11 December 2007
Out takes
I was trying to get a holiday picture of Julia the other day and some of the pictures that didn't make the card are just too cute not to post.
Remembrance, Reading, and Snow (I guess I can't call all the winter entries Snow)
We were in Indy lasts weekend. David went to a reading of a new play of his which will be produced in the spring or fall of 2008. This is a first reading and I wanted to be there. Unfortunately, the material is not child friendly. David was pleased with the reading, saw places to work on in the script, and the weather held pretty well for our drive home. It was hectic but we did it.
We stayed with Marcia and Matthew and Julia enjoy the christmas tree that they already have set up. On Sunday, Julia and I went to the kids’ museum and I got to visit with Lisa and Hannah, and Julia was able to see the magnificent dino exhibit that is her favorite. She still knows the building from a block away, and on seeing the dinosaurs bursting out of the building, she uttered a rare, "O-Yo," which used to be what she said when she was amazed by something. I think that the Indy kids’ museum will always be O-Yo for Julia.
On Saturday morning I asked if Julia wanted oatmeal or a waffle and she answered with "a waffle." She has not used articles before but the little books that she "reads" use articles repeatedly and she may be picking that up. Also, on Friday David made a little book called "The BUT book." It is made up of sentences that say, "I like . . . BUT I don’t like . . . " Julia looked at the pages and said, "I like" and the thing that was in the picture on the page. We think she recognized those two words.
Julia now knows that she is scared of sirens. She has always been afraid of them and we live near by a hospital so there is no avoiding the sounds. She still runs for comfort when she hears the slightest siren sound (from incredibly far away) but she is acclimatizing. I think that now that she can name what the sound is and knows what it comes from her fears have diminished some. We have no idea if she is scared because the sound doesn’t feel good to her or if she associates it with something. Maybe someday she will be able to tell us.
Today is the anniversary of my father’s death. It is strange to even write that sentence and stranger still to think of this year of changes and adjustments and experiences and growth and to think that none of it was shared with my father. From the weather report today, I will be spending lots of time shoveling outside and I will think of all the shoveling, winter times, sledding and skating, that I spent with my Dad and Grandpa. I have been thinking when I’ve been outside working that this is the kind of winter I remember from my childhood in Jersey when the sound of scraping shovels and ice pics punctuated my days and echoed in my dreams. My Dad and I were both winter babies and a snowy winter day is a good day for remembrance.
Winter concessions: I almost hate to admit this but no more composting until the snow melts. Our compost pile which we inherited and I was very happy about is in our back yard, no where near as far as where our Indy pile was; however, we can’t get there! Too much snow. I will figure something out for next year because the idea of throwing out all our vegie matter for an entire winter really offends my gardening sensibilities, but for now, it is the garbage. I am learning when to give up.
I am also using salt on the sidewalk and driveway. Many years ago – many, many years ago – when Ches was in Sycamore School, she did a science fair project about ice melters and we really found out how bad salt was for grass (and other garden plants). I vowed at that time never, ever to use it. Oh, the gods laugh! Shovel and salt is the only way to deal with Wisconsin ice and snow, and with the snow coming down multiple times a week there is no way I can use the expensive ice melters that do not harm the vegetation. Maybe I should be looking for plants that are not effected by the salt – then again, that just might be astroturf!
Small victories: The Wisconsin Board of Examiners are allowing me to proceed with my application for admission to the bar. I have a list of documents to submit to the board that would make an impressive adoption dossier. Lots of certification but no authentication. Hopefully, I will have it all to the board by the end of the year, and I’ll become a Wisconsin lawyer in early 2008.
It is snowing again. And I better get out there and shovel and salt!
We stayed with Marcia and Matthew and Julia enjoy the christmas tree that they already have set up. On Sunday, Julia and I went to the kids’ museum and I got to visit with Lisa and Hannah, and Julia was able to see the magnificent dino exhibit that is her favorite. She still knows the building from a block away, and on seeing the dinosaurs bursting out of the building, she uttered a rare, "O-Yo," which used to be what she said when she was amazed by something. I think that the Indy kids’ museum will always be O-Yo for Julia.
On Saturday morning I asked if Julia wanted oatmeal or a waffle and she answered with "a waffle." She has not used articles before but the little books that she "reads" use articles repeatedly and she may be picking that up. Also, on Friday David made a little book called "The BUT book." It is made up of sentences that say, "I like . . . BUT I don’t like . . . " Julia looked at the pages and said, "I like" and the thing that was in the picture on the page. We think she recognized those two words.
