School Pictures

It's an annual tradition.

In our school system, a bi-annual tradition.

Our kiddo gets pictures taken in the fall & spring.

And every time, I'm thoroughly disappointed.

This year, I refused to spend one penny on those God-awful, horrible things passing for pictures.

They were out of focus.

And they somehow made my daughter look ugly.

And my daughter IS NOT ugly! 

So, what's a photography-loving mama to do?? 

Take my own school pictures!! 

Granted, the lighting isn't the best - indoors without a flash.

But they're a heck of a lot better than the school's options!! 

Plus, it's only 1st grade... I'm sure she'll forgive me later on for my lack of lighting skills.

Since I already had the camera out & the background up, I grabbed Milo & made him put on some suspenders that he hated.

He immediately started taking them off.

I thought they were cute, but apparently Milo thought differently.

So, I think I'm going to just order some of these pictures & give them out instead of those awful generic school ones!

On to new (& better) traditions!!

Milo, An Update of Sorts

My baby boy.

Oh this boy.

He is my dream come true & so much more.

He drives me so crazy one minute, then turns around & melts my heart.

I mean...

Seriously.

Those eyes!

It was the first thing I fell in love with when I saw his referral pictures. 

I've thought for a long time about doing some type of update on Milo's limb difference.

I've gone back and forth with it because,

well,

there's not much to update.

I've already posted about Milo's school experiences so far.

There really isn't anything that I can honestly think of that this boy cannot do.

He may do it differently than others, but he can do it!

We had a little incident last week with some kids at Xandra's bus stop.

But all in all, it really wasn't a big deal at all.

Milo doesn't usually wait with us at her bus stop (another example of Matt's & my policy of "divide & conquer").

But Matt had an early morning appointment, so Milo got to wave his sister off.

A couple boys walked up & stared at Milo - blatantly (& if I'm honest, a little rudely; but they are little boys so... I'll let that go).

Then they began saying he was "weird"& "looked weird."

I corrected them - "He's not weird, he's different. We're all different. If you have a question about him, please ask me. But please don't call him weird."

They didn't really ask any questions we haven't heard before:

"What happened to his arm?"

"Is he from China?"

"Are you his mom?"

As I always do in these situations, I second-guessed all of my responses, my tone, how long I waited before I "stuck up" for my son, how Milo "heard" my answers & will answer these questions himself later on.... 

Does it ever get easier??

Matt & I recently discussed (again!) getting Milo a prosthetic.
Matt has been thinking about it a lot, and thinks it might be good for him.
Not so much for me.
I really don't think he needs it.
He does everything - & I mean everything - including a lot of things I don't want him to do!
I can see both sides of this issue, pros & cons for each case.
But, for now, I'm in the camp of "let him be."
Because he's doing so well, and because he's still growing (lordy! is he growing!!), I think we could just save the couple/few hundred dollars it would cost to refit him every time he outgrows it.
We'll reevaluate again in a few months (& probably will forever more).

We're restarting speech therapy, as of today.
Matt took him (no more home visits-boo!!)...
& apparently, he did really well!
I'm really happy about it.
After last school year, when we took the summer off, I was pretty discouraged.
We hadn't been making any progress, except for what he was picking up at his school
(which is one of the huge reasons we wanted to keep him there!).
So, now he'll be getting good practice at both places.
Love it when things work out like that!!

So that's my non-update on Milo.
Not too interesting... but that's where we are.
Love that boy!!

PS
Anyone know of a way to keep a kid in their crib? Milo's driving me nutty with all the climbing out! He even managed to scare the bejesus out of Xandra this morning - he got up way too early, climbed out of bed, snuck into Xandra's room...
& let's just say, I woke up to insanely loud screams at 6 am.
Not fun.

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Class Assignments

Last week's photography class assignment was silhouettes, backlighting, & sun flares.

I really thought Xandra would once again be my go-to girl...

But she just wasn't feeling it.

So, I managed to catch the one I figured I'd have the most trouble with... Milo!

And I got him a couple times! 

Awesome!!

50mm, ISO 100, f16, SS100
Oh man! I love those pouty lips!!

That's not to say that Xandra didn't get her fair share of pictures taken...

And this week's assignment...

The dreaded self-portrait.

Look all you want to at this...

It will probably not happen again for a very, very, very long time!

And moving on!

My girly is really maturing right before my eyes.

Ugh!

So bittersweet!!

Finally, this wasn't really an assignment for the class

But I couldn't help but take some more pictures around my town again.

This the reflection of a church in a puddle in the parking lot

And the front of the church
So beautiful!

I completed my first week back to school. 

