So close...

So much for my delusional dream of Little Miss being in her room by Friday. Grrr... The inspectors can't come until Monday...because it's Friday...and even though Friday is a REAL work day for most people who WORK...apparently those rules do not hold true for city codes and electrical inspectors. :-(

On a positive note, there are only a few random things to complete and we should be ready for a Monday move in. I am so glad we removed the door and put in the new window. Both changes were a pain but well worth the effort. Those two additions make the entire renovation look like the house was originally built this way. Now this would not have been the optimal way to design the space before we built the house but we tried to make what we had work for us right now. We are tickled pink over how it has turned out minus that ugly ceiling fan but for now...it stays.

I know at least two of you (AKA Grammy and Nanny) would like to see a few before and afters of the new play space. Your wish is my command...

ENTRY BEFORE:ENTRY AFTER:

OLD CLOSET AREA BEFORE (gasp at the unsightly play room):OLD CLOSET/NEW WINDOW AREA AFTER:

STEPS BEFORE:STEPS AFTER:
And this, my friends, is Little Miss' big girl room. More photos to come...
Hopefully soon...

Thankful Thursday on Wednesday...

This morning I am thankful for the countless hours of car seat and mini-van research I have done over the years. We've always purchased those with the highest safety ratings at the time and last night they proved their worthiness.

A woman decided to run the red light of a busy intersection and sailed into an unsuspecting Momma and her three babies. I had just started moving when my arrow turned green so I was not going very fast. I stood on the brakes when I saw her coming but there was no stopping for her. The damage is minimal and mostly cosmetic. Her van took the biggest hit thanks to our super duper reinforced Toyota Sienna bumper. Had I hit the gas two seconds earlier she would have t-boned us on the drivers side. It is so true when people say "it happened so fast I didn't see it coming". We are all OK. Wild Man and I were pretty shaken up at the time but the girls were blissfully unaware of exactly what was going on. I'm a little sore this morning but more than anything I am thankful.

Thankful we are all safe. Thankful for my delay in pressing the gas pedal because I was turning up the Christmas music. Thankful we spent extra money on car seats and a super safe mini-van when we could have spent it on other things. Thankful for all of the people behind the lights and sirens who come to your rescue when you need them. Thankful for a husband who is always brave (even when I'm not). Thankful I woke up this morning to a relatively typical day as a wife and Mommy of three.

Today could have been much different and for that "what if" I am grateful. You know...your entire world can change in an instant because of the carelessness of someone else. With the exception of a few small inconveniences (van repairs and researching new car seats), our world has not changed. Could there be a better Christmas gift than that? I think not. Thank you Lord for protecting our family.

Sunday Snapshot: Little Miss

The past three months have been quite the roller coaster here at the Womble Times. We welcomed home #3 and with that came GINORMOUS changes to the dynamics of our family. Little Miss, our oldest daughter--our second born--our girlie girl--our Momma #2, well, she's had the hardest time adjusting. She's had her heart broken on more than one occasion but she never gives up her quest to be Mommy Big Sister of the year. With that being said, I have chosen her as my very first Sunday Snapshot.

Meet Little Miss...
Little Miss is 3 and a half...going on 13 or 21 or 30 depending on her mood...She is sweet and cuddly...spunky and sassy...and just about as girlie as they come...From the first sign of her existence, she has reminded us that every child is unique...
and one-of-a-kind (even if they share the same parents)...
She can give her siblings a run for their money...
and sprint to their defense in times of trouble...
A Momma's girl from day 1, I see so much of myself in her... but enough of her Daddy to keep her balanced...
If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, her answer is always the same. "A Mommy". EVERY TIME I hear her energetic reply I get a big lumpy in my throat. I want that too, and I tell her, because I want her to know being a Mommy is the BEST job in the entire world.
She's independent and strong willed...but she's teaching us to embrace the moment and stop sweating the small stuff...because behind the umbrella of pink and all things girlie...
is a little girl who loves her family, friends, lovie and preschool. She enjoys reading books, all things dress up and watching Max and Ruby. She's full of energy and excitement about most everything (especially when it's time to pick up Wild Man from school). She's spunky, sweet and at times a little sour and we can't imagine one single day of our lives without her. Thank you Lord for this beautiful and precious blessing you have given to us. We love her all the way to the moon and back again a million times!

