A perfect 10

You are 4 days away from a perfect 10. 10 months that is. I can't believe how fast the time is going. I can't believe how much you have grown. I remember when we first brought you home and how tiny you were...how much you needed us (especially every 2 hours)! Now...now, is a different story. Don't get me wrong, you still need us, but every day, you are becoming more and more independent and your own person. Just today I tried to do my best at disciplining you by telling you no and smacking your hand...and in return I got a smack back on my hand. You are so smart.... almost too smart for your own good! :) I can remember how proud I was when we brought you for your first doctors appointment and you had grown. I remember thinking "I did that". Even though I didn't grow you in my belly, I have molded you and raised you and "grown" you into who you are today. A perfect 10! My perfect 10!

sporting a new look...

we started out our day in an awful way. you were up at 440 (which you have seemed to do occasionally)...your dad fed you and back to sleep you went (thank goodness) till i heard you talking to yourself at 610. i was ready for work and went in to go get you. you were standing there holding on to your crib and you saw me when i opened the door and the smile and excitement was all over your face. you began to jump around and have these cute little convulsions until.... pop. you smacked your face. i looked at you with your oh so cute sad face, and picked you up immediately to comfort you before you started crying. together, hugging, we walked into the bathroom to see daddy and let him kiss you and it was then that he notice a small amount of blood on the corner of your mouth. you then lifted your face off my shoulder and WHAMO.... your entire cheek was covered in blood and a pool of blood on my shoulder. whatever you cut (which at this time approx 15 hours late we still don't know) produced an amazing amount of blood. your first blood loss. (we aren't counting when they pricked your heel in the hospital for blood) so now, today...you are sporting a terrific fat lip. (that i can't help but want to smother with kisses)

on a brighter note... you did get (your first) valentine's today from robyn (your babysitter), beau, grace, and hannah (the kids at daycare). how fun is that?

ten little things...

I've learned since being a mom:

1. There is never enough time in the day.
2. House work is not important anymore.
3. You experience a love that is indescribable.
4. When people tell you to nap when the baby naps... DO IT!
5. Super Duper Diaper Doo is the best and you will search the entire town till you find it.
6. Cutting fingernails (and toenails) sucks.
7. Sleeping in... what is that?
8. You can never take enough pictures (and you love to show them off)
9. You definitely do think your baby is the cutest... and of course she is.
10. adopting a baby is the BEST THING IN THE WORLD!

Look for more things I've learned in the future...

Busy as a bee...

(left: with my mommy and m y new sweater from Grandma Johnson. Below: eating my 9 month birthday cake)

try busy as a momma! I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged! Welcome to parenthood. Charly is growing like a weed. Being 9 months old is hard on a girl... but harder on a mom. I feel like my days and nights are running together and before I know it the weekend is over before it begins.

This weekend is the Koppen girls weekend. It brings back memories of the Koppen girls weekend last year. I remember it like it was yesterday...it was the weekend we met with the birth mom. It was a weekend of meeting someone that would make our dream come true.

This weekend I won't be making it to Iowa for the Koppen girls weekend, but instead will get to stay home snuggled up in my warm house with my sweet pea on her first valentine's day. I plan on taking daddy and Charly to the new bakery on the boulevard~BK Bakery... having some breakfast and spending time talking and laughing and being together as a family. Something two years ago was untouchable to me, but today is reality. It is the best dream come true.

I want to try harder to blog more... to tell her story, our story, my life...