The First Party Of The Year

If you have read my blog for a while, you know that Briana is a birthday party socialite. Last year, we attended 12 birthday parties and unfortunately missed 3. On Sunday, Bri attended her first birthday party of the year. My good friend Miranda's little boy Dylan turned 4 and it couldn't have been a more perfect day for a party. The temps were in the 60's - yes, in January!! There was an inflatable in the backyard and a Buzz Lightyear birthday cake. What else could you possibly ask for?

We already have two more parties on the calendar for next month! Seriously, I never had this kind of social schedule when I was a kid!

Static Hair

Whenever Briana goes down one particular slide at our neighborhood playground, she always gets major static hair. Funny stuff. :D

My Happy Girl

Life is just too short. Why not be happy?

My Grown Up Gal

Saturday night, Doug, Bri and I hung out with some good friends, had dinner and drinks, played some Rock Band. At one point in the evening, the moms were chatting, the dads were chatting and the little girls decided to go play some Rock Band. The girls started singing at the top of their lungs "You Give Love A Bad Name." I peeked around the corner and saw that Bri was the one with the mic. It was such a moment for me. My gal was doing such a "big girl thing" and singing a song of a group that I love. All I could do was sigh and take the pic of Bri with the mic. After playing Rock Band, the girls disappeared upstairs for a while and they all came down with polish on all their fingers and toes.

Briana says lots of things to me that make me laugh lately. She is a really smart kid with a quick wit. This afternoon, she and I were Easy Bakin' it again and I spilled some milk accidentally. Bri said, "It's ok Mama, accidents happen. Just watch what you are doing next time." On the day I drove her to the dinosaur museum, I rounded a corner on the expressway and said "Whoa" because it was kind of sharp turn. Bri said, "Be careful Mommy, you have a kid in the car." And a few weeks ago, I let a bad word slip from my mouth. Miss B said, "Mama, watch your mouth." I'll tell you, I have a 4 year old conscience looking over my shoulder at all times.

Here is Miss B in gymnastics class...

She is doing quite well. There are times that she gets a bit wiggly during instruction, but the teacher understands it is Bri's age. All the girls are a bit older than Briana, but she is keeping up.

And I am still so impressed with Briana's artwork. She really amazes me. I bought her a graph-ruled notebook about a week ago and she started drawing people in costumes in it. I told her she would make a wonderful costume fashion designer. So instead of being a police officer that gives tickets when she grows up (she wanted to be a veterinarian right before that), she now wants to be a fashion designer. :)

Here is a photo of Daddy as a pirate and me as a mermaid...

And here are two more pictures that are quite impressive...

In the top picture, you will see me, Doug, Briana and (the purple and red blob in the middle) Asia Kitty. The bottom pictures is just a bunch of faces. Not too sure who everyone is.

Sometimes I cannot believe how fast Briana is growing up. How is it possible that she will enter kindergarten in the fall? Time sure flies when you are having fun.

And speaking of fun, I never posted the following photo from our visit to the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Doug and Bri were fooling around in the photo booth and got this shot. Yes, that is my husband kissing a giraffe. Sigh. My two goofs...

Briana And Her Big Girl Bike

Briana received her new bike from Santa last month and unfortunately, she hasn't really had a chance to ride it. The weather has not been super cooperative since Christmas. It has been way too cold, too snowy or too rainy. Today the weather was brisk, but it was still good for trying out the new bike. Briana has never ridden a bike like this before, so today was a big practice day. She made amazing strides! She tipped the bike a couple of times, but that is what knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet are for. :) She is riding beautifully and she will get even better with practice.

Enjoy some video of Bri on her bike. You will get a kick out of "pink baby" hanging over the back of the doll seat...





On a separate note, I want to thank everyone that commented on my last post. Every comment was insightful and very heartfelt. I'm so glad that I am not the only one that is sick and tired of the negativity of blogland. It is time for me to look at the half glass filled and not half empty!

The Internet and Blogosphere - A Double Edge Sword

Over the last few weeks (since Christmas really), I have felt internet overloaded. Overly connected when it comes to being online. Bri went back to school and then we had the infamous 2011 snow storm where we were stuck in the house for a week, so I have been on the computer a lot more than usual lately. Way too much blog reading. Way too much F@cebook.

I have been a blogger for over 4 years now (and I wrote a post about it), and it has been wonderful a experience for the most part. When I first dipped my toes into the blogging waters, I came across so many people like myself. I connected with people that had experienced the pain of infertility like I had and I found others that were also on the road to adoption - whether it be domestic or international. I became a part of an amazing group of people and it felt so nice. Right after Bri came home, I had a ready-made cheering section to help me get through the ups and downs of raising a baby for the first time. I fumbled my way through parenthood and listened to the "been there, done that" mom squad. I got tons of great advice and wisdom from people who had been down the path of parenthood before me.

