First overnight away...

Well, this week marked another milestone in mine and Luci's lives (Jason's too).  I had a business trip that took me to Washington DC for 2 nights.  I have to be honest...the closer the trip came, the more I didn't think I could do it.  It wasn't that I didn't trust Jason...I knew he would take super care of our precious girl.  I just didn't think that I could stand it!  What if she thinks I've abandoned her?  What if she forgets who I am?  What if...?  You get the picture.  I was a neurotic mom!  But, I decided to act like a big girl and just do it.  So, Monday at noon I took Luci to daycare and boarded a plane for DC.

It was my first trip to our nation's capital and I got to see some amazing sights!  The hotel I was staying in was within 5 blocks of all the monuments, the capital building, and the White House, not to mention all the Smithsonian museums.  So Monday evening, a friend and I took off on an exploration of the monuments by night.  Beautiful!  We walked to the Lincoln Monument (always been my favorite in pictures) and it was a spectacular sight at night!  We looked out over the reflecting pool and saw the Washington Monument and the Capital Building lit and glowing in the night.  Then we walked through the Vietnam War Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.  We saw the Nurses Memorial, glimpsed the White House and saw the Capital Building up close.  The light was still lit at the top of the Capital Building and the flag was flying on the House side indicating that the House was still in session that evening.  Wonder what they could have been talking about at 9:00 on a Monday evening?!  We saw the Supreme Court Building and caught a glimpse of the houses on Capital Hill.  The historical significance of all these sights was overwhelming!

 

The next day I sat through a workshop (the real reason for the trip) on how to write accreditation reports for our college...fascinating (but seriously, I did learn what I needed to know...I think!).  As soon as the workshop was finished, we set out to take in as many Smithsonian museums as possible.  We had 2 hours until they closed so we made a run through the American History Museum and saw the ruby slippers from one of my all-time favorite movies, Julia Child's kitchen, an awesome Lincoln exhibit, and the famous soda fountain where an integral part of the civil rights movement took place!  There were other things too as we ran through the museum but these were the highlights!

 

 

We then headed next door to the Natural History Museum.  Here I saw enormous dinosaurs (felt like I was  in the movie Night at the Museum), fossils, life-size mammals from all over the planet, the Hope Diamond (I'm asking for that for Christmas!), and a gigantic crystal from Crystal Springs, Arkansas.  This crystal was head and shoulders taller than me.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, at home, Jason and Luci were taking care of each other.  They played.  They chased.  They wrestled.  They read all her favorite books.  And, she ate like a little pig...so I'm told!  I am so thankful that Luci has such a caring and doting father!  I am also very thankful for my wonderful mother-in-law and my fantastic mother!  Nana came and stayed with Luci on Tuesday and Grandma stayed with Luci on Wednesday!  This way, Jason didn't have to worry about driving Luci to daycare and leaving work early to pick her up.  She has never stayed there past 4:00 and we didn't want her to have to this week when her life was already going to be different.  It completely set my mind at ease to know that Luci was being loved and taken care of here at home by some of the people that love her most! 

We all survived; it was a good, productive trip and now things are getting back to normal!  Hopefully I won't have to be away overnight too often but at least now I know I can do it!

Halloween and Luci things

We love Autumn around here...normally.  This autumn has been a little wetter than we usually like it so we haven't gotten to spend as much time outdoors.  We get out as often as possible but I think we only had 7 sunny days in the month of October so outside activities were at a minimum.

We have experienced a lot of firsts!  Luci's first hike where she did most of the walking, first egg collection from our very own chickens, first Halloween, etc...She is such a happy girl and genuinely LOVES life!  She wants to try it all and can't wait to show you that she can do it on her own!

 

Here is a list of things Luci is doing lately:

• Dancing, non-stop -- even if there is no music (music in her head...should I be worried?!) She has started incorporating hand-moves into her dances as well.  Yes, this girl has rhythm!
  
