Remember my exam?

The exam that I wrote 7 days after returning from Ethiopia with Sofia.

The exam that I took the cdrom for to Ethiopia only to not have the time (or power) to use it. 

The exam from the course that I took to distract myself from the adoption.  

The exam that I hardly studied for due to jet lag and an energetic one year old.

The exam that I assumed I'd have to rewrite in November ....

I PASSED!!!

I'm not sure how or why but I did!  I needed 75% to pass and I got 75.00% exactly!  My final mark with the assignments factored in was 84.20%.  Even though I got 98% on the assignments I had to get at least 75% on the exam to pass.  Maybe the marker took pity on me?  Who knows and who cares!  I don't have to rewrite it which frees me up to take another course.  Jetlag schmetlag bring it on!!!

Thanks for all the support and well wishes before the test!  Obviously it paid off.  Grant has promised to cook me a special dinner tonight to celebrate.  YEAH ME!!

My Mosaic

My friend Danielle put one of these on her blog so I of course had to have one too!

1. What is your first name? - Alicia
2. What is your favorite food? - Smores
3. What high school did you go to? - LCHS
4. What is your favorite color? - Orange
5. Who is your celebrity crush? - Drew Barrymore
6. What is your favorite drink? - G&Ts
7. What is your dream vacation? - African Safari
8. What is your favorite dessert? - Chocolate
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? - A Mumma
10. What do you love most in life? - My family
11. What is one word that describes you? - Talkative
12. What is your Flickr name? - VictoriaScooterGirl

I love the giraffes, melt my heart. The parrot is very fitting. It's fun to see yourself represented with pictures!

If you want one of your own then you do as follows:

• Type your answer to each of the questions above into Flickr search.
• Use only the first page of results, pick one image
• Copy and paste URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab's Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.

Still working on fixing the computer.  I took it to the shop yesterday but it's very expensive to have a tech look at it.  There are a couple more things we are going to try before we pay that kinda $$.  I am still taking pictures.  Once it's fixed you'll be sick of seeing pictures of Sofia!, I promise.

FINALLY!

Today a very helpful woman at the HR office from my work gave me Sofias PHN number (personal health number).  This means that she's finally covered for medical treatment!  I've been so nervous that she was going to get hurt and we'd have to pay a fortune to take her to emerg. (Yes I'm a freak and worry about strange things)  I'll still worry about her getting hurt but at least now she's covered if she does.

Safe to say I'll spend the day on the phone and in the next couple of weeks Sofia and I will painting the town red with Drs appointments!

Adoption Weekend Recap

We had the most amazing weekend, the best yet since we've been home with Sofia!  Let me see if I can recount all the greatness for you!

Friday - We met up with our travel buddies Jennifer and Scott and their two very lovely girls.  We had a great dinner and it was wonderful to see them again.  Thank you for including us in your island visit.

Saturday - We headed out early to catch the ferry to Vancouver.  Sofia traveled very well all day although she did start to melt down around 2pm and forced us to leave the picnic early.  We all had an amazing time, it was so wonderful to meet others families.  I didn't feel like I got the opportunity to talk as much to friends as I wanted to.  Grant and I both realized that Sofia is a very loud and outgoing child.  There was talk about the picnic becoming a yearly event and we already have plans to travel back next year.

After we left the picnic we went and visited our other travel buddies Sarah and Todd and their two adorable twins.  The twins were roommates with Sofia at the TH.  You could see how excited they were to see each other.  The twins are a lot like Sofia and the three of them had a great time smacking each other in the face, hugging, grabbing each other, and drooling all over everything!  Thanks for having us over, we hope to see you again soon.

Sunday - We started our day out with the first follow up appointment with our social worker.  It was so great to see her again and we were so proud to introduce her to Sofia.  Sofia was very charming and talkative.  

That was the end of our adoption weekend.  WOW, it was busy and great.  Now on to the brag fest!

