A Few of Her Favorite Things

A few of Natalie's favorite things...her gymnast leotard (once it's on, it could be days before I can get it off), her winter "helmet" as she calls it, and purple ornaments.

Energy Level: High

Lately I've been watching the kids and marveling at the energy and enthusiasm they have at this age. The sheer joy they get out of just moving their bodies, for any reason, or no particular reason, is hysterical. Whether it is Liam dancing to the 80's music channel on the tv - sliding to the left and right with hip wiggles, like he's doing the electric slide. Or Natalie running in circles (repeatedly...repeatedly...), or tearing down the long trampoline in gymnastics class at breakneak speed. In fact, it is a workout for me to just chase her around the gym trying to corral her and convince her to wait her turn at the equipment. She goes into overdrive, and just wants to run from the mats to the bars to the balance beam like a mad woman.
They both have so much ENERGY. I wonder if I ever had that much energy, even when I was two yrs old. I don't remember it, to be sure, and can't even imagine it.
So tonight I dragged myself to the gym, determined to feel more energetic. It is a group class that uses a large blue exercise ball, and I struggle with balance. But there was a moment, just a moment, that I found myself caught up in the movement and the music and realized I was really rather bouncy (not necessarily the desired state on an exercise ball) and, yes, energetic. And I smiled. I felt, just for an instant, like I had a 2 yr old still inside me.
Then I dragged my 38 yr old behind back home to sit on the couch.

Awesome MishMish

I can't believe it's December already. I'm not sure why exactly, but I feel even more disorganized than usual this year, even though I am not working anymore (much). I suppose it is just harder to keep the house in order with the little elves running around. Natalie has a new word, learned from Liam - AWESOME. And she also loves to say MishMish Tree. So Awesome MishMish, everyone!

We are trying to get in the spirit though. We have even managed to get Liam to sit through the "Rudolf" and "Here Comes Santa Claus" tv specials. Yes, it sounds funny, but Liam has such a serious issue with anything remotely scary or sad on tv that he has refused to watch Rudolf ever since he made me turn it off 2 years ago after the reindeer called Rudolf names. I am usually the one telling Jim that it is not possible for Liam to be "too sensitive," but it finally got to me this year when all we had to do was see a preview for Rudolf and he would fall to the floor in hysterics screaming for us to turn off the tv. So we basically turned the tv on and told him he could wait in his room if he didn't want to watch. I feel like some kind of bizarre Christmas terrorist saying "I'll strap you to the couch and you will watch Rudolf and LIKE it!!"

Luckily, after the first 5 minutes he was fine, and I like to think he even enjoyed it. I don't think I will ever be watching the Halloween slasher movies with this kid.

On a different note, I neglected to mention that November was Adoption Awareness Month. So be aware! We had our Homestudy interview last week, and now have the pleasure of having to get the kids TB tests next week. Our paper chase marches on. We also put a white dove on our Christmas tree as a symbol of a baby somewhere in Russia. It hit me the other day as we hung stockings that there is (most likely) a baby out there right NOW. Already born, and maybe even several months old. Waiting somewhere. Having Christmas without us. And of course, not just one baby, but so many, many babies with no family to celebrate Christmas. Remember them in your prayers and thoughts. I think that we will hang a stocking for him/her this year and fill it with notes that tell the baby how much we wish they were here instead of there.