Julia now knows that she is scared of sirens. She has always been afraid of them and we live near by a hospital so there is no avoiding the sounds. She still runs for comfort when she hears the slightest siren sound (from incredibly far away) but she is acclimatizing. I think that now that she can name what the sound is and knows what it comes from her fears have diminished some. We have no idea if she is scared because the sound doesn’t feel good to her or if she associates it with something. Maybe someday she will be able to tell us.
Today is the anniversary of my father’s death. It is strange to even write that sentence and stranger still to think of this year of changes and adjustments and experiences and growth and to think that none of it was shared with my father. From the weather report today, I will be spending lots of time shoveling outside and I will think of all the shoveling, winter times, sledding and skating, that I spent with my Dad and Grandpa. I have been thinking when I’ve been outside working that this is the kind of winter I remember from my childhood in Jersey when the sound of scraping shovels and ice pics punctuated my days and echoed in my dreams. My Dad and I were both winter babies and a snowy winter day is a good day for remembrance.
Winter concessions: I almost hate to admit this but no more composting until the snow melts. Our compost pile which we inherited and I was very happy about is in our back yard, no where near as far as where our Indy pile was; however, we can’t get there! Too much snow. I will figure something out for next year because the idea of throwing out all our vegie matter for an entire winter really offends my gardening sensibilities, but for now, it is the garbage. I am learning when to give up.
I am also using salt on the sidewalk and driveway. Many years ago – many, many years ago – when Ches was in Sycamore School, she did a science fair project about ice melters and we really found out how bad salt was for grass (and other garden plants). I vowed at that time never, ever to use it. Oh, the gods laugh! Shovel and salt is the only way to deal with Wisconsin ice and snow, and with the snow coming down multiple times a week there is no way I can use the expensive ice melters that do not harm the vegetation. Maybe I should be looking for plants that are not effected by the salt – then again, that just might be astroturf!
Small victories: The Wisconsin Board of Examiners are allowing me to proceed with my application for admission to the bar. I have a list of documents to submit to the board that would make an impressive adoption dossier. Lots of certification but no authentication. Hopefully, I will have it all to the board by the end of the year, and I’ll become a Wisconsin lawyer in early 2008.
It is snowing again. And I better get out there and shovel and salt!
07 December 2007
Snow angel & evaluations
More snow! We are not in the double digits in December and this is our third snow. Oh baby, we are not in Indy any more. As the SAHP (stay at home person), it is my job to clean snow and as we live on a corner, it is a long day cleaning every time it snows. Now I understand why there are no gyms close by – we are supposed to bike ride in the summer and shovel in the winter! As I need desperately to lose weight and as I want to stay on very good terms with all of the neighbors, I shovel.
On the positive side of snow, someone cleaned off my sidewalk this morning before we were up. From the clean lines, I can tell it is a snow blower but I have no idea of who it is. Neither of my immediate neighbors have one. Who is my snow angel? Someone who has been watching me struggle with snow all week? I must discover who they are.
I am also baking with the hope of sending out Christmas packages next week. This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and to some extent I have managed it in little doses from year to year, but this year, because I am home, I have set my sights very high. There is also a bit of incentive in the fact that with just one of us working, there is not much disposable income.
So, I am baking for all of my loved ones and with some luck sending out cards as well.
I admit to really liking this life – taking care of a house, doing a few small projects, shoveling (?), but I am anxious to get to the next phase as well. I expect the next phase will include a job, but so far no bites. Very hard to be patient. From what I heard, the hearing on my appeal to the Board of Examiners took place earlier this week. I wish they would have called with the thumbs up or down, but NO. I am hoping for a letter in the mail very soon. The very soon part my just be my own hoping. If they don’t waive me into the bar, I will appeal to the Supreme Court (WI) but it would be so much easier if they just let me in now. In any event, if the Board does not allow me to waive into the bar, my work options will change – an original action to the court will take months at best. If they let me in, however, I can then start applying again for real lawyer jobs. This doesn’t get me working but it will point in some direction.
There aren’t any pictures of Julia in the snow because Julia doesn’t really like the snow. She plays in it at school during recesses, but at home she would much rather be inside. I am not forcing her to be outside because the donning of boots and snow pants and hats and mittens is a real chore for her. Small changes are my goals.
