If you are an adoptive parent you MUST watch this...

It's a PERFECT depiction of the ridiculous conversations we have to endure. Isn't it? The adoptive Mother's monotone voice was cracking me up. I'm sure that's how I sounded to those awful old ladies in Target. Do you remember the one who asked me how long I endured infertility? And the one who asked me if I was her REAL Mom? Or if she was ORIENTAL??? We should all record this, pull out our mini tape recorders, hold them up and press the applicable snarky reply button. You ask rude questions. We give snarky answers. The end. :D

Bueller? Bueller?

Blogging is not in my daily lineup (or weekly or monthly or even quarterly). Yes, I'm alive. We're all well...just crazy ridiculously busy. I've recently been chastised for my lack of updates. Someday...hopefully...I'll be back with lots of Womble goodness. Someday...

Snow Day Perspective...

Today is Snow Day #4 in our neck of the woods. I love my precious children but four days cooped up in the house is a little much for this Mommy. The little people need to expend some energy outside these walls. BAD. Temperatures in the teens, four layers of clothing and waterproof boots are putting a big damper on the calorie burning. I think they've had a little too much togetherness and it's definitely showing. In ALL of us. Including the Mommy. Fast forward to this morning. My sweet friend (and Mommy-o-six) shared this article. I was reminded that SOMEDAY "Snow Day #4" should have been just as special as Snow Day #1. So now I'm off to play with my babies. Thank you Lord for the gentle reminder and for Snow Day #4!

(photo captured January 2010)

An Erma Bombeck Column:

A young mother writes: "I know you've written before about the empty-nest syndrome -- that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now, I'm up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?"

OK.
One of these days, you'll shout, "Why don't you kids grow up and act your age!"
And they will.

Or, "You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do ... and don't slam the door!"
And they won't.

You'll straighten up the boys' bedroom neat and tidy -- bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you'll say out loud, "Now I want it to stay this way."
And it will.

You'll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn't been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you'll say, "Now, there's a meal for company."
And you'll eat it alone.

You'll say: "I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?"
And you'll have it.

No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti.
No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms.
No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps.
No more clothespins under the sofa.
No more playpens to arrange a room around.
No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent.
No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathrooms.
No more iron-on patches, wet, knotted shoestrings, tight boots, or rubber bands for ponytails.

Imagine.

A lipstick with a point on it.
No baby sitter for New Year's Eve.
Washing only once a week.
Seeing a steak that isn't ground.
Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.

No PTA meetings.
No car pools.
No blaring radios.
No one washing her hair at 11 o'clock at night.
Having your own roll of Scotch tape.

Think about it.

No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste.
No more sloppy oatmeal kisses.
No more tooth fairy.
No giggles in the dark.
No knees to heal, no responsibility.

Only a voice crying, "Why don't you grow up?"
and the silence echoing, "I did."

From our Family to Yours...

3 Word Wednesday...

ALL...
TUCKERED...OUT...

Monday Perspective...

I wish I could keep the blog updated but it seems those days are few and far between. We've had so much going on at the Womble house the past few weeks...well, really I would say the past year. In retrospect, adding Womble kiddo #2 was a piece of cake. Adding Womble kiddo's #1 and #3...notsamuch. ;-) What I've come to realize over the past few months is this is the new normal. Yes, it took me about 9 months to figure that out. And it is what it is. Busy. Crazy. Fun. Exhausting. The best (and sometimes longest) days of my life but...and this is the most important BUT...I wouldn't have it any other way. I read a quote the other day that said...

"If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart"

I couldn't have said it better myself. Now that I have filled the shoes of a Mother of three, I know what all those other Moms were talking about. Motherhood is not for wimps (and it is 100% harder with each child)!!! I have a million things to do (and have no business even typing this post) but I wanted to share two things on this chilly Monday morning...

1: I {big puffy heart} this post and her perspective on adoption

2: I {big puffy heart} this post and her perspective on parenting

and just for kicks...three new songs I heard last night that spoke to our hearts...

Flat Little Miss Goes Out to Play...

This week Little Miss had a preschool project based on the book Flat Stanley. If you will remember from last year, she already had a Flat Little Miss that traveled to China with us... So now she has two Flat Little Miss people--2009 and 2010. Unfortunately we didn't have time for Flat Little Miss worldwide tour 2010 so she had to settle for the local tour of playdates... and a late night with her "twin"...
Obviously she made Flat Little Miss 2010 all by herself and did a pretty impressive job of making her look like herself. She is wearing a "monogran" dress, a hairbow and a smile on her face. Yep. That's our girl.

Celebrating Forever Family Day!

Tonight we celebrated our first Forever Family Day the way most Chinamerican families do. Chinese food, of course. I know a few people who thought this idea was absolutely brilliant...
And to top the cake we indulged in a few treats from J's Bakery. No celebration would be complete without yummy treats, right? Yummmmmm...
Happy Forever Family Day to all of us but especially to our little noodle head! What a difference a year can make!

Happy Forever Family Day Mei Mei!

