The Pool

A day at the pool. Julie, Miles, Mazlin and I went to the pool today. Mazlin and Miles both loved the water. They are such sweet babies. So laid back and content. It has been a great trip for all of us.

Thank you...

I came out of the elevator and walked to her. She gave me the biggest smile and it has been a love affair ever since. She screams and laughs and I know she was meant to be ours. Julie was able to videotape the meeting for me (thank you!) and I was able to videotape her meeting with Miles. I was doing well until her foster mother gave me the following handwritten list:

1. She likes music
2. She likes to play
3. She likes to have someone sing to her
4. She loves to play with her little blanket
5. She likes a lot of covers when she sleeps
6. She takes milk with her cereal
7. She loves juice
8. She eats only Gerber baby formula
9. She says Mama
10. She can walk with a walker
11. She loves to dance
12. She likes Mickey Mouse cartoons
13. She doesn't ever like to be alone.

Thank you for knowing all these things about our daughter. We will forever be grateful for your love and kindness...Dennis+Mia+Laurie+Mazlin

Our meeting

Adios

I pack tonight with mixed emotions..It is so surreal to be leaving to see your daughter for the first time. I'll be without Dennis and Mia. I'm going solo on this one. I know it is for the best since I won't be traveling to take Mazlin home. Dennis will be going with his Mom; which will be a very special trip for both of them and a special time to spend together. I'll be home with Mia. It just seems wrong to arrive home with a new little one (although, I know people do it every day), this way it will be more like a welcoming for Mia and me.

The second time around is much different. I'm not only seeing my daughter, I'm seeing Mia's sister. This makes me really emotional. All I can think of in looking at Mazzy for the first time, is what Mia will think and experience with this new addition. I've loved nothing more than being Mia's mommy. It has meant much more to me than I've realized. Being her mommy is the one thing I really feel like I've done well (even though I'm plaqued with doubt half the time) I know that I never want regrets and as long as I try my best, be honest and give lots of love...I won't go wrong. Dennis is a natural. He truly is the best father around. He's a great example for me to follow. Wish me luck. I'll post pictures as soon as I'm able.

Laurie

Where did they go?

Daddy's Surprise....

Mia made cookies at Jamie's house for St. Patrick's day.

While Mommy's Away...Mia and the Nanny will Play

About a month ago, I hired a nanny to take care of Mia in the house. I really like the place she was but this allows me to be there when she wakes up to read her a book or two and have lunch with her when I'm able. I work full-time from home and this has been a great situation for me. No stress in the morning, Mia sleeps in her own bed, wakes when she feels like it and Jamie fills her day with plenty of social activites.


Some people (My family) think I'm too strict with Mia's diet. No sugar, juice, fried foods, candy or cake (except for Birthdays). I've noticed over the last month or two that it has become much more difficult to control what she eats or drinks. Quite frankly, I find myself caring less and less. For example, she came back from the Zoo (which is a whole other story) and Jamie told me they stopped for French Fries. Honestly, it didn't even bother me compared to the gum she has been chewing lately, I think it is probably a better choice. Now the Zoo, on the other hand, is another issue.

Never Say Never

I received a call from Julie (Lily's mom) on Monday telling me she was going to Guatemala for a visit trip to see her son, Miles. I've said all along that I wouldn't do that to myself again. The reasons:

1. It is too hard to leave
2. I know she is in good care
3. I don't want to disrupt her schedule
4. She won't even know who I am
5. I don't want to leave Mia
6. I'm fine this time around and willing to be patient and meet her when Mia meets her

Ummm...Yeah, right. After talking with Julie, I realized that....

1. I need to see her
2. I need some alone time to bond this time around
3. I want to have pictures for her with just the two of us in Guatemala
4. I'm not going down for the pick-up trip


I leave March 22nd. Julie and I are going to share a suite with the little ones.

Never say never. Adios.

A few stripes and pink boots

Relaxing after a hard day

Who said being a child is easy? It can be very difficult to maneuver your banana and blueberries at the same time.

Casa Complete

I'm happy to say that we are officially complete with the 1st phase of the house. The walls are all put back into place, boxes packed away, kitchen and bath areas finished and we are finally starting to get the feel of home. We had an open house on Saturday and it was a great night to sit back and reflect over the last two months. Dennis worked very hard on pulling this together and starting a new job. As always, I don't always get his vision when it comes to architecture, but after it is finished I'm always amazed. He did such a great job creating a great space for us. Thanks to all our friends and family members that helped make this happen so quick.

Lastnight we ordered pizza and watched the Oscars...just like all the other years. I forget how crazy things have been over the last couple months.

Check out my Slide Show!

