The best 29th birthday ever...

Mommy's Birthday

Happy Holidays

 


From ours to yours...

Our day ends with a stick of cheese

 

Maz and I had an afternoon together while Mia and Dennis did a few errands. I realized today how much Mazlin has become a part of our lives. I remember the transition of her arrival (not any different (I'm told) with biological children)and today I can say I feel like I've known her forever and she was always meant for our family. She is hilarious. She loves to dance. I'll try and catch it on Youtube, you just have to see it to believe it. She is definitely into music. She is beautiful to us in many different ways.

 

Maz is ready for the disco!

 

(with toothbrush in hand...)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Mia made her first birthday cake today. She was a little impatient and didn't want to wait to put the icing on---the result is a masterpiece in disguise and Dennis loved it.
Enjoy.

Mazzie in Mia's Bed

 

 

Our 1st Snow Day

 

Today was the first snow day in St. Louis. Mia loved it and it was Mazzie first time ever to see snow. Unfortunately, she is a little under the weather and couldn't play outside today.

Mr. VeggieMan

 

Mia and Emma were very creative during their playdate today!

What a difference a year makes

Today is the one year anniversary of our move to St. Louis. This time last year I opened the door to our house(wreck)for the first time to experience all the things Dennis kept telling me about. I didn't see anything because my eyes were filled with water due to the fact I knew a divorce was imminent based on the shape of the house. I did a quick walk through and then walked right out the front door. I actually didn't return to the house for about a month while it was under renovation. I don't give my husband enough credit when it comes to things like this. I would cringe every time he opened a paint can in our old house but ended up loving it once it all came together. He has amazing vision and did a wonderful job of creating a great little place for his family. Moving to Minneapolis in 2000 was one of the best things I've ever done. I remember flying into the city for work and falling in love. When I decided to move there I never imagined I would create such meaningful relationships in my life. A great deal happened to Dennis and me during our time there and I don't know if we could of made it through without the love and support of our friends. I'm happy to say that even a year later not many days go by without talking to them and I still feel connected. I was also surprised by the relationships we were able to rekindle and make new over the last year. We are lucky enough to have met some really wonderful people and reconnect with old friends in a new way. I never realized the power of history. The old friends I have give me a new perspective on myself with all the memories we have. I never thought it was important to go back until I did and I realize they were part of my life at a really memorable time and I will always have a connection with them. This city has definitely changed but somehow I feel like we have come full circle in our adventures in life and being able to show Mia the park where daddy used to drink beer before he was legal will put the icing on the cake!

Huge Spaces

Sorry for the huge space in postings. I'm trying to figure out why this is happening.

McGrath Family Tree!

 

Dennis and I had such a great time watching Mia and Mazlin decorate the tree. Okay, maybe it was a tiny bit fun for us too. It feels good to have it in the house.

 

 

 

M+M+Bubbles

 

A girl and her soccer ball

 

 

Mazlin is getting to be so funny lately. She growls like a monster and then gives you a big smile. She is talking up a storm. Not sure what she is saying, but nontheless she is a talker. She is just a very joyful little girl. The more secure she becomes the happier she is with her family and home.

There is nothing better than to hear her gut laugh with her sister. The best.

How to get out of having a holiday tree

 

"Why is the tree outside?" Mia asked
"Because Daddy is a vegetarian and if he wakes up in the middle of the night and is hungry he may eat our tree," Mommy answered.

Case closed.

*Attention Sisters: This is a joke. Never fear, we're heading out on Saturday for a nice traditional tree.

Mazlin Loved the Lights

 


Mazlin didn't last too long on our trip to see the holiday lights. She is such a little car sleeper. Maybe it is from how active she is in the day. She is ALWAYS on the move!

Pretty Pink Boots!

 

Mia is sporting some very cute new boots. It is her newest addiction. She is so funny lately when it comes to clothes and shoes. She has been loving this holiday thing. We have taken the girls to see santa and holiday lights. It is really pretty wonderful to see how excited they are about everything. Okay, I'm close to breaking down and getting a tree. The jury is still out on this one. My sisters already told me if I don't--they will.

Traditions

Today we woke up and decided we wanted a tradition for the girls on Thanksgiving. We celebrate Thanksgiving with my family on Friday and Dennis' family all already had plans--so it was us. We bundled up the girls went out for breakfast and headed down to the parade. It was great and special and just us. I would love to say we stood out in the cold drinking hot chocolate and screaming at the floats passing us by--but we found a great parking spot where we could see everything and sat in a warm car, llistening to great music, drinking coffee and laughing at how ridiculous we probably look right now. We went home and watched Dora and the Wiggles and made an amazing dinner (tofu lasagna, broccoli and french fries) and ended with Mrs. Paul's frozen pumpkin pie. What more could you ask for? Other than Baily's on ice and a great documentary. Happy Holidays!