**Brag alert!**

Sofia was great this weekend and this past week.  Everyday she learns new things and we see her personality emerge a bit more.  Sunday was a particularly big day for her.  She started the day surprising us by climbing the stairs (twice!) all by herself with no supervision.  In the past I've been able to leave her alone in the living room but now I am in the market for another baby gate!  It was sunny and lovely outside so I decided a picnic lunch was in order.  Sofia was so distracted by all the other things in the backyard that she was having trouble focusing on eating (odd for our little hungry hippo)  So I stripped her down and stuck her in the pool where she finished her lunch.  Lucky girl!  In the evening we went on a visiting-tour.  We visited Auntie Kiki and Uncle James first (Thanks for taking Qimik all weekend for us), then we stopped by to see Uncle Troy and cousins Ethan and Beckett, then we stopped by to see FarMor and Grandpa Chris... Whew!  Sofia surprised us all by blowing her first unprompted kiss!  Oh, my baby is growing up!

Sofia had Grant and I laughing hard all weekend.  She is turning out to be quite the little ham.  We were just hanging out on Sunday morning all playing together and the time for her morning bottle came and went.  Sofia looked at me and signed "bottle, more, bottle, more, food"  Hmm, see what I mean about hungry hippo.  She keeps me in line with her mealtimes.  Her breakfast is at 8am and by 755 she is signing food to anyone that will look at her!

She started this scrunched up proud face that had Grant and I in tears yesterday!  When she realized it was making us laugh she started doing it more.... Ah, we've got an entertainer!

This afternoon I'm going to take the computer in to see if they can sort out the problem with the pictures.  I promise lots once I get it fixed!  I hope that the sun has found all of you, it sure showed up here!  THANK GOODNESS!!!  Thanks for reading my brag, if you made it that far.

First Day of Summer

Today I'm celebrating the first day of summer.  I encourage everyone to do the same.  Maybe if all of us celebrate it, summer will decide to come out of hiding.  One can hope!

Oh Mr Sun, Sun Mr Golden Sun

Please shine down on me

Oh Mr Sun, Sun Mr Golden Sun 

Hiding behind the tree

These little children are asking you

To please come out so we can play with you

Oh Mr Sun, Sun Mr Golden Sun

Please shine down on

Please shine down on

Please shine down on me!!

Sorry Dianne,

Our computer is having a bit of a hiccup and I can't access the pictures right now.  I'll be taking the computer into the shop at my earliest convenience, may Monday?  We do have a fun filled weekend planned and I'll be taking LOTS of new pictures, so there are many many posts to come.  

We are having a fun week.  Sofia is getting steadier on her feet and can balance for about 25 seconds now.  She is still cruising like crazy and has started pulling herself on EVERYTHING!  Today she walked from the couch to me which was about 5 steps.  This was the first time that she has walked from an object to a person!  Every evening Grant and I sit a few feet apart on the floor and help her to walk back and forth between us.

Last night I made lasagna for dinner and Sofia ate a portion equal to the portion that Grant and I ate! Man she's got a good appetite!! I was happy because I put a LOT of veggies in my lasagna but she gobbled all of them with no question, I guess tomato sauce and cheese makes everything taste good! 

Alicia's Lasagna (I don't actually use a recipe, but this is close)

5 lg mushrooms chopped

1 zucchini chopped

lots and lots of spinach (1/2 - 3/4 of a bunch)

ricotta cheese

mozzarella cheese

egg

salt, pepper, Italian spice

1 red onion chopped

1 red/yellow pepper chopped

2 sticks of celery chopped

a few cloves of garlic minced

1 jar of tomato sauce (last night it was Garlic Ragu)

brown rice lasagna noodles

Saute the garlic onion, pepper, and celery then add the tomato sauce.  Sometimes I add some spinach to the sauce too. 

Mix ricotta, 1/2 mozzarella, egg, and seasonings

Layers: sauce, noodles, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, cheese mixture, noodles, sauce, mozzarella

Normally I keep the zucchini in coins, the mushrooms just sliced, and the spinach just whole leaves.  But last night I chopped everything nice and small for Sofias sake.  I actually think I liked it better too. 

I know it's a day early but have a great weekend everyone!!! 

