Feeding Time

Mia is really getting into her new dollies. We bought her a stroller, pack and play, and a high chair/car seat accessorie set. When we go for a walk, she puts BOTH babies in her stroller and takes them with us around the neighborhood. Here she is feeding them when I caught her blowing on her spoon, then she said hot. We were laughing! We laid one of her favorite cozy blankets on the floor in her room for a picnic today.

As I post this picture of Mia, I look and also have to laugh about all the worrying I did before our referral about hoping our child #1 would be young so she would not suffer to much separation grieving #2 She could achieve normal attachment. For some reason, after reading articles and learning of possible problems with attachment, I was obsessed.
For those of you who are waiting, I wanted to share with you what we did to form good attachment with Mia. And let me tell you she is REALLY attached. I can't even get out of her sight. She is not one of those cry babies that whines at mommy everything, but the love I can feel from her is unreal. I was just telling Mike, that Mia is the final piece I needed in my puzzle of life. Everyday, she does the darnedest things and amazes us how bright she is.

Before we left for China we decided that I would take some good pointers from a book I read on forming healthy attachment. Some of the ideas were really bizarre to the point of ridiculous.

Before we left, we explained to family and friends that they could come visit and meet Mia, however; Mike and I would be the only ones to change her diaper, bathe her, feed her, put her to bed, and console her if she was upset. We really didn't let too many people carry her around. We wanted her to know who was Mommy and Daddy and that we were always going to be here for her. In China, I took tub baths with her to get skin to skin contact and we always looked into her eyes when we fed her, her bottle. Mike would lay her on his chest and get the skin to skin contact that way. At first Mike said family would get their feelings hurt if they couldn't carry her and feed her, and I said this is NOT about the families feelings, this is about forming good attachment with Mia. We did this consistently for the 2 weeks in China and followed by 6 weeks at home. We even waited to do her Baptism and have out of town family come after we had been home 6 weeks. Everyone understood and just wanted what was best for Mia.

I hope that this information helps anyone who is really concerned about attachment and soon can be united with their precious little one!

Thank Goodness for washable paints!

Are these pictures cute or what? I can just see her hammimg it up with her school mates. These are the pictures taken by Mia's teacher with the disposable camera I sent with her cupcakes. I can remember being nervous about sending Mia to school, but she really enjoys it. There is one teacher who is bilingual and I asked her to speak to Mia in spanish all the time so she can learn a little. She now says she wants Agua! We drive by a lake or pond and she says " Mommy Agua" she cracks me up everyday!

Mia loves her new dollies. She drags them around everywhere

and wraps her blankees around them.

Saturday we celebrated Mia's 2nd Birthday and she had so much fun. The weather was horrible all week and even the morning of the party as well. Mike and I were feeling a little bummed and couldn't stop watching the local weather forecast. The party was scheduled to start at 2pm and by noon the sky was blue and there was a nice breeze. Someone was looking out for us!! The party was held at Sebastian River Inlet Park and the kids got their faces painted, Mike bought live shrimp for the kids to fish and we had a parent/child water balloon toss. We decided to have it catered and boy was that a good idea! Mike and I were able to be guests at Mia's party. The playground was right beside the pavilions and everyone seemed to have a good time.

The adult portion of the party continued at our house after the park and the margaritas and beers were flowing! My old high school friends who I have kept in touch thru the years came up and got hotel rooms for the weekend, so we invited them back to our house. Grandaddy Wayne and Grandma T stayed the weekend too! Many people came up for the day and it was so great to see everyone.

Mia received such great gifts and we had her open them the next morning. It was too hectic to do that after getting home that evening. She is at the age now where she rips the paper off the gifts and says OOOhh. She knew it was her birthday and she sings Happy Birthday. I will post some pictures from her school soon, I sent a disposable camera to school along with some cupcakes. The pictures are adorable!

Mia's Birthday Bash

Yesterday our neighbor was riding his horse down the street and Mia was very intrigued, she enjoyed petting him, and when I asked her if she wanted to sit with Alan, she said yes.

Then she broke out in a scream.

No riding lessons in the near future I guess! Hello!
There she goes racing down the street!

Yes, we live on a dirt road, in the country.

But not too far from shopping! One of my requirements before moving here!