Two down. One to go.

Previous doorway repaired...CHECK
Drywall up...CHECKNew stairs in...CHECK
Paint colors chosen...CHECK
Chandelier delivered...CHECK

Final drywall sanding and trim on Monday. Paint on Tuesday. Paint and flooring on Wednesday. Electrical and final inspection on Thursday. Move in day...Friday DECEMBER 18! Woohoooo!

Thankful Thursday...

When I was a little girl, this is the view I imagined in my rear view mirror. Not bright city lights or fancy cars or prestigious neighborhoods. I dreamed of precious babies sleeping sounding without a care in the world. I wish I could bottle this. You know, the feeling you get when the chaos of motherhood turns to silence and you are reminded that you are incredibly, amazingly, abundantly, profoundly blessed beyond your wildest dreams. There's an empty seat or two back there beside Wild Man (he's asleep behind Little Miss). Maybe we'll fill them some day. Maybe we won't. Who knows. All I know today is I am thankful for the opportunity to be their Mommy.

Half way there...

One week in to Operation Little Miss and we are half way to move in day. At least I THINK we are half way to move in day. Here's a little update for our pals who are having trouble visualizing my description...

Removal of bonus room doorway and ugly handrail...CHECKElectrical and cable wiring...CHECKCeiling fixtures centered and moved in each new room...CHECK
Little Miss' closet constructed to my specifications...CHECKDrywall begins tomorrow and should run through Saturday. Uggggghhhhhh...NOT looking forward to the drywall dust that is certain to take over our house but desperate times call for desperate measures. We're half way there...

Before and After...

This time last year we were finishing up the final stages of our dossier. We were waiting for the phone to ring while simultaneously questioning if our agency was going to be able to find our daughter. So many things were up in the air. So many unanswered questions. So much doubt filled my mind. Waiting has never been my strong suit. I was painting the smile I knew I needed to have for my family yet deep down I knew someone was missing. I knew we had a daughter who was supposed to be here but wasn't. The Chief thought I was crazy as a Betsy bug, and maybe I am, but I wasn't crazy on this one. While her stocking was hanging here on the fireplace mantel, she WAS there without her forever family.Today I was reminded of a song I played over and over last year during the month of December. I couldn't listen to the first line before the waterworks showed up thinking of the "little girl trembling on a cold December morn crying for Momma's arms". I knew it wasn't time. I knew God's timing is always perfect but it was tough for this Momma knowing she was there and we were here. Little did I know at the time she WAS there but not in an orphanage. She had recently been moved to foster care after seven months at a phenomenal American based medical foster home in Dongguan, China. What a huge blessing!

Today I listened to the song for the first time without tears. Well, almost without tears. I was fine until I made it to the last verse...

Merry Christmas by Third Day...

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for Momma's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white,
Make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that heaven's angels come to carry you here

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
And so tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in his arms
And tell you from my heart I wish you Merry Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the holy child
And we celebrate his perfect gift of love
He came to earth to give his life
And prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And I'll tell you from my heart, and I'll tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

MeiMei,

Even before the pitter-pat of your little feet filled our home, we prayed, loved, dreamed, HOPEd and planned for you. Merry Christmas precious girl. We pray your first Christmas with your family will fill your heart with immeasurable joy.

Love,
Mommy

The Great Wall of Womble...

is up and I am one happy Momma. That's Mr. Jim over there in the corner. He's the current hero in Operation Little Miss...
We discovered on Day 2 we had a framing issue above the closet we took out to make room for a window. Long story short...they found a way around it. We're one day behind but they said they'll make up for it later.The brick is out... The new window is in...
The brick masons will be back to re-brick around it on Monday along with the electricians. Inspection on Tuesday. Drywall begins on Wednesday. Four days down. 6-9 more days to go. Wooohooooo!

