10-26-2007

Swimming, running around and ready for Halloween

Thought I'd ad a few updates.  We've had a good few weeks now that we are done with the yucky illnesses!  Last weekend was busy with a trip to a Eloise Butler Wildflower gardens to try and snap a few photos for Christmas cards.  I think I got some winner - so I’m not going to post them yet - you'll have to wait.  We went with our friends Tess and Genevieve and their mom's Julie and Annette. 

On Sunday, we headed to Pinetree Apple Orchard to select a few pumpkins for the front steps.  It was a cool slightly rainy day, but that didn't dampen our spirits.  We had a great time with our single China mom group.  We are so excited for our friend Elizabeth who will be traveling to China in a month or so to bring her daughter Taylan home!  Congrats Elizabeth.

We also welcomed home our dear friend Helen (go to links page and click on Heather and Stew).  Helen is a gem of a gal, oh, and she's a Yangxi girl (that would be Muriel's orphanage.  We know for sure Helen and Muriel will be grand pals!  Heather, Stewart and Helen are slowly working themselves into Central Standard Time.  The 13-hour time change is a killer - I do remember it well!

We also finally got to another swimming class (those illnesses kept us away for a while).  Tonight Miss M went all the way under.  She didn't really know what she was in for, but when we sang, "ashes, ashes, we all fall down" - you go under!  She did great!  We are also working on jumping off the edge into Mama's arms.  She's a little unsure of that...

This weekend we are doing the Grand Avenue trick-n-treat event!  Miss Muriel will be a bumblebee $3.47 at the local thrift store! It will be a busy day.   I have a leadership retreat at church, then the trick-n-treating, then a shower for Elizabeth!  Whoa - that's a lot!  We hope Sunday will be a little calmer.

Next weekend Grandma and Compa (grandpa) are coming - and we can't wait.  We haven't seen them since Great Compa's celebration of life!   It will be so fun to have them here!  Yippee!

Well, must get some zzz's!  Good night!

10-13-07

Where to Start...

Yes, I've been negligent; I hope you haven't given up hope on us! 

We are still here.  Since Grandpa passed away, it's been a busy month.  Outside of the routine work, daycare and pay, um, let's see:

• Cousin Bracken came and stayed for a night, went to the farmers market to eat egg, ham, cheese bagels!
• We were on a parent panel at my adoption agency - giving parents soon to travel some tips
• Celebrated Moon Festival with some of our best girlfriends (other China mom’s (and to-be-moms) and their babies) and also went to waiting mom Kami’s for another get together.
• Went to two weddings of old friends of Camp (I can say old since I worked at camp 20 years ago) (Sorry Chet and Georg)
• Enjoyed northern Minnesota at one of the ceremonies.
• Cousins Parker, Sumner and Logan came up with Aunt Gina and Uncle Tony to go to the Zoo and MOA.
• Fought many freaky illnesses – hives, barfing flu, and hand foot and mouth disease.  We laughed at the sign at the Zoo (below on the photos) about H,F & M and then it hit the Smith girls (yes both of us).

I’ll try and post more often – but just incase it’s a while – here’s what the next few weeks hold:

• Trip to Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch with friends
• Welcome new friend Helen (also a Yangxi baby) home on the 19^th
• Go trick-or-treating on Grand Avenue
• Trip to New York to visit the Baumbach’s over Veterans Day weekend! (Yikes – first flight since China)!
• Thanksgiving (hope to see the Andreini bunch)

Okay, enough now – just enjoy the photos!  We’ve enjoyed all the activity!

9-10-07

Salesperson: Do you want us to recycle the old one?

Me:  No thank you, you'd have to cut off my hands.  It's been almost 12 complete years since I moved into my house...and one year since I addied a family member.  TODAY, I did dishes for the first time in a DISHWASHER!  No more sippy cups and silverware - my two worst favorite things to wash by hand.  As one person, it was easy for me to tolerate the weekly dishwashing...but as two, a year was just about more than I could take.  My countertops were overtaken with dishes - both clean and dirty.  So, I'll keep the old dish washer, they'll come in "hand"y for other things - and my new 18" (yes it is small to fit my bungalow) GE Monogram dishwasher.  Thank you Jim and the crew at Barton Construction for making it work in my little kitchen.

