[Mumofmanee]

Got our date with probate for Aug 28th and did a happy dance! Not bad for a Grandma. LOL Have had my 16 month old Granddaughter with me since just before she turned 3 months and I couldn't be happier to finally be adopting her.
At the same time though, I couldn't help but reflect on just how much my own daughter, her mother is losing. You can see that it does disturb her in one sense, yet in another, she is easily frustrated and not up to dealing with a toddler for any amount of time. Still, so close to being a Mom again, my mother senses kick in overtime and I feel for all.
I haven't had the question in my mind as to when or how I would ever tell her about her adoption, it is simply a fact of her daily world and she lets me know that when she wants something. We start with her progression of names for me...Maaaaama...short pause of expectancy...Annma...shorter pause with tinge of impatience....N...and she knows my response will be that she can quit calling me by my name. LOL My daughter is Mama to her also, said in a shorter version,LOL and she will call her by name also. hehehe
I am striving to raise her with the compassion and understanding of an old soul melded into someone so young, wisdom to carry her through life. I want her to grow knowing her parents and all of her extended family on both sides, so in answer to her questions as she grows, all she need do is look around. I set firm boundaries for all so she learns as she grows to have expectations of and for herself. I show her open arms so she grows in understanding that love is firm but also gentle. I strive daily to teach her that we all come from somewhere, with all the imperfections, we can turn it into a bright splash on this canvas as we paint our future. Each and every person that touches our lives has left a valuable lesson and tool for us to build from. Life isn't and never has been perfect for anyone. When it gets to be too much, or when others mistakes of yesterday catch up with her today, we simply hold each other and take a minute to catch up together.
I don't mind reflecting over the past year with anyone on here. Over a year ago I met the love of my life, she came into this world as my Granddaughter. I knew at that moment I'd already known her a lifetime and a million more would never be enough. Her mom suffered from addiction and bipolar disorder. She went with a foster family until she was almost 3 months old then she came to me. I was miserable with her in care, but couldn't complain about her level of care. When you touch a child that is loved beyond words daily, your heart knows it, and my heart knew those people went above love for this very precious baby. Having her with me finally, we set out to change each others lives. When her arms jerked til she couldn't sleep, I wrapped my arms around her and held them for her, watching her fall into slumber as I felt every fiber of her being relaxing.
I went without sleep to get her through some nights, and in return, she made my days. I loved watching her roll like a tumbleweed, peeked around corners to watch her actually crawl when she thought I wasn't looking, saw her first steps and shouted as if she were the inventor of walking. LOL She teaches me to laugh at silly little things and in return I back the adult world up when needed so she can safely figure this thing called life out.
She loves to poke me in the eye and laugh occasionally. Amazingly enough, I can't help but laugh my own self. She hates to get her hands dirty and that is my chance to laugh at her, we occasionally get a small chuckle out of her over it. "No, Mine" has become her recent favorite mantra. She lives by the basic toddler concept of ownership...If it was once mine...If it looks like mine...If I want it...If you set it down for a minute...It IS Mine! When she does the simplest things, she claps then turns in a circle doing a little happy dance. I am learning to braid her hair and she is learning to forgive my slowness. LOL Time that I wouldn't trade for anything: when she wakes up, lays her head on my shoulder, and is content to just snuggle for a while.
Am I her Grandma? Yes, I love to spoil her. Am I her Mother? Yes, I love guiding and teaching her. I am many things to her. She has another mom and a dad also, and as the years roll by, I will revel in her sense of pride when she can look around and see the acceptance for her in their eyes. When she asks questions than she will be answered honestly and compassionately. I will strive to help her attain the knowledge and understanding that she needs so she is secure. Am I ready for this adoption? You better believe it!

[committedsoul]

I love it!

Congratulations on your adoption!

[RobinKay]

Originally Posted by Mumofmanee

Am I ready for this adoption? You better believe it!

What a beautiful post--I thank you so much for sharing. I feel much the same about ds who came to us at age 6 1/2 and is now a strong, secure 8 yr. old.

Love to hear more as you grow together into a bright, loving future.

[Mumofmanee]

Thx for your replies ladies. I have truly been blessed, and many times over! As my youngest headed toward that 18 mark, I started thinking....small house...maybe even a sporty little car...only myself to think about. Her 18 came, but that was it. LOL This baby is my new car. hehehe Small house? Nope, we are thinking we may need to look toward a 4 or 5 bedroom. We started fostering in the process of securing her. My family grew by leaps and bounds, so just myself to think about, forget it. My driving career isn't even what it ever was, no way to put in a ton of hours on the outside when the inside is screaming me...me...me...For all that I once thought I wanted, now I'm saying, no, this is what I wanted and I didn't even know it at the time. I'm now saying a little prayer and begging the question, did you maybe have a crazy man that was meant to go with this mix? LOL I now have a 3 month old trying to run the house, a 15 month old that knows she is, a 19 month old that wishes he were, and a 12 year old jerking everyones chains. hehehe So of course I'm saying to myself, we would love to have a very good man in our lives to terroize. LOL

[ourdreamcametru]

Beautiful! Your granddaughter is very lucky to have so many people love her.

