A Princess Bed With a Slide!

Climbing up for the first time And sliding down

Yeah

Not that way

And up again

Big smile

There is a mirror for the fairest princess of them all

Looking in the mirror

Ready to slide

This is fun!

Dora sheets are on and being snuggled with

AWWWWW!

The nook underneath

Reading

Multi-media center--TV and DVD player--Barbie Princess

We put a mat and bean bag just for our sense of security. She would never jump. She did not want the full tent covering the entire bed, so she just has a private alcove.

Down I go

Whee!

Princess bed success. Rich got it together without too much stress, except one time when the pieces were mismarked (back and front) and the holes were on the wrong side for the ladder and he had to take it apart and redo it and I couldn't help him with the kids. We love how her room looks and she loves it too and is so excited. She did not want the full tent covering the entire bed, so we just put part of it for her alcove underneath her loft and put a chair, books, and non-Seth appropriate toys. We set up her TV and DVD and she stayed in her room last night! She watched DVD's until she fell asleep on her bean bag chair and then I put her in her bed and she stayed asleep from 12:45 a.m. to 5:40 a.m. When she got up, she did not cry. She just called me and said she wanted to get down and cuddle with Mommy. I brought her in bed with us and she fell right back to sleep. I want her to feel that she can come back and forth until she gets comfortable. It might be novel now and there will be setbacks, just like potty training, but that is ok. I just want her to make the decision and feel safe and secure. We are so proud of her. She totally understood that Mommy and Daddy are next door and she is going to stay in her room and she can watch DVD's, read or play until she is tired. She has always had difficulty inducing sleep and if this is what we need to do for now, it is ok. Each child develops differently and I think she will always be the one reading until the wee hours.

I would have loved a room like hers and we are so happy she loves it. A little girl's fairy tale room for our forever princess! They make slide beds in boy themes too, but I don't think we will elevate Seth when he is a toddler because he will jump out for the fun and thrill of it. Maybe he can have a car or train bed on the floor.

Splish Splash and Princesses

I have discovered that the water moves and I can SPLASH! Who me? Splashing in the bath--never!

This is fun making Mommy, the floor and the counter all wet. Next bath--upstairs in the bathtub. It has been nice not having to lean over, but those days are over.

I can swim! Look at me reach and pull strokes!

Splish, Splash

A princess who is just about to dart off the couch and away from the camera. I was attempting to get her princess sweatshirt, princess sweatpants, sparkly sneakers and crown.

How is this Mommy?

Laughing girl who won't sit still for a photo opp

Running away and laughing

Fake smile because I asked her to

Yesterday we went to see Disney on Ice--Princess Fairytale (or something like that). It was wonderful and both kids enjoyed it. Savannah was a little scared at the fireworks, darkness, witches, etc., but she oooed and ahhhed and loved Cinderella and the princesses. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Tinkerbell also made appearances. All and all she loved it. She wore her light up necklace from Disney World and a crown. Seth watched, slept and ate. He was mesorized by the lights and really followed the ice skating. The skating was wonderful. They are so talented. We did not take the camera into the show, so I tried to get some princess pictures of Savannah, but she wasn't very agreeable. A princess does what she wants. She was so cute though in her princess sweatshirt and sweatpants.

Seth has discovered how to splash in the bath and boy does he have fun. I guess it is time to move him from the sink to the bathtub, unless I want a soaked kitchen. It has been so nice and easy not to have to bend over the tub, but those days are over. He had so much fun splashing around and figuring out the properties of water. He stayed in for a long time (until he had displaced all the water). Savannah never splashed in the pool or the bath. She doesn't like splashing to this day. That is one reason we have to give her private swimming lessons to learn to swim. If anyone splashes in the pool she covers her face and gets out. I guess Seth will be different. He smiled ear to ear when he splashed and got Mommy and Daddy all wet. Savannah left the kitchen immediately. It will be interesting when they are older and they play in the pool together and he splashes her.

It has been freezing cold here and we are staying warm and cozy. I dislike the winter very much and we are trying to plan the future and see where we may end up living. For now, we are planning a warm weather vacation! Whoo Hoo!