9-9-2007

America, it’s beautiful

One year ago, my daughter got off a plane from Tokyo and became a US Citizen and today my family celebrated the life of a man very dedicated to his country, my Grandfather.  It only seems fitting that Donald James Bracken be honored on this day that connects me to my country even more – my daughter’s arrival in the United States.  Citizenship day is so important to me.  Even though I may not agree with all the actions of my country, my country does give my daughter a freedom not known in her native land.  For this we rejoice.  At the same time we rejoice in Gramps, a decorated military man - a Purple Heart, 8 Bronze Stars and a medal for heroism as he aided the rescue of another serviceman during the bombings at Pearl Harbor. 

I realized this weekend the incredible value of FAMILY that my parents have instilled in me.  My family is by no means perfect.  We have our “issues” just like any other family.  But my Mom and Dad, through a way that only they could have, instilled in me the importance of connection to one another as family.  I can only believe that both my sets of grandparents instilled those values in their children. 

Maybe I’m just a sentimental fool or maybe we just don’t want to admit it, but if you stand back and look, outsiders are insiders in our family.  Rough exteriors give way to genuine acceptance and care in times of love and need.  Heck, I even felt a personal connection to the wait staff at the luncheon by the time the formal celebration of Grandpa’s life was over.  

Life is too short to hold a grudge.  Life is too fragile to let just one day without love slip from our hands.  I embrace my family, all of you, and any of you who have crossed our paths, your presence is vital and makes us whole.  God Bless America, and God Bless the Walmart man.

8/27/07

365 Days Ago....

I walked into a civil affairs office in China and my life was changed forever.  Tonight at 2:00 a.m. on the 28th - it will be 3:00 p.m. in Guangzhou, China on the 28th - exactly one year from the day Muriel and I became a FOREVER FAMILY. 

It is so hard to believe that one full year has passed.  My life has been enriched a million fold.  Muriel is the sweetest, happiest baby ever.  She intelligent and full of energy.  Here are a few recent examples of life with my 20 month old:

·       About a weekend ago, we were laying in the twin bed in her room, settling down for a nap.  All was quiet.  Then, out of the blue, little fingers plugged my nose and a sweet voice said, "pee-u" followed by a little chuckle. So much for the nap.

·       Hands!  Daycare has done a great job of teaching Muriel to wash her hands…now at home every time we pass the sink, Muriel commands “Hands!”  As in, I’d like to wash my hands now please!  (Her language is enormous – 100’s of words)

·       Wiggle worm – Muriel was wiggle as a baby…but now that she’s a toddler – watch out.  She is one wiggle worm at diaper time and in quiet time.  She always has energy to spare.  I now know how to put a diaper on her when she is standing. 

·       Just in the last month Muriel has fully wrapped her arms around my shoulders and SQUEEZED me for a hug. 

·       Of course biased Mom thinks she just keeps getting cuter and cuter – especially when she scrunches her little nose.

·       Grandma?  We were recently at the farmers market and bought some apples from a nice young Asian woman.  I got promoted…she asked me if Muriel was MY GRANDAUGHTER!   Yes, my life with a 20 month old has added a few grey hairs to my head…but really now, I’m not even 40 for a few more months! (Oooo…40 did I say I was almost 40?)

·       And my favorite:  Last weekend we were out running errands, we rounded the last corner before we headed down the alley to the garage and I heard "HOME" from the back seat.

Yes Muriel, you are home – and we are forever a family.  I can’t imagine what my life was like without you.  God knew all along that you would brighten my every day and night.  She got it right when she said you were intended for me.  Thank you God for bringing us together. 

Enjoy this video from 365 days ago!  Our FOREVER FAMILY MOMENT! (Oh, M says “moment” all the time – that is when she isn’t ready to be done playing and move her attention to me!)

Blessing,

Tracy and Muriel – Forever a Family

Mayumi!

Muriel and I have a wonderful houseguest for 2 weeks.  Mayumi is from Japan and she is visiting Minnesota with 12 other students (high school and college) through the Bloomington Sister City Organization.  She is a delight to have in our home.  Here is a photo of Muriel and Mayumi at the Minnesota Harvest apple orchard.  Check out more photos of their visit at by clicking here to go to the BSCO website.