[Mumofmanee]

Sooo...we are preparing for her adoption party. Any ideas from anyone else is more than welcome!!! As a gift, I am debating between matching bracelets or necklaces, so each year on our anniversary we can go pick out new charms to add to them. Whatever we decide on, I want her to have her own birthstone charm in the middle of two others, her mom and myself.
As for the party, I am not decided on a theme and don't have the first clue for party favors. I need ideas for both adult and childrens party favors. There will be quite a few children here. Since adopting her, I have begun to foster many children, and strive to build a relationship with their families in the process, you wouldn't believe how many of my little ones are coming for this big day!
As for the guests, I have been inviting everyone that has supported us over the past few years. See, this started before she ever came into being. It started with a drug counselor that taught me to get more than just a few hours sleep a night. There are just so many people that have such important roles in our lives. Even her social worker who keeps her pic posted at work, proud as if she gave birth to her. LOL
Party games: honestly, I am considering games more along the lines of a baby shower. hehehe I am a Grandma that never imagined starting over, now, I am well broken in thanks due to one very determined now toddler. I have been reflecting over the past 14 months, all the bottles, dirty diapers, sleepless nights, etc. One game I am considering is the bottle game, see who can empty their baby bottle the fastest. LOL I want to give everyone a chance to share in those baby memories.
I am definitely going to set out a journal/scrap/lifebook, so all the guests can sign and give her their special messages. I am going to have cameras for everyone to snap pics for us while they are here, we will add those to her book later. This will be the start of her book, one that she can add to over the years as she grows. I have to get a close up shot of her sweet 16 month old face when she sees a house full of adults sucking greedily from baby bottles. heehee She will be shocked, I know my little 20 month old FS will just be falling over laughing, and the 4 month old FD will likely begin screaming for her own bottle.
I will be passing out to the adults a commitment booklet from myself for my baby. I think it will be a special memory for them, and may also help with many of their questions. I keep getting asked: Who will I be to her? I struggled with that a little myself when she was younger but have found much peace through her little voice. I will be whatever she needs me to be at any given moment, as I fill many roles for her. Sometimes I get the sweetest kiss on my arm and a Mommy, others I get a drawn out, short on patience Granma. LOL I believe she is already showing me that through our years together, it will depend on circumstances and need. I am definitely a mom to her, but have held on selfishly to my own need to not have to give up my Grandma role either, I am just thankful she feels the same way. I also get asked if I will change her name, and that is a definite NO. There is a very special reason for it and I can't reveal that without giving you her name, and I can't give that as long as she is in state custody, so please stay tuned, a week from this Thursday, I will finally be able to reveal that little secret. LOL
In reflecting over our time together, I can't help but note that we have been beyond blessed. I only prayed for her to make it to this world alive and promised to love her no matter what. I got so much more than I asked for! She fought so hard to get here, and in return I see a world embrace her and her sweet energy with open arms. I have truly never seen a child so loved by so many. I slightly remember a day that I dreamed of a sporty little car and a house once my daughters were on their own, now, with a new little girl, a sporty car is the furthest thing from my mind. Instead, we have a van that we call the mystery van, since it's anyones guess what it will come off with day to day. LOL However, we have little purple cheerleading skirts, lots of pretty socks, enough hair accessories to make a teenager cry out in envy, and the neatest ride on zebra in the country. LOL I've got it all now, and didn't even know I needed it!

[Mumofmanee]

We finalized yesterday and I couldn't be happier. As for her name, Miracle, that is what she came to me with and what I insisted she carry into the future with her. I looked it up online, and one definition of it is.... Divine intervention in human affairs. It really couldn't be more appropriate. She is everything that I prayed for and more!
I wish that I could say that court was relatively uneventful but nothing is ever that with this little girl involved. She has to have a say in everything, all in baby language, and such attitude had her put out of court by a laughing judge threatening her with contempt of court. She went out of the courtroom with head thrown back and lungs blazing and wasn't invited back in until everything was final. LOL After leaving court she wasn't content to leave the building until she crossed the hall and got the secretaries in an uproar. She knows her chubby legs, rubberband wrists, sweet curls, and beautiful face is going to bring people out ready to pick her up, and she loves refusing them now. I love her energy, just hope I can keep up years from now!
I will be getting more pics up by the first of the week. Sat is her adoption party, she is going to have many little friends, big friends, her mom, her dad, and me mom there also. Monday her Godmom is having a pool party and I'll also get pics of her chubby little self in her bikini and post for the world to see. heheheDSC02877.JPG

[SAHmom]

She is precious! Congratulations!!!

[RobinKay]

Happy Family Birthday!