• Loving and cuddling her teddy bears.  She must pick each one up and rub noses with them first thing in the morning.
• Toting around a blanket.  She has become Linus from Peanuts; except she isn't picky on which blanket.  She has about 5 she chooses from.
• Chasing and harassing our chickens daily.  She loves to try to catch them and pet them...screaming "bok-bok" the whole time!  She also loves going down to the chicken coop to see if we have any eggs.
  
• Waving WILDLY to anyone around, including cars that pass us on the road from the backseat.
• Says "dos" for dog, "da" for Daddy, "ma" for Mommy, "na" for nose, "bok" for chicken
• Shakes her head for no and nods for yes.  Also says "uh-uh" for no.
• Loves going to the park to swing and slide.
  
• Backs up and sits in your lap with a book when she wants to read.  She can turn the pages herself but sometimes her pace is faster than yours.  :)
• Walks backwards.  She is quite good at this, even stopping and looking over her shoulder to see how close she is to objects before continuing backwards.  Amazing really!
• Tries to dress herself.  She knows where everything goes and how to get it on, she just can't quite get it done without help yet.
• And...drum-roll please...is sleeping THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!  Yes, I feel it is safe to announce this bit of wonderful news.  She has done this consistently for about 2 weeks now so I think we have arrived!  She will go to bed around 8:30 and sleep through till about 6:30.  Its a miracle really and a day I wasn't sure was ever going to arrive.  The first night she did this, I woke up at our usual 2 am, worried that she wasn't breathing! She even puts herself to sleep now...after our night-time ritual, she lays down in her crib, rolls over, pats her bear, and closes her eyes.  So sweet! 

We count our blessings each day that Luci is ours!  She couldn't be a more perfect fit for our family!

Without further text, I give you what you have been reading this far for...recent pictures!  Enjoy and Happy Fall!

 Luci's first independent hike.  She wanted to do it all by herself!

 

 She has definitely become an outside girl!

 

Our happy little pirate...somewhat deceiving seeing as she slept through her first Trick-or-Treating Experience (see picture below)

The Kindall kids (aka Marilyn Monroe, the Cutest Pirate, Elvis, and Tinkerbell)

Luci's true reaction to Trick-or-Treating.  Poor girl had a big day and she was zonked!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Yesterday we took Luci to the pumpkin patch and spent the afternoon with some dear adoption friends. It is so nice to have a group of friends who share this life-changing experience. They know the emotions involved; they understand the wait; they have been through the attachment and bonding phases that are so difficult and sweet at the same time. I cherish our get-togethers and love to see all our kids playing together.

Luci is always a little quieter around groups of people and as usual, it took her a bit to warm up to everyone else. However, with Jason and I she was the wild-child we love! She squealed with delight at the sight of the big pumpkins and tried to climb each one. She loved to slide down them and then immediately try to climb back up. She was content to sit on top and just watch the craziness. What fun! Can't wait to see how she reacts to pumpkin carving...watch for that post in the near future!

Me and my friend, Sophia

Where's Luci?!

Picking out my pumpkin

Carter giving Luci, Liam, and Sophia a ride.

How do you get 8 kids 6 and under to stay still for a group picture?

The answer: confinement! This is the best one we got!

Autumn Fun

Tuesday was the official start to my favorite season of the year...autumn! After nearly a month of rainy days, our weather this weekend has been beautiful! Crisp, cool mornings with blue, sunny skies. It doesn't get much better than this. The windows are open and Luci is enjoying running outside at will. She has been dragging her toys out on the deck and "mowing" with her lawn mower for hours. So cute to watch!

Yesterday we took advantage of the awesome weather and headed down to our favorite Saturday morning activity...breakfast at Little Bread Company and the Farmer's Market. We were surprised to find that the sidewalks weren't crowded at all; in fact, Luci got to walk around by herself which never happens. She loved the freedom. She played with all the "Das" or dogs that were visiting the Farmer's Market and even stopped to watch some belly dancers do their thing; she was fascinated and stood in one place watching for what must have been 10 minutes.






