My to do list

My to do list is growing by the minute. Unfortunately, the to do list is not written down on paper because that would mean that I would know where to find a pencil and paper in the mass clutter in my house. Instead the list is in my head, just playing over and over like a broken record. I can not believe how behind I am in every single daily task of my life. I just sort of walk around from room to room in bewilderment on where and how to start. I think I'm making progress and then along comes Hannah. Ahh, life with a toddler. She is such a sweet, precious baby but that does not keep her from getting into EVERYTHING!!!! She just follows me around all day long babbling and making messes. And just like every other baby on the planet she requires lots of attention. She needs to eat, needs to be changed, needs to be held, needs to play....you get the idea.

And speaking of miss Hannah, she is doing great. We have had her first doctor visit and was given the official all clear that she does NOT appear to have any medical concerns. We also went through a developmental screening and she is right on target developmentally in all areas with only a very slight delay in speech (which is certainly to be expected given we don't speak Chinese!!). It is obvious that she now understands what we say to her, but she doesn't say any words yet other than MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA, and she says that all day long as she follows me from room to room. Well, she also says 'bye' on occasion and something that sounds very similar to TAAAAA, which we think is her version of Tara. But really she is doing amazingly well considering all she has been through in the past 2 months. She is doing much better with Matt now, although we all still have our pecking order...Tara is her numero uno for sure, then I usually come in 2nd, Alex is 3rd, and Matt is 4th. I really suspect that will change as she gets more comfortable with Matt each day. Somehow I think though she will always have a special connection with Tara, and even Alex. They both have a different type of relationship forming with her and it is obvious that she adores both of them (and they equally adore her!!) They both help me so much with her and I am so blessed to have them.

Tomorrow is the first day of school. WOO YOO!! Tara starts 4th grade and Alex starts 7th grade. Tara is a little nervous and Alex is just mad that he has to get up so early. He just can't seem to understand WHY school has to start so EARLY??? Matt is also taking a college class (only 2 more to go until he graduates!!!) and between working 60+ hours a week and this class he is staying busy.

So anyway, if you have emailed me recently (or not so recently) and I have not replied, I promise you are on my to do list that is spinning in my head. I will eventually reply, just not sure when?? But I do appreciate all the emails, comments, prayers, and words of encouragement that everyone has offered over the past several months. Knowing that I have such a strong support group filled with friends and family is such a comforting feeling. I won't lie, life with a new toddler is hard. Our lives are very different than they were a few months ago. But we can't imagine it any other way. A dear friend asked me tonight if I still look at Hannah and can't believe that all of this is real. I just laughed and said yes, it is all very, very real to me now. I dreamed about her, prayed for her, thought about her for so long. Now the chaos in my house helps to show me how incredibly real she is. But I know that she belongs in this house. She belongs in our family. She is ours. She is loved, wanted, and cherished. Even in the chaos.

Yeah, Hannah is an American citizen!!

3 continents in 30 days

One thing is for sure, Hannah is a well traveled little girl. She has logged in more air miles in 30 days than many people fly in their lifetime. Just over one month ago her life was probably very routine, structured and organized. Now, she never knows from one day to the next what house she might wake up in, not to mention which state or even continent!

So here is a quick update of our recent travels and events:

We received Hannah's U.S. passport in plenty of time for our return travel to Italy. This was a HUGE relief as we could not travel until we got her passport. We have officially completed every detail of our adoption journey. Now it is just life as usual, whatever usual is????

Our last few days in Oklahoma went by quickly. Probably the most exciting event was when Hannah was playing with the phone and we hear a knock at the door...it was a police officer stating that they had just received a 9-1-1 hang up call from this address. There stands Hannah at the door with the phone in her hand, which is why they were not able to call back to verify the call. Thankfully, the police officer was understanding about the situation, but he did tell me that I should not let my daughter play with the phone. Lesson learned.

We also got to spend the day with our good friends the Mencers. They live in Oklahoma City and drove to Miami to see us and and meet Hannah. The kids all enjoyed seeing each other again and Lisa and I had the chance to visit (which had to be done quickly with 7 kids in the house!!)

On August 2, we said goodbye to our family in Oklahoma and loaded up our 6 suitcases, stroller, car seat, portable crib, 3 kids, and headed to Indiana....

Me, Alex, Tara, and my mom made the 12 hour car journey to my sister's house with Hannah strapped safely in her car seat. Hannah is doing much better riding in her car seat, but after a few hours of driving she was more than ready to get out! Usually we put her in the car and she falls right to sleep, but on this particular trip she opted to cry it out rather than sleep. Normally we can't get her thumb out of her mouth, but on this trip we couldn't get her to suck her thumb for anything (this is the only way she can fall asleep, and no, she will NOT take a pacifier). Anyway, we eventually arrived in Upland, Indiana...just a little frazzled and really, really tired! Hannah was greeted by her cousins and showered with more attention and love. Amazing how quickly she has adjusted to being the center of attention!

After 3 days in Indiana we drove to Chicago for our return flight to Italy. Our friends the Ferris' met us at the airport for a short visit. It was nice getting to see them and we wish they were still living upstairs in our building here in Naples!! Our flights all left on time, but the plane ride to Italy was very different than the plane ride from China. Hannah is such a different baby than she was 6 weeks ago and she expressed that in full force on the airplane. She was a little wild child! Mostly, she just wanted down, as do all babies once they learn to walk. She didn't sleep much (she does not like to be held while she sleeps, which is about the only option on a plane) and she was not a very happy baby (something to do with lack of sleep and being forced so sit???). But we made it home....only she doesn't realize (yet) that this is home. For her it's just another place to explore until we load her up and go to the next house. Considering all that she has experienced, she is doing amazingly well!! But she is having a hard time adjusting to yet another time change and is wanting to sleep at all the wrong times. We are all in this zombie like state from lack of sleep. Alex and Tara are thrilled to be home and have been on the go since the minute we arrived. Hannah is already adjusting to the constant coming and going. In Oklahoma Tara was never far from her (in fact, she was usually holding her) and now Tara pops in for a quick second and she is off again. Hannah is getting use to Matt again and enjoying her new toys and house. I quickly realized how much baby proofing I still need to do!!

So, three continents in 30 days....I don't recommend it, especially with a 16 month old baby, but we FINALLY have our baby home.