To celebrate our Gotcha Day, the three of us headed to the Florida Keys for some sunshine and fun!
I can NEVER get tired of this view - the smell of the beach, the sounds and the feel of the sand on my feet is my happy place! I think Lily takes after me too as far as this goes!
I'll let our pictures tell the story of our few days in paradise:
Waiting on the elevator
Playing at the desk in the room
Outside restaurant for lunch one day
Beautiful!! This was the view from our room in Miami. We then drove to Key Largo for a couple of days.
Ahhh, playing in the sand with Daddy enjoying the view too!
Lily thought it was pretty funny to have her legs buried in the sand.
A family selfie
Loved having the trees down on the beach - made it very pretty and relaxing!
Lily has been suffering from a little cold this past week so not a lot has been happening around here. I think we may have gone through 3 boxes of kleenex just within the past few days!
I think we are about to turn the corner and that makes for a happy Lily and Mommy!
So I've said before that Lily doesn't "nap", but she will fall asleep in the afternoon for a bit if we are out and about. I did drive around a couple of days just so she would get a little nap. A quick stop for some coffee and we both enjoyed our afternoon rides.
With her giraffe this day
Even on a walk she took a quick snooze
On the way home from school one day
We enjoyed stickers one day for some fun
When you don't feel great, sometimes a yummy snack will help.
Like I said, she's about to turn the corner to feeling better so we did get in a few pictures while we were outside yesterday.
How many of us know someone who is adaptive and resilient? Who comes to your mind when you hear those words?
My answer is easy...Lily.
Getting ready for school and driving her to school the other day, I began thinking about how well she has adapted. Not just to school, but to everything. It's really amazing. Had I been taken from everything I know and put into a situation with people who looked totally different and spoke a totally different language, I'm not so sure I would've done as well as her.
I had to take a picture of Lily's feet this day because those are her new big girl shoes! Where's my little girl going???
Thinking back to her beginning school almost 5 months ago and where she is now is such a complete turn around. In August, and for quite a while after, there were tears upon dropping off and again at picking up. We found out that Lily has a difficult time with transitions - not a surprise given her background. She would be OK with me and then I would leave so she would have to transition to her teachers. Then once she got use to them, it was time to transition back to me when it was time to go home. I use to not be able to tell Lily we were going to school until we actually got in the car or she would begin to be upset and worry. I hid her backpack so she didn't see it and secretly packed her lunch.
Ready for school!
Her teacher recommended watching an episode of Daniel Tiger. The episode about how grown ups come back. She mentioned this to me when I picked her up one day and she was upset. Daniel who? Tiger what? I had no idea that was even a show! Her teacher (she's really the best!) also let Lily take a stuffed animal from the classroom home with her and we could bring it back and forth. For a long time, she would carry it in to the room in the mornings and would be holding it when I picked her up.
All dressed the other day for school. Yes, she knew we were going.
Over time the tears stopped when I dropped her off because, duh, school was fun! Then when I picked her up, she wouldn't be crying but would hold on to her teacher for a bit longer before I had to take her. She was not that child who came running out calling, "Mommy, mommy". I had to check my ego at the door after the first few times of pick up and witnessing other toddlers doing that. I had to remind myself, Lily had quite a different background which has shaped her personality the way it is. Sometimes I forget that because she adapts so very well to many things and I feel like we've had her forever.
Lily with the stuffed porpoise from her class
Today it's a totally different story. I don't have to hide her backpack and she can see me packing her lunch. She knows when we get dressed where we are going and she is ok. She eagerly goes into the classroom to see her teacher, wash her hands and begin playing. I do tell her goodbye and that I love her but I'm not sure she notices that I'm leaving. She's that engaged already in what she's doing! When I go to pick her up and I see her walking down the hall with her teacher, she is now smiling. She easily gives her teacher a hug goodbye and comes to me. The stuffed porpoise from her teacher now just stays in her backpack. She no longer has the need to carry it in her hands. And, the best things is, I now have memorized all seven seasons of Daniel Tiger and the songs that go with them! You could say I'm an expert on Daniel Tiger.
Thank you so much for all you have done Ms. Julie and Ms. Andrea! We love you.
A little video on our way to school. Funny how she turned around and was ready for a picture. Yes, she had a caramel in her mouth. I took all those cute pictures above so she got a little reward. Breakfast of champions before heading to school. Way to go Mommy of the Year!!
The funny thing is, when I was teaching, I would have cringed had a parent given their child a caramel in the morning. I mean, a caramel in the morning, before school? What were they thinking? That's back before I had a child and I knew all the answers back then! Now, it doesn't bother me at all. Ironic how things change, huh?
It's time for a life lately post. Otherwise known as "a bunch of random pictures because I can't think of a neat way to tie them all together". So here's to a bit of total randomness.
Lily has a new favorite phrase: "I do it all myself".
I hear this many, many times each day. I try to let Lily do as many things by herself as I can. Or, at least, as time allows. She loves to help and loves to do all sorts of things by herself. She is going to be one independent little girl!
This day as we were heading to school, she zipped her vest herself. She got the biggest smile on her face and gave me a huge hug.
When allowing her to do things herself, I have to be OK with things not exactly right. See the shoes? She picked those out, with the white socks and put them on herself. On the wrong feet. I left them like that because, once again, she was happy with herself for doing it.
A few days ago, Lily went to a birthday party. I was excited because it was cold and she got to wear this beautiful coat she received last year.
All bundled up and ready to go
Queen Elsa made a visit to the party and Lily got her first face painting!
Look at my butterfly, Mommy
A couple days before the party, we went shopping for a present. A few quick pics before heading out.
It was raining when we went so all the carts at the store were wet. Michael and I decided to let Lily walk while we shopped. She was in heaven - touching everything along the way!
Double Bubble anyone??
Lily's Daddy decided to go "old school" with cartoons and had Lily watching some Bugs Bunny one day.
All comfy and cozy
Zoned out - I think she liked it!!
Before school the other day:
Love this girl so very much
My favorite view the other day:
Enjoying some snuggle time and iPad time with her Daddy.
This little girl loves her some Daddy time and the feeling is mutual!
I can NEVER get tired of this view - the smell of the beach, the sounds and the feel of the sand on my feet is my happy place! I think Lily takes after me too as far as this goes!
Waiting on the elevator
Playing at the desk in the room
Outside restaurant for lunch one day
Beautiful!! This was the view from our room in Miami. We then drove to Key Largo for a couple of days.
Ahhh, playing in the sand with Daddy enjoying the view too!
