Out on the farm

Last weekend when Nana Dawn and Poppop were in town Molly had her first visit to a working farm. I would say the day was a big hit. Horses, goats, pigs, cows and many more animals, lots of hay to climb on and wagon rides. Molly had a great time feeding the animals and hearing their noises, so much better than pictures in a book and Mom and Dad's impressions. We even got to pick raspberries and veggies! Next time we're hoping Molly will be ready to brave the pony ride.

Molly's finally met all the grandparents

Marie's parents were in town from Pennsylvania last week to meet their long awaited first grand daughter. Molly is still slow with meeting new people but they definitely made progress by the last few days of the visit. We were very surprised with the progress Marie's Dad made (Molly's Poppop). He even got to hold her and got kisses by the end of the week. Don't worry Grandpa Beetner, he had a few extra days, so next visit you just need to stay a little longer.


Nana Dawn (Marie's Mom) pushing Molly on the swing. Really, this is progress.

Molly with Poppop (Marie's Dad) having a great time (until she saw Mom taking this photo and about five seconds later broke into tears - still progress)

Another photo I had to try to sneak around the corner to take. Molly actually never started crying this time and stayed with Poppop for a good half hour and let Mom get some things done.

Last night with Nana Dawn and Poppop. They were very sad to go but grateful for the giggles and kisses Molly was willing share and are hoping for more when they come back for Thanksgiving.

Nana G and Poppy made it up from Orange County on Sunday so it's official, Molly has now met all the Grandparents! Thanks to all of you for being patient with our girl, we know there will be lots of hugs and kisses for all of you soon. Molly is so lucky to have all of you and your love in her life.

Molly is a big girl now

Week one with Mom and Molly

Well we definitely have a beach baby on our hands! Molly was at the beach 3 times this week and loves it, I have a crying baby on my hands when it's time to pack up the bucket and shovel and head home. We found her favorite (and Mom's) playground on the beach with lots of places to crawl, climb and discover and did I mention it's on the beach. Our girl loves the sand and water!

We also went to our first story time at the library and Molly loved it. My girl, who I usually can't let go of or she starts screaming, sat down among all the other babies and toys and crawled away from me to play and explore. It is so much fun to watch her discover new things, you can just see her little mind working as she takes it all in, she doesn't miss a thing. She actually paid attention while the stories were being read and loved when it was time to sing songs and clap. Molly's favorite thing is clapping, when ever she does something new or a task that she's been mastering we clap and say "Yeah Molly", so she thinks all clapping is for her. My heart will break when she learns the reality that not all clapping is for her.


We also had another great visit to the farmers market. Molly loves her fruit and veggies. She discovered a new food this week, grilled corn on the cob. It took some time to figure out how to get the corn off the cob but she finally did it and of course when she did she dropped the corn in her lap and started clapping. Mom couldn't even get another bite.

We are finally on a schedule and Molly is actually napping for me 2 hours in the afternoon. I've learned if we are going to be out and about close to lunch time to pack a lunch and feed her before heading home because she will fall asleep in the car and then I can just slip her into her crib when we get home and I still get my golden time to get stuff done around the house.

This week we are trying my gym for the first time. If Molly likes the class we will be starting the new session in September. She loves being around other kids and climbing so I think it's a safe bet that she'll like it.

Everyday with Molly is amazing, even when she's having a bad one and we do have a few of those believe it or not. I wonder when the day will come that I don't have a moment when I think, I can't believe this is my life. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world with not only the perfect child for me but a perfect husband to share her with.

Saturday with Dad

On Saturday Morning Molly and I showed Dad her favorite play spot at the beach. We played at the park, explored the graffiti walls on Venice Beach and then fed the baby under the Palm Trees. She even tried feeding herself with the spoon while sitting on top of Dad. So she wasn't the only one who needed a wipe down after lunch.



The photo of Eric holding Molly in the air says it all, she's always flying high when Dad's around. No one can make Molly laugh like her Dad can. If this weekend is any indication of what Molly wants on the weekend it's Dad, all Dad, all the time.

Mom's big day

Well tomorrow is Mom's big day!

Molly and Mom are on our own as Dad heads back to work for the first time since returning from China with our girl. I have to be honest I am a little scared to be on my own without Eric by my side. Eric has been such a huge help and I can't imagine how I am going to do it without him. I am also a little sad for Eric and Molly, I can't imagine how hard it will be for both of them going all day without seeing each other. Molly giggles and shakes so hard now when she sees Dad after being away from him for just a few hours, she's going to go crazy with laughter now when he comes home after a day at the office.

As sad as I am to see this phase end it's very exciting to be living life as the family we have been waiting to be and being the stay-at-home Mom that I have wanted to be for what seems like forever. Finally we're a forever family!!!

Ignorance abounds

We've heard about the potential for discrimination, ignorance and misunderstanding about adoption but we finally had our first encounter with it. Marie was on the phone with Bank of America sorting out a payment that we missed when we were in China. I think being out of the country while adopting a child is a clear case of extenuating circumstances that would allow a one-day delay in making a minor payment. Call me crazy. The woman on the phone started off at average-rude for a phone center call but quickly escalated when Marie explained that another person had already made adjustments to our account and all we wanted was a clarification. Marie re-explained that we were in China and why and this woman responded with "That's no excuse". Marie, bless her heart, came back with the perfect response, "If I was in the hospital in labor would you hold me to that date?" Then this woman dropped the bomb: "Adopting a baby is not the same as giving birth."
There it was. Someone denying our legitimacy as a family. Marie said later that if that woman was face to face with her she would have punched her in the face but that not withstanding, it is this sort of ignorant statement that surely will not happen very often but we need to be ready for it when it does. It shows that, believe it or not, there is still a stigma attached to adoption out there among a small population. Who knows what this woman thought of us going to China.
I hope the rest of you adoptive families can avoid this kind of ugly incident. Of course nothing shakes our faith that we are a tight, loving and very REAL family unit. Just one look in Molly's face as we enter her room in the morning - that bright sunshine smile - and the look in Marie's eyes every time Molly does something, anything, new/cute/interesting or otherwise just beams with motherly love.
This family is here to stay.

A dip in the ocean

Molly loves water. This is no mystery. But how would she react to the crashing waves of the Pacific ocean? By running headlong into the surf of course! She LOVED it. Luckily Dad had a tight grip on her and with the help of Aunt Riley, an avid swimmer, and a nearby aunt Kaitie (a lifeguard) she was free to romp and play on Manhattan Beach while Grandpa snapped a few pictures from the pier above. Dad saved the day when he rescued her from the jaws of a vicious shark. I'm amazed this wasn't on the news or anything. That shark was big. And not fake. Seriously. All real. 100% real.

Meeting Grandpa

The only people as invested in the wait for Molly as we were are all the grandparents. Molly is the first grandchild on either side of the family so everyone is very eager to finally meet her. First up was Eric's Dad, Stepmom Sandy and sisters Riley and Kaitie. Molly showed lots of smiles, giggles and kisses but is very stingy about letting anyone else hold her at all. This is bad news for Nana Dawn and Pop-pop who are up next in 2 weeks. Hopefully she will mellow. Even with her withholding of the cuddles the verdict was that she is the perfect grandchild. And it can only get better when she starts giving away the love to people other than just Mom and Dad.