Morning!

Notice blue letter "E", her sleeping companion

When I went to get T.McB up this morning, I found her buck naked laying on her tummy looking up at me smiling... all I saw was a big grin and a bottom. She greeted me with, “I awake for day!” and a giggle. Cutest sight ever.

Georgie, Blankie and even Lamby

Two is better than one!

I made this! Same cake plate I had my cakes on when I was little...

A very cute, sweet, kind little girl is soon-to-be TWO so the celebrations have begun!

Nature and Nurture pizza party

Our birth family came to town today for our winter visit, just in time to wish Nori a happy birthday. We caught up at our house over the hum of dehumidifiers (no wonder my lips are so chapped) then headed to the Italian Pie Shoppe for pizza & cake, followed by fun the Children's Museum. We met Tasha's fiance and reminded him how lucky he is. We reminisced about the days leading up to Norelle's birth and talked about our adoption and what it means to us. Our relationship may sound weird from the outside, but it is healing and bonding at the same time. Besides, I tend to shy away from normal.

giving the dino a snack

Dentist!

Nori had her first dentist appointment today and she did great! Hermie confirmed hat she has an underbite that she will not grow out of and down the road will need braces (maybe twice, once when she is 9 and then again after her jaw finishes growing) to help align her bite. But for now they were impressed with her great brushing and eating habits!

Tomorrow our birth family is coming to town from Duluth and we are going to explore the Children's Museum!

And apparently, THIS runs in the family...

What?

pipe burst!

UPDATE: You told me so!

Despite application of space heater, a valve in the dishwasher froze and burst, allowing many, many, many gallons of water to flood our kitchen and saturate through into the basement causing a small deluge. Plumber called in some restoration pros who currently have fans, filters, and other odd devices trying to suck the moisture out of the floor boards. We may very well need new hardwood floors and yes, a new dishwasher. Insurance guy is coming out today. Ironically, just yesterday we signed on with a contractor to finish the basement to address these issues. Bring your swimsuit, we are going to run through the drips!

ORGINAL POST:
It finally happen! My cold heart froze the pipes solid. Awaiting plumber and his crack...

ideas...

I finally gave my dog a bath, one of my only accomplishments over break. I polished by black MBT's dress shoes/snow boots. Yes, they serve as both. You know how all cartoon characters' shoes look like boats? That's them.

I also watched some great shows, like Dexter, Keeping Up with the Kardashians (I need them do my make-up, I wear far too little comparatively), Teen Mom, and Pregnant and Homeless about a couple living in the woods awaiting their second baby. It gave me some new ideas about outreach for an adoption. Just kidding, that baby might have poison ivy!

Yesterday we were chatting with a new friend from church, we'll call him Joel (that's his name actually) and he was telling us that his wife, we'll call her Rachael (her real name as well) had a rough night and could not make it that morning. I pried, asking "Oh, is she sick?" and he said, half under his breathe, "No, it's just that time of the month". Then Jake, who obviously did not hear this very well, chimed in with " Oh, I know! We all have those days!!". OMG!

Curiously, Joel then invited my menstruating husband and I over for dinner later this month... which has me on a new mission : never cook again. Continue meeting new people, most likely from Bloom where the friendliness is OFF THE CHARTS (friendliness is very unnatural for me, I only like people I already know), to receive home cooked meals. Violate the #1 social norm, reciprocity, and never ever invite them over, simply ditch them in favor of new people who offer to feed us. This plan is flawless!

Happy 2010!

Lounging at home!

2010! Seems like just yesterday we were hoarding food and water down in the basement awaiting the annihilation brought on by Y2K...ah, the good old days! Actually, New Years 2000 was 13 days after I graduated from UNI and moved in with Jake, only days aways from starting grad school. Who knew that 3 weeks later we would be engaged! Well, Jake knew, I guess.

Daddy's food always tastes better

I had a wonderful LAZY week off with my daughter and husband! We ate too much, sat around in our pj's, took naps, avoided exercise, and barely left the house. I kind of wish I had been more motivated and productive but at the same time I needed to be a bum, if only to remind myself that having a structure is a good thing.

loves her letters

Nori & I had lots of quality time together... it's going to be hard to take her back to daycare, even though she told me she "misses Tammy, Drew Bug and Lana Banana" (sorry Dagney). This morning she woke up with a runny nose and asked me for a "neeklex". She has been so loving telling me "miss you" and "want mommy" when I gallivant round to wild places like the bathroom. Breaks my heart, no idea how I am going to get on that plane for New Zealand in March. She has been napping well again and just being a true JOY to be around!!

Big girl underpants, dry 47% of the time