Hectic Life and Deja Vu?

I know that it has been ages since I posted anything here. Things have been crazy hectic here! Work has been out of control...Teegen has been sick for the entire month of July...and we are experiencing some deja vu in regards to Larry's fingerprints. Seriously...how many times does he need to be printed? So far, it is at least twice! Didn't we learn anything last time?

But a majority of our time has been occupied with our sick princess. First it was an ear infection (#7), then it was hand-foot-and mouth disease, which kept her out of child care for seven days. Just when I think we are over the hump...bam, day care calls and she has a fever of 100.3. I pick up here, take her to the doctor and anticipate an ear infection. Instead, as I am signing her into the doctor's, she started throwing up! That is something no one covers with you when you bring your new baby home! Poor thing. I ended up throwing her shirt away and she went home with only a diaper on. As she has gotten older, I've stopped carrying an extra outfit with me... guess I learned my lesson. T seems to be back to her old self. Keep us in your thoughts, as she has tubes put in her ears on Tuesday.

Here are some recent pics!

With her BFF Thorn. A few minutes later and they were kissing!

Hi Mommy!

Running on the sofa is so fun!

Apparently, we don't feed her enough!

I can't believe a year's gone by so fast!

Somehow, I've forgotten a 12 month update, which I realized when I looked at my calendar today at work and noticed that this week she will be 13 months old!

Here's what she is up do!

• She is funny! She loves to laugh and do funny things that she knows will make us laugh. She loves to laugh at the cats and poor Tobie!
• Very independent. When she is playing, she wants to do things her way and there is no other way.
• Still not comfortable not holding on to anything when she walks. But cruises around beautifully if there is something to hold onto.
  
• Weighs in at 23 pounds and 29 inches
• Had her 7th ear infection this month.
• Is a picky eater, which I am working on...
• ...but she will eat Cheerios, yogurt and fruit.
• Her hair has gone a little wild
• Says "Daddy, Hi, Bye Bye, Dog, MaMa and Uh-Oh." I think she said Zelda a few days ago, as I was fussing at an unruly dog

Here are some recent pictures of our diva!

Belated Birthday Bash Pics

I'm an awful blogger... I know this. Things have been incredibly hectic and stressful around our house these days, in preparation for the fall. And somehow, I missed posting Teegen's birthday pictures and a 12 month update! So, here are some party pics.

Pop with his two favorite girls, Teegen and Annie

Teegen in her birthday tutu, trying out her new favorite toy. Wow that thing makes a lot of noise!

Cake anyone?

Why am I wearing this thing? It is my party afterall!

Exhausted after all the fun!

Happy July 4th

Hope that everyone has a great and safe July 4th!

Loving my new red wagon

The entire family took a walk this evening and Teegen enjoyed her red wagon, a birthday gift from her Pop!

Seriously Mommy, let's go!

So Big!

Ummm...Daddy, are you and Tobie coming with us or not?

Father's Day

Today is Larry's first official Father's Day. I realized this morning that his first Father's Day falls on the first anniversary of signing Teegen's adoption papers. We plan on just being together today, enjoying each other's company and chasing Teegen through the house.

Just a few minutes "home" from the hospital

So big, celebrating Mother's Day


And of course, I can't write about Father's Day without mentioning my dad and Teegen's Pop. We hope you had a great morning playing golf! We love you! This picture is from Teegen's birthday party with Pop and Annagrace, his other favorite girl.

Reflecting on one year

Wow! What an amazing year it has been! It has been difficult for me to wrap my brain around the notion that Teegen is one year old. It seems like only yesterday Larry was calling me, letting me know that there was a baby girl waiting for us.

In preparing for Teegen's birthday, I've thought a lot about our trip out West to meet her. I've recounted the story an endless number of times in recent weeks to basically anyone who would listen. And I've been thinking a lot about Teegen's birthmother...what a monumental decision she made...and in talking with her throughout the last year, she's never regretted it.

Since I was a little girl, the one constant in my life was that I wanted to be a mother. As a teenager, when I really started processing the death of my mother, that drive became even stronger. Regardless of situations faced concerning getting pregnant and all the ups and downs of the adoption roller coaster, I always knew this dream would one day become reality.

The first few days of parenthood, beginning from when we first heard that this little girl was destined to be our daughter are literally burned into my brain. I remember every emotion, thought and image swirling in my brain. From our mad dash through the Charlotte airport to ensure that we didn't miss our flight to not eating for 14+ hours to feeling like I would surely throw up as we waited to meet Teegen's birthmother to the smell of the NICU soap are still readily available for me to conjure up at the mere thought of those days. These are all an integral part of my "birth" experience. When friends discuss their labor and birth experiences, I happily tell them mine.

The fact that I was chosen to be this little girl's mother is still so surreal to me. As surreal as it was to look at her, so pink and new and tiny, when I first laid eyes on her. She was so so so tiny and truly the miracle I had hoped for.

To say that Teegen has changed my life does not begin to describe the impact she has had on me. She is the center of my world, without a doubt. And I cannot remember what we did before she came or what life was like before. She is truly a blessing.





And to think, we may get to start this all over again in the fall!

Look how far she's come!

Can you believe that my sweet, sweet baby girl is one year old today! How fast the time has gone. I'm working on a longer post, but wanted to post something first thing this morning.


Here she is in the first pictures we ever laid eyes on:

And here she is now...my how a year can change everything.

Making Faces

Someone has discovered that they don't always have to smile for the camera!