Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Flight of My Bumblebee


I blinked, and Hannie will be two years old next month.  Hannah at Almost Two: Wild, Willful, and Wonderful.  She tells me at least 15 times a day to sing "Happy Buhday Hannah!" and  her birthday wish is for a cat (she's not getting it), a phone (nope, not getting that either), and car-like-the-one-at-Sophia's-house (she IS getting that one).  She definitely has a busier social life than I do now, it seems like every weekend someone is having a birthday party or a pool party or a playdate.  She is growing up more everyday, and with every day comes a new accomplishment.  Longer sentences, jumping off the diving board, riding a horse, and she can tell a story now. 


We went to Touch-A-Truck last week, and while we were there, a bee landed somewhere at, near, or around her face. It did not sting her, and flew away within seconds.  However Hannah being Hannah rushed over to tell me about this all too traumatic series of unfortunate events.

Hannah:  MAMA!!!  Hannie Bee on eye!!!
Me:  Uh-oh, what happened?
Hannah: Flew Away. Sky.  Airplane.  Get it.
Me: Are you okay?
Hannah: No.  Okay.  No. Popsicle? Bye bye Bee. Go away.

Apparently the alleged bee made a big impression, because she re-told the story to Nana, Papa, the lady in the post office, and anyone else willing to lend an ear. You really do spend the first year teaching your kids to walk and talk and second year trying to get them to sit down and be quiet!

We spent some time this month in Chicago, visiting my close friend Muriel and her wonderful family.  We flew first class (thanks, Stace), had great weather, the kids got along amazingly well. We visited a very cool place called Santa's Village, and I tried my first Superdawg which definitely lived up to the hype!


 Muriel and I were able to log in plenty of hours on the patio doing what we do best: drinking Skinny Girl Margaritas and Girl Talk.  We discussed all the important topics of the world; celebrity crushes, fashion, recipes, etc. but mostly we did what moms have been getting together to do since the beginning of time: we talked about our kids.

 
For the first time, we were able to really talk about our adoptions.  This much I know is true:  No one understands an adoptive mother like an adoptive mother. Like most adoption stories, ours were the same and yet different.  The raw emotions, the anxiety over orphanage delays, the euphoria over that first smile, the indescribeable relief that comes with finally seeing th a child's real special need is simply the need to be loved by a family.  Both of use worried (and still worry) about the lasting effects of those first few critical months, when our children were without stimulation, nutrition, and attention.  But in our hearts we know our kids have warrior blood, and sitting on the patio, watching our girls laugh and play together and jump in the bouncy castle, it's hard to imagine our silly, sassy, smart sweethearts will be anything but perfect.



Writing this now with my daughter asleep next to me, it's hard to believe that she is the same child who was completely silent when I met her, now telling her bumblebee story to anyone who will listen.  Hannah who they said might not walk.  Hannah, who at 7 moths old couldn't hold her head up, and didn't smile.  According to the laws of aerodynamics, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly.  But no one told the bumblebees that.  And so they fly.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Disney (and Kazapalooza) We Go

 We are back from our whirlwind vacation to Florida! It was a great trip with many magical memories made.  Our first stop was the Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg Beach Florida for our second Kazapalooza.  It's pretty cool -- Since we went before she was a year old and plan to continue attending, Hannah will be able to say she has been to Kazapalooza every year of her life!  It was wonderful, exactly what beach vacation should be --relaxing with wonderful friends by pool, fruity drinks with umbrellas, kids falling into bed exhausted each night after spending their days splashing in the surf and building sandcastles.  It was wonderful to reconnect with old friends and new ones, and to see how much our beautiful kiddos had grown up.  Here we go....the kids were perfect on the plane ride down...
   
 Jake made himself right at home on the beach.  Hannah loved the ocean, and has been carrying seashells around in her purse all week.

 Hannah and Lauren and Tyler. I have a similar picture from last year, but Hannie and Tyler were babies. Amazing the difference a year makes. 

 Hannah and Sophia -- my two favorite Kaz girls will reunite again next weekend in Chicago.  I hope they grow up to be great friends just like their mommies are!
 Rockin the patriotic two piece. 

 Playing with Nurai, who was in the same babyhouse as Hannie in Shymkent.  What a unique history they share.
 With sweet Ryland, who we met for the 1st time IRL this year, but who we have known via blogworld for a while :-)
 I believe the cupcake may have been her favorite part of the vacation.
 Kissing boys already...the teenage years should be interesting.  At least she picked a cute one! Matthew's daddy Jim caught this sweet moment.
 With my awesome friend Muriel and our very, very large cocktails. Muriel, along with the other KP planners, put TONS of work into the is weekend and I hope they know how appreciated it was.  They all deserve a BIG THANK YOU!!!  
 With Lisette and Ty, it was SO AWESOME to get to meet them in person after talking on the phone and emailing all year.  I know its hard to believe, but Tyler is even cuter in person than he was in his pictures!!  And Lisette and I totally had the instant KazMama bond :-)
 

But then we blinked, and KP was over for another year :-(  But no time to be sad, because we were off to Disney with 3 other Kaz families!  Some of my best memories as a child were of going to Disney World every year with my family, so it was a "fairy tale come true" to get to see it this time through my daughter's eyes.
 The four Kaz Mamas and Kids Get Ready for A Magic Kingdom Takeover!

 A Whole New World for Them...Hannie is still talking about going back to Minnie's house....
  Upon walking into the Magic Kingdom, we literally ran into another KP family!  It really is a Small World After All!
 Chef Mickey's Character Breakfast at the Contemporary Resort
Hannah, who lets out the dreaded Kazakh warrior scream every time Santa or the Easter bunny came near her, trotted right up to Minnie Mouse and gave her a hug and a kiss.  Has Disney brainwashed this generation so much that these characters now trump even SANTA? Utterly Amazing.
 Fish are friends, not food.
To Infinty and Beyond! On the Buzz Lightyear ride!

On the Monorail
Disney Character Topiaries are all over Epcot -- this one was CARS

 Ready, Set, EPCOT!!
What a Bunch of Characters! 
Who do I talk to about getting Kazakhstan added to the World Showcase in Epcot?!
Getting ready to leave :-( M-I-C See ya Real Soon...K-E-Y.. Why? Because we love you...

Disney World with a toddler.... even with the meltdowns, broken cameras, spilled ice cream, it was worth every minute and every penny to see my girl in this happiest place on earth.

...because she was what happened, when I wished upon a star.

Friday, June 10, 2011

2 Year Old (almost) Pictures
































My super amazing friend Kim Butterfield started a photography business and to build up her portfolio, she offered to take some pictures of Hannah.  I personally know Kim's raw talent and attention to detail, but I was totally blown away by these shots and had to share.  Here is her contact info for anyone interested in hiring her!  She gets two thumbs up from this very satisfied customer!!!  Kim Butterfield -- phone -- 513.218.4802 email -- KimBfield@gmail.com