suspect nameless restaurants and spend the night in even more suspect establishments. One hotel room didn't have a door on the bathroom, and my mom sat in the car with both of us so my dad could take a shower. One required us all to towel the sand off our feet before getting into bed. It was in Indiana. My very favorite motel included, at no additional charge, the appearance of an unnamed drunk gentleman banging on the door and threatening bodily harm to someone named Keith at 2am. My father (age 75 at the time) obliged his visit by yanking open the door in his underwear and explaining that he didn't know who the hell Keith was, but that he'd be happy to act on his behalf if need be.

This weekend, my BFF Ruby and I went to Gatlinburg, and stayed in a cabin owned by my brother. The last time I stayed there, I walked into the kitchen with the lights out and met a mouse who was fat, dumb and happy. On my order, Jeff Ponablogski packed our bags (as I stood on the bed) and we went to the Fairfield Inn in Pigeon Forge. For two years after that, I referred to my brother exclusively as the "slum lord" in all forms of correspondence and reference.

Since I moved to town, I don't do rodents. Also, I need at least a Fairfield Inn. I really hope that Drew will have happy memories of time spent with family, in spite of my high-browed needs.

The Tie That Binds

Arrogantly, perhaps, I will go on record saying that I believe that adoptive mothers are a very unique group of people. We are bound to each other by a shared experience that is quite different from that of other mothers. We really don't have to have much in common outside of not having physically given birth to some or all of our children. That's enough.

Our experience is one that is not as easily understood by outsiders, and also that which draws us to each other. Paperwork, home equity loans, the pouring out of our medical and financial histories for relative strangers to review and deem fit for motherhood and being at the capricious whim of an adoption agency worker/government office/foreign judge/every other living being are all issues that do not require over-explanation amongst each other.

We understand the unique and immeasurable love of a child who is not made of us.

When Beth's referral came last week, I cried happy tears for/with her. It brought the memory back like a flood of what it was like to see my baby's face for the first time, after months of wondering what he would look like, if I'd think he was cute and if I'd know instantly when I saw him that he was meant to be mine. The difference for those in our exclusive club is that those first images are not the end of the wait, but only the beginning of the worst part of it.

Good thing Beth has an army of sisters and those sweet chubby cheeks to see her through.

I Dreamed a Dream...

Last night, I dreamed that my mother came to visit.

She came in the door, and never uttered a word in my direction. She threw her arms around my baby, and the two of them walked into the kitchen together.

It was the best dream I've ever had.

The Clubhouse

Memorial Day

I almost forgot... Drew had a fabulous time entertaining his friends for Memorial Day.

The Elmos

For Christmas last year, in the spirt of sacrificial love, my brother sent Drew a delightful toy called "Elmo Live". He called it payback for a drum set our mother bought for one of his children 15 years ago. Up until this point, I'd had no idea that retribution had an inheritance factor.

Our adoption foundation held a garage sale last month, and I was surprised to see a couple of Elmo Live's friends there. At 50 cents each, Chicken Dance Elmo and Hokey Pokey Elmo were too good a deal to pass up. They joined an American flag chip-n-dip in a box and home they came.

At least 20 times a day, Drew yanks them individually off the shelf, and presses the appropraite appendage to create 30 seconds worth of pure glee for himself. Yesterday, Hokey Pokey was just wrapping up his routine, and at the end he declared "Elmo's pooped"...

Drew looked puzzled, and one by one, Drew picked up each Elmo and checked his bottom for the evidence. Luckily, he found none.

T.V.

Tonight, Drew and I sat together and enjoyed a very intellectually stimulating television program called "Friends".

After watching Ross and Rachel engaged in a lip lock for about 20 seconds, Drew climbed down, walked over and picked up "Moo" the stuffed cow, and made out with him for approximately the same amount of time. He then walked over to the table, strapped Moo into the high chair (sort of) and then tried to feed him the rest of his dinner.

Yesterday, he yelled "YaYa!!! PopPop!!!" and ran toward the TV at full speed, giggling. I looked up to see George Kastanza and Jerry Seinfeld having coffee.

Might be time to buy some Baby Einstein videos.