Four Months Since Gotcha Day

I can't believe we have had Briana in our arms for four months now. I also can't believe how much she has changed in those four months. I am so happy that she is thriving, and Doug and I are so blessed to have her in our lives. She is a true miracle.

Briana on Gotcha Day...

Briana today...

Fun With Bows

Warning - this is what happens to your child when you go to Kathy's house...

LOL! Just kidding girl! After eating lunch out with Kathy and Randi (and Randi's cutie son Jack) on Tuesday, we headed back to Kathy's house. Kathy was trying on the bows that she has been making and wanted to see if they would stay in a child's hair. Briana's hair is so fine, and they held great! And Briana had a ball - she is finally starting to like having barretts and bows in her hair - oh yeah!

Briana had so much fun playing with Jack!

Feeling Better

Just want to let everyone know that Doug is feeling better! He even went to work today!

Thank you all so much for your concern!

You are the best!

The Up and Down of Our Weekend (*Update*)

We had quite an up and down of the weekend. On Thanksgiving, my parents offered to watch Briana for the whole day on Saturday. Doug and I needed a day off by ourselves - we have been pretty dang tired between the China trip, sickness and just learning to be new parents of a very, very active one year old. We dropped Briana off in the morning, and we went to get the oil changed in my car at the Infiniti dealership (I have an I-30) and decided to test drive a FX35. Sweet car! Then we ate at PF Changs - yummy! We did a little shopping, relaxed and then ate dinner at Henry's. Unbelievably delicious! I did order gumbo that was really good but just about burned my lips off, but the cheese fondue we ordered was to die for! We went to pick up Miss Briana that evening, and she had the best day with grandma and grandpa. I am not sure if she even missed us - ha, ha!

Then Sunday came...Doug woke up about 7AM with a kidney stone. He was in excruciating pain and needed to go to the emergency room. The baby was just about to wake up and I knew I had to get her fed and dressed before I could drive him there. So, I called my parents. Once again, they came to the rescue! My dad flew over to the house and picked up Doug to take him to the hospital so I could watch the baby. Once Doug got to the ER and got an IV, the pain started to subside. I can just imagine Doug and my dad male bonding at the hospital, LOL! Anyway, they got back home about noon, and my mom had come over in the meantime so I could go out and get Doug's prescriptions filled quickly when they got back. Doug came home VERY groggy and slept the whole afternoon away. My parents went back home around 1:30PM. Doug hasn't had any more pain, so we think the worst is over - we hope. I have to thank my parents once again for saving us! And I was supposed to see Kathy and friends for some pottery making, but I had to miss it. I am so sad!

So, that was the up and down of our weekend. Isn't that crazy?

**Update** Doug is still feeling some pain (started around 5 this morning), so the stone isn't gone yet. Thank goodness for Percocet...

Scenes From A Thanksgiving

What can I say? Thanksgiving was perfect! From turkey to pumpkin pie, from the Macy's parade to my family - it was perfect. Briana loved her first Thanksgiving dinner and ate and ate! She laughed and smiled during the whole dinner - actually the whole day! It was a great day!

Here are some pictures...

So Much To Be Thankful For

I honestly don't know how to express in words how thankful I am to have Briana in my life. Doug and I waited over 6 years for our child to be sitting with us at the Thanksgiving table, and tomorrow the moment will finally arrive. It is just surreal. So surreal...

I want to let you all know that Briana had a much better Monday and Tuesday! I had the sweetest comments after my "Rough Day" post, and there were few laughs at my expense too! Ha, Ha!

I am thankful for my family and all my friends who supported Doug and me on our long journey. And thank you to my blog buddies - you mean so much to me. For all of you who are still waiting for your daughters, please know that I think of you everyday, and I hope and pray that your dreams will come true very soon.

Below is a picture of a gift my mom gave me and Doug when we returned from China. My mom wrote the poem herself - she wrote it when we first signed up for our China adoption. She woke up one morning with the words in her head. She felt like Briana was telling her what to write. It is so beautiful (makes me cry!), and I want to share it with you. It now hangs on the wall in Briana's room. If you click on the picture, it will enlarge so you can read it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Rough Day

Today was one of those days where you just want to pull your hair out. Briana was in a bad mood, and she was very whiny, very snotty, very drooly and cried on and off all day. Usually she is so good natured, but today, she was puny. If she didn't get something she wanted, she would slowly fall to the ground and cry. Did that several times today. Ugh. She woke up from her nap upset and crying and needed to be consoled for about 20 minutes. So very unlike her. She is teething pretty badly right now, so that may be it. All I know is that I am completely exhausted, drained and on my last nerve. I need a hot shower right now. I feel gross. When I got off all Briana's clothes and removed her diaper before her bath tonight, she proceeded to pee on the floor. Yep - that is the kind of day it has been. She is finally asleep for the night - thank goodness. Gosh I sure hope tomorrow is better. Please let it be better...

