*9*

Nine weeks??  Yes, nine weeks. We've been a family of 4 for nine weeks.  Time is flying by!!

Brian is home and we are LOVING having him back. There was a little bit of an adjustment for all of us to have him home. Kaneu was super excited and relieved but at the same time was really giving Brian a hard time. He's had some attitude and sassy behavior and a few meltdowns this week but I think that's all to be expected. It's Thursday and I'm already dreading Sunday because he'll be leaving again. I'm gonna *try* to enjoy the rest of the week we have together.

Here is what is new with our little girl

1. new teeth - she's had 3 that have come through and 3 on the verge. That's a total of 14 teeth! This could explain the crankiness. But what's my excuse?!
2. feet - have I mentioned her feet are big??  She's in big girl socks. If you don't believe me look at the photos below
3. she loves to say "ugh oh" over and over and over. I think she purposely drops things just so she can use her new word in the correct context. Brilliant that girl is!
4. signs - dog, bath, 
5. sounds - "woo woo" (woof woof) and points to our large Pug picture hanging above her high chair, she is also trying to oink like a pig - she breathes really heavily out her nose. this has been really helpful in getting her to blow her nose!! 
6. eating  - she is regressing a little bit in this area. Perhaps because of all of the teeth? She is opting for soft and bland foods. Thus, we are eating lots of rice cereal and oatmeal. 

this stick looks like fun but mom says "no touch"

I think I'll pick it up

I hear "no touch" again ... but this stick is so fun!

mommy says "good girl" because I put it down

does she really think this "blockade" will keep me from my stick?

how can you not let me get my way??

fine! I'm outta here

This is our new routine. She loves the stick. I don't let her get the stick. She gets frustrated and goes to the kitchen to play. Can you imagine what life will be like when she's a teenager??

a good day

 I ordered some of these beautiful prints for my kiddos and a pair of little ladies I haven't yet met . I love them. Sweet Susan gave me the love*one*another print as a thank you. It's on our mantle along w/our Warholized Rosie and favorite beach hangout.  You must check them out!

Kaneu did great today!! No tears shed. I am soooooo relieved. We video chatted again with Brian and he was his happy and silly self.  It may have helped that Kaneu's Meme (Brian's mom), GG (Brian's grandma) and Gaga (Great Aunt Gail) came to visit today. He received a lot of attention and in return I got to go be tortured (a much needed leg wax).  My beauty therapist was running late and so I got to take a 20 minute snooze in the waiting area. It.Was.Heaven. Is that any indication at how exhausted I was today? Little ladybug woke up at 3 am and was ready to rock 'n roll. Brutal. I looked and felt like last night's rejected squash and rice dinner she ejected from her mouth, but hey I have smooth legs!! And next week when my generous and loving husband is back in town I will be going back for a 90 minute facial and a massage. I CANNOT wait. I think I just drooled dreaming about it.

oh joy

I just found out one of my fave UK designers will be coming to my fave US store. Read all about it here.  Time to start saving my pennies! Good grief, it is NOW time for bed! Though I know this *news* will keep me up all night thinking up the rationale to purchase these goodies. My name is Dana and I'm a shopaholic. There. I said it. Now, I really do need some new potholders ... 

say a little prayer

If my previous post made your heart ache then this may too. My sweet sweet boy has asked me to pray for his heart because it hurts. My eyes are welling up as I write this.  The first time he asked was on Sunday during breakfast. We (almost) always say grace before eating and this (one!) time we had forgotten and he reminded us AND asked me to pray for his heart that daddy broke.  Since then when he is really hurting and sobbing he asks me to hold him and to say a prayer.  My little guy is oozing with love and pain and faith and I am overjoyed and heartbroken at the same time.  It feels like my heart has doubled in size. Just when you think you can't possibly love somebody anymore than you do - you do.  

We did have a little fun this afternoon. We played at the playground again and Kaneu got a little treat back at home.  I encouraged (bribed) Kaneu to eat his lunch today with a really big chocolate chip cookie. Wouldn't ya know - he actually ate ALL of his lunch!

We sk*ped with Brian earlier today and then again during dinner. We haven't been able to do it earlier in the week because he was in Nottingham, which is 2 hrs north of London, he doesn't have it on his work laptop. He's in London now and was able to call from the computer in our flat. It was GREAT and after just a few teary meltdowns Kaneu was back to his silly self and he had fun. I think he was comforted with getting to actually see Brian. Ruby was tickled with it too.  So, we'll do that again tomorrow and Friday. Oh, and we also got to see our baby girl, Rosie!! She looks so great. 

pre-nap photo shoot

I am frustrated with my camera.  The focus isn't *really* working all that great and trying to capture a very active bee (one of her many nicknames) while using the manual focus and adjusting the aperture and shutter speed is nearly impossible. Despite the challenges I think they turned out pretty cute. 

Off to bed. xo

broken heart

It's Wed - 4 days down, 4 to go.  I feel like we are getting into a groove, finally.  Single motherhood is exhausting! As I was chatting with my mom last night I asked her HOW in the world did she raise 3 children on her own? She chuckled. But seriously, I want to know!!  It really hasn't been too bad. I am lonely and I miss Brian, but taking care of the kids has been busy but not impossible. It's only Wed though so check back on Sat or Sun and we'll see how I feel!