I didn't venture into other areas of the blogosphere at that time. I was in a little shell. My little community. I was really just trying to survive being a first time mom. As time went on, I started getting more comfortable in my skin as a parent and started browsing for more in-depth information on raising my daughter. In doing that, I dipped my toes into waters that were a bit more choppy. For the first time, I was reading articles and blogs about the difficulties of raising adopted children (domestic and international). I was a bit scared at first because what I was reading wasn't always pretty. But the blogs and articles I read were quite insightful, very real and very eye-opening. I needed to face that one day my daughter would one day have tough questions about her adoption and I wanted to learn how to handle them. I read blogs and articles that made me think and stretch my mind. I have learned a lot. I think they made (and continue to make) me a better parent (fingers crossed).

But through those articles and blogs, I then discovered stormier waters and unfortunately dipped my toes into those. I stumbled across blogs that were just down right negative and offensive at times. I was shocked and realized I was pretty naive. Now I understand that everyone has their own truths, experiences and beliefs, but I think there is a way of making a point without being outright mean and spiteful. Without name calling and bad language. And not only was I stumbling across blogs that were like that, I started seeing nasty comments written on people's blogs as well - on posts that were not being written with any malicious intent, yet they were receiving negative attack-like responses anyway. Back in the summer, I wrote a post that stirred up a little controversy. I worried the minute I hit the publish button that I could possibly ruffle a few feathers. I had a few negative commenters that had never commented on my blog before, and I am still not sure how they stumbled across my little neck of the woods. After I wrote that post, I realized I didn't want to dip my toes in those waters again (even though I firmly stand by what I said).

I do not like controversy. I don't like fighting. I am way too sensitive. I take way too much to heart. I'm sure this is one of the reasons that I never had any desire to be a politician. I often wonder how politicians deal with hatred being spewed at them day in and day out. And the same goes for people in the entertainment business. Actors and actresses are judged on a daily basis. For example, I like to read the People magazine website (I know - mindless yet entertaining). When I scroll down to the comments section of an article, people say whatever they want - there are no filters. So many people are down right vicious with personal attacks. I just don't understand what kind of jollies people get from making comments that are so cruel. What is wrong with people?

So obviously, negative attacks don't only exist in the world of adoption. In the age of the internet, people feel that they can say whatever they want - whether anonymously or not - because they are hidden behind a computer screen. On one hand, the internet is a wonderful tool. Easy access to tons of resources right at everyone's fingertips. Messages and opinions can be broadcast openly and easily. People can connect with others in which they have things in common. But on the other hand, the internet is a very cruel place. It seems that manners, maturity, respect and kindness don't have to exist anymore. Just create a screen name and let er rip. It is really quite sad.

I have had my feelings hurt a number of times reading mean-spirited posts written by people that I have never met - posts regarding adoptive parents and infertile people. I have seriously wanted to put my fist through the computer screen at times. It is so ridiculous that I allow myself to affected by strangers like this, but they do honestly affect me. I know I am a good person, so why do I allow some stupid stranger make me feel defensive or less than a good person. I understand that there is always two sides of an issue, but throwing stones honestly isn't going to make me listen to anything you have to say. In fact, it will make me do the complete opposite. I will stop listening and walk away. I am all for polite debate but name calling and mean-spirited remarks aren't gonna get you anywhere with me.

I have worried that if I stop reading about adoption issues and stop stepping outside my comfort zone, that maybe I am doing a disservice to my daughter. But you know what? I am changing my mind right now. I have to step back and just stop. I've read and absorbed a lot of information over the last couple of years. But I cannot continue to follow the debates, listen to the mudslinging and bickering or soak up anymore misery. It makes my head hurt. I think that if I keep this up, I am going to over analyze, over think and over worry about every step I take and decision I make regarding my daughter. It is ridiculous. At the end of the day, what really matters is what my daughter thinks and feels - not anyone else. So, all I can do is take what I have learned and stay in tune with her. I will keep my ears and my heart open to her. She can give it to me - the good and the bad.

In my real, day-to-day life, I am surrounded by supportive and kind people. It is when I go online that I feel the bitterness. I'm overloaded by it. Meanness is everywhere. Not just in adoption-land. So I think I am going to leave the choppy and stormy blogging waters now and go back to still, kinder waters. I will continue to write on my blog and read the blogs that I have enjoyed over the years. I may slow down a bit though. I will continue to follow people that are supportive and are not mean spirited. I'm not going to stretch my mind anymore because I'm stretched to capacity now. And I am also going to stop reading the comments on the People magazine website. :D I know I can't escape from negativity. It's a part of life. Negativity does exist and there is no hiding from it completely. But I can control what I expose myself to online and from this moment on, I will.