Poof. Gone. Just Like That!

It has been a very eventful week for us to say the least. Simply put, on Tuesday we told Aracely (nanny)she could no longer use the car until she updated her Visa to student status because it was too much exposure for our family to have in case something were to happen. Wednesday morning Mia went to wake her and the room was empty. Oh yeah, EMPTY. No pictures, clothes, candles, shoes or anything else belonging to her. She did leave a few suitcases she was unable to fit in the car (I'm assuming)but she even went to the trouble to take ALL of her food (that I bought by the way)
I was shocked when I went upstairs. Mia asked where she was and it broke my heart. Especially, now understanding more about the importance of bonding and attachment. I was furious beyond words. My sister came in right away and took Mia and Maz and Dennis and I promptly took the rest of her belongings and placed them on the porch and told her to come and get them and to never contact us again. Dennis and I are very sad for the girls but very excited to have our house back. I told her anyone that would do what she did is not a role model for our children. I'm going to cut back on work for the time being and be much more protective over all relationships my girls have with anyone. Too many times people come into their life and than disappear and I feel sad for that.

Mazlin's Visit to the Emergency Room

Yesterday was scary to say the least. High fever, red bumps, no sleep and stomach pains. Poor Mazlin. Such a little trooper. When she arrived at the emergency room she was so excited to be up late that she just sat there and looked around as if she didn't have a care in the world. She is fine. Undetermined Virus. It will pass and there is nothing they can do. Dennis and I love the side benefit of having the most affectionate one year old in St. Louis. We just realized what a little snug bug she is when she is sick.

The Beauty of Blogs and Mazlin’s Special Gift

I can’t tell you how many times I am surprised by people telling me they go to my blog all the time or they know someone that forwarded the blog and they love to follow our adoption journey.

I find this both really wonderful and really odd all at the same time—until I’m honest with myself and admit I do the same thing. In fact, I’m afraid I’m going to run up to a few of the bloggers I follow as if we are friends for life and they don’t even know me. What goes around comes around. Let’s be honest.

The other day my sister told me she met a woman who adopted from Guatemala and my sister mentioned her niece Mazlin (it isn’t a name you soon forget). She knew immediately who we were and went on to say my blog was one of the reasons they decided to move forward with their adoption. You can’t get much better than that. I’ve tried to be as open and honest with the ups and downs of adoption and creating new families. As with the first, the second adoption brings so many additional elements to the family. You have the sibling to sibling relationship, the additional transition for the entire family and expected second child dynamics.

Bringing Mazlin into our life was the best thing that could have happened to us. We are seeing an amazing attachment therapist (initially for Mazlin to better attach to the family and then the very wise lady quickly turned to me and in so many words told me it was more of a mommy attaching to the new family dynamic kind of thingy) I’m a big girl. I can take it. Sniff. Sniff.

She has taught us so much already about the power of attachment. It is much easier to begin to understand when you realize Mazlin came to us from a place of loss. She believes all adopted children do. Even if the child is adopted at birth, it still was attached on a molecular level to his/her brith mommy. I didn’t give Mazlin or Mia’s (for that fact) transition the respect it should have had relating to attachment. The fact we are embarking on the journey of understanding is truly a gift.

Thank you Mazlin!

www.attach.org (for all my secret blogger friends)

We miss you daddy...

We wanted you to join us in our leaf party today and mommy had to add some sappy music in the background. Love M+M

My new business partner

 

Working from home is great in many ways. Working from home is not so great in many ways. The biggest issue for me is the isolation. Everyday, it goes like this-get coffee, have breakfast with the girls, grab Zeke and head up to the office. He is so content to just hang out all day and watch cars and sleep. I looked over at him this morning and thought about the first day we went to get him on an Amish farm in Liberty, Ohio. He has been a great companion and an excellent pull toy for Mia and Mazlin. Zeke is almost 17 and I know his days are limited (at least it smells that way)

But for now he is my business partner. I just need to curtail his expenses. Snausages are not cheap these days.

The Happiest Bee in St. Louis

 

Mazzie loved her costume. She laughed at herself and her sister all night. It was quite chaotic around here but a ton of fun.

 

Mazzie is eating part of Mia's costume