"OK, Let's Adopt..."

It was July 23, 2007, as we sat down to dinner at Maria's Italian Kitchen.  Maria's has always been one of my favorite places..and the conversation Jon and I were about to have is engrained in my mind and heart.

As I dipped my rosemary bread in the oil, Jon said "I've been doing a lot of thinking and ok, let's adopt."  I sat there shocked and had to curtail my excitement to avoid choking!  For two months leading up to this dinner date, I figured my chances of being a mom were over.  It had been a tough road for us getting to that point....moving from the "let's try to have kids" to "let's go the the doctor's" to "when do we stop this rollercoaster of infertility treatments" to "let's look at adoption" to "I'm not sure adoption for us" to the moment of officially moving forward with those simple, yet meaningful words, "ok, let's adopt."

I thank Jon daily (usually just in my heart and prayers) for agreeing to move forward with our adoption journey but there is someone I haven't thanked publicly:  Jon's mom, Tracey, aka Nana.  Jon had a heart to heart with his mom (unbeknownst to me) and she gave him not only motherly advice, but a woman's perspective.  Sure, we could have lived a life of travel, spontaneous dates, healthier bank accounts, etc. -- but Nana provided insight that only a woman could.  I'm not certain of what was exactly said but whatever it was, I thank you, Nana, from the bottom of my heart.  And I know Jon thanks you, too!

Nana and her "Girl Friday"
 (nickname since Kristina stays over on Friday nights while we go to work on Saturday).

Fast forward one year later:  July 23, 2008

After finding an agency and getting our homestudy completed, one year later to the day when Jon said "let's adopt," we received a referral for an 18 month old little girl.  The next day on July 24th, we accepted the referral and started making our plans to travel to Russia to meet our soon-to-be daugher, Kristina.

The first photo we saw of Kristina...hmm, not sure why she doesn't like Spiderman!!

Fast forward 3 years later:  July 24, 2011

So, for those of you who know how sentimental I am....where do you think we went to dinner this last week?  Yep -- Maria's!  It was Kristina's first time and she did quite well until towards the end when her 4 y.o. ansiness started to set in.  Oh, no...we're becoming "those parents" with the kid who won't listen!!!  It was a "family date" and Jon and I just looked at each other -- no more quiet dates for us...

Kristina at Maria's Italian Kitchen, while she was still calm.
"The table" we sat at 3 years ago is directly next to Kristina in the background.

BONUS:  Recent random shots of our dream come true!!!

Kristina fell asleep when crawling into daddy's "Barcalounger"

 

Kristina and Barley-Q the Mishka (bear).  Kristina created this bear for Quinlan, our newest friend who just came home from Russia.  Congrats, Chris and Quinlan!!



When hearing the music sample player,
Kristina broke out into dance in the middle of the grocery store!

I love this photo of Kristina in her school's sandbox.
With the amount of sand in her shoes each day, I'm surprised there is any sand left at school!

Family Summer Vacation

This post is a month overdue but better late than never...

So the week wasn't spent going to Wally World, cruising the high seas, nor traveling distances to see the Grand Canyon.  Simply put, it was spent seeing our family in Florida and it's just what I needed -- a dose of the Cassidy Clan!

With scorching, record-breaking heat (in the high 90's with humidity to make anyone's hair curl), we managed to stay cool by spending lots of time in the pool -- either at mom and dad's, Jim and Erin's or up at the Ranch.  Kristina maintains her guppy status spending hours upon hours in the pool.  Thanks to SPF 70, we avoided sunburn, unlike the days when I was a teenager and bathed myself in baby oil to take full advantage of the sun's rays.   ugh....I shudder....  My greatest concern was keeping Kristina's lovely locks their white/blonde shade.  With the chlorine, I saw green highlights appearing and found myself combing local stores in search for Clarifying shampoo!  (Much to my dismay, Kristina's hair is getting darker...naturally.)

We spent Father's Day in FL this year (last year we were in FL for Mother's Day!) which meant the world to my Dad.  To have all his children and grandchildren together made his day complete.  Yeah...I definitely get my sentimental side from Dad.

It seems like June was spent preparing for our trip, enjoying our vacation and then a week of unpacking.  There was so much going on - just not a lot of time to blog about it.  But I'll get around to it soon, as well as updating all our July adventures.  In the meantime, grab a cup of tea ~ here's a "few" shots from our Family Summer Vacation.  :)

Our first day....never too jetlagged to go for a swim!

Watching Kristina's favorite movie, "Tangled," with the cousins ~ camping style.

Kristina loved spending time with her cousins, Jimmy (15) and Andrew (12).  Oh, and of course, with Sugar the kitty. 

We had so much fun at a small water Park - $5 per person per 2 hours!

Kristina felt she "owned" this part of the water park and had no problem telling that to the boy behind her.  Yes, we're working on "sharing."

And Kristina did pretty well keeping up with Jimmy and Andrew!

Poppy had been saving this toy since Jimmy and Andrew were toddlers...now he can finally retire it.

Our daredevil of a swimmer...

Well, look at me!

Our very own Beverly Hillbilly!

Family Project:
Painting rocks to place under a tree in memory of Nana Jo.
Nana Jo loved the Ranch.

Everyone got into the painting...

...while Finnegan, aka Mr. Boggles, supervised.
(Finnegan is half Boston Terrier, half Beagle - hence, a Boggle!)

Kristina made sure each rock was correctly placed.

We miss you dearly, Nana Jo.

Kristina would jump in all day if her cousins would go along with it!

Splashing around with Poppy.

Definitely my daughter:  loves birthday cake, *especially* icing!

It's fun having a cousin your own age!
Kristina and Cassidy (8 mos. younger) are two peas in a pod.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!!

The FL men in our life:  Happy Father's Day Uncle Jim, Daddy, Poppy and Uncle Bob!

Hanging out with Aunt Sadie and Uncle Bob.  :)

Sister-in-laws by marriage, sisters of the heart.  Love you, Erin!!

Kristina loves running around at the Ranch.

Meet the Godparents!

Poppy and his "Little Lady"

Poppy with all his "kiddles."

 

Hanging out with Grammy at The Girls' Strawberry Patch in Delray Beach.



Feeding the ducks behind Grammy and Poppy's house.



Taking Buddy for a walk before heading out to the airport.

  

"Bye, Grammy.  Bye, Poppy.  See you tomorrow,"
 says Kristina while looking outside the airplane window.
I wish, honey....