Does it always have to be "NO" ?

It seems like that is all I say to this child anymore. Alex, put that down!, Alex, put that back!, Alex, get out of there, are you getting my drift? Well I woke up this morning and realized exactly how much I tell this child "NO" and I started feeling bad. Am I feeling bad because I didn't gate off or put the things up that I don't want her messing with or touching, or do I just feel that she needs to learn what she can and cannot play/mess with.

For example, mommy left her purse where Alex could get into it, should I be telling Alex "no" don't mess with mommies purse, or should I pick it up and put it where she cannot get into it? These are the kind of thoughts that I have been dealing with lately. See now I believe that she really should learn what she can and cannot play with by us letting her know weather it's allowed or not. Should I really have to get up and move it or should I just keep telling her "NO"?

You know Faye and I still haven't really baby-proofed the house, we just pretty much stay on top of things, she does know a lot of the things that she is allowed to mess with, for example when I am cooking I have no problems with her opening the cabinets and pulling out the pots and pans, it only takes me a second to put them up when she is done, but right behind the cabinet is about a half dozen bottles of wine on a rack that she just really hasn't tried to touch lately because I keep telling her "NO". Now I do keep a pretty good eye on her due to if she broke one of those bottles there would be glass everywhere. I just keep thinking that if I keep telling her "NO" she won't mess with them anymore. But here is the thought, what happens when I begin trusting her and stop watching her every second of the day, and she does get a hold of one of those bottles? I know, I know I keep answering my own questions, but do I really need to put them up or just keep telling her "NO" and keep in the back of my mind that things are going to get broken and this is just a lesson in life?

See my point here, or does it keep going in circles?

Next week I am going and getting her drivers license, at the rate I am expecting this child to grow up she will be driving.

YET ANOTHER REASON TO TELL HER "NO"

You know I just don't want my child to be that one that everyone talks about after you leave someones house. You know the one that is out of control and no one wants to invite you back over because your kids? I guess it bothers me when I'm out at a resturant and someones kid is running all over the place and you just want to get up and slap the parents, this is who I don't want to be. I truely understand that kids are kids, but what about the couple that is out for the night away from their kids, should they have to put up with yours???

****NOTE IF THIS IS YOU, THEN KINDLY STOP****no-one wants to go out to dinner and have it interrupted by your out of control kids. If you want to let your kids act like animals, then take them to the zoo.


Does this make it alright to keep saying "NO"



****I tell my child everyday that I love her, I praise her for all the good. I really don't want to sound like I am raising a soldier, I know that she is just a baby. I just wonder if it is good to be saying "NO" all the time? How much of the day should you spend telling her "NO"? Do you just keep telling her until she gets it or do you take the problem(s) out of the equation? Todd>>>>

Another day at the zoo.....Our first Merry-go-round ride

 
 
 
  

Double pigtales

 
 
 
  

Boy you want to talk about excitement

I think everyone in the blogging community that has adopted from China is sitting waiting to hear from Mary and Rod over at "Do they have salsa in China" blog, today is their lucky day. Last I saw over there, the phone was ringing and they said it was their agency.

Well I didn't realize how hard it would actually hit me, I almost started blubbering, it just brought back my referral day phone call and it was almost overwhelming. I do however remember the day and I remember the excitement, the only problem was I didn't have anyone to share that day with, Faye had to work and almost everyone else I knew had to work, now granted I did call Faye immediately at work, but it just wasn't the same. Just for future refrence, take the day off, if you know that is the day.

I still remember our coordinator saying "Hi Todd, this is Nikki, I have your referral" What a great day, shame I didn't video tape it or something like that. I do have the paper that I (sloppy) wrote all the information on. Boy was I excited, kind of like when your wife tell you your going to be a dad for the first time. Not that I know exactly what that feels like, but I imagine that they are pretty close to being the same. Who knows, maybe this is better, I know that the wait is longer.

Now that it is almost 5 months in the past, part of it feels like yesteday, and other times it feels like we have had this child since "Forever", I have trouble remembering times without her now. I am just so grateful for everthing that I (we) have and I just had a little flash back with everything that is going on over at Mary's and it brings back such awesome memories.