Happy Fathers Day Grant

Happy first Fathers Day to my husband, my best friend, and my baby Daddy.  I love you!  I get joy everyday watching you play with our little girl.  Parenthood wouldn't be nearly as much fun without you by my side.  I appreciate you.  

Grant and I celebrating the referral of our baby girl.

Grant holding Sofia for the very first time.

Grant teaching Sofia about the ocean.

Sofia is picking up a crab from Grants hand.

Sofias first time swimming.

And now a few words from Sofia:

"da da da ah da da da ah ah ah DAAAA!"  I'm pretty sure it's means "You're the best and I love you Daddy!"

Helmet Hell

Last week we tried to take Sofia for her first bike ride.  As you might remember I'm going to try to not drive my car much (gas today is at $146.9) so I had pretty high hopes that Sofia would take to the bike trailer.  Well she loved the bike trailer, however the helmet that she has to wear is another story ... 

Getting her helmet on.  Curse you nasty helmet!

Qimik loves bike riding! Couldn't leave him at home.

This is where it started to go bad.  The bike trailer was pushing Sofias helmet forward over top of her face.  

Poor kid, next time we'll put a cushion behind her back to the back to accommodate the helmet. 

The helmet finally slide forward so it was covering her face like a goalie mask.  Sofia could see out of the air vents and so she was finally able to enjoy herself! 

The end.

Hidden Veggies

Everyone has been so helpful with the great sleep debate, I thought that I might pass along something that I learned.  Sofia isn't big on veggies.  She doesn't mind baby food veggies but I ran out so in a pinch I tried to feed her mixed freezer.  It was a big no-go.  Out came the food processor and I pureed it.  Still no-go.  So I mixed in some hummus.  Yum-Yum!  The afternoon I spread the mixture on a piece of toast for a snack.  Another hit!  

What was I thinking?

Sofia in her crib at the TH on the day we met her.

My daughter lived in the TH for 5.5 months, where she slept 12 hours a night and had 3 naps during the day ... why did I think I could mess with that?  I thought that it was too much sleep for a one year.  Hmm, I need to get over myself.  I've been saying that a lot lately, I hope today it finally sinks in.  "Alicia Get Over Yourself!" 

Grant and I didn't said our child wouldn't be dependent on strict sleeping structure.  We wanted our child to be a bit flexible.  When we were in Ethiopia Sofia seemed to be very flexible about her sleep schedule.  I'm now realizing her flexibility was just her coping.  For now Grant and I have a child that is dependent on strict sleeping structure.  For me it sucks cause I feel like I'm trapped in my house.  I have been looking forward to doing fun stuff with her; play groups, play dates, swimming lessons.  With all her sleeping I don't know how to schedule any of it.  Like I said, I need to get over myself.  I need to follow Sofias lead, if she wants to sleep I'll let her sleep.  If she wants structure I'll provide her structure.  This week is dedicated to Sofia's sleeping pattern and maybe next week will be too.  Eventually she and I will work it out.  In the future we can start pushing the boundaries but for now we need to establish the boundaries.  I was putting the cart before the horse, silly girl...

Thank you Lisa for your comment on the last post.  I've been worried that Sofia is sleep too much.  I've been thinking I should take her to the doctor and have her tested for all kinds of stuff.  It's reassuring to know there is another girl out there with the same sleeping habits as Sofia.

On another note: Sofia has been taking a few steps lately.  Last night she was stringing together 5 or 6 steps going between Grant and I.  I still think she's a couple months away from being a "toddler" but it's cool that she's practicing!  

Pictures

Mum, Sofia, and Papa at the wedding on Saturday.  This was the best of 12 pictures.  I had no idea it was so hard taking a family photo.

Uncle James, Sofia, and Aunti Kiki at the wedding.  

I am really bummed out about the weather here.  So poor Sofia got the brunt of it today when I was dressing her.  Yes, those are sunflowers on her pants and a snowflake on her shirt.  This summer better be freakin' spectacular to make up for this crappy spring!

