HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CAROLINE'S BIRTHMOM

I wanted to post yesterday but I was traveling. Yesterday was Caroline's birthmother's birthday so I have been thinking about her so much. I hope that she is healthy and happy and knows in her heart that the child she gave birth to is safe and couldn't be loved more. I pray that she is at peace with her discussion to place Caroline for adoption - it is the best thing that she did for Caroline and I will forever be greatful to her - she made my dreams come true.

Caroline likes to color so I had her do a picture that we will save and do one each year for her birthmother and maybe someday if we ever make contact I will have these saved to give to her birthmother. We will always honor her on birthdays and special days. We wouldn't be together if it wasn't for her.

Caroline had her 1 1/2 year checkup on Tuesday. She weighs 24lbs 6 oz and is 33 inches long. She is 50th percentile for weight and 75th for height. If she would eat we could increase the weight but the kid is so picky unless it is junk food. Somedays I give in just to get some calories in her. She is a typical toddler. She is right where she should be on development and the doctor sees no delays considering her time in the orphanage. We are so proud of her.

CAROLINE HAS LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE

Caroline after spending the weekend with Grandpa and learning to drive.

Caroline spent the weekend with Grandpa because Junior and I had a wedding and wanted to get some things done around the house. Caroline and Grandpa spent most of the weekend at the Lake. Grandpa has a dune buggy/go cart type of thing and Caroline loves to ride in it. That is all she wants to do when they are at the lake. So dad told me that she likes to stear, turn the key and shift for him while they are tooling around. Basically he is telling me that he is teaching my 1 1/2 year old daughter to drive.

I picked her up this morning and meet Amy and Grandma at Destination Maternity because I can't wear any of my pre-pregnancy clothes. While we were getting the car loaded I let her sit in the front seat so that I could get all her stuff in the car. She immediately jumped over to the driver's side (don't worry, Aunt Amy was right there with her), put on my sunglasses and pretended to drive. She kept reaching over to the stereo and turning up the radio almost as load as it would go. We would quickly turn it back down and she would reach those little fingers back over and turn it up (she gets that from her daddy, he loves to listen to music way to loud for my taste). So while she was "driving" she danced to the music and then grabbed my cell phone and put it up to her ear. I tell ya, you can't do anything around this one. Anything she sees she immediatly does. She is a very quick learner - it is a little scary. Aunt Amy caught this picture with her camera so I had to share. It was so much funnier in person - Amy and Grandma were laughing so hard they were about to wet their pants.

We are so in trouble with this one and to think, she will probably teach her baby sister EVERYTHING she knows just like Amy did with me. God help us!

PUMPKIN PATCH AT SCHNEPF FARMS

Yummy Kettle Korn - my new favorite - daddy and I shared a whole bag

The (soon to be) Silverio family at the pumpkin patch

Caroline and Nana

I want this pumpkin mom

She tried lifting all the pumpkins - she is pretty strong but couldn't quite get them off the ground

Come look at this one daddy

Last year at the pumpkin patch - Caroline's first week home

Last year her hair matched the pumpkins - it has grown in beautifully

We enjoyed our first cool, somewhat fall day yesterday by going to Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek to get in the fall spirit. Grandma went with us and we had a great time. It was a cloudy, rainy day and it really felt like fall. Caroline loved running around the farm and playing in the pumpkin patch. Mostly she loved running from all of us and having us chase her - that is her new favorite game.

Here are some pictures of our day. I'll also include a few from last year at the pumpkin patch the week that she came home so that you can see how much she has changed. She is truly a toddler - 100% - attitude and everything. I think the terrible two's have started a little early for us. She keeps us on our toes. Before we know it we will have another one and things will really be crazy.

We love every second of it.

XOXO

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - GOTCHA DAY

Going into the orphanage - I was so nervous!

Mommy and daughter

Hello, I'm Caroline

So in love!

Today is a very special day for us. One year ago today, October 1st I went to the Baby House to meet my beautiful Caroline and bring her into my loving arms forever. I can't believe it. Some days it is hard to believe it has been a year and then other days I feel like we have been together forever. The trip was such a journey and I can remember how nervous I was entering the orphanage.

We aren't really doing anything special today - maybe frozen yogurt this afternoon with Grandma but on the 11th we are having a little get together at our house to celebrate. Oct 10th is actually the day that we arrived home to Phoenix and Caroline meet her whole family.

She is doing great though we had a rough night last night. She still is not a good sleeper. Rarely does she sleep through the night. She was up for about 3 hours last night which is hard on all of us.

I love her more and more each day and am so blessed to be her mother.

I thank her birthmother today for the wonderful gift that she has given me.

Here are some pictures from our very first meeting - it's been awhile since these were posted on the blog.

XOXO