Dear Mei Mei,

Exactly one year ago, at 3 pm China time, we officially became a forever family of 5. It seems like yesterday we were sitting in the Civil Affairs Building waiting for your name to be called. I remember it as if it were yesterday. There you were behind the curtain sitting quietly on a little stool. We were overjoyed to see you, a living breathing little person, instead of the still photographs we had memorized during our wait. Our hearts were about to explode in anticipation. A bittersweet day for all of us...

I have replayed those moments many times over the past year. It was like being in the delivery room with 46 families as we all became parents simultaneously. Loud. Chaotic. Sweltering HEAT. Crying babies. Emotional Mommy's and Daddy's. Lots of Cantonese. A guide trying to keep it all together. In a nutshell, sheer pandemonium.

I remember the look on your face when you were handed to your Daddy. I remember your cry and the fear in your eyes. I remember how tiny you felt in my arms. I remember how Mrs. Jenny whispered in my ear, "She will be ok...just give her time." I remember the prayers I prayed over you... "Lord, please comfort her in a way I can't. Lord, please tell her YOU will love her forever...and so will we. Lord, please help us know how to help her." I remember feeling so ill equipped to be your Mommy but knowing with certainty that you were the daughter of our hearts.

We've had quite a year. Many firsts. Many prayers. Many moments. Many struggles. Many snuggles. Many confirmations. Many aha moments. You have come SO far but then again so have the rest of us. Slowly but surely we have woven together as a family of 5. We have been blessed to watch you blossom into a smart, funny, joyful, dramatic, loving and full of life little girl. You've made us love deeper and taught us more than we ever could have taught you over the past year. The day we became your family is one of the most joyful and miraculous days of our lives. Someday you may choose not to celebrate this day and if that is your wish we will certainly honor it. Whatever your decision may be, we will always quietly give thanks for September 14th and the privilege of being chosen to be your family... forever.

Happy Forever Family Day Mei Mei!
We love you all the way to China and back again...

Meeting Dr. C...

Today was Mei Mei's first visit with our pediatric dentist, Dr. C. Rightfully so in my opinion, Mei Mei is not fond of strangers looking inside her mouth in any shape, form or fashion. That alone made it a "prepare for the worst--hope for the best" kind of morning. When it was all said and done, she showed Dr. C her "chompers" with pride and bravery. She had a full set of xray's and an exam with only a few tears. We were SO proud of her! The verdict is still out as to the extent of dental and orthodontic work she will need in the future. We really will not know more until her mouth has time to grow and her permanent teeth begin to emerge. For now Dr. C said everything looks great and we are so thankful! To end our eventful morning, Little Miss taught her everything she needed to know about Dr. C's prize cart. What did she choose from 200 little trinket toy possibilities? A purple monkey and a faux 50 carat sparkly ring. Her sister has taught her well.

September 12: an extraordinary day

On 9-12-09 the Chief and I planted our feet upon the GREAT Wall of China...
I still get butterflies when I think of that day...
What an AMAZING site to behold...
Positively breathtaking...
A dream became a reality...
it was FINALLY our turn...
Really, truly, magnificently, extraordinarily one of the most memorable days of my life...


One year later on 9-12-10 we stood beside this little guy...
our firstborn...our Wild Man...the one who made us Mommy and Daddy...
Once again...butterflies...but for an entirely different reason...
Once again...an AMAZING site to behold...Once again...POSITIVELY BREATHTAKING...
Once again...a dream became reality...
Really, truly, magnificently, extraordinarily one of the most memorable days of my life...
(and for the record, the Great Wall of China is nothing in comparison to 9-12-2010!)

I have prayed for this day since I knew of his existence. The day our son would freely choose to love and serve the God who created him. That day came on July 27, 2010. Today was his day to tell the world. For most of his life, Jeremiah 29:11 has been etched upon my Mommy heart specifically for this child. It says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Today that verse became alive and active before our eyes. Thank you Lord for the blessing of September 12th...our extraordinary day.

Dear Wild Man,

We are rejoicing with you tonight on one of the most significant days of your life. Without a doubt, no life decision will be ever be more important than the one you shared with the world today. We are so proud of the young man you are becoming. We can not wait to see the plans God has in store for your life.

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy

Flashback: 9-9-09

One year ago at this moment the Chief and I were seated here...upon this very large metal tube...
flying about 33,000 feet somewhere above the North Pole...
While we watched Everybody Loves Raymond for the 25th time and envied every sleeping passenger around us, BusinessFirst treated us like royalty...I'm pretty sure if you take photos of your food in BusinessFirst...
and how much leg room you REALLY have...they automatically know you don't belong there. We survived our 14.5 hour flight without sleep, medication, quarantine or a need for the mini bar...
Mission Accomplished!

Our Ballerina Girl...

I have...

ahem...

Little Miss has been dreaming of this special day for most of her life. The day she would officially step into a pair of ballet slippers and become a "real ballerina".
I had...

ahem...

Little Miss had a great plan for her first day of "ballerina lessons".

New tights. CHECK. {I bought the wrong ones but she didn't know}

New pink leotard. CHECK!

First pair of ballet slippers. CHECK!!

Hair in the cutest little bun you've ever seen. CHECK!!!

