Halloween!!

Today was NiNi's first Halloween with me. She is just too little to understand trick or treating this year, plus she's afraid of the dark and not yet walking... so we skipped that activity for this year. However, she had a darling little costume from my Aunt Cindy, and I wanted to show her off in it! She looked so cute, and loves wearing the costume...So, I took her up to my hospital (Mercy General) and we passed out candy with her all dressed up. She was a hit! ;-) Usually she is kind of shy with people she doesn't know...but not today! She charmed and entertained everyone, it was so much fun!! :-) We passed out candy to the neighborhood trick or treaters, also, and she thought that was great fun. :-) Her daycare provider came with her kiddos (they are my neighbors also!), and NiNi was very happy to see all of them...then she was ready for bed!

16 months! :-)

Today my precious daughter is 16 months old! She is just such an amazing little person, I am truly blessed to be her mom.

She continues to crawl, and her pace has increased dramatically. She cruises around the living room/dining room/kitchen most of the time, but will disappear down the hall when you least expect it. We have found her in the hall closet, trying to open a can of Monster!! That would have been a sticky mess!

All these months I have wished for a way to contact NiNi's orphanage, to let them know that not only did she survive, but that she is thriving...and today my wish came true! I received (from a contact) the physical address for her orphanage! Now we can send a holiday care package with pictures, so they can see how wonderful their girl has done! :-) It is exciting to know that we can maintain a connection to her homeland and the people who kept her alive during her first year of life.

I put the toddler bed together for NiNi yesterday, and she napped in it for the first time today! :-) It was precious to see. She looks like a toddler now, not so much of a baby. Charlie napped with her for a while, keeping an eye on HIS baby! :-)

Busy Weekend!

NiNi and I went to the pumpkin patch Friday with her daycare. It was COLD, and started raining on us 1/2way through...but NiNi had a great time. She wore her "Belle" costume from Aunt Tammy, and looked SO cute! She was NOT happy about sitting in the grass for a picture, even on a vest! But, she saw goats, chickens, turkeys and PIGS! She laughed when they grunted, it was the first time she had seen pigs in real life. :-) She finally had enough once her hair was wet, so we called it a day. One of the little boys from daycare(he's 4) picked NiNi a flower! He hovers and fusses over her all the time...so cute! I pressed the flower in a book to save it for her. :-)

Saturday, NiNi and I went to Redding to celebrate my dad's birthday. She made the trip like a champ (unlike last time, when she cried the last hour of the trip), and was all smiles when we got to my parents' home. My aunt Cindy came over from Crescent City, and my sister and niece were there. We celebrated Dad's birthday Sunday afternoon, and then NiNi and I had to head home. The time went way to fast, as it always does. NiNi showed off her new crawling skills, and walked with her push toy several times. :-) She was very animated and cuddled with everyone this time. Charcoal, Dad's cat, was fascinated with NiNi and let her pet him...and he is not usually a friendly guy! Tammy made Dad an icebox cake, which we all loved. It is my Grandma's recipe, and very rich, but oooh, what a treat!! :-) Even NiNi had a few bites- and she isn't a big fan of sweets...but she does like chocolate- just like her mommy!! ;-)

1 year ago (con'd)

One year ago today, I opened an email and saw my precious NiNi's face for the first time. I had to make a quick decision based on 1 piece of paper and her little picture. I knew this baby was meant to be mine when I saw her. I wanted to kiss those puffy cheeks and snuggle her close. I sent an email to my agency on the spot and said "Yes, I want this baby, as long as she has 2 ventricles." Some TGA babies are born with only 1 ventricle, and they don't usually survive, so I wasn't willing to take a chance on that. NiNi wasn't registered yet for international adoption, so once I said yes, the push for expedited paperwork (hers) began.
Amazing what a difference a year makes, isn't it? :-)

1 year ago today...

1 year ago today, I received an email that would change my world. My agency (CCAI) asked me to look at the file for an under-6 month old baby girl with TGA (transposition of the great arteries). The email was clear that if I accepted the referral, I would need to prepare for quick travel once Baby's paperwork was in order, and that she might not survive until adoption- given her serious special need.

This is where NiNi's and my story begins...

She's Crawling!

Yeah!! NiNi is crawling unassisted. She has needed chest support or hip support in order to crawl, but we've worked at it daily, and tonight she crawled! I left her sitting with her toys and ran a bag out to the trash. I could hear her scolding me as I came back to the house; NiNi had crawled all the way to the front door, yelling at me for leaving her alone! :-) Whatever it takes, I guess! heehee
The hip helper shorts seem to be doing the job. Her hip splaying is much less, which helps her to crawl in the correct position.

Pumpkin Patch!

Today was NiNi's first trip to the punkin patch! :-) We went to Stockton and met our friends Gina and Mia. Mia brought NiNi a Halloween shirt, and both girls were decked out in Halloween colors. :-) The pumpkin patch was geared towards kiddos 5 & under, and it was very enjoyable. We rode on the hay wagon, pulled by a tractor. There was a vat of dried lima beans for the kids to play in, a sand box, a maze, tractors and farm equipment to climb on, and a bunch of farm animals. NiNi loved the critters! There were chickens, a HUGE duck, 2 turkeys (named Thanksgiving and Christmas!), goats, rabbits, and a horse. She petted a goat, a rabbit, and the horse. It was sunny and warm, and we all had a nice time...plus both girls got a punkin to bring home.

6 months post-op!

Today NiNi is 6 months post-op from her arterial switch surgery. What a difference 6 months makes!! :-)
My darling baby girl is just thriving, and I'm so very thankful every day that I am her mom.
Her incision has healed so nicely, it is hardly noticeable. She doesn't have to have another echocardiogram until Nov.

Back to Work!

We are starting a new chapter:
Today I returned to work after being off 7 1/2 months. Everyone welcomed me back, they even had a welcome breakfast for me. :-) I felt like I was working in swimfins and mittens. The basics are still the same, but so many details have changed. I think I might need re-orientation! heehee
NiNi went to daycare at 0500, and stayed until 1130. Mom came down from Redding, so Baby didn't have to spend 14 hrs in daycare the first week. NiNi did well, played with the kids and the dog. :-) She wouldn't eat anything, though, or take a bottle. She decided she will only drink from a sippy cup- preferably the kind with a straw!! :-) She took a bottle here at home, when it was naptime and bedtime.
My baby is growing up already!!