I just got this link from a blog I read. It is a great essay written by a Korean Adoptee.
http://www.antiracistparent.com/2007/10/10/a-slur-by-any-other-name/
Please take the time to read it. I thought it was an eye opener.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
I'll Never Be Able to Choose
Last night Sofie, Mom and I went over to my friend Ron's for a slideshow showing all of the proofs from the pictures he took of Sofie. I was in attendance for this photo shoot but never imagined that these were the the product. And I'm an art director. I was blown away. I have 50 photos to choose from and each one is a work of art. Here are a few. I need to go back and pull out more. I need help choosing. Please let me know what ones you like best. I will add more shots later today.
In case anyone is near St. Louis and wants portraits of their kids done here is Ron's website:
http://www.ronkleinphotography.com/kidslifestyle.html
In case anyone is near St. Louis and wants portraits of their kids done here is Ron's website:
http://www.ronkleinphotography.com/kidslifestyle.html
Monday, October 01, 2007
7 Months
Seeing Sofie everyday we do not realize how much she has changed in the past seven months. But comparing a recent photo to one taken shortly after we got home - wow - we really see a difference
Still Growing Strong
We had yet another fab. weekend at the cabin. Some friends had a movie party at their cabin down the road. They set up a huge screen outside, blankets, popcorn, etc for the kids and had fire pits and drinks and food for the adults. The weather was perfect - a little chilly. They had torches and white lights, etc.. and to top it off no one had to drive home! It was a really fun party for kids and adults. Sofie had a blast, we all did. It was one of those perfect nights.
I can't get Sofie to hold still long enough - but just by looking at her I'd say she has grown at least 2, prob 4 inches in the past 2 months since her Dr.'s appt.
Here are a few new shots from this weekend. You can see she is working so hard at coloring and then takes a fast break to gulp down a little water and then is back to coloring.
I can't get Sofie to hold still long enough - but just by looking at her I'd say she has grown at least 2, prob 4 inches in the past 2 months since her Dr.'s appt.
Here are a few new shots from this weekend. You can see she is working so hard at coloring and then takes a fast break to gulp down a little water and then is back to coloring.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
One Year
It was the one year anniversary of my grandmother's death last Friday. I think about her all of the time and miss her more than I can say. There have been so many times where I go to the phone to call her and then remember. I was looking through some old photos of her last week and wanted to post a few.
Jana and Matej
We are so sad that our friends from Slovakia had to go home yesterday. They have come to stay with my parents for the past 2 summers and we are crazy about them. Unfortunately they won't be back next summer. Hopefully in 2 years, but that is so far away. Saying goodbye was heart wrenching. They have become like family to us.
Jana, Matej - if you guys are reading this - I hope you made it home safely and that you had a good flight. We are thinking about you both and miss you already! I will send pictures soon.
Jana, Matej - if you guys are reading this - I hope you made it home safely and that you had a good flight. We are thinking about you both and miss you already! I will send pictures soon.
No Photos!
Hi - sorry for the lack of posts. I left my camera at the cabin 4 weeks ago and have not been back to get it. We are going this weekend though and I will have a lot of photos to take to make up for this draught.
My friend Ron is a professional photographer. He specializes in kids portraits. He does AMAZING work. Last Monday we met him for a photo shoot in my parent's yard and he took a ton of pictures of Sofie. I can hardly wait to see what he has come up with. When he is ready for us to see the pictures he puts a slide show together and we will go over to his studio for a "movie." I imagine Sofie will get a huge kick out of this.
Yesterday Sofie and I were at the park down the street from our house. She was playing on the slide with 2 other little girls who were a month and 2 months older. The mom's asked me how old Sofie was and when I told them the acted really surprised - kind of with a snotty tone. Either meaning - wow she is so tall, or wow she seems younger?? Sofie was having fun, so we stayed and I was talking to the 2 moms a little bit. That was when they changed the topic of the conversation to genetics. Where their children got their blonde hair, or their brown eyes, etc... Obviously this topic pretty much excluded me from the conversation so I just kept quiet and played with Sofie. The conversation kept on and on. A good 20 mins. I was really tempted to chime in and say that I was positive that Sofie got her black hair from me. Oh yes - and her beautiful olive skin.
