Separation anxiety (mine, not hers!)

Emma went to her first slumber party on Friday. Suddenly I had a free evening. You would think this would be thrilling for a single mom, but I honestly didn't know what to do. I ended up going to our favorite bookstore and wandering around. But I felt kind of lost and sad. There are many times during the week that Emma and I are apart...she's at school and I'm at work. And while I miss her, those are the times we're used to being apart. But this was weird...I guess because Friday night is our special night. After picking Emma up at school, we go out to dinner, then we go to the video store and get a movie. Then we get our jammies on and I let her crawl into bed with me and we watch the movie together (okay, sometimes I read too, but you get the idea.) So I definitely felt like I was missing a limb or something on Friday. Emma, on the other hand, had a fabulous time.

I guess it got me thinking. I know that right now, there is no one Emma wants to spend time with more than me. She would love to be with me 24/7 if she could. But I know over the next five years or so, that will change...that she'll want to start spending more time with her friends. And I know that five years after that, I'll no doubt be the LAST person she wants to spend time with.

There are so many times during the week when it's been a long day, or weekend, that I think "man, I wish I had an hour to myself!" But then when I get that, like this past Friday, I spend a lot of time thinking about how much I miss my girl when we're apart.

I know it sounds like I'm a kook who has no life outside of her child. That's not true...I love my job and reading and movies and my friends. But there's no doubt that the focus of my life has radically changed. And it will be interesting to see what my life will be like when Emma starts pulling away a little, as all children do (and are supposed to do.)

Anyway, everything's back to normal now...sorry I haven't picked up the camera all week, so no new photos. Hopefully I'll post some soon.

Emma-ism of the day

Earlier today, Emma was eating a popsicle for a snack (even though the arctic chill remains here.) She told me she had to go to the potty and headed into the bathroom with popsicle in tow. When I told her she shouldn't take food into the bathroom, she said "That's okay, Mommy. I can poop and eat at the same time!"

Anyway, here's a photo I took of my little multi-tasker today...

My crazy girl...

While I know a number of families with adopted children have to deal with attachment issues, that has never been the problem with me and Emma. Quite the contrary...sometimes I worry that she's too attached. Even now, if I leave the room for more than a few minutes, I have to tell her where I'm going or she'll get a little freaked out. So it's always "I'm going downstairs to put in some laundry" or "I have to go get something from the car and I'll be right back" so she doesn't panic when I'm not there for a few minutes.

All this background will make you better understand today's story. Last night it snowed about three inches (groan!) So after I got dressed and got Emma up, I had to go out and shovel out the driveway (I always like to start the morning with 20 minutes of hard manual labor in sub-freezing temperatures - it just makes the whole day more fun!) Anyway, Emma is on the couch watching her favorite new show (Super Why) and I tell her "I'm going outside to shovel the driveway and I'll back inside very shortly."

So I'm outside shoveling away for about five minutes and am at the foot of the driveway when I look up and see Emma standing at the top of the driveway with tears running down her face. Oh, and she was standing there in her flimsy nightgown. Oh yeah, and she was in her BARE FEET in the snow!

I about had a coronary on the spot. I ran up the driveway, scooped her up and took her inside. When I got her calmed down (and her feet had some color back in them) she said she didn't know where I was so she came looking for me. I guess she was a little too engrossed in her show to really pay attention when I told her I was going outside.

I guess the lesson is make sure your child actually hears you when you tell them something...and wear shoes when you go out in the snow (a jacket would be nice too.)

Here's a picture of her before we left for school this morning (fully clothed, you'll notice!)

My favorite picture

I was going through some photo albums of Emma when she was a baby. I have tons of Emma pictures I love (natch!) But there's one in particular I've always loved.

About a month after we returned from China, I took Emma to a local children's photographer to get some photos done. Emma was about 10 months old and was still adjusting to her new life, so this had disaster written all over it. But the photographer was wonderful and Emma was an angel and we got lots of great pictures of my new baby girl. But this one has always been my very favorite...


I'm not really sure why. I guess because she looks so happy and it really captured her personality. Anyway, just wanted to share!

A girl and her horse

This afternoon, Emma had her first equestrian lesson. Over the past couple of months, we visited several stables and found one we really liked about 20 minutes from home. I really liked the instructor, Sarah, and all the horses looked really healthy and well-taken care of.

Although I was really nervous about Emma's first lesson today, she was chomping at the bit (HAHA!) I thought maybe Emma wouldn't get to ride today because she needed to learn a lot about tack and how to care for a horse before actually riding.

Here is Emma's sweet horse, Abra. He's 24 years old, so he's been around for awhile and is very patient with new riders. So that's ideal.


Anyway, after brushing Abra and helping Sarah put on the saddle, girth and bridle, Emma got her helmet on and was ready to go!


She led Abra out of his stall and into the arena...


Sarah helped her on the horse and the lesson began. It was so amazing to me...Emma had absolutely no fear being on this huge animal. She was giddy and giggly with excitement...




After about 10 minutes of instruction on how to start, stop and turn the horse, Emma was going around the arena on her own, following commands from Sarah. Emma was a little tentative at first and there were a couple of times when she pulled the reins to stop while kicking the horse to go (Abra would just stand there patiently, as if to say "make up your mind, little girl.") But after awhile, she was leading the horse around the arena like she'd been riding forever. I was so proud!

So now I guess we'll be taking lessons for awhile. I just wonder what body part I will have to sell to pay for them!

Emma's 1st date

Well, Emma started off the new year by going on her first date. I'm kidding, of course. She had a (play) date today with Ocea, the little guy in her class who has a huge crush on her (and vice versa.) We went over to Ocea's house to play and then out to lunch. Here are the two lovebirds...


Emma and Ocea are so crazy about each other, it's hilarious. But as I told Ocea's mom, a love this intense is destined to flame out. Poor Ocea started crying when we had to leave. But I told him he could come over to our house for a (play) date real soon.

P.S. hope everyone had a Happy New Year!