{big ole sigh!}

I have (ultrasound) scan lab 3 days a week for now (getting ready to head out to clinicals next month)

I have had more ultrasound gel on my body than I ever wanted

While I enjoy scanning & discovering the human body in new ways

I HATE that gel!!

The kiddos are both doing great in their schools.

Xandra has leaped from barely being able to remember her "sight" words assigned last year,

to writing full sentences that we can actually read & understand!! 

I'm so proud!!

And Milo's teachers are amazed with him on a daily basis.

The first day back, his teacher (who was also Xandra's preschool teacher) confessed that she had pulled her co-teacher over to re-think their curriculum for the year - 

They wanted to tweak things based on Milo's abilities.

Well, that same day, they were showing the kids how to string beads.

Milo didn't need or want any help at all.

He was all over that project & completed it with no problems!

That's when Miss A threw up her hands & told the other teacher "Never mind! No tweaking necessary!!"

That's my boy!

My only complaint about Milo right now is the way he works with markers.

He put the lid of the marker under his short arm & tries to aim the marker into it to close it.

Unfortunately, his shirts pay the price daily. 

Not one day has he come home without a large, dark marker stain on his shirt sleeve & side.

Yesterday, it had even bled through the shirt onto his skin. 

But if that's the worst thing I have to complain about...

I'll take it!! 

I sincerely hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend!! 

My plan is to do as little as possible - except for that pesky homework...

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1st Grade {Fav Foto Friday}

I'm loving this idea I got off of Pinterest!
What a wonderful way to make memories!

School Day Supplies...

It's official. 

My girl is now a 1st grader.

How did that happen so quickly??

Exactly who told her she could grow up this fast??!!

Just as I did last year, I let Xandra ride the bus to school.
Then I quickly jumped in my car & met her at the school to make sure she settled in well.
Apparently, it was pretty much a wasted trip in Xandra's eyes.

The little guy next to her in the picture above (the same boy wearing the Spid*rman backpack getting on the bus with her) just might have a little crush on Xandra.
He helped her get her backpack off (above, he's picking it up off the floor for her).
He helped her get a pencil from the container.
He helped open her crayon box for her.

And this (above) is the look I got just after she asked me "Are you going home yet, Mom?"
Really?
You work your little magic on a little boy, and suddenly you don't need Mom any more???
Growing up way too fast, I tell ya!
Lord help me when she's a teenager.
I'm going to have to invest in some industrial-strength locks on the doors.
And a doberman.
Or pitbull.
Or an all-girl's boarding school.

Xandra's Last Day of Kindergarten

We've come to the end...

of Kindergarten. {sniff}

Apparently, I'm the only one who is a little emotional sentimental over this.

Class of 2024??!!!
We're counting down ALREADY??

There is no longer trepidation, like I'd seen that first day

And certainly no more thrill of seeing mom & dad waiting for her bus

Nope.

It's all old & routine now.

"Why are you taking my picture Mom?"
"You're embarassing me."

Just leave me with my memories of my little girl...

Cause this big kid is way too cool for me.

And way too grown up.

Excuse me... I think I have something in my eye...

Anyone have a tissue?

****************

I had a chance this morning to ask Xandra a few end-of-year questions about Kindergarten:

• What was your favorite class? 
• Writing numbers (math?)
• What was the best part of the school day? 
• Computer time & drawing rainbows
• Who were some of your friends? 
• Dillon (amusing because he bugged the heck out of her in the beginning of the school year), Catalina, & Neveah
• What was something you learned in Math? 
• Counting (she's known how to count for a while...)
• What was your favorite book you read by yourself? 
• Pete the Cat (I also love this book & plan to get more)
• What was your favorite activity after school? 
• Playing with the iPad 
• What do you look forward to for summer? 
• Playing!!!

Scootin' Along {Sunday Snapshot}

Nikon D90
ISO 100, f2.8, SS 1/320

I don't know why this picture speaks to me so much.
But I love it.
It's just so...  Milo.
The scooter isn't the easiest thing for him to use - he loses balance easily since he can only hold on with his one arm.
But don't for a minute think that stops him. Ever.
He always figures out a way.
I love watching him learn something new.
He is so driven, focused.
He is a survivor.
It's what saved him in China.
It's why he was so loved in the orphanage.
And it's what makes him shine now, and will serve him so well later in life.
He does not, will not quit.

I've been thinking about how adoption has affected our family and our friends lately. 

At this point in our journey, for me at least, it is virtually identical to the feelings I had after Xandra was born.

I cannot remember our lives without our son.

Well... I can. But I don't want to.