If you haven't been over to "Do they have salsa" go to the link on the right hand side and say "Congratulations" they really deserve it. Mary is extremely helpful when it comes to keeping people up to date on what is happening in the International adoption community. Just wanted to say thanks, Todd>>>>

I think we might finally have a walker (not positive though)

Yesterday our babysitter Kim dropped Alex off and to my surprise she was walking. According to Faye she wasn't doing that when she dropped her off. Well I brought her inside and she was really crusing the funiture and taking maybe one or two steps without assistance. Well I carried here down to see her Grandparents and the first thing that she does is walk from me to her Nana, I was so proud, no encouraging, no push, she just finally let go and did some walking. Now I know not to get my hopes up, but she let go multiple times, this just wasn't a one timer like before, this girl is ready to go. Might be time to finally install those baby gates on the stairs.

****sorry had to remove the photo, messing up the blog. Need to resize it. ****

Now just let me clarify that as of this morning and afternoon she has yet to walk on her own, she is really crawling fast though and I have been carrying the video camera around with me just in case.

This morning we woke up to her first bloody nose, well she actually had it before I got in the room, there was some blood on her bed sheet, bumper and some on the rail of the crib. Now when I saw that I really did question weather it was blood or pooh, I hate to say this but I was hoping for the later. When I realized it was blood and there was blood on her wash cloth (she sleeps with a wash cloth, like some kids with a binky or favorite blanket) I really did tell myself "don't panic" all I could think of is this poor girl fell in her crib and knocked her tooth out, well she wouldn't open her mouth and let me look, so I brought her downstairs and started changing her diaper when I could finally see the crustys around one of her nostrels. What a relief, I figured if it was a tooth she wouldn't eat all day and I wouldn't know what to do. I just really don't want to make a habit of going to the doctor.

Haven't heard from many people lately, I hope everyone is having a great summer and look forward to seeing everyone soon. Todd>>>>

Trying to keep up

 
 
 
  

A day at the park (well more like a half hour)

Today is the first day that I have taken Alex to the park, the park isn't too far from the house, so we walked over. I didn't quite know how far to push her on the swing, but it didn't take long to figure out that I wasn't doing it hard enough. The girl is a daredevil, the higher I pushed her the more she giggled and laughed, once again my camera didn't perform very well, I took 25 picutures and 15 were blurry or out of focus. I did however get a few good shots and a couple I could salvage even though they aren't focused very well. We had fun for the short period of time we were there, we will go back often now that I know how much she liked it. Todd>>>>

 
 
 
  

Getting ready for the fair

Last Thursday we all went to the Ohio State fair and had a really good time, Alex was excited to see all the sights and animals. We also had to try some of the really good fair food, cheese on a stick, corn dogs, elephant ears, fair fries and so on. Nothing beats fair food if you just don't care what you are putting in your body for a day.
Also you can see from the pictures that Alex got to see (kiss) a baby duck at one of the exibits, the girl there actually got one out and let Alex touch it and then Faye said "kisses" and she puckered right up and the duck seemed to know right what to do. It was just too cute, I wish the picture was a little more in focus, but oh well.
Unfortunatly we didn't get to ride any rides, Alex just wasn't big enough. We were going to ride the merry go round, but decided to wait until we go to the zoo next time. I just don't know if I am comfortable with my baby riding fair rides. The zoo has this merry go round all year round and I think it is maintained very well. Just my opinion though.
By the end of the day we were all exhausted and ready to come home, I think we spent about 6 or 7 hours at the fair and that was enough for Alex's first fair. Hopefully next year we will be able to send Alex on a couple of rides and I will get some more pictures. Todd>>>>

 
 
 
  

Spending the day at the pool with Monika

Thanks Monika for allowing us to come over and spend they day with you, we went and had lunch, and we also went to the pool for a couple of hours, with the heat it was cool treat. Thanks

 
 
 
  

Sophie Lu is getting a big sister

Just in case anyone follows the "Waiting for Sohie" blog, you will be happy to know that Michael and Shana are adopting again. Follow their newest adventure at the link listed below:

Princess Isabella<

Water baby (Continued)

 
 
 
  

Alex is by far a water baby, she absolutely loves the water

 
 
 
  

Gullett Family reunion

 
 
 
  

Visiting with Grandpa Joe & Grandma Winnie