We had a speech evaluation – of sorts, because Julia is not a really cooperative test taker. One of the things she is really not good about is answering questions. I heard from Christy that Joan tried to evaluate Julia’s speech just yesterday. I knew the school test was coming just didn’t know exactly when it was going to be. From what Christy said, Joan had the same problem that Carol, the speech therapist, had. When asked a question, Julia will now answer something, but it is not exactly what was asked. When asked, "where is the boy in the picture?" Julia will say, "Boy has blue pants." We have a few speech therapy sessions that are covered by insurance, so we are doing them for this year and next in the next two months. Carol will work specifically on questions (part of the mission is to give us things to work on with her at home) and on the words. "and" and "but" which Julia has not started using yet. I know that 4 sessions is really nothing but a drop in the bucket, but with some guidance, I will be able to do more with her at home. This is so useful to me because in so many instances, I am stymied now as to what to do to help Julia. The expert help is important right now.
Whenever I talk to a therapist, they ask me some question that makes me feel like I am not doing all that I can for Julia. I know, no one can make you feel inadequate unless you let them, and I must be letting them on a regular basis. With Annie, the OT, it was about Julia dressing herself; with Carol, the speech therapist, it was about kids coming over the house. No, I usually dress Julia for bonding and attachment and to SAVE TIME in the morning. I recognize that the last reason is not really productive over the long haul and so, I am laying out clothes for her and making her do it herself on the weekends and some on the weekdays. As to having kids over, we have not pursued that because Julia didn’t seem to enjoy playing with other kids. And we really have not known anyone. Now, she does have at least two kids that like to play with her at school, and I will try to get them over. But for the moment asked, I felt like a bad mother.
So for now, out to shovel and in for making the chocolate biscotti!
On the positive side of snow, someone cleaned off my sidewalk this morning before we were up. From the clean lines, I can tell it is a snow blower but I have no idea of who it is. Neither of my immediate neighbors have one. Who is my snow angel? Someone who has been watching me struggle with snow all week? I must discover who they are.
I am also baking with the hope of sending out Christmas packages next week. This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and to some extent I have managed it in little doses from year to year, but this year, because I am home, I have set my sights very high. There is also a bit of incentive in the fact that with just one of us working, there is not much disposable income.
So, I am baking for all of my loved ones and with some luck sending out cards as well.
I admit to really liking this life – taking care of a house, doing a few small projects, shoveling (?), but I am anxious to get to the next phase as well. I expect the next phase will include a job, but so far no bites. Very hard to be patient. From what I heard, the hearing on my appeal to the Board of Examiners took place earlier this week. I wish they would have called with the thumbs up or down, but NO. I am hoping for a letter in the mail very soon. The very soon part my just be my own hoping. If they don’t waive me into the bar, I will appeal to the Supreme Court (WI) but it would be so much easier if they just let me in now. In any event, if the Board does not allow me to waive into the bar, my work options will change – an original action to the court will take months at best. If they let me in, however, I can then start applying again for real lawyer jobs. This doesn’t get me working but it will point in some direction.
There aren’t any pictures of Julia in the snow because Julia doesn’t really like the snow. She plays in it at school during recesses, but at home she would much rather be inside. I am not forcing her to be outside because the donning of boots and snow pants and hats and mittens is a real chore for her. Small changes are my goals.
We had a speech evaluation – of sorts, because Julia is not a really cooperative test taker. One of the things she is really not good about is answering questions. I heard from Christy that Joan tried to evaluate Julia’s speech just yesterday. I knew the school test was coming just didn’t know exactly when it was going to be. From what Christy said, Joan had the same problem that Carol, the speech therapist, had. When asked a question, Julia will now answer something, but it is not exactly what was asked. When asked, "where is the boy in the picture?" Julia will say, "Boy has blue pants." We have a few speech therapy sessions that are covered by insurance, so we are doing them for this year and next in the next two months. Carol will work specifically on questions (part of the mission is to give us things to work on with her at home) and on the words. "and" and "but" which Julia has not started using yet. I know that 4 sessions is really nothing but a drop in the bucket, but with some guidance, I will be able to do more with her at home. This is so useful to me because in so many instances, I am stymied now as to what to do to help Julia. The expert help is important right now.
Whenever I talk to a therapist, they ask me some question that makes me feel like I am not doing all that I can for Julia. I know, no one can make you feel inadequate unless you let them, and I must be letting them on a regular basis. With Annie, the OT, it was about Julia dressing herself; with Carol, the speech therapist, it was about kids coming over the house. No, I usually dress Julia for bonding and attachment and to SAVE TIME in the morning. I recognize that the last reason is not really productive over the long haul and so, I am laying out clothes for her and making her do it herself on the weekends and some on the weekdays. As to having kids over, we have not pursued that because Julia didn’t seem to enjoy playing with other kids. And we really have not known anyone. Now, she does have at least two kids that like to play with her at school, and I will try to get them over. But for the moment asked, I felt like a bad mother.
