I'm Not Sure I Am Ready Yet...

...for Briana to grow up.

On July 5, 2009, Briana turned 2 years, 11 months old. She's one month shy of being 3 years old. I almost can't wrap my head around it. My baby became a toddler so quickly, and my toddler is now becoming a little girl. In the last several months, I can really see the change. She talks like a little girl. She walks like a little girl. She is becoming more independent. The diapers are gone. The baby gates are gone. Most of the baby toys are gone. Soon, the crib will be gone. She starts preschool in the fall. All of this growing is happening, but I'm not sure I am ready to let go of my baby girl.

I waited six years for her to arrive. I love watching her grow and at the same time, I wish it wasn't happening so fast. Over these last two years, I have soaked in every little thing Briana has done. Everything she has experienced. Everything she has learned. I've tried to capture as much of her as I could in pictures and video and in words on this blog. I did it because I knew that she wasn't going to stay a baby forever.

I want to remember everything.

Tonight, when Doug and I were doing our bedtime routine with Bri, she turned to us and said, "Mommy, rock me?" And I told her "Absolutely, I will rock you." And I did. I love that she still has a part of her that still wants to be my baby.

This is the baby I met in China...

Sometimes I can't believe that Briana was actually this little...





This is my little girl now...



As Briana grows, she will start to have questions about her past. She will begin to realize her life story is very different than most of her peers. Right now, she is just enjoying life. Footloose and fancy free. She still doesn't understand yet how she came to be with us. When that time comes, I hope I can provide her with some answers, some comfort, some reassurance and lots of love. And I hope I can help her handle her realizations and grief. I want her to know that Doug and I will ALWAYS be her mommy and daddy. I am trying to prepare myself for what lies ahead.

So, I will take each day one at a time. Enjoy every second I still have my little girl with me. And I will watch her each day blossom into a beautiful, young lady.

But deep down, a little piece of me will always miss the baby girl that I met and fell in love with in China.

Get A Load Of This Fireworks View

This is the view we had of the fireworks from Doug's parents' balcony! Once the fireworks were over, we just walked back inside the house. Pretty sweet, huh?! :)




A few of the awesome fireworks!



And here are a few pictures of my adorable Briana!



Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!

No Blueberries But Still Fun!

Well, blueberry picking was a bust this year. :( Bri and I were ready to pick blueberries with Kathy and Chani & Amy and Emily Grace at Blueberry Hill on Friday morning, but when we arrived, we found that all of the trees were already picked over. Boo! I was so sad because we had such a good time picking last year. We found out that the patch had opened a week earlier than last year. I think it may have been because of all the rain we have had. Not sure. All I know is that the only blueberries left on the trees were green. I let Briana get in the field for a few minutes just to feel like she picked something - even if they were green. She seemed happy enough. We still managed to salvage the day though! We all headed back to Kathy's house for a pizza play date. The girls had a great time and pizza can save any day, right?

Here are a few pics for you to enjoy...

Briana and Emily Grace all ready to pick blueberries. :(

Chani was ready too...

The girls waiting for their pizza. Briana loves her friends!

Awww, holding hands. Isn't that sweet?

This pizza is GOOD!

A little fun in the sand.

Fun on the playset.

See, all was not lost. The girls had a ton of fun!

Happy Fourth Of July

Happy Birthday United States Of America!!!!

Bows, Friends and Rubber Duckies

Hi blogland! Well, Bri and I are still filling our summer days with activities - both inside and outside the house. Last week was absolutely sweltering in Georgia. It was so hot last week that I didn't even take Briana to the pool. It was in the high nineties every single day. Briana and I went to Jump Its (an indoor inflatable playground) with some friends on Thursday to try to keep cool. Unfortunately, there are a lot of bigger kids visiting Jump Its right now due to school being out, and for the most part, big kids don't look out for little kids on the inflatables. After a little while of being there, Briana told me that there were "too many big kids" at Jump Its. Don't think we will be going there for open jump again until school starts.

Friday, I prepared my house for a small get together that I had for some girlfriends on Saturday night. I hosted a "bow party" for my friend Kathy. You can see above that Briana is showing off her new hair clip. Kathy makes and sells BEAUTIFUL custom bows. Please visit her website - www.bows4sale.blogspot.com. See what I ended up with after the party (including the green bow holder)?

I went a little crazy didn't I? :) Briana really loves all her new bows though!

And as the ladies did a little shopping at my house Saturday night, Doug and Briana went to eat dinner out with David and Emily Grace. You can see below that the girls came back to my house hopped up a little bit on Steak N Shake hamburgers and milkshakes. :)

Yesterday, Bri and I headed back to story time and met a group of friends. We had a big group that included Amy B, Mary and Garrett, Liene and Eriks and Amy and Emily Grace. I only managed to take a few pics of Briana and Emily Grace.