Flying Solo

Me.  I'm flying solo.  For the past 3 weeks that we've been home I've had the privilege of my Dad staying with us.  Grant calls him Granpop Ghost because he was here but you he was 'behind the scenes.  He fed Grant & I, walked our dog, kept the house clean and me sane.  I miss him.  Last week my Mom was here too.  I miss her too.  My house is eerie quiet, life's better with family close by.

Sofia and I are trying to figure things out.  Thanks for all the advice on sleeping.  We are on the right track.  It's nice to have so much advice from so many different sources.  I've got a hybrid plan of what we are going to do.  Sofia was in bed for 13 hours last night and awake for 1 hour at 0100 with a poopie nappy.  So she slept for 12 hours!  I was thinking we might be able to get away with one nap today instead of two but she needed a nap this morning.  She had only been awake for 2.5 hours and she was DONE.  I'll see how the afternoon goes.  My plan for this week is that she and I will stick close to home and sort this out.  For the most part I'm going to try to follow her lead, she knows better than I do when she's tired.  I can just facilitate her sleep.  I think she sleeps a lot so I'm going to keep a sleep journal for her over the next two weeks and then sort it out.  Maybe somethings going on with her, she did puke a bit last night and today.  

Time is going so fast.  I can't believe it's June 9th already.  The weather here is getting me down.  It's FREAKIN' miserable.  It feels like November.  I've NEVER had the heat on here in June, I usually turn the heat of in March.  Victoria is grey and rainy enough in the winter I need to see the sun.  

I'm loving my time at home with my little girl.  I'm not sure how to visit yet.  With her sleeping schedule so confusing right now I'm shy to take her out.  I'd really like to have some play dates and get out to a play group but I'm too overwhelmed right now.  My goal this week is to visit with Grants sister and her two kids, it's hard trying to co-ordinate 3 different napping schedules!  And I'm going to see about signing her up for swimming lessons.  We'll I'd better go and get her lunch sorted out while she is still sleeping ... gotta use the free time when I've got it! 

Swimming!

Last Saturday we met up with Uncle James, Auntie Kiki, and cousin Vincent for some swimming.  It was Sofias first time in a pool and she LOVED it!  We got this cool swimsuit from Cost-co a while ago (before we knew how big she was) that has a floatie built into it.  It's still a bit big for her but that didn't matter.

Hippo aka Sofia

Hee Hee, I can hear SS saying "Nooooo Don't call her hippo!" SS this pics for you!  Grant and I sometimes refer to Sofia lovingly as Hippo as in "Hungry Hungry Hippo"  This child can eat like no other I've seen!  Now that I've taught her the sign for 'more' 'food' and 'bottle' she is constantly asking for "more food" or "more bottle" hmmm, we need more signs.

Vincent showing Sofia some love. 

 It was the first time that they had met and Vincent kept planting 'em on Sofia.  There's nothing wrong with a little cousinly lovin'!

Two proud Daddies and two happy children

Grant and James have known each other for almost 15 years and I've known him now for 8.  The three of us lived together for a year and had some good times.  (I'm tough to live with so I'm glad James still talks to me!) It's cool to be able to hang out with our kiddos together!

What a week!

This week has been sort of suckie.  My parents are visiting, actually my Dads been here since before we went to Ethiopia, but my Mom has just come out to meet Sofia.  That part isn't suckie, that part has been the only reason I'm still sane and Grants still employed!  The suckie part for me started Sunday night when our girl decided that she really doesn't want to sleep through the night ... she woke up at 1230 and that's when I noticed my stomach hurting.  It kept hurting all through the night and all day Monday.  I had a huge appetite as the hurting felt like hunger pains.  We were joking about my "tape worm" but the joking wore off by Tuesday morning when it was no better and I had been awake almost all night. To summarize (if that's possible for me) and leave out the gross parts I didn't get much sleep Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights because I was kept awake by the pain in my stomach.  By Wednesday morning I knew I had to go to the Dr.  She thinks that I have gastritis and has put me on Nexium to settle it down.  24 hrs after taking the first pill I'm feeling 96% myself.  I slept last night propped up on pillows which helped HUGE!  