They seemed like nice people - I just can't imagine picking that topic of conversation when you are standing with someone who has obviously adopted and then continuing on that topic for such a long period of time.
Marc and I celebrated the Autumn Moon festival with my friend Kelly and family last weekend. When we got home after Sofie went to bed, we sat outside and thought about her foster family and bio family. We thought about them celebrating the same holiday in China. It is such a weird thing. To us, Sofie feels like our child, completely, 100%. Sometimes it strikes me as odd when I suddenly remember that we did not make her. I am surprised to suddenly realize that. Obviously I remember our WAIT and our trip to China and all of the hard work. I guess it is that she just fits in so well with us, it seems so natural and feels so natural. When I think about her birthparents sometimes I am surprised to think that someone else created her. It feels like we did. Intuitively. If that makes sense.
Adoption will never cease to amaze me. It was def. one of the hardest things I have ever done. But the rewards are endless. I realize that I will probabally never experience giving birth. Which I'm sure is an amazing thing. But instead I get to have Sofie in my life. I'd make that trade any day of the week. Over and over again. With my eyes closed and my hands tied. So many beautiful, smart, funny little girls just like Sofie. Little girls that have such strong wills and are so full of life. I know that China is not a better place with the loss of so many.
My friend Ron is a professional photographer. He specializes in kids portraits. He does AMAZING work. Last Monday we met him for a photo shoot in my parent's yard and he took a ton of pictures of Sofie. I can hardly wait to see what he has come up with. When he is ready for us to see the pictures he puts a slide show together and we will go over to his studio for a "movie." I imagine Sofie will get a huge kick out of this.
Yesterday Sofie and I were at the park down the street from our house. She was playing on the slide with 2 other little girls who were a month and 2 months older. The mom's asked me how old Sofie was and when I told them the acted really surprised - kind of with a snotty tone. Either meaning - wow she is so tall, or wow she seems younger?? Sofie was having fun, so we stayed and I was talking to the 2 moms a little bit. That was when they changed the topic of the conversation to genetics. Where their children got their blonde hair, or their brown eyes, etc... Obviously this topic pretty much excluded me from the conversation so I just kept quiet and played with Sofie. The conversation kept on and on. A good 20 mins. I was really tempted to chime in and say that I was positive that Sofie got her black hair from me. Oh yes - and her beautiful olive skin.
They seemed like nice people - I just can't imagine picking that topic of conversation when you are standing with someone who has obviously adopted and then continuing on that topic for such a long period of time.
Marc and I celebrated the Autumn Moon festival with my friend Kelly and family last weekend. When we got home after Sofie went to bed, we sat outside and thought about her foster family and bio family. We thought about them celebrating the same holiday in China. It is such a weird thing. To us, Sofie feels like our child, completely, 100%. Sometimes it strikes me as odd when I suddenly remember that we did not make her. I am surprised to suddenly realize that. Obviously I remember our WAIT and our trip to China and all of the hard work. I guess it is that she just fits in so well with us, it seems so natural and feels so natural. When I think about her birthparents sometimes I am surprised to think that someone else created her. It feels like we did. Intuitively. If that makes sense.
Adoption will never cease to amaze me. It was def. one of the hardest things I have ever done. But the rewards are endless. I realize that I will probabally never experience giving birth. Which I'm sure is an amazing thing. But instead I get to have Sofie in my life. I'd make that trade any day of the week. Over and over again. With my eyes closed and my hands tied. So many beautiful, smart, funny little girls just like Sofie. Little girls that have such strong wills and are so full of life. I know that China is not a better place with the loss of so many.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