So for now, out to shovel and in for making the chocolate biscotti!
04 December 2007
Wisconsin Snow 101
Julia summed up our Wisconsin Snow 101 this morning: "Yesterday, da blue car get suck in snow. Today, da white car stuck in snow."
On the positive side, just look at those two sentences!! Julia is speaking in parallel sentences, using yesterday and today, using the correct prepositions, using articles, and getting all the facts straight. What a genius my child is.
However, the facts are less than great and I feel like we are failing Wisconsin Snow 101. With more snow on the way tonight, as much as 8-10 inches in the prediction, we better get our act together. I have to get some sand for the new snow and I still have to do more chipping at the icy driveway from what we got on the weekend. Everyone says, very cheerfully I may add, that this is unusual weather for the beginning of December. But they seem all gleeful about snow on the ground. Now, in theory I really like snow, but I admit to being totally out of shoveling shape. Not to mention, chipping at ice shape. I am getting out and getting some chipping done – and it’s not from the snow itself, but from when the plow came – in the middle of a dark and dreary night – and deposited icy rocks of snow onto my pretty much cleaned driveway.
So we have been stuck half in and half out of the driveway both yesterday and today, just as Julia said. Each time, neighbors and passer bys stopped to help. It is amazing how much help springs into action here. And I don’t think it is just because we are new. Maybe that is some of the trick to the happiness about the snow. We are all in this together and we will get through it. How can I grumble when smiling people are pushing the car?
So even though the snow is a temporary downer in this paradise of Wisconsin, the people continue to be astounding.
On the positive side, just look at those two sentences!! Julia is speaking in parallel sentences, using yesterday and today, using the correct prepositions, using articles, and getting all the facts straight. What a genius my child is.
However, the facts are less than great and I feel like we are failing Wisconsin Snow 101. With more snow on the way tonight, as much as 8-10 inches in the prediction, we better get our act together. I have to get some sand for the new snow and I still have to do more chipping at the icy driveway from what we got on the weekend. Everyone says, very cheerfully I may add, that this is unusual weather for the beginning of December. But they seem all gleeful about snow on the ground. Now, in theory I really like snow, but I admit to being totally out of shoveling shape. Not to mention, chipping at ice shape. I am getting out and getting some chipping done – and it’s not from the snow itself, but from when the plow came – in the middle of a dark and dreary night – and deposited icy rocks of snow onto my pretty much cleaned driveway.
So we have been stuck half in and half out of the driveway both yesterday and today, just as Julia said. Each time, neighbors and passer bys stopped to help. It is amazing how much help springs into action here. And I don’t think it is just because we are new. Maybe that is some of the trick to the happiness about the snow. We are all in this together and we will get through it. How can I grumble when smiling people are pushing the car?
So even though the snow is a temporary downer in this paradise of Wisconsin, the people continue to be astounding.
01 December 2007
Snow and baby bottles
Snow. Yup, we’ve got it. It started this morning. Julia and I managed to go food shopping and David went down to work at the beginning of the day but by mid afternoon we were all home. I shoveled some and walked the dog, but I was very happy to get inside, cook, and watch movies (The end of Brother Bear really surprised me.). The precipitation has changed this evening to icy and rain. Can’t wait to get out there tomorrow!
Julia has been playing with the doll bottles she has. She gets into my lap and wants me to pretend that I am feeding her – feeding my baby, she tells me. I asked if she wanted a real bottle and she told me yes. I think she has been slowly edging towards asking for a bottle for awhile but has been too shy, scared of the vulnerability to ask. I brought a bottle home the other day and filled it with warm milk. I held Julia like a baby and she tried drinking from the bottle; however, she really doesn’t know how to suck. She can use a straw without trouble, but getting milk from the tiny hole in a baby’s nipple seemed impossible. I put one of her fingers in my mouth and I sucked on it. I put my finger in her mouth and told her to suck.
From what I’ve read, in China, they cut nipples so that babies get formula as quickly as possible. So there is a chance that Julia has rarely gotten the chance to exercise those sucking muscles. We will practice.
