A year and a half later......

And we are still here. Haha! A lot has changed in a year and half since I last posted. This blog got me through the hardest and best days of my life and I regret that I didn't keep it updated after the adoption. Me & Morgie are crusin' along. She is 6 1/2 and in first grade. She LOVES to read, which makes this bookworm of a mom REALLY proud! She is taking ballet and is doing so good. I could go on and on and on......

Instead I will just post a few recent pictures.

She is such a little mommy. In fact, when she graduated Kindergarten her teachers gave everyone a title. Morgan's was Little Mother Hen, always taking care of others. So fitting for my little girl.

This is the BIG snow day this month. Morgan loves snow....she doesn't like cold however...but with enough layers she is good to go. I love everything about this next picture her sassy look, those eyes, those adorable eyelashes that I lust after, and those oh so stinkin' cute freckles. What can I say I just love her!

This one is just funny to me because when it snows most kids want to sled, build a snowman, etc.... Well, not my girl. She can barely get herself out the door before she just falls into it and starts rolling. She even buries herself in it like she is at the beach. It's quite comical!

Now I just have to say.... I'm in! I miss this. I miss my girls and all the encouragement that we give to each other. So, I am going to commit to getting started again, yay!

Celebration Day!!!

The BIG Celebration day finally came. It was long awaited and beautifully done. My family and friends did such a great job. I can honestly say that I LOVED every single minute of it. Me & my mom had worried about how Morgan would do in such a large crowd but she was wonderful and very thankful for all her gifts. Every time that she opened a gift she would look for who gave it to her and then run and hug and kiss them. It was so sweet!!!!!

These were made by my cousin Beth, although I do have to say we both curled ribbon for a while. It was fun!

The fruit was also done by Beth. I thought she did such a wonderful job. So creative!!!

This was the cake. It says "A Dream is a Wish your Heart makes."

A picture of the picture table and a book where guests could write a little note for us to look back on. Loved it!

The Little Miss of Honor, Miss Morgan herself complete with all her sass!

The both of us together.

Seriously, one of the best days of my life! I am so thankful for all of my wonderful friends and family who have been there for us. You are all the best!!!!!

Happy 5th Birthday Morgie Boo!!!!

Morgan's 5th birthday was June13th. We had a small party at the house since it had been so crazy with the shower, the adoption, and still the big family celebration to come. I think that Morgan loved it. She needed something smaller this year. We had been struggling since the adoption day. These are one of things that made her the happiest. They always say it is the little things!

Morgan posing, as usual.

Just a cute pic.

A picture of us with the cake. Not very good lighting...oh well.

Before blowing out the candles.

Some of the crew.

Morgan with her presents.

She got lots of good stuff. This radio is adorable

And she got Chrissa's swim meet gear too.

Ethan gave Morgan's chair a test. Good thing to know it is made to last.....HA!!!

Molly and Morgan who is being silly as usual.

I think this pic is hilarious. Morgan trying on her new goggles.

Morgan trying out her new rain boots. These were one of her favorite gifts. She wore them everywhere with everything the whole weekend.

She had a great birthday even if it was almost completely overshadowed by her "very special day." A couple of weeks after her birthday she started getting excited about being 5. And still to this day it is how she starts almost every conversation. "Hey, guess what??? I'm FIVE!!!!!" To which myself, my family, and our friends all reply......."Really, still??" HA!!!!

I swear I am going to get caught up before the first day of school. So stay tuned!

"Very Special Day" Part 2

After our morning in the court we got to go do something fun. For quite some time I had planned on Morgan getting the Girl of the Year American Girl doll the day that she was adopted. After much talk and Morgan had been begging for Chrissa for months....we finally got to go. She was sooo excited. She insisted on taking Kit so that she could meet Chrissa and have dessert with us.

So cute! I had also promised that Chrissa could get her ears pierced. This is Morgan and Chrissa after her ears were pierced.