Another event in Luci's life this fall are Wednesday evenings with Daddy. I have class on Wednesdays so Luci and Daddy have an evening alone. This has been really good for them both and she is getting to be somewhat of a Daddy's girl. Below are a couple of pictures from their last evening. Luci loves to blow the harmonica/whistle that we bought her in Korea (a pink Poroyo whistle) and her new favorite spot to sit is on top of the fireplace, straddling Daddy's mandolin case. I am also including a video of the latest trick that Daddy taught her Wednesday evening (I am so proud!). Most of you have seen it on Facebook, but for those of our blog readers who aren't on Facebook (Ryan and Sherri) here is Luci's (your neice's) new past-time. Watch her little cheeks carefully if you can't figure out what she is doing!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall weather as much as we are!

Weekends

Luci got us up nice and early on this Saturday morning (5:50 am) so I thought I would take some time and update the blog with some of our latest pictures. We have got to teach this girl that weekends are for sleeping in...especially rainy weekends!

Daycare is getting better, even though she hasn't been in a week and a half. She has had a nasty virus, which she picked up there, and hasn't been well enough to return. However, before she got sick we had moved past the screaming-when-Mommy-leaves phase. We had moved into the slight-lip-quiver-as-I-wave-goodbye phase. She was also beginning to play with the other kiddos and even eat at the big kid table. She had shunned the high chair because that is where the babies are fed. It was so funny to pick her up at lunchtime and see her sitting with the 2 year olds like she was so big! On the sick front, Luci seems to be feeling better this weekend. She is still congested and her little voice is so hoarse, but she is happy and playing contentedly. Also, the fever has been gone for 2 days!!!

Since I last posted, Luci has spent a couple of weekends at the river. She is becoming quite the water-lover! She has no problem just heading into the water and splashing around. It hasn't quite been swimming weather but that doesn't stop Luci from plowing in and sitting down in the water. A change of clothes is a definite must for these quick trips.

Sitting in the water and trying to grab a rock!

Luci and Pops relaxing by the river (the water is so brown because of an extra heavy rain the day before)

Nana trying to teach Luci how to skip rocks

Splashing with Mommy

Can't get enough of the water. Luci and Daddy had just finished turning over rocks looking for critters.

Had to throw in a picture of cardinal flower on the riverbank. Isn't it pretty?!

I know this isn't a water picture, but I had to end with it. I thought it was hilarious. Luci loves the lids to the pots and pans and she loves to put things in containers. How many 13 month olds do you know that can fit in the lid of a 1-quart saucepan with room to spare?!

Summer is over...

...and we had one to cherish!

Ok, so I have been back to work officially for one week and I can't say that I am happy about it. Luci and I are adjusting to the idea of child-care and I don't know who is having a harder time of it, me or her. Mornings are fairly traumatic but afternoons are marvelous. Let me just say...I was efficient before Luci, but that was nothing; I get my work done and I am outta there! Since I pretty much dictate my own schedule, I have been highly motivated to finish up and go get my baby! Everyone keeps telling me that it will get better and I know it will, but right now is HARD! I am looking forward to those "better" days.


On to better topics...what we have been up to during August! Our chickens are growing and we love to watch them eat our garden bugs. Many of our Facebook followers will remember the trauma of the first chicken week. We lost 4 in one day...3 to a hawk, and one that night to a midnight marauder (raccoon). Since then we replaced them with 4 more mature birds to teach the little ones the ropes. We also built a covered run and only let them out in the evening when we can be in the yard. Success...all 10 are thriving and we are looking forward to farm fresh eggs (from the big four) any day now!



We have also had more cousin-time. Luci and Allie are growing to be fast friends and it is so fun to watch the 4 kiddos play together. Last night we drove to Harrison for our first monthly Kindall family dinner. What a blast to just sit back, visit, eat, and laugh at the kids! So sweet!






Yes, I am going to miss summer! But I am looking forward to all the things that fall will bring! Cooler weather, time outside to enjoy the cooler weather, all the new things Luci will learn, precious family time, and yummy cool garden veggies and fresh eggs!