Julia has been playing with the doll bottles she has. She gets into my lap and wants me to pretend that I am feeding her – feeding my baby, she tells me. I asked if she wanted a real bottle and she told me yes. I think she has been slowly edging towards asking for a bottle for awhile but has been too shy, scared of the vulnerability to ask. I brought a bottle home the other day and filled it with warm milk. I held Julia like a baby and she tried drinking from the bottle; however, she really doesn’t know how to suck. She can use a straw without trouble, but getting milk from the tiny hole in a baby’s nipple seemed impossible. I put one of her fingers in my mouth and I sucked on it. I put my finger in her mouth and told her to suck.
From what I’ve read, in China, they cut nipples so that babies get formula as quickly as possible. So there is a chance that Julia has rarely gotten the chance to exercise those sucking muscles. We will practice.
30 November 2007
Rehabing the doll house
Over the last few days, I refurbished Cheshire's old doll house for Julia. I made it about 15 years ago and it was in our basement for . . . oh, at least the last 5 or 7 years. When we were packing for Madison, I was thinking of getting rid of it and making a new one for Julia, but Julia wanted the old one (And Cheshire was not that crazy about giving it up either).
The house had been looking a little ratty for a long time. Pieces were coming off because the glue had dried up, it was very dusty, and much of the furniture we had was broken. Julia wanted to claim it; however, and she played while I packed up our Indy cellar.
She also insisted on having it in the sun room in Madison and she takes it out often to play with it. Sometimes dinosaurs live in the house, sometimes horses. Lately, more people have been moving in.
Santa is bringing some new furniture -- tee hee -- and so it was time to clean up, paint, and re-glue. (If only I could use the glue gun to re-do our real bathroom!). Julia loved the results and to celebrate we decorated the doll house for Christmas. I can see that there may be lights and giant blow up santas in our future. We have always gone with the tasteful candles and a wreath.
Julis put this little girl on a "stool" and into the window and told me that this girl is Julia.29 November 2007
A good day for Julia
A few things this week --
On the way home today, I asked Julia the questions that I ask every day. I started asking questions of Julia after school when school started. She had a hard time answering questions, at first answering to calls, or just answering in general. I found that general questions, like 'how was school,' or 'how was your day' were absolutely crazy to ask. Even, 'did you have a good day at school' was way too hard for her. Then I tried 'did you like your lunch,' and started asking that on days when I knew that she should have really liked the lunch that I pack. I could ask her about her soup, or the string cheese, or the apple sauce. This she could respond to. Usually, Julia just parroted back what I asked, but she answered.
These days, I ask about lunch in general, and Julia answers. I ask if she had a good day at school, and she tells me yes or no. I ask about reading and numbers and puzzles and the playground, and usually I don't get any answers. BUT today, today, Julia answer when I asked about reading. She said that she was reading today, a book and she was in a chair. I asked her about numbers, and Julia told me she was working on "8 and 62." Julia and her teacher are working on numbers 1 through 4, so her answer was a bit of fiction, but it was more than a mirror answer. And I feel like this was a big break through.
Christy, Julia's teacher, sent a note home today that Julia picked out the name of her friend, Cynthia, without being asked. Julia also asked Christy which name was Annie's. Julia also got a good report from the after-school people today. They told me that Julia was playing "very appropriately" (which means no teasing, no chasing, no hitting, and no being mean) with three boys.
On the way home today, I asked Julia the questions that I ask every day. I started asking questions of Julia after school when school started. She had a hard time answering questions, at first answering to calls, or just answering in general. I found that general questions, like 'how was school,' or 'how was your day' were absolutely crazy to ask. Even, 'did you have a good day at school' was way too hard for her. Then I tried 'did you like your lunch,' and started asking that on days when I knew that she should have really liked the lunch that I pack. I could ask her about her soup, or the string cheese, or the apple sauce. This she could respond to. Usually, Julia just parroted back what I asked, but she answered.
These days, I ask about lunch in general, and Julia answers. I ask if she had a good day at school, and she tells me yes or no. I ask about reading and numbers and puzzles and the playground, and usually I don't get any answers. BUT today, today, Julia answer when I asked about reading. She said that she was reading today, a book and she was in a chair. I asked her about numbers, and Julia told me she was working on "8 and 62." Julia and her teacher are working on numbers 1 through 4, so her answer was a bit of fiction, but it was more than a mirror answer. And I feel like this was a big break through.
Christy, Julia's teacher, sent a note home today that Julia picked out the name of her friend, Cynthia, without being asked. Julia also asked Christy which name was Annie's. Julia also got a good report from the after-school people today. They told me that Julia was playing "very appropriately" (which means no teasing, no chasing, no hitting, and no being mean) with three boys.