After all of that we headed to the Bistro....

for dessert. Morgan could not stop smiling when they brought hers out. I seriously think that it was the highlight of the day for her!!!!

Enjoying our day.

Morgan posing with her two big girls, Kit & Chrissa.

One final shot of Morgan playing with Chrissa after a long, eventful day!

Enjoy this little video that we shot at the AG Bistro. Morgan telling everyone about her day.

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It's our VERY SPECIAL DAY......finally!!!

Ever since I started this blog this has been the day that I have waited for.....June 8th 2009.... I just didn't know it. I thank God every day that it finally came. I first met my daughter on February 7th 2007. She was 2 years and 8 months old. I immediately loved her even though she wasn't my own. I had no clue what life had in store for either of us. Only one thing was certain.....whether she was mine for 2 days, 2 weeks, a year, or a lifetime I would love her every day for the rest of my life. We learned very quickly to take life one day at a time. We have went through alot together. Alot that only my closest friends and family know about. There were many times when I thought that she would be leaving me forever. Finally in October of 2008, when we arrived for the 1st of 3 days of TPR hearings her mother decided to just sign her rights over (apparently this is very common). From that day we went through all the motions needed to get to June 8th. Morgan will know that she is adopted but at this age we don't use that verbage. Trying to explain the day in an age appropiate way we told her that June 8th was going to be her "very special day" and that we would go see the judge and her name would be changed so that it would be like ours forever. We also told her that she would be with us forever. We counted down sleeps starting at 15, I believe. Until finally we woke up on the warm, sunny morning of June 8th.....looking a bit of a mess.....

How funny. I couldn't resist, I absolutely HAD to take a picture. She looks like cousin IT! ha!!! Anyway, the transformation began and we ended up looking much better.

She waited a long time to wear her "very special day" dress with her new initials on it. She was so excited. When we got to court she was so excited because she was the center of attention, exactly where every diva likes to be! When we were all called into the courtroom she got really reserved sitting in my lap. She said, "Mommy, I am very shy and I don't know why we are here and I am a little scared." Broke my heart. I reassured her that everything would be fine and before she knew it we would see the judge and then get to get on with the rest of our fun day.

We were called in 3rd out of 4 kids there that day. I wasn't exactly prepared for how much of Morgan's past would be talked about that day which sadly meant that I hadn't prepared Morgan for it either. But all in all it was very quick and surreal. Before I knew it we were taking pictures and out of there.

This is us with the judge. Morgan was petrified of him! He tried so hard to talk to her and tell her how cute she was but she wanted no part of him.

Me, my parents, Morgie, and the Judge.

The whole family.

Mary (our adoption caseworker), Harriet (our CASA), Gabby (DFCS resource worker), Casi (our caseworker), me, Morgie, and the judge.

Two very special girls on their adoption day. Sabrina and Morgan.

Me & my baby on the steps of the courthouse after the ceremony. It is our first offical "Mommy & Daughter" shot.

I have heard this poem before, but someone gave me a framed copy of it. I thought it was fitting of my emotions this day and every day.

Not flesh of my flesh,

Nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculously my own....

Never forget for a single minute-

You didn't grow under my heart-

but in it.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our very special day!!!!

It's a shower!!!

I know, I know I have SO much to catch up on AGAIN! My plan is to post at least a few times a week until I catch up. I am going to start with the very nice shower that my friends in SAFFT threw for me. It was princess themed and Morgan loved it. Here is a pic of Morgan shortly after being crowned for the day.

A picture of the two of us together.

The beautiful cake which said Dreams Come True.

Morgan got lots of nice gifts. Here she is showing off her new bracelet that Miss Casi gave her. It has her new initials on it!!

I call this one bubble girl....I always used to tell her case worker that I was going to bubble wrap her!! Ha!

We had an amazing time. We are so lucky to have such wonderful, supportive friends and family. This group, SAFFT, which was formed by my closest friends from the foster parents has provided some much needed support. It has allowed us to all get to know each other and now we have an instant support system. Any time we need advise or just to talk we have lots of friends to call upon. AND the best part is it is for foster and adoptive families so they aren't going to kick me out!!! Ha!!!

