Love and Logic

I just read a book about parenting styles, Helicopters, Drill Sergeants and Consultants. I have identified myself as more of a drill sergeant and less of a consultant than I'd like. There is not a shred of helicopter here! Anyway, I also got a copy of Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood which I am thoroughly enjoying. Love and Logic is the kind of parenting to which I aspire. And I have a perfect guinea pig - an almost two year old. :) I'm about half way through the book and will begin applying the things I learn today. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how it goes. I have high hopes!

Approved!

We got our FedEx today with our certificate of Adoption Approval from Gladney! So exciting to be one step closer. As before it all seems a little unreal. I think this time will be like last where the wait, looking back, just seems like a blur with a sudden stop at the end when a small child is placed in your arms. The responsibility of parenthood settles about your shoulders and it is then that all the reading and learning and thinking and dreaming coalesces into a quiet confidence. This is where I should be at this moment and this is the child I was intended to raise with all love that I have to give. When I look at my son and think about how we came to share a family, I find it impossible not to think about the ancient Chinese belief that says, "An invisible red thread connects us to those we are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break." It is truly amazing that we have been so gifted. I am grateful for all that I have and for all that is still to come.

A Weekend of Parties....

This past weekend we celebrated Tolido's first Halloween! We dressed him up in a pumpkin costume - the cutest pumpkin I've ever seen - and trotted him off to a neighborhood hayride. He and Daddy got off at every stop and gathered more loot and he never stopped. He absolutely LOVED running around with the big kids. Next morning we were off to see a horse show for Mommy's birthday. Tolido could get right up next to the chain link fence of the arena. There were two jumps close to the fence and each time a giant horse would land off the jump just feet from him his eyes would light up and he'd giggle. He seemed to love the sound of a horse neighing and would try to mimic each time he heard it. He didn't seem to understand that a horse could run him over as he chafed at having his hand held... Then it was off to Wurstfest that night for some sausage eating and polka dancing. Uncharacteristically, he wasn't having much luck with the little ladies but he never stopped trying! He settled for dancing with Mommy and Daddy. He loves music but he really loves LIVE music... thus, he was in his element. Early the next morning it was time to get suited up in his tuxedo for a wedding. He was a quiet little angel during the ceremony and found a jukebox at the reception. ...but he wouldn't kiss the bride and wasn't too interested in a hug either. Guess he was fed up with girls! :)

Growing up...

It's been two months since I have posted anything on this blog. Life just seems to pass so quickly. Tolido continues to grow and learn. He gains more confidence and independence almost by the hour, it seems. He's coming into that phase where not getting what he wants leads to lots of whining and collapsing to the ground. Lovely behavior... On the whole though, he is a great kid. We couldn't have asked for a more darling child. Last night we went to my mom's 50th high school reunion and Tolido captured the heart of a sweet little 5-year-old girl. She dragged him to the dance floor and he danced (and ran amok on the dance floor) for the better part of an hour. Before the evening was out, he lifted her skirt. Boys... surely we don't need to have *that* discussion yet?!

It's just a love song... sheesh!

Tolido and I were cruising down the road yesterday with the radio cranked up playing Sara Bareilles' Love Song when he starts shrieking.  I look back and he's staring directly at me....  with his fingers in his ears.  Hmm....  What?  Would you prefer some, as your father calls it, "angry young man music?"  Too bad.  You will ride in a flowery car seat in Mommy's car and you will listen to love songs.  It'll make you a better man, trust me.  

And So We Begin...

We have again decided to dive off into the unknown of a foreign adoption - this time from Ethiopia as Guatemala is currently in the throes of redefining its adoption process.  It's an exciting time made just a bit easier by having been through this once before.  We're also facing total uncertainty.  No way to plan and no way to know when (or if) our family will get one darling little face larger.   It's all a leap of faith and hope.  And the patience to just wait...

Found

Hanging out this evening on the patio, watching Tolido track back and forth between us to grace us individually with his impishly angelic little grin, I was struck by a rather obvious-seeming thought that nonetheless tripped me up.  As I looked at my husband and my little boy communicating in their wordless way, I realized that I'd found my two best friends.  Out of all the billions of people in the world, we'd *found* each other.  I happened upon my husband through a tremendous number of choices I made and a convoluted trail of circumstances in my life that ultimately put my life on a collision course with his.  And so it is true of our choices and our path to our little boy.  And if it is in this way that we created our marriage, it follows it would also be a great way to create a family.  And so it has been.