Alabaster Mom

Winter returned over the weekend, so we didn't do much. I painted one of our bathrooms on Saturday. I thought that my other half would spend quality time with his child while I painted, but instead left her to watch Noggin while he attempted to watch the NFL draft and play online poker simultaneously. We had a friendly conversation about that later in the evening after the kid went to bed. On Saturday we had A's three-year photos taken. It went pretty well. I attempted to change her clothes and re-style her hair halfway through, but I mucked up her hair somehow. Curly hair can go from adorable ringlets to crazy poufy cotton candy in a matter of seconds. We did purchase some good shots from the first half of the photo session. She has a ding on her forehead in all of the shots. ("How did you get this owie?" "I don't know.") I did select an outfit that covered up the bruises on her legs. She also has a fairly nasty scrape on one calf, which happened at day...

I purchased this item last week: Oh yes, I sure did. I now own a cupcake caddy. Say it loud and say it proud. The kid and I will be making cupcakes for her to take to daycare for her birthday next week, so I figured this would be the safest way to send them. Plus, I'm sure this will be the first of a thousand times I will need to bake cupcakes for one event or another. My mom warned me that most such requests will be submitted to me, by my daughter, at 9:30 p.m., the night before said cupcakes are needed.

The kid has her first dance class tonight. She is mucho excited about wearing her tap and ballet shoes. She pronounces "ballet" like this: buh-lay, with the accent on the second syllable. No doubt that's how the dancers at the Bolshoi pronounce it, too. No amount of correcting her seemed to work, so we just let it go. She says a lot of things that are almost right, so you pick your battles, eh? The other night she told me she was a "little bit very hungry." When she wants to watch something on TV that is different from what she is already watching, she says, "I wanna watch something more else." Again, not exactly right, but not so incorrect that I don't know what she means. Now, I don't know how this dance class stuff is going to play out. My daughter has been walking for nearly two years but still sometimes falls down for no particular reason. She likes to run in one direction with her head turned in another, which always leads to yet another...

I got a new foster dog today. Chloe is a one-year-old deaf Boxer girl. She has the dirtiest ears I've seen in eight years of fostering, but seems to be in good shape otherwise. She's a sweet little kissy girl. In this photo you can tell that she is very tired. White Boxers tend to turn pink around the eyes, ears, and mouth when they get tired. Just this morning she was still in a shelter so it's been a long day for her. Explaining to the kid that Chloe's ears don't work is proving to be a challenge. (Chloe came from a home with small children, so I knew she would be safe to foster.) Oh, and the reason for surrender? Well, the former owners didn't have a fenced yard and Chloe ignored the shock collar they put on her. So, all she needs is a fenced yard, a little love, and another dog to play with. She and Giddy have been playing all day. I think he is in loooooove .

Dear Baby Girl, I've been saying for some time now that I would write down your birth story. I still remember every moment like it just happened, but no doubt my memory will become less sharp over time. You were due on April 26, 2005. We first met your birthmother, J, in early February, which meant that we only had three months to prepare for your arrival. There was quite a flurry of painting and shopping and planning. During those three months, I talked with J regularly, and we had a couple of lunch dates. I got to know her and her son, who was four years old at that time. Your dad and I were so excited - we could not wait to meet you! April 26th came and went. J and I stayed in touch regularly. She had been one centimeter dilated for quite some time and wasn't progressing beyond that. Her doctor decided that he would admit her to the hospital and induce labor on Tuesday, May 3rd. We asked J if it would be okay if your dad and I went to the hospital that day and she said that ...

The birthday preparations are well underway. Don’t you like how I act like it is a national holiday or something? Yesterday I hopped on Priceline to book a hotel for our big weekend away. I bid a little higher than normal and asked for a three-star room, in hopes of snagging a reservation at a joint that has a pool. I’ve used Priceline a lot and it’s a hit-or-miss affair. Last time we used it, we ended up with a beautiful suite, access to a pool, and a free breakfast – all for around $55.00. I put in my bid and then voila – I have a room at a Hilton. So, I dig up the website for that location. It turns out that we get to pay an additional $22.00 for parking. Sa-weet! Then I click around some more and find that the hotel has a full-blown water park inside. And everyone is welcome . . . if they have purchased a water park package. Well, there is no way I am going to explain to a three-year-old that there is a water park in the same building but that we can’t go because we don’t have the ...

Yesterday at church I was attempting to listen to the morning's announcements while the kid bounced around on my lap, seemingly oblivious to the fact that we were in church. She ate fruit snacks (rejecting a "tainted" one that had two colors swirled together and spitting it into my hand), flipped through the hymnal, and flirted with a man who was sitting behind us. At one point she leaned in, hugged me around the neck, and then said, "Mama, you farted!" Please believe me when I say that I was not, in fact, guilty of this particular offense. If I had been, I would've admitted it. "I didn't fart. Now, shhhh while the lady is talking, okay?" "But you farted!" It was a little louder this time. I swiveled my head around to look at the churchgoers in the nearby rows. I smiled as if to say, "Farting in church! Ha ha! Who would do that , eh? This kid - such a card!" I hissed at her through my teeth, "Okay, yes, fine. Now just s...