No Small Feat

Nothin' but love...

Simply put: I love my husband, my son and my life.

Aunticipated Visit!

The long awaited visit with Aunt Linda happened this past weekend and it was a lot of fun for our son who is always doted upon by her and has great fun playing with his aunt.  It was also nice for me to have some one on one time with my sister as well (even though we talk everyday it's always great to have "face time!" (and eat the Brooklyn bagels she always brings)).  We also managed to spend an entire day at the outlet mall AND somehow make it fun for the little guy.  We also hit the zoo and ate yummy Ethiopian food. 

I am my son's mother.

I have a lot that I want to say about the fact that 2 years ago today our son was placed in my arms forever.  It's hard to believe he's been home for 2 years already and even harder to believe he was not always here in our lives and in our hearts.  I feel, however, that I need to use this as an opportunity to comment on NBC's Today Show's promotional contest with Teleflora for "America's Favorite Mom."  They listed adoptive mom's under the "non-mom" category (instead of the "mom" category).  After a flurry of complaints they changed the categories to read "Mom's" and "Adoptive Moms" and lumped us in with Grandparents, Neighbors and Step-Moms.  Why not just call us what we are,"Mom?" 

It breaks my heart that some people see me as an asterisk to parenting as it demeans and belittles the very nature of being a mother.  My son sees me and he sees his mother.  I look at my son and I see my child.  Adoption is just how we came to be mother and son.

But I didn't let this ruin my Mother's Day as we took our son to the zoo for a really fun day.  I will be posting a lot more pictures and stories as his Aunt Linda was in town to help celebrate but right now I have to put my son to bed, read his bedtime stories and settle him in for a good night's sleep.  You know, like a mother... only for real.

Pathmaker.

In 1958 a woman named Mildred Loving married the man of her dreams, Richard.  There was one problem, though.  Their marriage was illegal.  The reason: she was black and he was white (see Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924).  They were forced to leave their home state of Virginia, the only home they ever knew.  But real love is blind and boundless.  They fought all the way to the Supreme Court.  In a 1967 landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled "there can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the equal protection clause."  The Lovings finally returned to Virginia after the ruling where they lived with their three children until Richard passed away in 1975.  His faithful wife, Mildred, has now joined him.

This ruling was rendered just a couple of years before the writer of this blog was born.  This writer who would thankfully become the mother of a beautiful African child.  My life is possible because of the trailblazers of the 1960s who fought tirelessly, sometimes to the death, and refused to stand down to the ignorant bullies of their day. 

So I write this tribute to the Loving family and it is filled with thanks and appreciation for their paving the way for my beautiful and culturally diverse family as well as those of my many dear friends.

Captured!

I'm back in blog-business:

The things money can't buy...

Fish tacos and hummus at "hip" sports bar STATS with Heather: $20.00
Ticket for the Bon Jovi concert: $80.00
Feeling as I did when I first saw Bon Jovi at 15 years old: Priceless

"Once upon a time, not so long ago":

Dragon Slayer

On the way to preschool this morning our son looked over at this patch of unkempt land we always pass (unruly trees and weed growth) and says to me very matter of fact, "Mommy there are monsters in there."  So I said, "Really? Well, who protects you from these monsters?"  He answered without hesitation, "God."

Mister Bubble

Tonight my little boy took a bubble bath.  He would put bubbles on his chin and say "Bubble Beard" and then on his hands and shout out "bubble hands!"  Oh what fun we had and how cute he looked. 

I sure do wish I could have taken pictures.

Food Fest 08 (pictures not included)

This was an action packed weekend for our bellies.  Yesterday we hosted the family's first annual cook-off/cook-out at our home.  "The Men" brought beef -- they marinated and grilled it and the rest of us had a blind taste-test to choose our favorite.  It was impossible to do as each were unique and delicious but I am thankful for the sake of peace and harmony that I picked my hubby's!  I will say that when it came time to actually eat, my plate had a slice (or two) of all three.  I look forward to the next cook-off. (word on the street is chili.  Mmmm...)

Today it is Easter on the Ethiopian calendar and our friend Aster welcomed us to her home to join in the celebration.  Oh the food!  There was SO much of it and I did not hesitate to go for seconds!  After dinner was a table filled with incredible desserts that were being eaten with the aroma of freshly roasting coffee beans for the coffee ceremony coming from the kitchen.  It was such a nice celebration and we were thankful to be counted amongst their friends, which included Addison and her folks...

... who thankfully blogged about the afternoon and included pictures because she was the only one with a camera.  You may be asking why she was the only one with a camera and I'm glad you asked.  The reason is because THIS is the last picture taken with my camera:

Hmm... I wonder whose shoe that is, or who those little toes in the picture belong to.  Could it be the little boy who decided to push the lens in using his finger thus breaking the camera that I have taken every opportunity to mock and throw pot-shots at for months?  Who's laughing now?  Well, I don't know but even if I did I couldn't take a picture of me them to show you...

Poop Camp

Our son told us last week he wanted to wear pull ups like a big boy and we heeded his call.  He's doing remarkably well and while he is not ready for underwear just yet he's making great strides, is very motivated and understands what potty training is all about.  We are ALL looking forward to saying good-bye to stinky diapers!

Masterful Good Time

We recently enjoyed a weekend with family members who meet up in Augusta every year for the Masters. It was great fun visiting with them and catching up on their lives (and our son enjoyed tractor rides with Uncle Rick and helping his cousin Zoe "reach the sky").  It was also great for me to get away with my sis-in-law Leah for a girl's only afternoon with NO kids, NO phones and NO watches.  We enjoyed each other's company while watching top-notch golf on Saturday afternoon against the breathtaking backdrop that is Augusta National.

Can I get you something to drink?

Every time you draw a hot bath "just to relax" or take a long shower in the morning as you wake up and then drink a cup of tea, coffee or glass of water remember this:

This is an illustration for the western world to consider what 1.1 billion men, women and children around the world must do every day to have access to contaminated water.  It should not be this way, and it doesn't have to be.  It can change with our help. So please give.