Give this Christmas Away...

Have you heard this song? You HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS SONG! Press Play and listen to every word. Wait. Don't click away. It takes 4.46 minutes. Go ahead. I'll wait...
I am in love with this song. In LOVE. I am challenging myself to do this very thing--to give this Christmas away. To make this entire holiday about someone else. I have 22 days left to honor this challenge. Who wants to join me? Ready. Set. Go.

Let the Renovation BEGIN...

The grand plan was to put our girls together in the same room. Visions of sisterly bonding, late night giggles, learning to share, blahblahblah filled my head for as long as I can remember. When we "met" MeiMei in March and realized the girls were 21 months apart I KNEW it was the perfect arrangement. I called it Operation Jie Mei Hwa (beautiful sisters)... ahhh... insert dreamy sigh here...

Fast forward to Thursday, September 24 (the night we returned from China)... WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING? Those visions of sisterly shenanigans have been replaced with family sleep deprivation. WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE--ANYONE--TELL ME THAT WAS THE DUMBEST IDEA I'VE EVER HAD???? One of the many things no one told me before we brought MeiMei home was that sleeping issues for adopted children can be BRUTAL. It's different than teaching my other babies to sleep. Everything has changed in MeiMei's world and apparently sleeping is extremely stressful. Trying to get an 18 month old to sleep in a brand new world feels impossible at times. Add to that a 3 year old light sleeper in the same room and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster. Bless LMs heart, she's been displaced from her nice comfy bed to the old futon in the bonus room ever since. Each attempt to get them to sleep together in the same room goes something like this...

MOMMY, Why is MeiMei screaming/yelling/laughing/kicking/looking at me? MeiMei, be quiet/still/stop staring and GO TO SLEEP! Mommy, help me! Mommy, make her ____________. Mommy, she's hurting my ears!

If I attempt to take a screaming/yelling/laughing/kicking/staring MeiMei out of the room, Little Miss thinks it's time to get up as well. "Why does SHE get to get up and I don't?" "Why do I have to take a nap and she doesn't?" "Is it time for breakfast yet?" Ugh... see what I mean?

After much thought I came up with a great solution (and believe me I've spent many 2 a.m.'s thinking about how to fix this problem over the past two months) . The Chief doubted my architectural design skills but I do believe I've hit this one out of the park. Oh ye husband of little faith. Meet the playroom...
I can't believe I'm sharing this photo for all the world to see. Technically it's the bonus room--the GINORMOUS bonus room. It's always a mess because it's huge and they never notice until it looks like a tornado went through. Initially this room was to be the "little girl suite" but the Chief hated the idea after we built the house and wanted the girls to share a bedroom. Moving is not an option. Teaching our 20 month old daughter how to sleep through the night without waking the other girls in the house is apparently not an option. Leaving Little Miss on the futon is not an option. Using the wasted space playroom more efficiently--now THAT is a GREAT idea! We have the space. Why not use it?

Today is Day 1 of Operation Little Miss. Can I tell you I've never been so excited about a wall in my life? That's right. A WALL. Over the next 10-13 business days, our playroom is going to become 40% playroom...and 60% Little Miss' bedroom... Bring on the sawdust and the drywall and the paint fumes and the brick mason and the... Well, you get the idea. I may lose my mind between now and Christmas but when it's over we're all going to reap the rewards. Stay tuned...

a blessed Thanksgiving to all...

All I have needed thy hands hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me...

Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man...

Today you are turning (5+2) or (15-8) or (25-18). Everything is a math problem these days but today the answers are all the same. 7. SEVEN. YEARS. OLD. How in the world did that HAPPEN? In honor of your 7th Birthday, here are seven things that make me gigantically (his word) proud to be your Mommy.

1. I love your smile. From annoyed grin to Cheshire cat smile, they all make me melt like chocolate on a hot summer day. What a handsome boy you are becoming...beautiful both inside and out. Someday I hope you find "a stinky girl" who loves that sweet smile as much as I do. In about 20 years from now. Deal?

