Me and my girl
Two Minnies!
Ummm no rides this year-this was Nina's reaction to the Pooh ride!!!!
Passed out cold...lollipop still in hand.
Stroller patrol.
Mouse ear mishap.
Marching down Main Street USA.
I'm going to Disney!!!!!
Susan, Leeza, Nina and Lori
Bathing Beauties 
Big Brothers Sean & Nolan
The Princess and her guardian Knights.
Nina fell asleep on the Safari ride.
Our own little swan outside The Swan Hotel
I'm the little sister...do what I say!
So sweet.
Little Mermaid.
I was reminded of this story today and you dear reader must now suffer thru the retelling :). This happened when Nolan was 3 and discovering the difference between men and woman. At the time he was fascinated by my breasts. I know, I know.
Nina just realized there is a lake full of ducks and geese in her backyard. She loves to climb the fence and call out to them..."goose", "duck", "kack-kack"
It's a Steer and Stroll and it has a handle for Mom and Dad to push and steer the bike until Nina is ready to pedal on her own. She's not quite big enough to reach the pedals but it won't be long. For now she is loving ringing the bell and yelling "bike go". She's just so stinkin' cute.
****it is now Sunday morning. We are exhausted Nina was up and down all night until about 4am then up this morning at 8am. Why? Because she was worried about her bike. She kept waking and crying "bye bye bike", "where did it go?", "Nina bike". Around 4 am Dart put the bike in her room where she held the handle thru the crib rails and finally fell asleep.
Ummmm I think she likes her bike.
The CCAA. Our dossier has been here, untouched, for a year and a half!
I can hardly believe it, my baby is going to college. MY BABY! I still have no idea how this happened I swear it seems like I was putting him on the bus for kindergarten (and then following it to the school to make sure he arrived safely) just yesterday.
I was really hoping that I would be able to do my training for the two 3 Day events I am doing this year with a partner, namely Miss Nina Bea. But until today Nina has been unwilling to climb aboard (and stay aboard) her pink chariot. Today though for whatever reason she decided to go for spin. We walked, well I walked, she rode, for almost an hour. Not a lot of walking for me but a ton of four wheeling for Nina. I hope she enjoys it more and more. 
Certainly when we go to Disney in a couple of weeks she will get lots of stroller practice at least I hope so. I do not relish the idea of trying to keep track of an unrestrained two year old in the middle of 10,000 other kids. I even have dreams of her falling asleep to the gentle rocking of her bugaboo, napping quietly as we stroll thru the park. Yeah right.
When asked what he thought about having a new little sister Aidan (our 14 year old) answered, "I think it's really good...she makes us a happier family".
Read more...
Yesterday I read a post from a fellow blogger and long time supporter of ours. I was saddened to see that some anonymous blog stalker, (a supposed fellow KZ adoptive parent), criticized her for using the term "save" and "rescue" when referring to adoption. While I understand the commenter's point, I have to say that objectively, "save" and "rescue" are not unreasonable terms to describe our experience. The reality is in the Baby House our daughter was not nurtured, exposed to TB, under stimulated, non communicative, profoundly sad and malnourished. What then do you call it when you remove a child from this environment to a happy and healthy family?
I don't want to foster a negative self image in Nina and I do acknowledge that my communication with her on this topic must be thoughtful. Parenting offers mutual benefit to child and parent and adoption does not change this. But in many ways I do feel that we saved Nina and that she, this beautiful, most desired child, saved us right back.
this is the child we met...
and here she is today less than two months later...
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