30 things about Sofie at 18 months
1. Her hugs make my day.
2. Has been putting a few words together for about a month now. Her language is starting to really take off.
3. Loves art, especially drawing.
4. Has fabulous coordination. Has wonderful fine motor skills.
5. Spends a lot of time walking on tip toe.
6. Likes to spin in circles until she is so dizzy she falls over.
7. Calls her Dad: Dad, Daddy, Baba and Muck (meaning Marc)
8. Is trying to say butterfly. So far she has mastered "Butter"
9. Loves baloons.
10. Has a mind of her own.
11. Has a devilish sense of humor.
12. Loves pickles and onions of all kinds.
13. Giggles when she eats something she really likes.
14. Takes a 3 hour nap.
15. Does not like to go to bed at night.
16. Calls all cats "meows".
17. Likes to drink out of Mama's glass.
18. Loves fruit.
19. Loves puzzles and problem solving.
20. Dances often, esp. to the Mocado and to the Wiggles.
21. Does a cute penguin imitation.
22. After 6 months in the US still understands basic Mandarin.
23. Loves her blankets. Likes to walk through the house with one over head so she can't see.
24. Is very gentle with the dogs, loves to give them hugs.
25. Likes to wear her Dad's shoes and socks.
26. Can put on her own "choose" - crocks are the easiest.
27. Can put on her own shorts. Both legs usually share 1 hole.
28. Can brush her own teeth.
29. Loves books most of all. We read her Goodnight Moon every night before bed.
30. Has blessed her parents a million times over.
2. Has been putting a few words together for about a month now. Her language is starting to really take off.
3. Loves art, especially drawing.
4. Has fabulous coordination. Has wonderful fine motor skills.
5. Spends a lot of time walking on tip toe.
6. Likes to spin in circles until she is so dizzy she falls over.
7. Calls her Dad: Dad, Daddy, Baba and Muck (meaning Marc)
8. Is trying to say butterfly. So far she has mastered "Butter"
9. Loves baloons.
10. Has a mind of her own.
11. Has a devilish sense of humor.
12. Loves pickles and onions of all kinds.
13. Giggles when she eats something she really likes.
14. Takes a 3 hour nap.
15. Does not like to go to bed at night.
16. Calls all cats "meows".
17. Likes to drink out of Mama's glass.
18. Loves fruit.
19. Loves puzzles and problem solving.
20. Dances often, esp. to the Mocado and to the Wiggles.
21. Does a cute penguin imitation.
22. After 6 months in the US still understands basic Mandarin.
23. Loves her blankets. Likes to walk through the house with one over head so she can't see.
24. Is very gentle with the dogs, loves to give them hugs.
25. Likes to wear her Dad's shoes and socks.
26. Can put on her own "choose" - crocks are the easiest.
27. Can put on her own shorts. Both legs usually share 1 hole.
28. Can brush her own teeth.
29. Loves books most of all. We read her Goodnight Moon every night before bed.
30. Has blessed her parents a million times over.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Grant's Farm
This weekend we had a short break in the 95-100 degree heat and Sofie and I ran out to Grant's Farm. She is old enough to really start enjoying it. We even went without a stroller. My upper arms were not too happy on Sunday however.
On Sunday I went to a dim sum brunch with my friend Jaden. Just the 2 of us - kids at home! I missed Sofie - but it was nice to get out and get to talk to Jaden and relax. We had a lot of fun.
This is a shot from last night - some of my best pals from highschool got together at my friend Nancy's for dessert. 2 of my friends had not met Sofie yet - so she came along. Here is a shot of Sofie with Margaret.
On Sunday I went to a dim sum brunch with my friend Jaden. Just the 2 of us - kids at home! I missed Sofie - but it was nice to get out and get to talk to Jaden and relax. We had a lot of fun.
This is a shot from last night - some of my best pals from highschool got together at my friend Nancy's for dessert. 2 of my friends had not met Sofie yet - so she came along. Here is a shot of Sofie with Margaret.
More from Walker Weekend
Sofie and Olivia really were 2 peas in a pod.
On a side note. This suit is a 4T. I bought it for NEXT summer. Oh well. Just a reminder. Sofie is 18 months old. She has grown 8 inches since we brought her home.
On a side note. This suit is a 4T. I bought it for NEXT summer. Oh well. Just a reminder. Sofie is 18 months old. She has grown 8 inches since we brought her home.
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