Baby's First Christmas

Yesterday was my baby's first Christmas. We both loved every minute...
She was an angel in the church Christmas program...
Christmas Eve at Uncle Chad & Auntie Heather's. Nana's tradition: Bingo for all the kids!

Learning to play Bingo with Mommy's help

WINNER!!!

Preferred cuddling with Papa rather than opening a present...what??? Yep. But she finally decided to join the fun.

Christmas morning....just the two of us. We opened our stockings (Dorie even gave me the receipts for the items she put in mine!).

Playing with the cousins...

All dolled up...my sweet baby girl! You are my best Christmas present EVER!!!!

Heard At My House

Dorie: Mom, I know what "cousins" means.

Me: Oh?

Dorie: "Cousins" means "the friends you love the most."

I LOVE the letter E!!

And today, I got to see lots of them...

Dorie's report card was full of E's (as in "Excellent")!! She even got a Pass for Spanish! Her teacher said so many wonderful things about her. I was thrilled to hear how well she is doing academically. To know that she is not being held back by her limited English proficiency just made my heart soar. To hear that she is compassionate and polite and obedient got me a little choked up.

My heart is full today. I am one proud mama!

I'm really a mom...

Today I'm feeling like a real mom. Not that I don't feel like a mom on most days, but there are certain events that make you feel truly legitimate. Today is one. I get to go to my first teacher-parent conference.

I've been on the "teacher" side so many times...but I've never been on the "parent" side. I'm excited. Like really excited. Kinda feels like Christmas.

Last Call...

We are in process to finalize Dorie's adoption here in the U.S. and it would sure help to sell a few more shirts. Plus, they're so cute...especially now that I know who that little girl is! Could make a great Christmas gift.

$15 per shirt if hand-delivered

+$5 if shipped

Last day to take orders will be

Friday, December 3!

Guaranteed for Christmas if you order by Friday, November 26.

The most popular color choices are light pink or gray, but other colors are available too. Just email me if you have a particular color in mind. All women's sizes available...I'm looking into children's sizes, too.

Heard At My House

After school on Monday...

Dorie: Mom, you have to vomit.

Me: I have to what?

Dorie: Vomit. You have to, Mom!

Me: I don't know what you're talking about, Dorie.

Dorie: At my school they tell me to tell my mom to vomit on Tuesday.

Me: Um...I think you mean I'm supposed to vote on Tuesday.
Dorie: Oh.

Just a sidenote: After California's results, I wanted to vomit. Maybe my sweet girl has the gift of prophesy???

Heard At My House

Tonight we had some friends over. After a yummy dinner (I didn't make it so I can say that), I offered a yummy dessert (okay, so I made that...but everyone else said it was yummy so I can say it, too). After a little while...

Friend: Hey, Melissa...may I snake some of that dessert?

Dorie: We don't have snakes at our house.

Heard At My House

Dorie's prayer tonight:
"Lord, I praise You for my new family. They love me and I love them."

Is It YOU???

If you have read my blog from the beginning, you know that I found my sweet baby girl through a blog posting and an email. I am eternally grateful to my dear friends who spread the word about my D.

Last week my attorneys in Uganda contacted me about a little boy in Uganda who needed a family. Within a couple of days I had found 3 families who were interested, and one of those has decided that he is their son! I am so blessed to have been a part of helping that sweet treasure find his forever family!!

Tonight I received another email from my attorneys. They have discovered a 3 year old little boy who desperately needs to be adopted. I saw his picture. He is precious. Could you be his forever family? If you think you might be, please contact me at: ugandamom@yahoo.com

First Day of School & Heard At My House

Dorie started Kindergarten this week. She absolutely loves school and loves her teacher! While everything seems to be going really well, yesterday she came home quite confused. Our conversation went like this:

Dorie: Mom, Mrs. E is no my teacher anymore.

Me: What do you mean?

Dorie: Mrs. E say she is no my teacher.

Me: Then who is your teacher?

Dorie: I don't know. I want Mrs. E be my teacher, but she say no.

Me: Dorie, I think you did not understand something. Tell me what Mrs. E said.

Dorie: She say, "I am no 'Teacher,' you call me Mrs. E."

Firsts

So many people think that, in adopting an older child, you miss out on so many "firsts." I get the point, but I have to disagree. But that's a post for another time.

Saturday night, Dorie went to her first Professional Bull Riding event. We went with her cousins, Garrett and Maleah, as well as some other friends. I found out my sweet baby girl is a cowgirl like her mama!! If you've never been to a Professional Bull Riding event, you are seriously deprived. Dorie loved the loud music, lights, fireworks, and especially the bull riding!

Love Notes

I remember the days when my parents would leave sweet notes in my lunchbox. I LOVED getting those little notes! So the other day I left a note on Dorie's bathroom mirror... I heard her gasp when she went in to brush her teeth, and then she asked me what it said. I told her, then heard rummaging around and I knew she was up to something....

Is that not the BEST note ever???

6 Months!

Wednesday we celebrated our Six Month Anniversary! Six months ago, I finally held my sweet baby girl in my arms! She is growing and changing every day and I am one proud mama!!!

The first time I saw her photo, she looked like this:


Today, she looks like this:

Fun moments caught on camera

Chef Dorie! (and she thinks she may want to be a real chef someday)

Completely tuckered out!

Dorie prayed, "...and thank You for us have dinner with a dog..."

And my personal favorite (thank you for capturing this moment, Wendy!):

At least someone thought it was funny....

Movin' and Groovin'

We have such a fun time at Disneyland...it is a blessing to be so close and have annual passes! When relatives come in to town, we get to go, too!
Yesterday we FINALLY saw some of the characters that D has been dying to meet. Happy girl! She loved Mickey...and Pooh...but she loved Pluto best of all!

And we watched the parade. Actually, I watched Dorie watching the parade! Didn't I tell you my girl's got some serious moves? She can't stand still with music playing...but how does a booty move like that??

(sorry it's sideways...can't figure out how to rotate it without having to pay for an upgrade...)

My Little Dream Come True

My sweet girl loves to cook...and yes, I let her help me at the stove. Come on, people! This girl has probably done more cooking in her 5 years than most young adults! She's a great little chef! And she lost another tooth. Do you see the gaping hole? So cute!

We love this stepstool!! (thanks, Charity!) And the darling apron, too! (thanks, Lisa!)

So, back when I first bought my home I had my kitchen redone. One thing I wanted was a little bar area near the sink. I said that someday my kids would sit there to do homework while I finished the dinner dishes. The other night, I saw my dream come true!

Photos from my FOUND Camera

So now that my camera has been found, I can post photos of our trip to Hume Lake!