Pink toes. CHECK x 10!!!!
Our little ballerina girl RAN down the sidewalk to "dancing class" as fast as she could. She paused only for a moment to oblige her Mommy (who was innocently bribering offering her a piece of candy if she would let Mommy take just ONE picture)...
Mission Accomplished.

Our Little Miss...

now officially our "ballerina girl". How did she grow up so fast? She is not happy that Mei Mei isn't going to be a "real ballerina" this year BUT she has big plans for next year. Coming in Fall 2011...according to Little Miss...the Womble "Ballerina Twins". I LOVE LOVE LOVE that my girl thinks that is possible. ;-)
PS: If anyone knows how to convince a four year old that it's OK to wear tights and a leotard without pan-ties, please let me know. Someday I'll be glad she finds that appalling, right?

First Day of Preschool...

Today was the first day of preschool for our sweet Little Miss. She's been counting the days since Wild Man went back a few weeks ago. It was "sooooo unfair" that HE got to go back to school and SHE did not.

Our little early bird was dressed and ready for school by 6 AM. One little problem. Preschool doesn't start until 9. She was bouncing off the walls all morning with backpack and lunch bag in hand. When you're four years old, three hours is a long time to wait for the first day of preschool to begin.

She was over the moon until we pulled into the parking lot. Then shy and timid Little Miss made her appearance. She agreed to let me take her picture with her new teachers but couldn't muster a happy smile. We'll settle for the nervous smile instead. Bless her heart.
By 2:00 pick up she was smiling from ear to ear. She had a fabulous day! She loves her new teachers and has a few little friends from last year in her class. What more could a girl ask? We're looking forward to a fantabulous (final--sniff sniff) year of preschool.

Meant to Be...

After my blahblahblah from yesterday, I thought I would sum it up with this...

Why?

A few days ago I was cornered into THE conversation. The one I try hard to avoid.

The one that usually begins in the presence of my children with "why".
Why adoption? Why international adoption? Why China? Why adopt when you can have children of your own?

From there it slowly moves toward the "what and how".
What is wrong with her? How do you fix that? What a lucky little girl she is...

Can I tell you how awkward this conversation is for me? With people who are genuinely interested in adoption, I am more than happy to share. Please hear me when I say this. If you want to talk adoption, I can talk adoption all week long. I can talk adoption until you no longer want to talk adoption. Seriously. Ask my husband. But with strangers? Stranger people who are simply being nosey or malicious, I want to plug my babies ears and tell them to stick it. In so many words. With a few not so nice words mixed in.

"What is wrong with your kid?"
"Does she speak HUMAN?"
"Why did you adopt one of THOSE kids?"
"Can you fix THAT so she will look normal?"

Each and every time these questions surface I am dumbfounded. Most of the time I spit out one of many scripted answers and we move on as quickly as possible. Other times I don't even know how to answer. I want to scoop up my children and run. I want to hide them from the world that awaits them. I want to hide her from the words of those people. Those people who only see her on the outside. The people who can't get past the almond eyes and the dark hair. The people who act as if her precious face is open for discussion. Guess what stranger people? It isn't!

So what's a Momma to do? I know. I know. I know I need to answer with kindness and grace but what I really want to do is punch them in the nose. Fiercely. With everything in me.

I want to shout and kick and scream and yell about their insensitive and hurtful comments.

I want to ask them if they would ask such questions about someone else's husband or friend in the middle of Target? Why is it any different when the questions are about a child?

I want to tell them that God's heart is to see children in families--children from China, Seattle, Guatemala, Africa, Houston, Russia, Atlanta or anywhere in between.

I want to tell them she is as much "my own" as the two that came before her.

I want to shout it at the top of my lungs...THERE. IS. NOTHING. WRONG. WITH. OUR. DAUGHTER! She is PERFECT just the way God made her on the day she was born! I want them to see her for the beautiful Mei Mei she is. Not by her hair or her eyes or her special need.

I want to make them understand that Mei Mei is not "lucky". WE are the ones who have been blessed by HER...not the other way around.

I want them to know we do NOT NEED THEIR APPLAUSE OR APPROVAL! Some seem to believe if they end their rude intrusive conversation with something like "Well, you are such a good person for taking care of her". WHAT? WE ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF HER! WE ARE NOT BABYSITTING! SHE IS OUR DAUGHTER PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

So the next time someone asks me "Why?" I'm going to ask them the same... "Why do you want to know?" I'm ready to see someone else squirm their way out of that awkward conversation (instead of me). Someday Mei Mei will take her cues from us. If we tuck our tails and walk away we are teaching her she has something to be ashamed. Something we shouldn't talk about. That's not the case. Is Mei Mei adopted? No. Mei Mei WAS adopted. Big difference. Until the world begins to see it my way, the inner Mama Bear will be ready and waiting to pounce.

One Year Ago Today...

These little letters graced the blog. It was the end of the paperwork and the beginning of the "Destination: CHINA" whirlwind. A lot has changed since that exciting day. A lot. Over the next month I'll be flashing back to many important dates and milestones in 2009. Can't wait...