Mummy Guilt

I'm feeling some Mummy Guilt today, here's my story:

Sofia has been saying "What" when spoken to for a few months now. A couple of month ago I taught her to say "I'm sorry I did not hear you" because I was getting sick of hearing "what" and couldn't figure out who to explain to her to use "pardon". Lately everything that is said to her needs to be repeated 2 or 3 times. It is so frustrating. Grant and I have had conversations about it, whether we should take her to a doctor of if she's just being 3. Today when I picked her up from playgroup the instructor asked me if I'd ever had her ears checked, she said she noticed Sofia concentrating really closely when she was talking and she said it seemed like Sofia was trying to read her lips. Well that sealed the deal, we left the rec centre and headed over to the public health unit. I asked if I could book an appointment for Sofia to have her hearing tested and as it worked out they had a spot open right then! (Amazing because it's normally a 2.5 month wait!) I gave Sofia a very brief pep talk about what was about to happen and then it was game on! She did AMAZING! She sat very still and was very quiet and played the games the ladies taught her. After 45 minutes of testing I learned that Sofia can't hear us. Her eardrums are flat which means her ear if filled with fluid. They said it could be an infection and would pass soon but giving the history I was giving them they said it does sound more permanent. So for now we wait, May 31 we have an appointment with the family dr. who will decide to pass us along to an ENT or not.

The mummy guilt comes from all the times I have yelled at her out of frustration from having to repeat myself 12 times... Today they explained to me to face Sofia when we are talking to her and to try to be only an arms width away. After only a few short hours it is working like a charm! I only hear 2 "whats" and both were when I was trying to talk to her from another room!

I am also thankful for a childs ability to forget and forgive. I will admit to giving her an extra treat today to try to relieve some of the guilt...

Molar Day Party!

April 01 2010 Sofias MolarDay!!! aka the day that Sofia cut her last tooth.

Cheering for herself & waving a "congrats" balloon.

Wearing her MolarDay crown.

Molar cupcakes!

When we met Sofia she had two teeth she has been slowly s.l.o.w.l.y... getting her teeth ever since. She got her one year molars on her second birthday, her eye teeth later that summer and we were hoping that her two year molars would bless us with an appearance before Maizie came ... however that was not to be. Sofias teeth seemed to bother her the most at night and we never did find anything to help her sleep. She would just be awake for hours and hours a night when they were moving. At one point in frustration I promised her a Molar Party when her teeth came in, you never know what the power of suggestion can do. Turns out with teeth, it means nothing. It was fun though and gave us something to look forward to.

For those keeping track Sofia finally cut her last 2 year molar one month before her 3rd birthday... We endured 23 months of teething... There were nights I was sure that her teething was going to kill me! But we did it, she did it, and for now we are done.... with Sofia. Maizie was already showing signs of teething on Sofias molar day and as of today I think we are a day or two away from her very first tooth breaking through.

Happy Birthday Miss Sofia

Today our little girl is officially 3 years old. I've been telling people that she is 3 for a while now so it's not an over night change for me. I am so happy and proud to be her mother, she is a wonderful caring child. She is an amazing big sister or little mama to Maizie. She makes Grant and I belly laugh a few times a day. I am so thankful to her birth mother for letting us be her parents.

Birthday Party Time!

Today we had Sofias birthday party at a playground near our house. It was "small" just her cousins and a few friends, somehow that adds up to over 30 people very quickly! It's a great park because there are 2 playgrounds, one for younger kids and one for older. Since the age range was 22 months - 8 years (not including the babies) I thought it was the best bet to keep everyone entertained. I was really happy with how it all turned out, the oldest boy is the only one that sustained an injury (he walked into the climber) and the babies were the only ones that cried!

Grant & I set out with the goal of having a "green" party, so many things at parties are disposable or tossed away because it's the easy thing to do. The only things that went in the garbage were soiled napkins and half eaten food, everything else was recycled! Instead of goodie bags we gave each kid a reusable plastic cup (made of recycled plastic) filled with cookies.

It was also a toonie party and so instead of a present people brought Sofia two toonies; half the money Sofia will use to buy herself one 'big' present and the other half Sofia is donating to Wild Arc to rescue and animal. Sofia was SO excited to open the cards and see the money, I was so excited to see the creativity in the cards (I requested the cards be handmade). After the party I asked Sofia what she is going to buy with her money and she wants to buy "chicken fingers". I'm thinking I can talk her into something more exciting, I'll tell her we'll use Daddys money to buy the chicken fingers!

Sofia picked out that headband at the store and told me she wanted to wear it for her birthday party.

Climbing the wall in her party dress and sandals.

Sofia has the biggest crush on Johnny (Grants friend) so I bet she was really excited that he was pushing her on the swing!

Susie getting some cuddles with Maizie.

I made a few dozen cookies and Grant and I made 'ice cream cone cupcakes'. They seemed to be a big hit and were super easy to eat at the park, no plates or cutlery required.

Everyone singing Happy Birthday to Sofia.

(I missed it, I was taking pictures with one hand and video taping with the other)

Mason says "Mmm good"

I had a great time, it was nice with so many people around to watch my kids. I got talk to friends and drink a coffee with both hands free.

Time is flying by me

it's been 2 years since I first held my darling Sofia. She has become such an amazing little girl. I'd love to wax poetic about all the things I feel for her and the adjectives that describe her but it just used all my brain cells to remember the word "adjectives"... So I'll just keep it simple. Sofia is an amazing little girl and I am blessed to have been chosen to mother her. I will forever thank my lucky stars for bringing us together.