Yes, that is my little tough girl in her hat bandana.  Believe it or not, she kept that thing on her head for about 30 minutes.  I've wanted to add some new pictures to the site, but haven't had the time.  Muriel is now 19 months old.  She is finally over 20 lbs - so she can be forward facing in her car seat.  She says everything - and I mean everything.  3 word sentences, 4 syllable words, and she even says “ABC” sometimes I get a D out of her - but it doesn't go much farther than that. 

With the language comes the attitude.  We have entered a really testing phase.  Muriel can put on a HUGE act to get out of going to bed.  Once I cave, she stops immediately, looks at me and gives me a big ole grin.  No doubt an act to get attention.  Most of the time I don’t bite…but sometimes when I’m too tired it can be ugly. 

Anywho…life happens to fast.  Someone put the brakes on so I can enjoy it a bit more.

7-1-2007

Drunks, Skunks, Coyotes and Cats – a wild weekend.

That was the theme of the weekend.  Muriel and I went to my parents cabin this weekend in Harpers Ferry, Iowa for a little family and rest.  Well it turned out we didn’t get much of either (or at least I didn’t).  We went to see my nephew play baseball and see my brother’s family…but that wasn’t meant to be, we didn’t make it in time and our paths never crossed so we didn’t see my brother Tony and his family. We did get to hook up with Dad at the cabin though.  We did a boat ride, had dinner, went for a walk and enjoyed the afternoon. I took advantage of having Dad around and turned Muriel’s car seat to front facing.  Some cussing and at least an hour of time and the seat was properly installed forward facing and the car was vacuumed.

NOW, to the meat of the weekend.  DRUNKS, SKUNKS, COYOTES, and CATS!  All WILD mind you.   Muriel fell asleep while on a walk with Bapa while I was fighting with the car seat.  I was thrilled; it would be a relaxing evening.  She and I were going to share the bottom bunk.  Ha!  She kept T-boning me, so I moved to the floor.  Shortly after moving to the floor….I heard the cabin door OPEN fast and some scurrying…my heart was racing, what could it be, was dad okay?  Was I dreaming?  I got up, called Dad’s name, stood at the door to the bedroom and could hear dad snoring in the next bedroom.  My heart pounded faster.  Was there someone in there?  “Whose there?”  Nothing.  (You’ve gotta understand the cabin is about the size of my garage, there isn’t far for someone to go.). 

I slowly walked out of the bedroom.  Peered over the wood-burning stove.  THERE WAS SOMEONE ON THE COUCH.  “Whose that?”  “Who are you?”  My heart continued to race. The smell of alcohol billowed from the couch.   I went into dad’s room… “Dad, there is someone in here.”  Dad came too, put on his pants and headed toward the couch. I grabbed the nearest weapon (a heavy duty grilling tool).  Dad looked at the couch. The following exchange took place.

 “Lance?”  “Lance?”  “Nathan.”  “Nathan.”  …. “Huh?”…. “You are in the wrong cabin.”… “That’s okay.” …. “You are in the wrong cabin.” .. “It’s okay.”  Nathan stood up quickly. Looked around.  Checked out the pillows on the couch and said, “How’d I get way over here?” ….  “You gotta go home Nathan.”  Nathan looked around again, staggered to the door and said, “Wow, how did I get over here.”  … “Can you get home.” … “Ya.” …. “Do you need help?” …..  “No.”  Nathan left, we heard him scurry in front of the cabin and quickly enter the neighbors cabin, where he belonged.  We locked the door this time.

Still unsettled, I moved to the couch to try and get some sleep away from Miss Wiggle Worm and the smell of skunk.  “Dad, I think there’s a skunk out there.”  Dad could smell it from the window too.   Dad and I stirred for a while.  All of a sudden…HOWLING…in the neighboring field out back … “Is that coyotes?”  I asked?  “Yes,” said Dad.  Great, I thought.  Wild Dogs!  Minutes later, wild cats (maybe in heat) went racing in front of the cabin screeching at the top of their lungs. 

And now, I’m supposed to fall asleep and get some rest?  RIGHT! 

