Long Week

It's been a long week. Tonight was the Fall Festival at Maia's school. It was a lot of fun with all of the hokey games you'd expect. I love Maia's school. Several friends from work, whom I've know since before any of us had children, have kids there so we always see them at school events. My plumber and my mechanic both have daughters in Kindergarten. Two of Maia's friends from Kindercare also attend...3 if you count the older brother. It is truly a community school.

We left the Fall Festival about 8 pm and came straight home. While I got Kiana into PJ's, Maia went to her room to change for bed. I got Kiana into bed and went looking for Maia. I didn't have to look far: she had fallen asleep on the floor in her closet, fully clothed with one shoe and sock still on. She must have been so tired that she just collapsed when she sat down to take off her shoes. I took off her remaining shoe and moved her to her bed, where she sleeps still. I wish I'd taken a picture of her asleep on the floor.

Kissimmee Weekend

This past weekend, the Pinellas Single Adoptive Moms -- the PSAMs, for short -- took a short holiday in Kissimmee, Fl, right next to Disney World. Eight families, consisting of 9 adults and 13 kids were in attendance. The children range in age from 9 months to 9 years. We are an international group: 8 kids from China, 3 from Vietnam, 1 from Guatamala and 1 from Kazakhstan.

We doubled up and shared 4 cottages that faced each other around a small, common area. The kids could run from cottage to cottage and still be within site of all of us. Saturday was spent around the pool, and then we split up in the afternoon, some of us shopping, others napping (we napped, if you must know!). For dinner, we all went to a local chinese buffet where all of the kids learned to like crab legs! After dinner we walked to Old Town Kissimee. I don't know if it's really the old town or if it's just marketed to be. The street is closed off to vehicles and has permanent carnival rides at both ends, including a ferris wheel. We spent a few hours there, until everyone was too exhausted to ride another ride.

Sunday we packed up early so we could spend the rest of the morning by the pool. Most of the families stayed until about 1:30 and then a few of us stopped for lunch so we could feed the kids before they fell asleep for the ride home.

The girls -and the moms!- doted on Kiana and she ate it up. I think she's missing the extra attention tonight! Maia had a great time hanging out with the "older" girls (the 7-9 year olds!)and she also liked it when the "younger" kids (the 4 year olds) followed her every move!

We regretted that no one had brought a blender and vowed to make that a priority next time.

The Fire Station

A good friend of mine advised me to chaperone Maia's first field trip so that I could meet the kids in her class and put faces with the names I here about everynight. Thus, I found myself at the local fire station this morning.

It was quite fun, actually. The fire engine and 2 FC SUV's came to the school and escorted us to the fire station, 5 short blocks away. It was like a parade, with the fire vehicles blocking the streets from other cars. At the fire station we got to meet all of the firemen and paramedics on duty. We even got to see Sparky the Fire Dog slide down the fire pole! After instruction on fire safety, pictures and a walk through a real-live fire engine, we walked back to school.

It was especially fun to see Maia interact with her classmates. These are 6 kids who I remember the best(I'm not using their names...you understand):
-Girl #1 is one of those kids with a perpetual smile, which right now is missing 2 top teeth. Too cute! Girl #1 is bi-lingual, which Maia finds fascinating.
-Maia decided to be Girl #2's friend the very first day they met. She is a tall, regal young lady.
-Here's a coincidence: Girl #3 is adopted from Ho Chi Minh City by a single mom!
-I'll get in trouble for this someday: Boy #1 is Maia's 2nd choice boyfriend (her BFF's brother is her 1st choice!) He's a quiet boy, and when I asked Maia why she likes him she replied, "He's soooo cute!"
-Boy #2 is about the cutest little boy I ever met! He's very small but with dimples bigger than his face! I wanted to take him home! Maia must agree, because he is her 3rd choice boyfriend!
-Boy #3 is a head taller than any other kid in class and he's as sweet as could be. He wanted to hold my hand on the walk to the fire station.

I can't wait for the next field trip!

11 seconds

Today when I took Kiana to daycare, I stood her on the floor and let go, expecting her to plunk down on her bottom. Instead, she just stood there for what felt like forever! The 2 teachers and I gasped and said let's try it again. So we did and you probably know from today's title that she stood solo for 11 full seconds! Go Kiana!

Sisters

My favorite time of the day is between 6:00 and 6:15 am. This is when Maia and go into Kiana's room and wake up little sister! Kiana is a very light sleeper and often hears us coming before we even get to her door. Up she pops! Eyes open, head alert! I take her from the crib, cooing in and kissing her ear. I lay her on the bed, where she greedily drinks a bottle while big sister blows raspberries on her tummy. At first, Kiana is too hungry to respond. But, soon, she spits out the bottle and flashes the first big smile of the new day...to Maia, of course.

This is my favorite time, but I seldom get to enjoy it. In the moment, I am racing the clock to get kids dressed, fed, packed and carted off to their respective schools. Only later do I get to savor their incredible sisterliness (new word). Sure, I'm the one Kiana wants when she's hungry/tired/hurt/sad/needy. But it's Maia who makes her laugh, and you haven't heard angels sing until you've heard a belly laugh coming from a 15 lb. baby! I know, without a doubt, that since before Kiana or Maia were ever born, they have been sisters.

Kiana isn't yet big enough to drive big-sister crazy or get into her stuff, so all is giggles and laughs. None of the sibling rivalry that is sure bless this house in the years to come. To Maia, sisterhood it is still like having a real-live doll! I know, I know, I should slow down and appreciate these moments, and I do: I just have to appreciate them a little faster than other people. ;^)

FYI: Four months ago yesterday, Kiana came into our family. Four months ago today she finally stopped crying :-)

Daily Life

4:45 pm: leave office
4:55 pm: pick up Kiana
5:35 pm: arrive at Maia's school
5:45 pm: arrive home
5:45-6:45 pm: unload car; feed dog; give Kiana a snack; make dinner; check mail and listen to messages; set table; squeeze in one or more small chores, such as taking out trash, all while Maia is outside playing with the neighbor kids (she is allowed to play outside without me as long as at least 2 of the older neighbor kids are there)
6:45-7:15 pm: family dinner
7:15-7:35 pm: bathe the kids and get them ready for bed
7:35-8:10 pm: family play time, homework
8:10-8:20 pm: family reading time
8:20 pm: Kiana goes to bed
8:20-8:45 pm: Maia and mommy reading/snuggle time, Maia goes to bed
8:45 pm: I do last minute chores, such as dinner dishes or dropping in a load of laundry and get ready for bed. If time, I check the computer and pay bills, etc.
9:00 pm: I go to bed
4:00 am: alarm goes off. I get up and reset to 4:20
4:20 am: shower, etc.
4:50-5:55 am: feed dog and cat. Move clothes from washer to dryer, as needed. Make bottles for Kiana and pack lunch for Maia. Empty dishwasher as needed. Make breakfast and pack lunch for me. Pack Maia's backpack with lunch, homework, etc. Clean up around house, take out garbage, finish upopened mail and bills, etc. from night before. Read yesterday's paper.
5:55 am: wake Maia and get her ready for school.
6:05 am: Wake Kiana and give her a bottle. Get her dressed for school.
6:25 am: load 'em up! Put the dog away and herd everyone towards the car.
6:40 am: drop Maia at school (YMCA before/after care program.
7:05 am: drop Kaia at daycare
7:20 am: arrive at work