Not Quite Final...Yet

My big helping girl--she loves to put the silverware away And she does a great job too

All done

Having hot chocolate after playing in the snow

I love my new walker. I can get all around the kitchen. It is fun being able to get everywhere.

Yummy pizza for the first time. Savannah took this picture. You can tell Minnie Mouse is dining with us too.

I LOVE pizza

Savannah's new favorite thing to do. Watch Dora on the computer

Well, we went to court yesterday to finalize Seth's adoption--something that should have taken a half an hour took three hours with no finalization. The judge was very nice, helpful, and compassionate, but since this is so foreign to them and they are not familiar with Japanese adoptins and CT is one of 6 states that is an agency state and doesn't have any provisions for private adoptions, they are stuck as to how to approve it within the laws. We are stuck in a technicality and gray area, so the judge has to get special permission to treat this a unique case and get it signed off on by a chief justice. She said it sounds worse than it is and there isn't going to be a problem, but she needs 30 days to get it worked out and bring it in front of the Adoption Review Board. They called today to let us know they are working on it and just waiting for some return phone calls but they are very close to getting it set and we shouldn't worry. Even the judge said it is just the piece of paper she can't give us right now, but it doesn't change that we are Seth's parents and he is our son. It is just not official in CT yet and he cannot yet get citizenship, a US birth certificate, a passport, etc. So, it is just stressful, frustrating, and upsetting, but it is going to get finalized, just a month or so later than planned. So, now we have to rethink our vacation plans for March. I think we are going to head South now to Miami and the US Virgin Islands.

Snow--Jnauary 2, 2010

I am not so sure about this Wait, maybe it is fun to be pulled on the baby tobogan Savannah is actually pulling him on the sled

And off they go

Savannah and Daddy playing in the snow with Seth together

All bundled up and ready to play.

I am in styling in my winter hat from Nordstrom

Savannah on her sled and Seth in his and she got him to crack a little smile.

Big girl playing on the sled and in the snow

Daddy pulling both kids on their sleds

January 2nd turned out to be a snowy one. We woke up to moderate snow that turned heavy. Canceled our plans, but that was ok. Rich took Savannah out to play and then she came to the door and asked for Seth to go out. It was more positive this time than last. I had him in a really warm one piece snowsuit that covered his feet and hands and a new warm, wool hat from Nordstrom. Can you tell Mommy likes dressing up her baby boy? Seth did not cry, but he did not smile or laugh (only once with Savannah). He is so cute and fun. And Savannah had a ball in the snow doing her own thing running around the property, pulling her sled and Seth's sled. She also enjoyed the hot chocolate and marshmallows when she came in :)

Today is very snowy and blowy. The snow is going to subside, but the winds are strong and it is cold, so the kids won't be going outside too much today.

Enjoy the pictures and stay warm and cozy.

Happy New Year and New Decade--Ringing in 2010

Playing together while it is snowing out Surprise snow on New Year's Eve

Taking Minnie Mouse for a ride on the Alphabet Train

How cute are they playing together. I love it!

Beautiful girl in front of the tree at the Westin Providence

Mommy and her baby boy on his first New Year at Flemings

Mommy and her two precious angels

Enjoying a New Year's Eve meal

What a cute face

Mommy and my best girl

New Year's Morning having juice and watching DVD

Doesn't want to take a picture, so first DVD watching of 2010

Love my sweet boy and want to snuggle him forever

Mommy with Seth taking his first nap of 2010

We had a wonderful New Year's Celebration for Seth's First New Year and Savannah understanding New Year. We woke up and the weather was iffy and it started snowing really hard and I did not even know if we were going to be able to go, but luckily the snow stopped early and everything was cleared and safe to drive.

We went to the Westin Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. It was really nice there. Savannah went swimming and then we got ready for dinner. We ate a Flemings, a premier and upscale steak house. It was a 2 1/2 hour dinner and the kids were fantastic and everyone loved them. They ate great, the service was outstanding, and the food was good. We walked around and then went back to the room, got in jammies and watched the ball go down and we were all up to ring in 2010 together. Everyone was up. Seth has a fun first new year.

The next day we had breakfast buffet and then went to the mall and took advantage of the sales. We had a great day and time together as a family and it will be very memorable.