Gross and Yucky
Now for a change of pace. Gross story day! Last week, we were traveling and were at the airport sitting waiting for boarding with lots of people. Julia is still picking her nose but not eating what comes out (picking our battles carefully, we decided on eating first. oh, yuck!). Yes, gross. So she pick a huge piece of snot out of her nose, and asks me to take it from her. Of course, I have no available klenex, but take it anyway, looking for something to do with it. Then Julia says in a loud but sweet voice, "Mommy, you eat it?" There were grimaces, muffled laughter and snickers from those around us while I explained that I do not eat snot, that she should not do it, and that even though I'd rather her give it to me than eat it, she could have asked for a klenex or ask to have her nose blown.
Gosh, I am so happy I don't embarrass easily any more!
Gosh, I am so happy I don't embarrass easily any more!
28 November 2007
We gather together
We usually take a group shot of all of us and I have framed quite a few of them. This one, however, is just the best we've ever done. There is not one frown, silly face, or uncomfortable posture. We are beautiful and very, very thankful.
Traditional Donut Breakfast?
Really, really, this is the first time we've had donuts for breakfast in a very, very long time. However, it is clear that we all rather liked the occasion, and a once a year donut breakfast is acceptable.
Jason and Sarah digging in.
Julia discovered chocolate donuts. She proceeded to eat the top and demand a second, but mean Mommy made her eat the entire donut before she could have another one. Some times you just have to discipline your kids!
And yes, we all had DONUTS!Brisk walks and pretty people
Julia was excited to see and spend time with Cheshire. Note that traditional Thanksgiving bunney ears on Julia's head.
Most of the crew out walking in Havre de Grace. We cut the walk short in case Julia was cold and getting tired, but you will notice that she has the best seat in the house . . . or outside the house
Sarah Grace studying the Blokus game board and looking incredibly grown up and beautiful. I think I won that game.
Jason and Cheshire just being their cute selves.Thanksgiving tasks
I did not get any pictures of serious turkey cooking. Why?? Well, I was busy turkey cooking. But I did snap a few on breaks and everyone doing what they were doing was much more exciting than what I was doing. Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of Nick showing Jason how he smoked a turkey. Nick has been doing it for a few years now and this year's smoked turkey was exceptional!
Here we see David checking email and the news -- an old Thanksgiving tradition.
We all took turns washing up. The best way to get a bit of quiet time alone was to head for the sink and start washing.
Then there was the cooking and everyone had a project. Cheshire and Sarah Grace usually make the pumpkin pies, and this year Cheshire and Michael made scones for Thanksgiving breakfast. Who knows what Julia's task will be. Ditto for Jason, but he did his bit building that lego dinosaur!
And then there are the traditional Thanksgiving video games which Michael had no problem playing. Julia just hung around to see what he was doing and engage his attention whenever the game got a bit slow.
Thanksgiving Games
We had a wonderful, wonderful Thanksgiving!! David, Julia and I travelled to Maryland to be with Lisa, Nick, Sarah, and Michael. Marcia and Matthew joined us for two days. Jan came in on Wednesday. AND Cheshire and Jason came in from Connecticut and NYC, Jason crossing the pond to spend the week with Cheshire and with us.
Julia travelled well, fell in love with Michael, and found her way to feeling comfortable with every member of our party. No, her behavior was not perfect -- we slept in Sarah's room and I home that she has forgiven us for the mess and disarry that we left -- but way better than last year, and better even travelling a few months ago. We also had very good luck with our flights which we did not include in our blessings but probably should have.
We all enjoy playing games and we played quite a few during the weekend. This is a math game, much like scrabble, called Equate. I did not get a chance to play it, but I should probably practice for next year.
Julia played with a lego dinosaur, made by Jason after I whimped out, during some of our games. She doesn't play games yet, but maybe all that watching will rub off on her.19 November 2007
Thanksgiving baking
Julia and I spent part of last week baking biscotti for our Thanksgiving feast at our friends' house in Maryland. We will be there, Cheshire and Jason (from England!) will join us, Marcia and Matthew will also visit. Julia is a little upset that we left Latkah at the kennel today. This is kind of strange considering that Julia doesn't seem to like the dog and verbally "competes" with her for food and toys . . . and the place on daddy's lap.Back to baking -- Julia loves to add ingredients, break eggs, hold the mixer, and stir. But what she really likes is to lick the paddles!