2. I love the way you say, "Ohhhhh Moooooooom". It ranges from snarky to sincere but it makes me want to laugh every time I hear it. Sometimes I'm laughing on the inside... but I'm still laughing.
3. I love your silliness. Yes, sometimes it drives me bananas but when you break out that jokelopedia and start reading joke after silly joke (without any inflection in your voice and then a good hardy knee slap at the end) I always get a good chuckle.

4. I love the way your mind works. I am constantly in awe of the gifts God has blessed you. I am certain He has HUGE plans for your life and it is my privilege to sit in the front row cheering you on every step of the way. It is quite possible I will still be reminding you to put on socks before shoes or brush your teeth or put the tag in the back or...well, you get the picture...but I'll still be your biggest fan.
5. I love to hear you pray. You have no problem praying aloud in such a sincere and adult-like way. You always pray for a laundry list of family, friends, teachers, your little friend Uzias in Nicaragua and your friend Susannah. Always. I get a little teary the moment your words start to flow. Before MeiMei came home you prayed every day right along with the rest of us that she would be "safe and healthy until we can bring her home." He answered your prayer and ours as well.

6. I love when you become the little negotiator. Whether it's more Wii time or just one more cookie, you always have a request for more. Always. I know the strong will you have in that little mind of yours is going to lead you straight to the Supreme Court because you can argue with the best of them. I have NO IDEA where you get that from. It must be your Daddy. :-)
7. I love your heart. I love that you have no problem sharing hugs and kisses and pats with your Mom. I know those days will come to an abrupt end so I'm snatching as many as possible right now. I love that you love your sisters (even though they are "stinky girls" and mess up your stuff). I love that you think your Daddy is the best thing since peanut butter. Shhhh...don't tell him but I think he is too.

Now that I'm the Mom of a SEVEN YEAR OLD, I understand why people would say to me as a child, "I'm going to put a brick on your head". That's exactly what I want to do to you. You are growing up. You like Batman, Transformers and Wii games instead of "baby stuff". You'll negotiate your dinner for a little dessert in return. You can tie your own shoes (insert angelic chorus here) and read like a third grader. You have the memory of an elephant. You can fully illustrate the final scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark after seeing it only once. You still hug your Kindergarten teacher every day on your way to first grade--because you miss her--and then you hug your First Grade teacher as well. You are nothing short of amazing to me in every sense of the word. I am incredibly thankful for each day of the past seven years. There is no other title I would rather carry than Mommy and you are the one who started it all.
Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man! You are strong and sweet and smart and brave and Mommy loves you...today, tomorrow and always.

Final Reply

If you would like to provide me with an email address I would be glad to discuss this with you in a more appropriate manner. This will be my final reply to your rude and hurtful comments on MY blog.

Adoption is a choice. It is a choice many families make for various reasons. We wanted another child and there are literally MILLIONS of children in the world who need parents. MILLIONS. Those little lives had already been created so why wouldn't we choose to parent one of those children? We felt this was God's plan for our family. Contrary to what you think, genetic material does not make a parent a parent. Believe me. I know that from personal experience. Yes, there are thousands of children here in the United States and millions in other countries who need families. We chose China because we felt that is where God was directing us. Nothing more. You are obviously very concerned about the children in the United States and I applaud you for that. If you knew me in real life, you would KNOW my heart is for these children. The ones all over the world who go to bed hungry or cold or without someone to tuck them in. It is my heart. It is my calling. It is what keeps me awake at night. I can tell you are very concerned about the children from the United States and I would be happy to provide you with the resources to help you adopt or foster one of them. My email is in the sidebar. One thing to note is you will be required to complete a homestudy which could prove problematic for you given your current feelings. A very good social worker can help you sort through those feelings. I do not know a social worker in Toledo, Ohio but I would be happy to help you find one.

