Mazzy wants Mia's purse

 

 

Mia's new fancy shoes

 

Shopping

 

Shoe shopping and a few wishes

 

It started out as a simple evening for the family to go shopping to get Mazlin new shoes and birthday gift for a friend. Pretty simple. We stop so Dennis can teach Mia what it means to make a wish and throw money in the fountain. I went to sit on the bench with Mazzie while the concept was sinking in for Mia. I'm reminded every day how much Mia ADORES her daddy. He makes her laugh like no one else and the affection is mutual. He is an amazing father and surprises me by his generosity every day. Two years ago this week we made the journey back to Minneapolis as a family for the first time. I've just started to realize over the last couple of months (as Mia continues to grow into this very inquisitive and expressive being)that Dennis and I will need to begin the process of determining how we will communicate this amazing journey we've taken with her and her sister. I literally can't even begin to think about it without getting choked up. In fact, if you were here at this very moment you would be handing me a Kleenex. A few of our friends that were in Guatemala with us are celebrating "Gotcha Day" which is a very common term in the adoption world. I've realized that I'm not ready to bring this into her life. I'm barely ready to accept the fact that she hasn't been with me since the egg and sperm met. Maybe I did give birth to her and we all just forgot about it. Not that it would mean anything different other than the fact that I could avoid that one brief moment of disconnect when I will be able to hear her brain trying to process everything. She is resilient and she will (I'm sure) move onto something else. I just don't want her to EVER question anything--is that so much to ask? What was so wrong with the kiddos that found out by looking through Mommy and Daddy's special drawer (which just happened to contain private pictures of Mommy and their original birth certificate) when they were 16. I want to see the long term effects on that study. I mean really. Although, I'm sure it is hard to get any data since they are all probably in rehab, therapy or a cult somewhere. A very wise person once told me that adoption is a process (albeit a beautiful one) but still a process. They come from an amazing culture with beautiful people and many selfless women that loved them enough to let them go...I will always want her to know every detail of her life..I'm just beginning to realize how amazingly emotional this will be for her little mind to process. My good friends that are adopted are a testament to the great parents that allowed them to say as adults they never remembered the day they found out-it was just something they always knew and didn't have a bearing on the love for their parents. Mazzie's shoes are adorable and Mia made many many wishes. If only I could take a simple trip to the mall. My mind just doesn't work like that.

A little summer fun

What is in a name?

Okay. I get it. Thanks to my dear loving friends and family, I've become keenly aware that Mazlin's name is confusing. Mazy-Mazzy-Maz-Mazzie-Mazi. I always thought it would be Mazy--but I guess it is too close to Lazy and than she would be a Maisy-which is a mouse and not an acceptable reference for a child. We had a family gathering last week that included too many Corona's discussing the way to stop this madness once and for all. The conclusion? Brace yourself. Mazzie or Mazlin only. How did we get here after a lengthy discussion you might ask? Elizabeth is not shortened to Lizzy. Therefore, Mazlin should not be either. Don't judge. It was a scientific study with valid intoxicated data.

I'm happy to introduce our daughter Mazlin. If you feel the need to shorten the name in writing, please defer to our data.

Much love,
Laurie-Dennis-Mia-Mazlin (a.k.a Mazzie)

Our little buddah

Mazlin is growing and changing so much. She is such a sweet pea. Very different than Mia in so many ways, but very much the same. If that even makes sense. Mia was always pretty much an independent child. In fact, my sister reminded me how upset I would get because I didn't think she really knew (or cared) if I was around. Mazlin is very different. She is a snuggler. She laughs so hard and gets so excited when she does things on her own. She lights up when big sis enters the picture and Mia has been an excellent big sister. We were worried but she is a little star as a big sis with the exception of the sharing concept. Mia is going to her Aunt's house this weekend and we are worried she may miss her little sister but we are also hoping the absense will make the sharing of toys much easier upon her return. One can only hope.

A playdate with Mattea

Aracey's bestfriend is a nanny for Mattea and it just so happens she is adopted from Guatemala as well. Mia and Mattea are becoming great little buddies. I have a feeling the cool train is helping their friendship along...