17 November 2007
List making
How I love this face! I was blog surfacing the other day and I stumbled upon a blog written by a Korean adoptee who is probably about Cheshire's age. She posed the question whether parents love their adoptive parents as much or in the same way that they love their bio kids. She went on to explain how her parent treated her, but as they had no bio kids any comparison was purely academic. Other adoptees commented on the blog -- one described how she was abused by her adoptive father, and another told how he/she (?) was treated too carefully. I wonder about that Julia will think, how will she judge our raising. There is no way of treating any two children the same. There must be difference even between multiples, and there can be great differences in the way the children view how they were loved and cared for. It is love though, love. Treatment can vary, will never be equal, but love, abundant love can be -- not equal, but filling to each little soul.How I love this face.
Julia had a first Occupational Therapy (OT) session on Monday. She used a body swing -- laying on a hammock-styled swing using her hands to steer and direct her body -- , made bubbles in a tub by blowing into a long narrow tube, drew lines and cut them, and picked out a key toy and opened little doors. Annie, the therapist provided Julia with a picture list of what they were going to do. As they did each thing, Julia and Annie checked off the activity. Julia liked the list and asked to take it home.
The purpose of the list is to provide some control, to give the person using it some stability. I had no idea whether using a list would help Julia but I tried it this morning. I wanted to do shopping -- stopping at 5 different places. At one place, Julia would get a chance to make an icepop stick snow flake, and at the last stop, we would buy a snack for Julia. Julia is not usually good at this sort of expedition and it was a good test of the list. We went to each place, and found and bought things we needed for our Thanksgiving travels. Julia decided no to make the snowflake but wanted to buy a small dinoasur instead. She found a muffin as her treat. Each time we completed a task, we crossed off that task on the list. And we arrived home about three hours later with a very well behaved little girl.
Amazing.
13 November 2007
One of Julia's favorite activities at the Madison Children's Museum is doing dinosaur rubbings. After she rubbed each of the raised plates, Julia played with the dinosaur puppets.
Julia was very proud that we put her art work on the wall. Really, she has not brought home much to put on the wall until this last week. But if this makes her happy, I am ready to put pictures all over this house. Julia's doings
We have a teacher's conference followed by a "team" conference during which we will talk with the principal, ESL teacher, school psychologist, and teacher about planning for Julia's next semester. I trust these people so much because I see what they have been willing to do for Julia this semester. We will talk about whether to set up special ed testing for her. I think they are worried that Julia will not qualify for special ed services because of her language -- not speaking English is not a special need. Oh, I've written this before. Sorry.
Anyway, I am looking forward to the meeting.
Julia continues to amaze us. I am not writing often enough (and chide myself for that) to tell stories, so I'll do it bullet style.
*Julia is bringing home papers from school. Just like other kids!! The papers are not perfectly completed, but she is attempting (I am sure with help) to do what the other kids are doing. She signs her first name at the top of many of the pages and has followed some directions. Last weekend, I decided to hang some of her art-y pictures on the kitchen wall. Julia has finally begun to notice and appreciate some of our other pictures on the walls. She was so proud that I hung hers and showed them to David when he came home.
* Julia is a drawing machine! She uses markers to draw on the big white board that I have set up in the kitchen. She draws while I cook dinner. She even followed my direction yesterday to stop playing with clay in the living room and to come into the kitchen to draw.
Julia fills the white board more drawing – some of it recognizable. She doesn't just draw, she tells stories and her drawn people have adventures, feeling, and mishaps. The board gets very messy and very full as she draws over and over the people and things she draws. This is not the way that I've seen most kids draw but as Julia has discovered drawing so late, she is finding her own way. I know we are just beginning this phase. I can't wait to see how it evolves in the next few months.
*Julia continues to relax more. Hard to know when this will be finished because each time she does it, I think she looks so much better than she has before. Last week, we were at the tiny bathroom sink in our tiny bathroom, Julia on her stool and I next to her, both of us brushing our teeth. She threw one arm over my neck and we stood bent over and brushing. It was such a small, casual gesture, one that might have passed by unnoticed if it wasn't Julia's.
*Recently, I've been feeling like our bedroom has become a bears' den. Up until last week, the three of us slept in our bed bed with three different covers. Some nights I thought of it as the family yurt. Here, we have moved from our NYC days with 450 sq ft with 2-year-old Cheshire, to a nice sized house that has rooms we never enter! First Avenue would be fine with this Julia. I was putting away clothes the other day in Julia's real room and realized that besides darting in and out for clothes, we were spending no time at all in there. I don't want to force Julia to move back into her room. She is very happy right now and I think she is moving along pretty quickly these days. I hate to change that. BUT she also has a really nice room. I will figure something out and maybe we will play in there every day.