6-26-2007

Just One Day - Muriel

Just one day in 2006.  One Monday, exactly 1 year ago, several of the families in my travel group started an early morning e-mail exchange with the excitement of knowing our children would be revealed to us soon.  We waited for the DSL truck to arrive at our agency - around it's usual 11ish time frame...then we all waited...in anticipation for the call. 

Shortly after noon, Cindy, my social worker called.  She told me I had a daughter.  She's from Guangdong province and her name is Yangxi YuYu.  Her name, YuYu, meaning something like universe.  Yangxi being the town she was living in.  What does she look like I asked.... Cindy only had a small black and white photo and said she was cute.  That is all the information she had.

I would have to wait several hours for the China team to process her paperwork and e-mail me photos.   When the time came, I left work, headed for a free internet site to download the photos on my laptop...my friend Heather guiding me from Bloomington to St. Paul with every possible stop...only for me to say enough, I'm going home.  Finally I arrive home and saw her face.  Muriel YuYu was adorable.  I cried.  My girl, she is my girl. 

Today is the one-year anniversary of seeing my Muriel for the first time.  My how time has passed and Muriel has grown.  Here's a photo from dinner (yes, it was a messy dinner) on the eve of referral day.  See her referral picture in the background.  My baby is a little girl now!

6-21-2007

I'm 18 months old today!

Wow!  It's been almost 10 months since Muriel and I became a family!  My little baby is a full-fledged toddler now.  Her vocabulary continues to explode!  Anything from cute stuff like "Amen" when we approach church to "MOM!  MOM!" when she's frustrated that I don't have blueberries in the car! Heck, she even burped one day and I said, what do you say - and she replied, "Excuse me."  She has an amazing mind.  I can't believe her problem solving skills.  She sees me do something once and she has the concept of how to follow.  She loves the water.  We have a kiddie pool in the back yard and she adores playing in the water.  We hope to be in a big person pool soon.  She's been fishing and playing with her friends.  Life is good for the Smith girls.

Most amazingly...in 5 days...it will be the ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SEEING my precious Muriel's face for the very first time! I can hardly believe that one-year has passed since I raced around town trying to find a free Internet cafe with the help of my friend Heather, just so I could download her picture.  June 26 will forever be a special day in our house. 

Enjoy this photo of Muriel in her element - Outdoors!  Everyday it is clearer to me that God hand picked this little girl, just for me!

6-10-07

We Had A Pool Party

No need to say much!  It was a blast.  My buddies Tess, Genevieve, Viv, Amelia, Elizabeth, and Ella came over with their mommies.  Some other wonderful waiting mommies came over too.  Hop on over to Tess' Site and see the photos!  (Mom was too busy to take any photos – in fact thank goodness for the waiting mommies – I don’t know what my mommie would do with out them.) 

Almost forgot to mention that the party started with us all getting locked out of the house!  Thank you Carl for saving the day!

6-3-07

3 word sentences, nigh nigh, role play

Muriel is now saying a few three-word sentences. One of my favorites is "I got you" it goes with a little game we play to catch each other.  She also says "I did it” I love this one!  I'm proud of her and she is proud of herself.  Yesterday she added another one...I was antiquing with my aunt Penny.  Muriel pointed to something and said, "I want it” Oh my, how quickly they learn.

The days of me holding and cuddling with Muriel until she falls asleep are OVER. Muriel is a big girl now.  This happened about two weeks ago.  She's not interesting in mother smothering her.  She wiggles away from me.  I ask if she wants to go into her crib.  She does the big single head nod in the affirmative.  We walk to the crib, without prompt, she leans into me for a hug, then kisses my mouth and bends back toward the crib.  Of course I always need to get in an extra little squeeze.  Gosh I miss the snuggles.

Another fun thing Muriel is doing is role-playing.  She likes to pretend she is a lion and just today, we were role playing eating with a bag of potatoes.  I'm thrilled about this eating role-play since she's so picky in what she eats.  Hopefully we can role play eating eggs, ground beef, pancakes, etc - and she'll soon expand her pallet. 

Oh, and one more three word sentence - the best of them all.  Muriel says, "I love you"

Watch in the next day or two for a few pictures of Muriel on her first serious antiquing adventure! 

May 6, 2007

The single mom morning round-up! 