Mazlin loves the school bus

Mia and Mattea on the train

Meet the newest member of our family

Arecely is officially moving in on the 25th of August. She has been a wonderful addtion to our family so far. She speaks to the girls in spanish, cooks amazing food and teaches Mia a few salsa steps. The girls love her and I find her pretty amazing. She came here from Mexico to learn english and to get her masters degree in marketing. She will be attending Wash U (a few blocks away) in the evening after a few preliminary courses. Three of her best friends from Mexico are here and are nannies for families close by. Lately, Dennis has been traveling more than he has been home so it will be a nice addition for me.

A kiss

M+M

Thinking of you....

Dennis and I were glued to the televsion through the night. We love Minneapolis and feel like it is part of our home. This amazing city holds many of our dearest friends and greatest memories and we feel very sad today. The cell phone signal was down into the city and it makes you really realize when you can't reach someone during times like these, just how incredibley important people are to you in your life. Luckily, everyone is okay...and I'll be sure to tell them how much they mean to me more often.

Familiar feeling

I've been a full-time mommy over the last week waiting for the new nanny to start and I remember thinking of my school days in terms of the time between morning break-lunch- afternoon break-study hall-last break of the day- and home. Not really considering anything I may have learned in between that time. Today I realized I think of my mommy days in terms of the time between morning nap-sesame street-snack-long nap-doodlebops-snack-and the Dennis hand-off.

Is this wrong? Shouldn't I be enjoying the amazing development my children are experiencing throughout the day? The subtle bonding elements they share in the sweetest of ways? Shouldn't I be skipping to Mia's room upon her wake-up call to discover something new and wonderful? What about baking a cake together and then I can lovingly dot her little nose with icing just like the ad shows.

I love them...I really do. I just can't help but feel some sort of accomplishment that I can hand them off to Dennis (before he even has a chance to put his man purse down and slip into his capris) unharmed, well-fed and well-rested. Someone please tell me they did/do the same and their children are good citizens.

Dear friends in Minneapolis...

 

Just in case you were wondering, the capris are back in full force. Although, he has added a few new colors he hasn't had any altercations...yet. Nor does he really seem to care. He swears it is going to catch on this season. Um, not so much.

Only an architect...

 

would care this much about restoring windows. Since the moment we moved into our house, Dennis has been borderline obsessed with getting our living rooom windows operable as they once were sometime before cars were around. I, myself, think they are just fine, other than the small fact that they are not tempered and the kids would be in big trouble if they accidentally ran through them, but I'm greatly mistaken (as I've been told over and over again) about them. Evidently, the windows are supposed to go all the way up inside the wall; which I'm still finding hard to imagine. Now, most husbands come home pretty ecstatic when their sports team has won some huge championship..not my little guy-he just won the world series of securing a true window restorer. Mr. Cousins (or Mr. Cushion as Mia calls him) has worked with historic windows for almost 40 years and he has begun the process. I don't think Dennis has been this happy since we found the living room paint color. That is why I love him.

Mia never misses the opportunity to jump on our neighbor's rocks

 

Mia spots a "hop hop"

 

Milk and Stickers...

 

Feeling purple

 

Too early for coffee

 

wake up miss mazy

We miss MOMA... Mia wakes up every morning and says DADA! DADA! i go into her room, she says MAZY! i unzip her from her dome and then we run to mazy's room... see for yourself.

mazy loves the wagon trips to the loop

 

Mia don't....

Mia has been such a trooper since Mazlin's arrival. I find myself continually telling her to be gentle, don't pull Mazzy, don't push Mazzy, don't let Mazzy eat your lunch, don't pierce Mazzy's ears or write on her face :). I'm not sure if other parents do this, but I always reflect on Mia's day after she goes to bed and usually feel awful. I know one day they will both plot against Dennis and me, but for know I feel like Mia is the odd man out. Everyone tells me that it changes with time.

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Swimming at Aunt Debbie's

Ciaran's Party Slide

Mia preparing for Ciaran's Marching Band Party

The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same

Tuesday, July 10th, 2007: 7:30 p.m. in the McGrath house: Both girls sleeping quietly (a bubbly bath and 2 books each), clean house, Zeke snoring on the bed and not a piece of laundry to do.

Dennis and I looked at each other--he goes to his laptop to do some architectural stuff and I go straight to Tivo. Nothing better than Flavor Flav's Charm School Finale with Monique. To think I thought things would never get back to normal. Tomorrow I'm just hoping for an hour or two of Kathy Griffin on the D-List.

Welcome home Miles.