Winter Break - Thursday and Friday Play Dates

On Thursday, friends Emma (and mama Randi) and Mary Lin (and mama Amy) came over to christen Briana's new play room! And they did an amazing job - LOL! The girls played wonderfully together and had a blast! ML and Amy were only able to stay for a little while, but Emma and Randi stayed until late afternoon...

The princess dresses came out immediately...

This was the room at the end of the play date - LOL!!! I think they had fun. ;D

Friday morning, Bri and I headed over to Lisa and Maisie's house for another super fun play date. Kathy and Chani were able to join us! Again, princess (and fairy) dresses came out immediately...

And hoola hoops...

The girls hung out a little... 

They play together so well...

Lisa made delicious dumplings and Udon noodles...

Playing in Maisie's room...

Lisa snapped this last picture. It is so adorable! So typical of our girls!! :D

I'm so glad we were able to spend time with our friends this past week. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends!!!

Winter Break - Sunday Through Wednesday

What a busy week we had! I mean BUSY! Briana started off her winter break by having a sleepover at my mom and dad's house (Gramma and Papa). Sunday, my parents picked up Briana and they headed back to their house. The three of them played and made crafts, went out to dinner and did a little shopping...

Here is Miss B pretending to sleep...

In the morning, Briana helped Gramma set the table and make French toast...

A hug for Papa...

A hug for Gramma...

Right before I picked Miss B up on Monday afternoon, she posed in front of the flag...

(I want to thank my mom for providing me with all these pictures. I really felt like I was there!)

Tuesday was Bri's and my one quiet day. We just stayed home all day. Bri and I played games, put together puzzles and hung out in the new playroom.

Wednesday, we met some friends (the former gymnastics crew) at the park. It had been a while since all the kids had been together at the same time. The weather in Georgia has been just beautiful and spring-like. Here is Bri ready to head out to the park...

Bri at the park...

Bri and her friends lied down on the playground train and pretended to sleep...

Eating a picnic lunch...

C, Matthew, S and Bri...

Briana and Matthew...

With it being a school break and the weather being beautiful, the park got mega crowded by early afternoon. That was our time to check out, but the kids had already played for 3.5 hours, so I think they had plenty of exercise!

Playing In The Playroom

So far, Bri's new playroom has been a BIG success! Briana got a new pretend bbq from Gramma and Papa and she is lovin' it...

We are on a winter break here in GA, and it has felt more like spring break with temps in the 60's. Bri had a sleepover at Gramma and Papa's house Sunday night, we had a 3.5 hour play date at the park yesterday and we had friends over today to christen Bri's new play room. We have another play date scheduled for tomorrow and two birthday parties this weekend. Busy, busy, busy!

I'll be back after winter break to fill you in on our fun week!

What Makes Me Worthy Of Her?

I have so many thoughts jumbled in my head lately about raising Briana. I am a bit of a worrier - ok, I'm a big worrier - and I always have been. As Briana gets older, more and more fears pop into my head. She is in preschool and at four years of age, she is already involved in social interaction with peers and has to deal with different personality types. When she comes home and says to me, "I don't understand why so and so doesn't want to talk to me." It literally breaks my heart. I can't completely protect her from rejection. Bri will be starting kindergarten in the fall and that thought sends me into a total frenzy. Big kid school. Life on a much bigger scale than what she deals with today. Oh my heavens. Fret, fret, fret.

I know everyone has fears when they are raising children. You have to make sure all their needs are met. You want them to be clothed, fed, safe and happy. You want to make sure they get along with others. But when you are raising an adopted child, you add a whole other layer of issues and worry. I know I will have to tackle issues with Briana that I have not faced myself, and I worry that I might not have all the right answers for her. I hope I make the right decisions for her until she can make decisions on her own. I pray I have a strong enough heart to watch her search for her own answers.

