Hannah's First Christmas 2010

Even though Hannah is a little over 2 years old, this is her first Christmas.  She was so excited!  Michael had told her to go sit down and he would bring over her presents.  She listened without putting up a stink.  She sat on the floor and just waited patiently.  If you know Hannah, then you know this is not her typical reaction.

Hannah has a few favorite things and chaptstick is one of them.

Cody and Hannah waiting for more presents on Hannah's Ariel couch.

Collin's new ripstik.  He is so good at this, and yes he did it down our hallway.  Yes, I attempted it as well.  No, I'm not as good as he is.

Cody's new Marines shirt.  He's so into Marines and shooting guns.

Hannah is ready to go to Grandma's house now.

Hannah is showing Josiah how his toy works.  He loved this thing.  He would make it honk over and over.

All the cousins on my side of the family.  

Melody and Josiah.  Pretty and cute.

A Little Christmas Parade

Here are a few photos of the little parade in the Big Town of Oneonta.  It was so windy and cold out but at least it wasn't raining.

Here's Hannah with her hat actually on.  

Aunt Retta, Collin, and Cody.  Little Josiah was sound asleep and missed the whole parade.

The finale, of course, ended with Santa.

First Halloween

As many of you know, Hannah loves to eat.  So, when it came to Trick or Treating, Hannah was on fire and in heaven.  Everyone loved her and gave her extra candy(not to mention the fact that she took extra candy too). 

It seems ladybugs were very popular this year, especially among the adopted.

GI Joe and the Marines helped escort Hannah around town.

Look at Her Now!!

It was 9 months ago that we met our little girl Hannah.  She was a shy and scared little chunky thing.  Now she is very outgoing for the most part and has no problems telling us all no no.  It  comes out as mo mo and she's shaking her finger at us at the same time.  She still has another surgery to go through to repair her palate, which will then help her immensely with her speech.  I thought I would post some before and after pictures.

......AND NOW.....

October Catch up/Baring the Soul

I have not been doing well keeping up with this blog.  Life has taken over and 3 kids are definitely way more than 2.  I have gone back to work and both boys are in soccer.  We've had Cody's and Michael's birthdays in September and here we are in October already.

I don't know if I have been very honest with everyone about this whole adoption process.  I've shared more on Facebook and with my close friends in person.  One of my friends that I made through this adoption process, is very eloquent in the way she has described her issues with her adopted daughter.  I can't even come close, but I will try.
  Hannah is a cutie.  She can be very funny, but she is also very stubborn and at times very defiant.  I have little to no patience when it comes to her.  I envisioned a sweet little girl when I was going through the adoption process, and then reality hit.  They are not the same.  God is apparently teaching me how to love her and to grow with her in the loving process b/c she doesn't know how to love.  She now will kiss and hug us whereas before she wouldn't do either.  She does not like to cuddle and won't sit still for anything.  As a mother, I long for those cuddly moments and for my child to respond in the ways that I need, but she doesn't.  She makes it very difficult for me to even like her at times.  I know this is harsh, but it's how I feel.  I know I am not alone when I express my feelings as an adoptive mother and I want other mother's to know that they are not alone or crazy either.  There is help out there.  There are specialists that deal with attachment disorders and yes I have begun seeing one.  I am trusting that the Lord will help me to eventually love Hannah with all my heart and soul, just like my boys.

Now here are some pictures that highlight the last month or so.

The first day of school.

Our goalie, Cody.

Cody's 10th birthday party at Interskate 88.

Hannah after eating her chocolate cupcake at Cody's party.

Collin and his good friend Nolan at Cody's party.

Big cousin Jetta pushing Hannah on her bike.

Catching Up

I know it has been a long time since I've updated Hannah's blog, so I'm going to try and catch up a bit.  This summer has been a blur and has involved Collin's 7th birthday and Hannah's 2nd birthday(but her 1st with us).  Cody's 10th b-day is coming up on the 29th and I celebrated my 38th b-day.  Michael's is also coming up on Sept. 25th.  We managed to squeeze in a not so wonderful camping trip as well.  Now I'm back to the grindstone with 7th graders coming on the 8th.

I forgot, I also celebrated my 20 year class reunion.

Hannah's 2nd birthday.

Hannah's castle cake compliments of Amaris.  Of course Cody handles the fire.

Hannah's cooking ensemble and kitchen set that she got for her birthday.

Collin at Old Forge.

Hannah was loving the animals at the petting zoo at Water Safari, as long as daddy was holding her.

Hannah and mommy at grandma's.

Here's the youngest cousin, Josiah, chillin with grandpa.

Big cousin Cody and little cousin Josiah.

New Cousin

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything but that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy.  My sister Loretta just had her first baby this morning.  His name is Josiah and he weighed 7lbs. 2oz.  We all went up to see him and mommy this evening.  Hannah was a bit jealous while I was holding Josiah, but she was also very curious about him.

The proud big cousin Cody, with the new little cousin Josiah.

Here he is yawning.  He had a rough day.

Here's the other proud big cousin, Collin.

Here's the proud Auntie(me) with little Josiah.

Now even Hannah is a big cousin.  I got several kisses from her while I was holding Josiah(jealous maybe?).

Bathing Cutie

Here's Hannah in her new bathing suit.  I also had her don the sun hat as well to cover her soft skin and try to keep in her silicone plugs in her ears.  She wasn't in the mood in the beginning but once we got in the water, she was much happier.

She was not happy here.

Here she is with her cousin Isaiah, and they were both watching a little boy that just caught a feather.

Now she's more in the mood.  The infamous cheesey "cheese".

A Little Fun in the Sun

Today Hannah, Collin, and I went to the pool in Bainbridge, but it wasn't open yet, so we had to improvise.  Collin dug out the spider web infested slip-n-slide and we put the hose on it(b/c I couldn't hook the hose up to it, long story).  At first Hannah loved watching Collin slide down it and laughed hysterically.  She even seemed to enjoy going down the slide with Collin holding her.  When I tried to slide her down on her belly or even her butt, she wanted nothing to do with it.  She cried.  These pictures are after the whole sliding incident and I think she was cold and not really in the best mood.  Collin was in a good mood though.

She would not say cheese for me.  She was pulling her infamous "ignoring mommy" routine.

Collin always says cheese for me.

Cody's National Honor Society Ceremony

We are so proud of Cody.  He was accepted into the Elementary National Honor Society. 

Is he proud of himself or what?

Hannah was there to see her big brother Cody on stage too.

Collin's Last Concert at Guilford School

Last night Collin performed his last concert at the Guilford Elementary School.  It was so cute.  It was also hotter than Dutch love. 

Get down Collin!

Hannah was so excited when she saw Collin on stage.  She was dancing and trying to copy Collin and she was screaming with joy!  It was so cute!!