Growing Fast, Slowing Down

Little Man and Baby B are growing up too fast. This summer, in my attempt to get everything ready for Baby B's homecoming, I have been trying to pack in (at least in spurts) a lot of projects . 

Confession: Sometimes I think that I get so caught up in being a grown up that I forget how important it is to stop and do kid stuff with Little Man. 

The other day my cell phone rang just as Little Man and I were getting ready to head off and have one of our adventures. What was different this time was that I ignored that call and said, "We have fishing to do buddy, I'll call them back later." The smile on his face and the way his eyes lit up were priceless. And yet, I felt my heart catch a bit. 

Phone call interruptions happen pretty frequently and usually I stop and talk to the person (being the people pleaser that I am) and Little Man has to wait. It's okay to teach patience, right? Yes. Sometimes they need to just wait patiently for mom to be done on the phone. But, how important is that phone call? More important than the plans we have made? Would I do that if I had plans with a friend?

What am I teaching him when a random person on the phone is more important than him? When checking on an email is more important than looking him in the eye and hearing his story? When I'm laughing more at my Facebook news feed than at the fun we are having together? When I just pretend to listen to his stories.

Am I saying this happens all the time? No. But I think sometimes it does (which is hard to say). 

Which is more important, how many 'likes' I get on my status update, or how much my child 'likes' our day together?

Today, I ran with Little Man to the garden (well, jogged) because he said "Let's run!" with hopeful look in his eyes. The smile on his face was worth it. He couldn't believe that I was actually trying to run with him. He even commented, "This is just the right speed for a good jog." My little coach.

So, sorry people, if I let your call go to voice mail some days or if I don't respond immediately to your email. 

I'm probably out jogging with my Little Man.

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Important Days

This is an important week for our family.

Two years ago this week, I was declared Hodgkin's free, and my little girl was born.

Wish she was home already...my little two year old.

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Reality Check

We took our dogs to the lake today. Little Man has made a list of things he wants to do with Emmie since it's her last summer. This morning he decided that if we were going to bring her to the lake, we'd better do it soon, and I agreed. 

My vision.

 Emmie hopping out of the car, walking down to the shore, and gliding out into the water blissfully. Feeling young and free of pain.

Sparky excitedly jumping off the dock and swimming, jumping, and swimming, to her hearts content. 

Little Man and I watching them play and frolic together then loading them up in the car and heading home with two happy dogs.

The reality.

Emmie hobbled out of the car and pooped right outside of the door in the paved parking lot. In the meantime, Sparky was freaking out in the car, climbing all over me, wanting to get out and go meet all of the fisherman in the parking lot.

When we get out of the car, Little Man promptly declares that he is going to go look for frogs and hands me Emmie's leash. 

The dogs outweigh me, and I think they might know it. I stand there hoping that they don't drag me across the parking lot in front of all of these strangers.

We have to wait for the boats and accompanying vehicles to leave so that Emmie won't get run over (remember she's deaf and almost blind). Sparky is pulling, whining, and slowly wrapping the leash around me hoping that I will let go of her leash.

When we finally make it to the dock, Emmie swims for like, 30 seconds and comes back out. Yep, she's done. 

 Sparky goes in for about 10 seconds and then jumps back on the dock and almost knocks down a family trying to get into their canoes.  

Another boat comes to the lake so we move to the shore to stand out of the way. Emmie poops again. Sparky tries to drag me over to meet the perfectly obedient dog walking from his boat to his owner's vehicle. That dog didn't even need a leash to heel! I am sweaty, jealous, and developing a headache.

I tell Little Man that we are heading for home, but first I need to pick up some doggy poopie with a plastic bag. There is no garbage can available so guess what we got to haul home in our car trunk? Yeppers.

When we get home, the dogs act more excited for their little doggy swimming pool that they did for the lake. Plus, my car smells like wet, stinky dog.

Little Man looks at me and says "Well that didn't work out how I thought it would."

 I agree Little Man, I agree.

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Just B...

...Peaceful

We have had a crazy few days this past week. The weather was cool and rain was in the forecast so I decided it was time to try to tackle some of the projects that we had put off all summer. Basically,my sister and her kids helped Little Man and I in gutting our house of all the extra stuff that I have stored for "maybe, one day..."   It feels sooooo good to get rid of stuff. I love having less and I hope to continue this trend. 

Then last night Little Man had an injury that required a visit to urgent care early this morning. It wasn't so bad that we needed to rush to the ER but, I will spare you our photos (yes, there are photos). 

We are wiped out.

Today, I really should be painting our basement.  Or going through the remainder of the paperwork that I had neatly (ahem) stored.  Really there is much left to do, and I know that I need to get any extra work done now before Baby B comes home.

However, after the hectic week we have had, Little Man declared that it would be a peaceful day today. Smart guy. You don't have to ask me twice. I'm all in. 

Maybe we should head out picking some more raspberries? 

Who would like to join me?

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Freebie Friday!

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Happy Anniversary!

A year ago today, I started this blog. It was a bit terrifying for me, because it meant opening my life up to more people than I would generally be comfortable with. 

Etsy-Avett Brothers print

My decision to start blogging was in large part to keep my friends up to date on my current adoption. However, I also wanted to raise awareness about the adoption process. It is frustrating (for lack of a better word) that there are so many children without families, that adoption still has negative connotations attached to it, that adoption takes so long,  and that in a world where people are out buying smart phones, data plans, and multiple homes...they feel they wouldn't be able to afford to adopt. 

http://www.theshortandthesweetofit.com/2013/08/happiness.html

 (Adoption isn't for everyone, but please don't use the 'we can't afford to...'  as a reason if your lifestyle shows otherwise.)

I wanted to show people what a real family formed through adoption looks like (at least this one).

Family

That adopting as a single person is possible.  That we aren't perfect, but we're doing okay. That people can afford to adopt. That my real kids in this real family are awesome, and that there are other just as awesome kids waiting out there for someone to bring them into their new family.

Thanks for stopping by on this one year blog-iversary. 

I have some ideas for new things to add in year two. I've been pinning like crazy to make sure I don't forget my bright ideas. The Etsy store will be open soon (I hope, I'm just working on a couple more items.) Plus, Baby B will be coming home this year for sure. I'm also hoping to finish my book very soon.

What would you like me to cover in year two?

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Just B...

...Late

Now just let me explain.

I am notoriously late with delivering birthday cards. I will find the perfect card months ahead of time, and then lose it by the time the birthday comes. Everyone in my family knows that my card will usually be late. 

Christmas cards . I will order them early, even get them all addressed and then forget to mail them so...yep you got it, late.

My 'Just B' post this time around...late.

The old me would have felt guilty about getting behind on things, so I would keep busy doing stuff to avoid what I had gotten behind on.Then, I would have gotten further behind, which would mean more avoidance activities...etc., etc., etc. You get the picture.

Do I condone never even trying to be on time? No, of course not. But, if I am late, I can't beat myself up about it anymore. Sometimes, it will happen. I am trying to get better with my lateness. I have started to keep those early purchased birthday cards in my car glove compartment so that I don't lose them. 

For those times when I am late, I've decided that my late card (or letter) is just extending the celebration of the birthday or holiday that it was originally intended for. At least I hope that's how my family and friends feel.

You'll have to excuse me now, I have some thank yous and cards that I need to mail. (They were supposed to have been mailed in June.)

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