The only thing we have "done" to our oldest children is give them a sister. Giving them the gift of an adopted sibling is no different than bringing home a new baby from the hospital. There is an adjustment period no matter how you choose to grow your family. Yes, our adoption has been difficult for our family. That is true but NOTHING worth doing is ever easy. At times, being a wife is trying. When I became a Mother, I spent much of the first three years of our son's life in tears for reasons I do not care to share. Being a Mom of two little people was difficult at times. Traveling to China and wading through extremely hard days was beyond what I was prepared (and I thought I was prepared). The first six weeks home were some of the darkest days of my entire life. But would I go to China for my daughter again (and she IS my daughter by the way)? Yes. Would I sign my name on the dotted line today to adopt another child. YES I WOULD! Why? Because I have been abundantly blessed beyond all I could have asked or imagined. This is my heart. I believe I have been called to be a Mommy above all other "occupations". For me, being a Mommy doesn't involve DNA. It involves rocking babies, kissing boo-boo's and teaching my children to love God and love people. That includes people with rude and hurtful comments. NOTHING worth doing is ever easy but no one ever said life would be. The only thing we are promised is a God (with a capital G) who will walk beside us every step of the way. I will be praying for you, Anonymous in Toledo Ohio. I will pray that He will change your heart so that you can begin to be the change I wish to see in the world.

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Dear Anonymous in Toledo, Ohio...

I would be more than happy to reply to your less than tasteful comment. Since you have chosen to remain anonymous I am happy to say what I need to say here. If you look above this post you will see the name of this blog...The Womble Times. This is my blog. This is my family. These are the children God has blessed me...ALL THREE OF THEM! Each and every one GIFTS from God. EACH. AND. EVERY. ONE. Maybe no one ever shared this with you but my Mother always taught me to keep my mouth closed if I had nothing nice to say...especially to a complete stranger. I only allow anonymous blog comments because we have family members who do not have a blogger account. I do not want to take our blog private but I will if need be. I would appreciate it if you would keep your rude comments to yourself. There are plenty of blogs out there I'm sure you would enjoy reading. Feel free to read them (and not ours).

Womble Party of 5...in pics

Yesterday, in honor of our two month Forever Family Day, we had our first family photographs taken as a party of 5. We just viewed the gallery and I'm about to burst with excitement. We have been blessed beyond all we could ever ask or imagine. If you happen to know my first name and would like to see the images, click HERE. The only catch is if you view the gallery you MUST LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL ME WHICH IMAGE IS YOUR FAVORITE. Our photographer was AMAZING and I would recommend her to anyone in our area. If you would like more info, email me.

Happy 2 Month Forever Family Day...

Two months ago today we met MeiMei for the first time. So much has changed since I wrote this post on our one month forever family day. It was as if a switch flipped and things started to get better from that point forward. Every day has been a new day. Most have been one step forward with only an occasional two steps back. She is coming around with all of us and we are in the middle of finding our new normal as a family.

In honor of this day I have posted our FINAL CHINA POST---SOME BABIES COME BY PLANE. You can find it HERE. Happy 2 month Forever Family Day MeiMei. We love you all the way to China and back again a million times!

So excited I can't stand myself...

Why you ask? Let me explain...

This is my pal Cindy (who I can't link because her blog is private)...
Isn't she beautiful? Cindy and I "met" during the spring of 2008 when we signed with the same adoption agency. We became instant friends and have supported each other across the miles ever since. We had it all planned out. All signs pointed to us going to China together to meet our babies. Same time. Same place. Be there or be square. Ahhhhh...the best laid plans.

As you know, in March we received our referral for this little spit fire...
Unfortunately, Cindy and Dave did not. We didn't lose hope but when April and May passed them by without a referral we knew our hopeful "plan" was not to be. Fast forward to September. We boarded a plane bound for China without her while she was still waiting to meet the face of her daughter here. She was the "CA" I mentioned in this post the morning we left. She was so heavy on my heart that day. We joked the entire summer that they would surely receive a referral while we were in China because I wouldn't be around to cheer her on. Can you see where this is going?