Doug's Birthday Recap and Back to Normalcy

Last Thursday was Doug's birthday. The snow and ice was starting to really melt that day, so we were able to go out to dinner in the evening. It was a little sketchy in spots on the roads, but we took it slow and made it safely to the restaurant and back home again.

Doug took the day off, and I was able to make him his favorite Star Wars pancakes for breakfast. These are the best ones that I have made so far if I do say so myself...

 

After dinner, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Daddy and he blew out the candles. Bri and Doug are actually pretending to blow the candles out in this pic because I missed the real shot...

Unfortunately, soccer was canceled on Friday due to some leftover icy roads, so Bri and I did a little retail therapy to make ourselves feel better. But I still had an entire weekend to keep Briana busy after trying to keep her busy all week.

Saturday was quiet, but Saturday evening, Doug and Bri had a double date with Briana's friend ML and her dad Kevin. ML's mommy and brother were out of town for the weekend, so the guys went out with the little girls. And I had Saturday evening to myself! Schweet! Here is Bri eating some ice cream on her date...

Sunday afternoon, I took Briana to the science museum. She calls it the dinosaur museum. I think I have mentioned before that she could live in that place. I am thinking she is either going to be a paleontologist or an astronomer when she grows up. :) Here she is in front of the museum. You can still see a little snow on the ground behind her...

Monday was a quiet day that we just spent at home. And today was the first day back to work and school. Woo Hoo!!! I think we were all very ready to get back to some normalcy after a week of the city being practically shut down and frozen. We are thawing out nicely, thank you. ;D

Georgians' Enjoyment of Snow Over Time

I saw this on FB yesterday and couldn't stop laughing. This is spot on I tell ya. The snow hit the deep south Sunday night, the ice layer and deep freeze hit Monday night and as of today, Friday, there are still many nasty ice patches on the roadways. School was canceled the entire week and Bri's soccer class was canceled today. There is no school on Monday due to the MLK Holiday, so I have another three days to figure out what to do with my bored 4 year old. Sigh. Luckily though, we have been able to get out of my neighborhood since Wednesday - lots of other people haven't been so lucky.

Doug's birthday was yesterday (pictures to come) and we were able to go out to dinner. Yay!

I'm so ready for normalcy to return. When the south gets a storm this bad, we get stuck for days and days. We are just not prepared for it at all. It's fun at first - then it becomes not so fun.

Snow Day #2 and Easy Bakin' It

We were stuck in the house once again yesterday, yet we were able to get down the street and around the corner to visit our friends/neighbors for a little snow time fun. It was so cold though that we ended up going inside and letting the kids do some inside play. I did manage to snap a few fun snow pics...

And before the snow storm, Bri and I spent a lot of Saturday and Sunday using the "E@sy Bake Oven." The nibbles that we came up with were, um, interesting to say the least. :) Some undercooked. Some overcooked. Some were extremely sweet. But all of it was super fun for Briana and that is what counts...

A couple of friends of mine posted a link on FB with some cheaper and yummier recipes for the oven. I'm going to try them! Click here.

Snow Storm 2011

The weather forecasters were right! Sometimes I'm not so sure when there is so much hype if the storm that is predicted will really pack a punch. But this one did! We got about 5.5 inches in my neck of the woods - and in the south, that is really significant. Everything is shut down today. It is not really the snow that is wrecking havoc, but it is the layer of ice that decided to form on top of the very powdery snow we got last night. There was no snow at 9PM my time, but by 10PM, it looked like this...

I got up with Miss B this morning and made her some French toast. Afterward, she, Daddy and I headed out for some cold fun!

See how deep the snow is?

Trying some snow (It's clean, I promise. :D)...

Mmmm, cold...

All bundled up. Doug is ready for the game tonight in support of Auburn. War Eagle!

On the deck...

Pretty snow...

Deep footprints...

My poor duck...

Ice...

Some sledding. We have to get this poor child a real sled!

Snow angels!

Me and Miss Sassy Pants...

Bri asked me to hold a block of ice for this pic...

Building a snow fort...

Another snowman!!!

 

This is the layer of ice covering the powdery snow. Not good for driving...

Walking through the woods behind my house to get to the golf course...

The golf course...

Daddy and his princess...

This is where my kitty enjoys the storm from...

Trying to warm up by the fire with hot chocolate...

Looking at the roads and the fact that the temperature is not rising today, I'm thinking no school again tomorrow. We'll just have to enjoy more time in the snow!