Julia loves the bed time ritual and sometimes announces that it is time for bed. We go up, change into pjs, brush and floss and rinse with Listerine (Julia does it because I do it. No matter the taste.), and then to bed to read. David and I take turns each night but I think she would prefer the Daddy do it every night.
We have both been working with Julia on her little books, some that she brings from school, others that I have taken from the library. We started by pointing to the single words in these book. When the books have a line or so on each page, I pointed to each word as Julia said it after me. Now, Julia is learning the books pretty quickly and yesterday for the first time she started point to the words by herself. To clarify, she is not reading or eve npointing to the right word, but it is making an impression.
In the morning, Julia wakes up in a good mood most of the time. This is pretty much pleasure for me. Sometimes when we wake up while David is showering, Julia plays with my hair. Making believe that she has a bottle of shampoo and scrubbing my head. Then she squeezes our some pretend "lotion" to make my hair beautiful. She love scrubbing and messing up my hair and also loves laughing and laughing at the results.
That's all for now. I have to get some pictures up next time.
Anyway, I am looking forward to the meeting.
Julia continues to amaze us. I am not writing often enough (and chide myself for that) to tell stories, so I'll do it bullet style.
*Julia is bringing home papers from school. Just like other kids!! The papers are not perfectly completed, but she is attempting (I am sure with help) to do what the other kids are doing. She signs her first name at the top of many of the pages and has followed some directions. Last weekend, I decided to hang some of her art-y pictures on the kitchen wall. Julia has finally begun to notice and appreciate some of our other pictures on the walls. She was so proud that I hung hers and showed them to David when he came home.
* Julia is a drawing machine! She uses markers to draw on the big white board that I have set up in the kitchen. She draws while I cook dinner. She even followed my direction yesterday to stop playing with clay in the living room and to come into the kitchen to draw.
Julia fills the white board more drawing – some of it recognizable. She doesn't just draw, she tells stories and her drawn people have adventures, feeling, and mishaps. The board gets very messy and very full as she draws over and over the people and things she draws. This is not the way that I've seen most kids draw but as Julia has discovered drawing so late, she is finding her own way. I know we are just beginning this phase. I can't wait to see how it evolves in the next few months.
*Julia continues to relax more. Hard to know when this will be finished because each time she does it, I think she looks so much better than she has before. Last week, we were at the tiny bathroom sink in our tiny bathroom, Julia on her stool and I next to her, both of us brushing our teeth. She threw one arm over my neck and we stood bent over and brushing. It was such a small, casual gesture, one that might have passed by unnoticed if it wasn't Julia's.
*Recently, I've been feeling like our bedroom has become a bears' den. Up until last week, the three of us slept in our bed bed with three different covers. Some nights I thought of it as the family yurt. Here, we have moved from our NYC days with 450 sq ft with 2-year-old Cheshire, to a nice sized house that has rooms we never enter! First Avenue would be fine with this Julia. I was putting away clothes the other day in Julia's real room and realized that besides darting in and out for clothes, we were spending no time at all in there. I don't want to force Julia to move back into her room. She is very happy right now and I think she is moving along pretty quickly these days. I hate to change that. BUT she also has a really nice room. I will figure something out and maybe we will play in there every day.
Julia loves the bed time ritual and sometimes announces that it is time for bed. We go up, change into pjs, brush and floss and rinse with Listerine (Julia does it because I do it. No matter the taste.), and then to bed to read. David and I take turns each night but I think she would prefer the Daddy do it every night.
We have both been working with Julia on her little books, some that she brings from school, others that I have taken from the library. We started by pointing to the single words in these book. When the books have a line or so on each page, I pointed to each word as Julia said it after me. Now, Julia is learning the books pretty quickly and yesterday for the first time she started point to the words by herself. To clarify, she is not reading or eve npointing to the right word, but it is making an impression.
In the morning, Julia wakes up in a good mood most of the time. This is pretty much pleasure for me. Sometimes when we wake up while David is showering, Julia plays with my hair. Making believe that she has a bottle of shampoo and scrubbing my head. Then she squeezes our some pretend "lotion" to make my hair beautiful. She love scrubbing and messing up my hair and also loves laughing and laughing at the results.
That's all for now. I have to get some pictures up next time.
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