September 17, 2009, three days after we met MeiMei in China, I received an email entitled "of course you knew this would happen?" I KNEW the second I read it what it was going to say. While we were in China meeting MeiMei, my sweet friend Cindy "met" her beautiful baby girl in the US...Don't you just want to pinch those Cutie-Mc-Cute-Cute cheeks? She is four months younger than MeiMei and waiting for her family in Chongqing. All I wanted to do that night was fly over to her province and bring her home with us. Ahhhhh...FINALLY!

I found her email at about 11:30 pm China time but I didn't care. I had barely slept the entire trip and I wasn't about to start then. She emailed me the file and I reviewed it with her. It was a perfect match!! I called her via Skype--love Skype--to talk it through. She was screaming and I was whispering into the laptop cam, "I think this is it! I think you just found your baby!" And so we celebrated and we cried tears of joy and we laughed because her husband Dave was in an extremely important meeting and I "met" his daughter before he did. Hahaha--sorry Dave. Isn't that an awesome story? Both of us on different continents but I was still able to cheer her on through the power of modern technology. I think we should get our own Skype commercial, don't you?

Anyway, all that to say, guess who is coming to our neck of the woods tomorrow? That's right. CINDY-Cindy-Bo-Bindy-Banana-Fana-Fo-Fendy......! We have 48 hours to do all the things we've spent the past year and half wishing we could do together. Like go for pedicures and late night movies and solve all the worlds problems over a glass of chardonnay. I'm going to play tour guide, stuff her full of Southern food and enjoy the friendship we have developed in real time. It's going to be a great weekend. I am sure of it.

Cindy--I'll see you tomorrow at Baggage Claim. You'll know it's me. I'll be the one with the three yahoo's running around at the end of the escalator. Be there or be square. XOXO...

Prayers for Lily...

Today MeiMei's "China sister", Lily Mei, is having surgery. Lily was my glimmer of hope in China with her blue backpack, silly faces and happy disposition. She was pure joy (except when her Mommy tried to make her wear the traditional Chinese dress for the red couch photo...but that's another story for another day). The six of us shared one of the most amazing experiences of our lives together. We are friends for life. I wish we could be there today to keep them company. I know what it's like to wait for your baby to come out of surgery. It stinks. Distance may hinder our presence but it doesn't prevent our thoughts. Would you please join us in praying for Lily Mei and her Mommy, Daddy, big brother and sister? I know they would appreciate your thoughts, prayers and well wishes today and in the days to come.

I left my heart...

in southern China

somewhere between Guangzhou and Dongguan

a huge piece of it anyway

where we saw every day life through a different lens

with impoverished yet happy people

and babies cast aside without explanation

and children who need families to call their own

where I can't speak the language

or drive a car

or read a map

or eat a turkey sandwich

or drink a Dr. Pepper

or tolerate the heat

or see a familiar face

or hug my Mother

But you know what? As crazy as it sounds, I want to go back. Today... yesterday... the day before... the day before that... I have felt this way since we came home. At first I thought it was the jet lag or the difficult transition but six weeks later I still can't get these thoughts out of my head. Our days in Guangzhou were hard. SO. INCREDIBLY. HARD. So why in the world would I want to return? I don't know. I can't explain it. I am crazy. CRAZY! My eyes were opened to so much while we were away. I'm trying to figure out how to take these experiences and reintegrate myself back into this incredibly blessed world in which I live.

On more than one occasion I have said to my two oldest... "There are people--children just like you--who will go hungry tonight. Eat. Your. Dinner. " That's nothing out of the ordinary for me to say. I've said those words hundreds of times but it's different. Now I say it and want to run and hide in my closet. And cry. Because I saw it. Not on a commercial. Not in a book. I saw it with my own two eyes and I will never be the same. My lens has changed drastically. How do you keep living the suburban life and pretend you never saw what you saw? It's ironic how something so incredibly difficult can rearrange everything you THOUGHT you knew about yourself.

Now I'm not saying we're all packing up and moving to China (although I would be lying if I said I haven't thought about it). I'm just wondering if anyone else understands where I'm coming from? Anyone? ANYONE? Am I the only one on this deserted island or do I have some friends out there?