Julie started something.  She posted her morning routine with Tess. 

Tiffany followed and posted her routine with Eliza.

So here you have it, my morning routine with Muriel. 

Morning is no longer my strong suit.

5:38 - Alarm goes off.

5:48 - Alarm goes off again.

6:15 - Oh $Y$#!#$, I forgot to press snooze again.

6:16 - Go to the bathroom (TMI - I know).

6:17 - Get Muriel up - snuggle, diaper, clothes, wash her face.

6:25 - Get Muriel yobaby drinkable yogurt in a cup and a bowl of O's.  Turn on Sesame Street All Star Alphabet DVD.  Muriel eats in front of the tube.

6:30 - Do my thing.  Dress, get rid of the bed head, brush my teeth (Muriel arrives in the bathroom to brush hers).

6:50 - Gather our stuff.  M is in the toddler room now so I don't need to bring snacks and lunch for her!  YIPPEE! 

6:59 - Coats please! 

7:04 - Out the door.

7:37 - Arrive at daycare if the construction isn't too bad. 

7:50 - Leave for work, darn, no time to stop at Starbucks.

8:00 - Pull into the work parking lot!  Phew.  I made it.

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4-18-07

I've Gone and Done It...

I yelled at my kid in a public place and it was all my fault to begin with.  We were at the grocery store tonight and Muriel was rather hungry.  I was trying to get her to wait until we got out into the car.  (We've gotten into a bad habit of opening food and eating our way through the isles.)  Well, we got to the checkout, she got louder, I kept being patient, and then it happened...she stood up in the cart...in the seat area of the cart.  Full out and out standing.  OMG.  I thought I was going to pass out.  I said, MURIEL, NO!  Of course everyone looked at me...I'm sure they were thinking, 'serves you right for not strapping her in', or 'had you just given the kid a cracker, you wouldn't been in that position.'  I told her I was sorry, it was mommies fault, but the stares continues all the way into the parking lot.  Have you ever said you won't be one of those parents to yell at your kids in public...well I did, now I've done it and I can get on with life and use the strap in the cart.

March 21, 2007

15 Months Old

I still hold my baby girl as she falls asleep.  We cuddle together and she gets a little nighttime bottle and she falls asleep in my arms.  She a sound sleeper, and when she wakes in the night, a gentle touch on the back will help her fall back asleep on her own.  Some may say it's time to let her learn to put her self to sleep. That may be true, but the truth for me is, I'm not ready to give that up yet.  As a full time single mom and a full time worker – I get very little “close time” with Muriel during the week.  Those 20 minutes of snuggling is sometimes all we have besides dinner and a bath.  I’m not complaining here, just stating a reality. 

But there is another reason I think this snuggle time we have is so important.  I've been thinking a lot lately about the first 8 months of Muriel’s life.  I’ve been looking at pictures of her orphanage including some of her while she lived there.  I look into the eyes of those babies, of my daughter, and I consider the reality of those first 8 months of her life.  Almost 50 babies.  Two (2) nannies to care for the 50 babies.  Hardboard cribs.  One little blankie.   I am convinced Muriel lived at one of the cleanest, most well organized orphanages but I can’t help but think of all those nights there was no one to hold her, no one comfort her if she was scared or sick.  There wasn’t the time.  I believe the nannies cared very deeply for each of the babies, but they had all they could do to diaper and feed the babies. 

In five weeks, Muriel and I will have been together as long as she lived in her orphanage.  There is a part of me that feels like she deserves the snuggles and cuddling at least until then.   I know she can do go to bed on her own…she’s done it already.  But I feel like this is one small thing I can give to her. 

Muriel is a loving child.  In 7 months we’ve bonding in such amazing ways.  Some nights when we come home we just sit, in silence for a few minutes.  Muriel’s head on my shoulder and body laid over my chest.  It’s an amazing centering of our two selves as mother and daughter.   Other nights we play games and giggle non-stop.  The giggling is a centering of our playful souls as mother and daughter.

Life is grand! 

March 13, 2007

Some items are smaller than they appear

Well, I took this photo to show off Muriel's great fashion sense.  You'll notice the lovely purple flower pj's adorned with the cutest of Chinese squeaky shoes.  Yes, after getting her PJ’s on tonight, Muriel insisted on wearing her squeaky shoes.  I’m one for self-expression, so here she is.