I've never had anything like this happen before and I'm pretty sure it's due to the stress of my new life. (as much as I love it, it has been very stressful for me)  I am a worrier and a stress-ball kinda gal but for this adoption and especially for this trip I tried my very very VERY best to just relax and let things happen.  I thought that I was doing a good job but apparently I wasn't!  I guess letting my stress out is the best way to be!  I'll have to find a more constructive way to deal with my stress then just "swallowing it".  Now that I think about it, I'm surprised I didn't get sick sooner...

I'm SO very thankful that my parents are here, it was a huge help!  Also I'm looking for advice on childrens sleeping habits.  Is it normal for a 12 month old to sleep through the night?  Sofia has been waking up at different times (1230, 330, 100) and we can't get her to go back to sleep until she's had a bottle.  She did sleep through the night 4 or 5 nights in a row but now we are back to the mid-night feedings the last 4 nights in a row.  Should we just roll with it for now?  I'm pretty sure that she is teething, could that be it?  What tips/tricks do you have to get your kids to sleep all night?  We feel spoiled that we have such a good sleeper but now that we know she has the potential to sleep through the night ... it's hard to settle for less!  Am I being selfish?

Smartie-pants!

When we were in Ethiopia we started teaching Sofia the sign for "bottle".  We've been working with her on it and in the last week she's been asking for her bottle or juice cup with the hand sign and the word 'ba-ba'.  

Since she's got the first sign down I figured that it was time to start working on a second sign.  I chose "more".  Last night at dinner I introduced it but there wasn't much of a response from her.  Tonight we were headed over to Grant's parents house for dinner and I was in the back seat with her.  I took the opportunity  to put her hands through the "more" motion while I said the word.  I did it maybe 10 times.  During dinner I had her on my lap and had given her a few bites of my food when out of now where the little smartie-pants signs for "more"!  She did it a few more times during the meal so it makes me feel as though she's got it. 

I'm going to give her tomorrow to solidify "more" and then we'll start with "please".  Sofia's a sponge just waiting for knowledge!  It's so fun and satisfying to see her learning!

A little perspective

None of these are great pictures of Qimik or Sofia but they do give some perspective as to how big Qimik really is.  He's very skinny but very tall.  In the last week Sofia and Qimik have made big advances.  Sofia now lets Qimik sniff and lick her and she has even reached out an pet him once or twice.  It's only a matter of time before they are sharing a sippy cup of milk!This shocked us when she crawled right under him.  Qimik is really good around her and holds very still so as not to scare her.  I've never seen him do this with any other person or animal, I think he knows she's permanent.
She's sitting upright underneath the dog!  Neither of them were phased by this but Grant and I both were in awe.

She's sitting right next to him.  When she stands she is about the same height as him.  They are starting to get along pretty well but it will be even better when she starts walking.

Who's smarter?

Sofia really likes her bottles which doesn't really bother me but we are trying to work on sippy cups.  This morning I filled her sippy cup up and gave it to her.  She just put it on the ground beside her.  I let a few minutes pass and then picked it up and (again) showed her how it works.  She held on to it by herself and took a couple of sips but then dropped it like it was too heavy.  I went into the other room and peeked at her around the corner.  There she sat drinking from the cup that she held with just one hand and playing her xylophone with the other hand. ... AHA! She can do it.

As soon as I walked back into the room she dropped it again.  She picked up the cup again and tried to drink from the bottom whining and staring at me.  I told her to turn it around, she did but starting sucking on one of the handles again whining  cause she wasn't getting anything and staring at me... I thought "maybe she needs to be shown how again she is only a baby after all" so dutiful Mum that I'm trying to be I held the cup up for her to drink from.  That's when I knew she had me!  The smile that came into her eyes as she was drinking from the sippy cup that I was holding for her told me that she got EXACTLY what she wanted.  To add insult to injury she started playing her xylophone while I held the cup and she drank!

I'll let it slide this time because it got her to drink out of her sippy cup but when she wakes up from her nap boy things are going to be different.... I'm wise to her tricks!