New Picture-New Name

When we decided to adopt the 2nd time, we knew the name would be Pearl. Long story, but we didn't talk about the thought of changing the name or whether we were really feeling Pearl. I was fine with the name until I read an article in Dennis' Details magazine about a couple with two children ( a boy, named Jasper and a girl, named ???) I immediately fell in love with the name and called Dennis to tell him I wanted to change Pearl's name--I told him the name and he thought it was a perfect name. Introducing....Mazlin (Mazzy) Liliana McGrath. I know Mia and Mazzy has a tendency to sound like a cartoon, but we love it and will always think of her as our little Pearl.

Happy Valentine's Daddy...

Respecting the Children...

On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor worries with yesterday.

-----------------------------------------------------
I remember reading this long before the thought of children even came into my mind. I believe I was drawn to this because I grew up when none of the above applied. You were your parents children and that is the way it was...Simply, because they said so. Children really didn't have much to say until they reached early adulthood. We had to go play outside, go to another room or sit at a different table and rarely made a comment that would cause a huge response to any of the adults in the room. I asked someone at dinner ( a therapist and mother of two very well adjusted human beings) the other night how to effectively set boundaries with your children because I'm feeling a little sprucing up could help in that area..And this person said "I raised my children showing them the respect that I never received growing up as a child and always longed for." and I realized the above verse was about respecting the world of children while setting consistent boundaries. I think I'm getting it, until the next stage occurs.
It is my goal to always remember that Mia will have thoughts and ideas far away from me, but she is the person she is and I trust the power of respect enough already to know she will be just fine. I'll try as best I can to listen to her in all her infinite knowledge that someone on this earth (say 4 or 5 years) will have by that time.

Happy 2nd Birthday Mia!

We celebrated Mia's birthday on 1/29/2007 among moving boxes,
paint buckets and lots of cleaning supplies. We pushed everything to the end
of the table and gathered around for a little celebration. I kept thinking of her 1st birthday when everything was so planned and organized and I was home with her every day. Now, one year later things have changed so much. Knowing her made both Dennis and I want to reconnect with our family and share our experiences. She has been such a trooper over the last year with me going back to work and a big move to a new city. Through it all she has stayed the gentle little soul that she is..so kind. All I kept thinking was that we succeeded in keeping her safe and happy for another year. Our daughter is 2 and it has been the best two years of our life knowing her.
I promised myself that I would wear the earrings her birth mother gave her the day of the adoption on every birthday until she could receive them as a gift. I was lucky to find them among the boxes, but just wearing them made me happy for both of them.
 

Mia and Daddy Celebrate with Dora

 

The chef tasting her efforts  

Back in St. Louis

Hello Everyone:

I had a great trip in Minneapolis and was able to mix business with pleasure. I really missed Mia and was afraid I wouldn't get back before the ice storm. I was a little delayed, but made it back okay. I stayed over to attend Natasha's baby shower. She is by far the cutest pregnant woman I have ever seen. Natasha was so supportive during my process with Mia and being an amazing artist/photographer, I have some pretty wonderful and special photos during that time. I'm so happy for her and Ladric and I know baby Aria will have the best parents can offer. I was also able to see baby Lucca and Mia's best pal Mel. Made a stop to Pizza Nea with Kate, Kellie and Leah. I really miss everyone. It feels good to be back in Minneapolis. It is such a great city. I did a drive by the old house. Seems so strange to see someone else living in our house. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I had a house of my own right now.

Thanks Karen & Denis for all your hospitality...even if you did try to give me curdled milk and corn muffins at 8:00 am. Not to mention your billy goat/cat, Oliver.

Hello Lily

It was so good to see Ms. Lily on Saturday night. She is so adorable and was in amazement at Mia's (sometimes) unlady-like behavior.

Where's Mia?

Our current baby keeping us up at night

I thought I would share a few pictures of our house project so you could get a visual of the current state.
I'm not much of a visionary, so I've been doing other things like drinking lots of wine and staying far away. If we stick to the schedule, I'll send new updated pics in a couple of weeks when it should be finished....hmmmm.
Enjoy!

Downstairs bathroom/kitchen

A few more pictures

Here is our dining room

Why?

would anyone put a plaster wall over beautiful stained glass windows. We just assumed there was quite a bit of water damage and someone decided (years and years ago) to cover up the two windows in the living room. When we tore the wall down, we found two wonderful little windows behind plywood in great shape. So odd.

another view of the new house

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from the McGraths-
We are thinking of all our friends and family as the holiday season comes to a close. It has been a busy one for us. The house is moving along and we are becoming more and more familiar with the city. Mia is becoming so hilarious. She is very animated and is mimicking everything. I really mean everything. Mommy needs to be lots nicer to daddy now that she is picking up everything :)
We hope you have a safe and healthy 2007 filled with lots of great moments. We can't wait to share 2007 with Miss Pearl. Mia stills yells 'no' everytime we mention Pearl's name.
I have a feeling it will be that way for years to come.