Yesterday afternoon, Briana and I were actually able to hang out on the screened in porch. There was a nice breeze outside. She "cooked" me lunch...

This morning, Briana called me into her bathroom. She had her rubber duckies arranged like this on the sink. She said that the two duckies were dancing and the pink duck was singing into the microphone. She is such a smarty pants!!!

Hope you are all having a great week so far. Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends!

Another Quilt Update!

Well, it has been a couple of weeks since my last update! I have received a few more pieces of fabric. I have a total of 30 now - with a long way to go...

I was so excited when I received three BEAUTIFUL and meaningful pieces of fabric from my mom and dad.



This math piece is so unique and fun! It is from my mother-in-law and father-in-law.

This lovely orange piece of fabric has Asian lilies on it. It is from Doug's grandparents.

This adorable ladybug fabric is from my friend Liene and her family.

I love this super fun fabric from my high school friend Joy!

And this last dragonfly piece is from the lovely Kim and her family (Isabella's Mommy).

It is so fun to get fabric pieces and beautiful wishes for my sweet girl. I am looking forward to getting more!

Visiting Daddy At Work and Story Time (w/Videos)

Monday morning, Briana and I got all dressed up to go visit Daddy at work. After visiting some of Daddy's co-worker's, Daddy took us to lunch at a BBQ restaurant. Delish!

Look at my outfit Mommy!

Briana played ball with one of Doug's co-workers. She thought it was so fun!


Before Daddy got home from work that day, I thought I would record Briana eating a Popsicle. It was really cute. :)



Then Tuesday, Bri and I headed to story time with our usual crew! I just wanted to capture how good my girl is in story time now. Hopefully, it stays that way! ;)

Sunday, Saturday, Friday & Thursday

Here are two of my favorite people in the whole world. I took this pic on Father's Day. Can you tell that Briana loves her Daddy? We have a very busy four days - four days full of partying for my birthday, my sister's birthday and Father's Day. June is always a crazy, busy month for me. I'm sure you all have months like that too. Let me start on Sunday and work my way back...

Doug slept in on Father's Day and woke up to the French toast I made him per his request. You can see in the picture above the black watch I got him as a present. Briana gave Doug a great present by taking a long nap so Doug got a nice relaxing afternoon. ;) We ate at an Italian restaurant for dinner and then we iChatted with Doug's family who were in Colorado including his brother (who celebrated his birthday on Father's Day), our sister-in-law and Doug's mom and dad. It was so cool - I felt like we were all in the same room together!

*I have to mention how cute Briana was at the Italian restaurant. Bri talks a lot now. I mean a lot. She asks a lot of questions. Her favorite question is "What zat mama?" She also loves to say "Me tree!" after I say "Me too." As we were leaving the restaurant, there was a couple sitting directly behind us that commented on how cute Briana was. Then they asked if she always talks that much. I told them yes. I also told them how concerned I was that she wasn't talking very much several months ago. Now I can't get her to stop talking. I told them to be careful what you wish for. ;)

My family got together at my sister's house on Saturday to celebrate my sister's birthday (which was Tuesday), my birthday (which was Friday) and Father's Day. It seemed like Christmas with everyone opening gifts!

Here is Briana giving Papa a hug.

My sister and I about to blow the candles out on our cake.

And here is my sweet Briana...

Friday was my birthday! First, Briana and I met my Mom at the mall for a "girls shopping day." I must mention my new favorite place to shop for girl's clothes is The Child.ren's Place. Gosh, that place is awesome! Then in the evening, Doug took Bri and me for Japanese hibachi. Delish! Doug bought me a beautiful Pa.ndora bracelet with my first bead - a ladybug! I see an addiction brewing! He also bought me my favorite eclairs from a little diner about 30 minutes from our house - that was my "birthday cake." I got a good man...

Here is me and my girl on my b-day.

Gramma and Bri at the mall. Briana is in to carrying a purse now. Good grief!

Me and Briana.

There is the cutest little train that drives around the mall for kids.

And of course we had to ride it!

Finally, Thursday! Briana and I met Liene and Eriks for our first Ch.uck E. Ch.eese experience ever. It was a Thursday morning, so it wasn't too crowded. (I seriously cannot imagine that place on a weekend!) Briana had the BEST time. She ran all over that place and thought winning tickets was the coolest thing ever. Briana absolutely loves Eriks and he was so good at watching out for her. He is going to make the best big brother! His sister Emilija is coming home in under 3 weeks!

Just look at all the fun they had...


Now I must recuperate from the last four crazy busy days!

Happy Father's Day!

I want to wish a "Happy Father's Day!" to all the dad's and dad-to-be's out there, including my dad and my wonderful husband.

I love seeing Briana and Doug together. They have such a special relationship. Briana is a true "daddy's girl." I love them both so much...

I'm The Birthday Girl!

I'm 36 years old today. Yay me! ;)