Stay tuned for more updates. Next will be out "Special Day!" And goodness knows we have been waiting for that FOREVER!!!!

So, so long....

Well friends alot has happened since I last posted. All I have to say is get ready for a ton of pics! Ha! First it was my Papa's 80th Birthday. Here is Morgan giving him a hug. She loves her Papa Clay.

Then we decorated eggs in the dark during a power outage!

Then it was Easter weekend. We went to one of my cousins house and had an egg hunt. Here is Morgan petting one of their pet ducks.

Playing with the girls.

The Easter Bunny made a stop at our house.

Ready for church.

She learned to make her own bed. This was the first time by herself!

My nephew went to his girlfriends prom. First Ethan with Morgan (she calls him Macho Man).

Then with Meredith. She was beautiful. Morgan said she looked like a princess!

And we played outside alot last weekend!

Whew, caught up! We have a very busy 2 months ahead of us. My nephew and niece are both going to their schools prom, my nephew is graduating high school, Morgan's adoption, her birthday, and a lot of family birthdays!! A lot!

I have to admit ladies.......I am struggling a bit now. It is ironic because this happens when I thought that things were going to be getting easier. But for two years I have been able to have opinions about her education and everything but not the final say. EVERYthing was geared toward what would be best when we went to court. I am now dealing with the ramifications of all of those things that I didn't agree with and now am trying very hard to correct but it isn't easy. One of the biggest things right now is school. Almost 2 years ago Morgan's counselor thought that she needed to be put in a class with a small student to teacher ratio and that dealt with behavioral/emotional issues. I was alright with this at first. At that time Morgan didn't play with kids her own age at all. When I would go pick her up at daycare all the other kids would be playing and she would be in a corner by herself. Unfortunately, the only thing that the DFCS office could find was a public Special Needs Pre-K program that accepted 3 year olds. We went for testing and I knew the lady. Morgan did not test in. Some strings were pulled and they got her in on an emotional basis. I very clearly asked that day what ramifications that this would have on her later. They assured me that there wouldn't be any at that age. That we wouldn't have a problem getting her out of the program later. Well, after last year we re-enrolled her for this year. We hadn't went to court yet and last year did help her so much. She quit sucking her thumb constantly, kept her clothes on, and made friends. I almost cried the first day that she came home telling me about her dear friend Trey. Trey, she knew a friends name!!!!! It was a first!! This year, however has been a completely different situation. Her teacher is very young, very defensive, and she certainly has her picks among the kids and makes it very well known. It is also impossible to talk to her about anything. Morgan has regressed a good bit in the behavioral aspects this year. I have said many times if there were anywhere else to put her I would take her out.

I say all of that to ask this..... We go Monday for our placement meeting for next year. Her teacher is adamant that she go to DDK (Developmentally Delayed Kindergarten). I am adamant that she will go into mainstream Kindergarten. She is learning more bad behavior from being in these classes than anything. She is NOT developmentally delayed in any area. She is VERY smart. I have asked various times through out the year and have been told that Morgan is "at least" where the peers are in her class. She knows most of the things that you learn in Kindergarten with the exception of reading (she only does sight words now) and tying her shoes. So, I need your opinion friends. Am I doing the right thing. Her caseworker and CASA worker are 100% behind me on this. Her teacher has invited literally half the county to this meeting and I am thinking that it isn't going to be pretty. I feel like Morgan deserves a chance to show us what she can do. I want her to be able to thrive in a normal classroom setting. If she has problems and needs to have help then at that point I would not be against it. But I do feel that she deserves the chance to show us if she can do it or not. This is a chance that she has never been given. I need your advise and prayers that I make the right decisions for Morgan.

Thank you ladies....if you have stuck around this long!!! I promise I won't be so long away next time.