An update on Milo's progress in speech:
We've transitioned out of the Help Me Grow program in our county (we hit a plateau with the current speech therapist, and decided to leave the program a little early).
We started moving Milo into the local school system.
He was reassessed on his speech, and the therapist told us he is just ever so slightly below average.
She actually told us that he is so close to "normal" that it was a real toss-up over whether she should qualify him or not.
But she, as with most people we meet, fell in love with him & really wanted to spend more time with him.
He's a charmer.
During this process, we met with multiple people (gotta love all the red tape).
Almost all of them were shocked that Milo did not qualify for physical or occupational therapy.
One woman in particular was just amazed with Milo's abilities - especially when he showed her how he could wash his hand by himself.
I think we blew her mind when we showed her the video of him peeling an orange by himself.
We decided not to send him to the school system's preschool.
We have thought about this decision well over a month.
Ultimately, though, we decided that his current daycare is exactly where he needs to be.
They love him there; we're not just familiar with his teachers, they are our friends.
I am so happy we have this decision behind us.

Now.... On with summer!!!

I'm linking up with Sunday Snapshot.
Click the link below to check out the wonderful
Stefanie (@ Ni Hao Y'all) & other great blogs!

2 Days' Difference {Fav Foto Friday}

I am officially back to school now. Homework & all.
I had a "light" day Tuesday, so when I got home, I took the kiddos outside.
Who could resist?

And 2 days later...

Granted, this is what it's supposed to look like outside..

But I still don't like it!

They told us to prepare for 3-4 inches.

Thankfully, this was the extent of it. 

But the temps have dropped 40 degrees in 2 days.

DROPPED 40 degrees!!

It's frickin' FREEZING! 

BBBRRRRR!!

I can barely type! 

Christmas Program & Party {Sunday Snapshot}

This past Thursday, Milo's daycare held their annual Christmas program. All the kids practice singing Christmas carols & put on a small performance for their families & friends. Xandra participated last year, and was not at all happy that she couldn't participate this year. She tried her darndest to sneak up onto stage with some of her friends. Multiple times. 

She made it up to the top step before she got caught once again!

But this was Milo's night.

This was the first time we really got little man all dressed up. Isn't he adorable in his little sweater vest?
(Matt hates sweater vests!)

He just cracks me up with his stance. 

Rolling around on the floor when he got bored trying to sit still for others' songs.

Yes, we know this boy is in desperate need of a haircut.
But his hair is sooo soft & I just love running my hands though it!!  :)

He did really well, all things considered. He got up on stage with his teachers & friends. There were so many other kids who got up there, and came back down crying. Not our boy. He stayed up there the whole time! No stage fright for him! 

Xandra was a little upset with him because he wasn't signing. I had to explain to her that Milo is still learning to talk, so we didn't expect him to sing. :) But he did enjoy ringing the bell they gave him. I have a bunch of pictures of him & his class on stage, but there are so many other kids in the shot & I don't want to mess with anyone's privacy. So we'll just keep those to ourselves. 

And yesterday, we got to celebrate Christmas with our local FCC (Families with Children from China). I love our group so much!! Xandra & I have been going to the FCC playgroup for about a year & a half. So this is our 2nd Christmas party with them, though Matt didn't come with X & me last year. This was Matt's & Milo's first time. We all had such a good time!!

Our friends kiddos (Cullen & Keiran).

We were supposed to have a visit from Santa, but he unfortunately got very sick. Since we wanted to make sure he would be well enough for next weekend's BIG visit, we got the oldest kid of the bunch (Cullen) to be our elf! :)

The kiddos helped decorate a Christmas tree (1 of 5 in our lovely host's house)

And then the kiddos tore into the presents!! The kiddos were all very spoiled!! We came home with superhero capes, games, stuffed animals, dolls, & the hit of the day with everyone- marshmallow guns!! The kiddos got the hang of how to use them, and then began having "planning sessions" in a bedroom. Then they would all come stealthily out of the room & try to attack the adults!! They had so much fun! 

*Matt frequently was part of the whole thing- as much a kid as the others! I believe he will be confiscating Milo's gun (since he doesn't quite understand it yet), and having a blast with it. :)

Our days have been busy as usual- Matt & I have thankfully finished our shopping. We I just need to wrap everything up & get it ready for the big day. 

Xandra is now off school for Christmas break. And Milo will be as of this Thursday. 

It's always crazy with the kiddos home, but I'm hoping to be able to get a bunch more pics while I have so much time with them! I was able to rent a new camera lens, so I can decide if it's something I'd like to buy. I'm having lots of fun with it, but also realizing there's a learning curve to it. So, a lot of my pics are a little blurry :(  Hopefully, I'll be ready for Christmas morning... 

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