Kaneu has had a really, really tough time with Brian being gone.  He has said, approximately 37 times, that his "daddy broke mine heart".  My little man has such a gentle soul and he is an emotional puddle this week. It makes my heart hurt. Lastnight at about 1:30am he woke up crying. When I went to check on him he said "hug me mama".  Sunday night he slept with the blinds open so he could look out at the night sky and watch for his daddy's airplane. He wanted to make sure the blinds were open so Brian could see him, too.  The boy has got some BIG love for his dad and I love how much he feels and cares for his family but I do feel helpless. He sobs at bedtime and is inconsolable. We look at photos and gets even more sad. He has talked to Brian on phone which has helped but there are certain times of the day, morning and bedtime, when the boy is really missing him.

Thankfully we've had some decent weather this week and have gotten out to the playground.  Also, Kaneu started a whole slew of activities this week - basketball, soccer, art, swimming and yoga!  Too much? Nahhh!  Each activity begins right after school and is offered at his school so he just stays and eats lunch and then goes to the activity. I pick him up at 1:30. He is loving it so far.

my little climber

look who found her shadow!

Check out this sneak peek of our family photo shoot from Sunday.  Stephanie did a beautiful job capturing our little ones. She is a participating photographer for Celebrating Adoptions. I cannot wait to see the rest of the shots. She came to our house, which made it easy and low stress. The kids did really well - especially Kaneu. Ruby was a very busy bee and was all over the place.  Oops, and now she is awake. Gotta run!

husband of the year

That's right ladies (and Big B, my lone male reader!), the trophy must go to Brian. Though he is in London working this week, and will then fly to Vegas for the weekend to attend a bachelor party (rough life, heh?), he really is a rockstar of a husband. 

Since we've been in the US and while he's been on paternity leave I've been really, really spoiled. You see I think that I started to take him (a little) for granted and now that he's not here I realize just how much he did for us. Here are a few things he does just for starters ...

1. all of the grocery shopping

2. most of the cooking

3. cooks breakfast just about every morning

4. makes me coffee every morning

5. gets up with the kids in the morning and lets me sleep in

And in preparation for him being gone this week he also stocked the fridge and cooked us meals to have for the week ...

1. lasagne

2. egg salad

3. tuna pasta salad

He also cleans, folds laundry, cleans the car and fills the tank, and goes to the ATM for me. I bet you are scratching your head and wondering what the he*! do I do?  Good question! I'm asking myself the same thing along with how did I get so lucky?

i've got my hands full

Little Lady is all about climbing. Her newest trick is to stand on the coffee table and stomp her feet. When I ask her to sit down she gets the biggest smirk on her face and squats down and then claps for herself. 

Kaneu has swiftly moved into the protective big brother role.  I know she's doing something mischievous when I hear him say "ugh oh", which is usually followed by "her climbing on top of ..." or "her standing on ...". She's keeping us on our toes and we wouldn't want it any other way.

my dazzling life ... i've been tagged!

I have been tagged by Jess ...

Q: Five names you go by:

Dana

Dane

Daney (by my mom!)

Mama

Sugs 

Q. Three things you are wearing right now:

jeans

t-shirt

wedding rings

Q. Two things you want very badly at the moment:

a facial, a massage and warm weather (yes, i know that's one more than requested!)

Q. Two things you did last night:

drank too much wine and ate pizza with friends

Q. Two things you ate today:

birthday cake and a "think thin" bar (hmmm ... seems kinda silly, really)

Q. Two people you last talked to on the phone:

diana and my mom

Q. Two things you are going to do tomorrow:

have family photos taken and say goodbye to brian :(

Q. Two longest car rides:

va to keywest

va to mont tremblant

Q. Two of your favorite beverages:

orange juice

coffee

Q. The people you’d like to respond:

hannah

emily

diana

the best gift ever

Have you all seen the advertisements for the Snuggie? Yesterday I received the best belated Christmas present ever - my very own snuggie!! We always crack up at the commercial when it comes on and when Brian told me he ordered them for Christmas I didn't really believe him.  I have to say that I love it. Yes, we are total dorks, but seriously this thing rocks. Even Kaneu is a fan. He keeps asking if they come in kid's sizes!

Brian sporting his very own snuggie ... lovely color, don't you think?

family fun with the snuggie

happy 2009 and 7 weeks!

Seven weeks as a family of four!!

We have been busy for the last week or so. We took a little road trip up to PA (and froze our hiney's off!!)and spent a few days visiting with my extended family. The kids did great in the car and they both had a blast with all of their cousins. Kaneu got to play the Wii (Santa brought one to my cousins house) and he's hooked ... our little rocker.  All of my little cousins received the Nin*tendo DS and Kaneu was hooked on that as well. He's already asked if Santa will bring him a DS and a Wii for his birthday.  No comment.

all the cousins on the ice skating rink

rockin' out

Ruby is signing and babbling a ton. Here's what is new with "snacks" (yes, this is her nickname ... for obvious reasons).

• new signs: water, please, sleep,
• new words: bye bye, no no, cuckoo, mmmmm - this technically isn't a word but it's a sound that she uses whenever she wants to eat, is eating, or sees someone else eating
• she is still sleeping like a champ
• still cute a friggin' button

What else is new??

Brian is back to work this week and off to London on Sunday :( 

And, I went to see the doc and found out I have arthritis in my foot. Seriously?!