Now as for the big head…no, I did not Photoshop that head.  Remember Muriel runs now.  She picked up her ladybug book and was running toward me when I took this picture.  Hence the big looking head, which like Grandpa’s fish, is always closer to the camera than the rest of the body!

March 13, 2007

A Flock of Ducks, A Parrot, Pavlov’s Dog, Monkey’s, and a Cockatiel

It seems that Muriel is at the age where so much changes in such a short amount of time.  She is a full fledge member of the toddler walking club.  People look at her and say kids that young shouldn’t be walking.  Then I tell them she is 14½ months old, and they can’t believe it.  She is very petite.  Her personality is really developing and it is a cute as can be.  She is into the testing phase.  She like to play with the CO detector…one thing that mommie says no to…when I tell her no and redirect her, she giggles as me.  It is so darn hard to keep a straight face because her giggle is adorable.

As for our animal collection…

Muriel received the greatest gift.  Her great Aunt Elaine and Uncle Merrill donated a Flock of Ducks in her name to a family in rural china in her honor. I cried when we got the package with this wonderful gift message.  The ducks were donated through Heifer International.  Aunt Elaine and Uncle Merrill sent Muriel a duckie bank for her to remember this wonderful gift. 

Muriel has become quite the parrot.  She even mimicked the word “medicine” yesterday.  Sad to say, they’ve made medicine taste so good, Muriel is really into it.  She’s had a few rounds of fevers and virus and now has her first ear infection, in both ears.  In fact, she’s taken to being like Pavlov’s Dog…as soon as I get the ear thermometer out, she starts salivating and licking her lips in anticipation of the yummy grape tasting Tylenol.  Bummer now that her fever is gone and there is not grape goo.

We’ve also entered the Monkey See, Monkey Do arena…last week I was using the bathroom.  Now all you mom’s out there know that once you have kids, the bathroom is no longer sacred.  No big deal here.  Well, my mother taught Muriel how to unroll the toilet paper, so Muriel decided to join me and work on the TP role.  Tearing paper is a good exercise for her, so I just let her have at it.  Time came that I needed the TP, so I tore her piece off and took some for myself and took care of business.  Next thing I know, Muriel is watching me, she stands up, wads up her TP, squats down and acts like she’s wiping…maybe I have an early potty trainer on my hand.

And, as for the Cockatiel…well the picture below says enough on that.

We are loving life and grateful for all we have!

2-21-2007

14 Months

Today Muriel is 14 months old.  In just one week, we will have been together for 6 months!  In some ways it seems like it's been such a short time and in more ways it seems like she and I have always been together.  She fills my life with great wonder and joy. 

Tonight we took some extra time to play.  Normally our evening routine is so tight that we get about 15 minutes of play time and that is about it.  After dinner I asked Muriel if she wanted to take a tubbie.  She looked right at the sink (her normal bath location) and gave me that look of, "well, get to the dishes first." 

But I'm happy to report that my 14 month old has now graduated to the claw foot tub.  The tubbie was great, but not without incident.  The excitement of the "big bath" was a bit much for the girl.  As soon as the diaper was off...I noticed a little piddle on the floor.  I tried to get a picture of her in the tub, but every time I got the camera out, she stood up. 

She pretty much exclusively walks now.  Still tumbles, but knows walking is the way.  She’s also got about 10 world in her vocabulary including “WOW.”  While she’s still learning the sippy cup, she defiantly knows what will get to me.  The other night she was crying in her crib.  I finally went in…and she started laughing.  Yes, she’s a smart one and she is my joy.

2-18-2007

Happy Chinese New Year

Today we visited our friend Julie to celebrate her daughter's baptism, birthday and Chinese New Year.  Our friend Cora came along with us.  We are developing a great network of other single mommy with daughters from China.  The adoption community is such an amazing network.  Enjoy our photos.

2-10-2007

A clean house!

What would we do with out grandma?  Since we've been sick the last few weeks, the dust in the house and the floor is deplorable.  Fortunately, grandma is willing to work for hugs and kisses of the baby.  Now we can breath clean air!