Welcome Home

Doug's best friend Jimmie has returned from Afghanistan for good! Jimmie worked as a contractor there for close to 4 years. Jimmie's family threw him a welcome home party at the Olive Garden Friday night. Doug and I love getting together with Jimmie's family because they are not just our friends, they are our family.

Briana had a great time! Here she is smiling and laughing. Know why?

Because of these three guys - Keenan, Zachary and Cameron! Briana thought these guys were the best! She could not stop smiling at them (she is a little flirt)!

Welcome home Jimmie! We are so glad you are home to stay!

Visit To My Former Office

This is Briana running around my former place of employment! I went back to visit my friends/ex-coworkers on Tuesday and showed off little Miss Briana. It was so great seeing everyone again! Briana was a hoot, and of course after a few minutes of warming up, she took over the place.

Here are a few pictures of the visit...

Briana sitting on the couch in the waiting area. She is thinking "Hey, where are all the real estate agents? Don't keep me waiting!"

Briana and Grace

Claudia, Briana and Grace

Shantal entertaining Miss Briana!

Grace, Shantal, Linda and Rise (the staff girls) - it was so great seeing you again. I've missed you gals!!! Thanks for letting me and Briana hang out with you on Tuesday! I promise to come by to visit again soon!

Visit With Bubbe

Wow - did we have a full weekend! My grandmother who lives in Ft. Lauderdale (my dad's mom) came to visit and met Briana for the first time. They got along wonderfully. Briana went to my grandmother right away. And since there are several grandmas (including great grandmas) in Briana's life, we thought that it would be nice if she called my grandmother "Bubbe". My cousin's son Ethan calls my grandmother "Bubbe" too, so "Bubbe" it is! We have practiced saying the name with Briana and she runs around now saying "Bub", so she is halfway there!

Here are a few pictures of our fun weekend with Bubbe!

Bubbe and Briana

This is my dad holding Briana by the overalls as she ran. She thought it was the funniest thing ever!

My dad and Briana.

My mom, Briana and me...

Briana eating the delicious meatballs that Bubbie made.

And I am posting this pic because it is so cute! Briana loves sitting on daddy's shoulders!

Veterans Day

My mom took this picture of me and Briana yesterday in front of the flag that flies on her house. It's so appropriate that it was taken on Veterans Day.

Let's remember all of those who served (including my two late grandfathers) and those who are currently serving (including my cousin serving in Kuwait).

Just Funny

Yes, this is a shot of Briana's behind. I swiped a few pictures from Kathy's blog because these pics are too funny. While playing in Chani's playroom last Friday, Briana tried to lean over the wall of this toy garden and got stuck. She is just a tad too short! And as you know, Briana had a ball sticking plastic pickles in her mouth. I am sure Kathy has sanitized those suckers by now - LOL!

Kathy also came over to my house on Tuesday. She, Briana and I went out and chowed down on Mexican food for lunch. Yum - O. Right after Kathy left for home, she gave me a call to tell me she got her TA - woohoo!!! Congrats Kathy!

And this is Briana playing in her drawer in the kitchen. She looked so cute - I just had to post it!

15 Months

Miss Briana is 15 months old today. I can't believe how much she has changed in three months. She walks all over the place, babbles constantly and gives the best hugs and kisses! Yesterday, I gave her a small snack after her nap, and she decided on her own to go and sit in her booster seat to eat it. I had it sitting on the floor in the corner of the kitchen. She is such a hoot!

We had a very busy Friday and Saturday. Friday, Briana and I went over to Kathy's house, where we got to see Maisie and Lisa S. The girls had so much fun playing with Chani's toys! Can't wait for Chani to join in the fun!

Briana and Maisie...

Briana walking with plastic pickles in her mouth - sorry Kathy! :)

Kathy practicing for mommyhood!

Then on Saturday, Briana and I met my good friend Carole at a fall craft show. Carole brought along her son, Guy and her daughter Amanda. Amanda brought her two children, Jack and Kate. Kate is two years old and she and Briana became fast friends! The show was great, and I bought some really neat items (that I probably didn't really need but oh well!). It was a great time!

Here are Briana and Kate...

Holding hands!

BTW, I just need to say that time changes when you have small children totally suck...Briana has been on a great schedule and now it is screwed up! She is off by an hour on everything. Blah!

Briana Picture Montage With Music - Updated

Our Briana will be 15 months old on November 5. She is truly amazing. She is smart, spunky, beautiful, so funny and full of spirit. She's got a way about her...

**Update** The video should be working now. My settings on YouTube got screwed up!