One of my main goals in this life is to do everything in my power to make my daughter happy. And that doesn't mean giving her "things" to make her happy but giving her the right tools to live a happy life. She has a light and a spark within her that shines so brightly. She is outgoing, energetic, extroverted and fearless. And she is a very, very happy kid. But I worry that as she gets older, her light will dim a bit. Life has a way of doing that to you. And it is not just adoption issues that might do that, but life in general. Just navigating your way through this tough and cruel world can be disheartening at times. When I moved from FL to GA as a kid, it shattered my confidence. I don't know why the move shook me so much, but it did. And then as an adult, my infertility issues shattered me some more. I know I have never gotten my spark back completely, and I pray that doesn't happen to Briana. Bri reminds me so much of myself at her age. I had those big bright smiles every single day. That was me. I oozed happiness. And though I do smile and I'm very content in my life now, I know I don't have that "spark" anymore. Behind my smile, I am riddled with insecurity and self doubt. I try so hard to not let Briana to see it. I try so hard not to let anyone see it. Each and every day I think to myself, "Can I do this?", "Am I doing this right?", "Am I Worthy Of Her?"

My bloggy friend Wendy wrote a wonderful post about "Living Up To The Home Study After Adoption." Her post couldn't have come at a better time because I have had a heavy heart lately. Lots on my mind about raising Briana and hoping I can be the best mom I can to her. I made a promise to guard her with my life and to make her happy. I made that promise to a lot of people - including myself. And I worry if I can hack it.

I'm flawed. I'm not extraordinary. I'm fearful. I'm overly emotional. I'm human. I don't have all the answers. I'm not anymore special than anyone else.

Knowing all these things about myself, I wonder at times, "What makes me worthy of her?"

The New Playroom

The week that I was sick was suppose to be the week that I was going to paint our upstairs family room and turn it into a playroom for Briana. Of course, it didn't happen. So as soon as I was able to muster some strength (Monday) - I started to paint. It took me a full week because I had to stop at times to attend to Briana and her schedule. I still was pretty tired and weak from my cold (and to be honest - I still am), but I persevered and finished the painting last night. Today I steam cleaned the rug, Doug put together the table and shelves and now the room is "play ready." I still have artwork I want to put on the walls and we plan to put a small TV in there on the wall in the future, but for the most part, the room is done.

I am so happy with how it turned out. And most of Briana's toys are now in this room. It most definitely was a labor of love!

CNY Celebration, Valentine's Day and Sweet Blog Award

Things are finally starting to get back to normal in our house after seven days of sickness between Doug, Briana and me. Here are a few pictures from our trip to the Children's Discovery Museum in Chattanooga for their CNY celebration. We attended this last year too...

Briana made a paper lantern...

Me and my girl...

My friend Kelly and her girls S and C met us there...

Lion dances...

Enjoy some video...





And here is my little Valentine dressed in pink and red for her Valentine's Day party at school...

Here are the treat bags Bri and I put together...

These delish pretzel treats were inside - Briana and I baked them together...

Here is Briana with her new stuffed Pegasus that she got for Valentine's Day. Yes, I bought it off that Valentine's aisle from W@lmart...

This is the loot that Miss B came home with...

Any my wonderful hubby surprised me with a dozen red roses and a gift certificate for a facial to a spa near our house. He did it even though we promised each other not to get each other anything. I gotta a real good guy. :D

And last but not least, I received an award! Yes, lil ole me. My bloggy friend Wendy gave me the "Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award." Perfect timing with Valentine's Day and all. Wendy and I found each other in the blog world recently and I can't tell you how happy we did. We connected instantly. I love Wendy's blog. She is a wonderful writer and teacher and an amazing mom. She speaks from her heart, is so insightful and is freakin' hilarious! Thank you so much for my award Wendy.

I'm supposed to write 5 of my guilty pleasures to go with this award...

1. Anything salty and spicy - Salsa, hot sauce, tabasco flavored Cheese Its. If it is spicy - I love it.
2. The Children's Place - I love shopping for Briana there (in the store and online). Great trendy stuff, low prices.
3. Dog the Bounty Hunter - Please don't judge me. I started watching this show about 6 months ago and I really enjoy it. I love Beth - she is a bad@ss.
4. Pocket Frogs for my iPhone - I love collecting, breeding and selling my little frogs. It makes me happy.
5. Facebook - I spend WAY too much time there.

Now I'm supposed to pick five blogs to bestow this award to, but I cannot choose just five. I have too many that I love. So if I follow your blog and comment, then you know I love your blog and I bestow this award on you. :D