It was nice while it lasted!

For many years I have heard horror stories of little girls and their clothes. The fits and tantrums over the exact outfit that they just HAVE to wear. Well, I have been pretty lucky so far. Morgan loves clothes but she has, for the most part, always been willing to wear whatever I lay out for her. Sometime over the summer she started showing more of an interest. Usually conversations went something like this...

Me: Morgan go put your clothes on.

Morgan: I really, really want to wear my pink skirt today.

Me: Well, what do you think about the outfit I laid out? Isn't it so pretty?

Morgan(the pleasing child that she is): Is that what you really want me to wear today Mommy?

Me(knowing that she wants to please me...and yes I know that I am horrible): Well if you want to wear it...

Morgan: That outfit is the prettiest Mommy! I want to wear that today.

That little scene has played out over and over and over for the last 6 months or so. This school year she wants to wear skirts or dresses to school all the time. I try to explain to her that it wouldn't look very good for her to be wearing a dress and hanging upside down on the monkey bars and lets not forget that I really don't want another "incident" in which my child comes home crying because the PE teacher yelled at her for not wearing tennis shoes... (but uhummm, that a whole 'nother story). That worked for a while.... Now we are starting the "but MOMMMYYYY so-and-so wears dresses and skirts to school EVERY day!!!!" So, I have tried to acquire some skorts and leggings for her to wear some this winter, but not every day, sorry kiddo.

Yesterday she called from my parents house and started the minute they got home planning her outfit for today. She just had to wear a pretty, pretty skirt, a cool shirt, pink leggings, boots, her butterfly necklace, and her watch. REALLY?!?!! I just said, "Ok, we'll talk about it when we get home tonight." I thought she would forget.....I really should have known better! So, as soon as we got home we went to her closet and came out with three options.

She was so excited this morning saying over and over again how pretty she was going to be. It was so funny because every time she said it she would look over at me and say, "I know, I know Mommy...I'm pretty every day, but today I am going to be the very prettiest of all!!!"

Here is my very opinionated little girl this morning all ready for school.

I think she looks the absolute PRETTIEST today myself, but then I am a bit biased I suppose.

I am aware of how lucky I am that she has pretty much been my own little doll to dress up for this long, but I gotta tell you girls... I have seen a glimpse of the future and I'm a bit scared, lol!

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!!!!