Names

Well, I decided to put the suspense to an end. Kristina got the closest with her guess of Isaac, although the pregnancy part is thankfully wrong (that sounds strange, esp. since we are eagerly anticipating having one more in our family, but we are definitely doing adoption by choice and a pregnancy would throw a wrench in those plans).

Kevin and I have been those people who decide on a name pretty early on, and then torture everyone by not telling them. It isn't deliberate, we just like the flexibility to change our minds, if we so desire to. However, after two kids, we didn't budge an inch on their names (from start to finish) with the small exception of Abby's middle name (we decided one month prior to birth to change it from the more general Grace to the family Fern). We were debating going the same route this time (despite having had the boy name picked out for 6+ years and the girl name for 3+ years), but decided to change things up.

Our decision is mostly as a way to help emotionally protect ourselves (and the girls) in the unlikely event that a match falls through. I guess I just think it is better to have the names picked and out there instead of doing it when matched because I wouldn't want to feel like our baby (and naming a child really seems to me to be a sign of parental ownership) didn't work out. Instead, there would be a sense that this one child just wasn't meant to be ours, but our baby, with the name we picked out with so much care and thoughtfulness, was still out there, waiting to be brought home. This whole logic strand makes me think I've put WAY too much thought into it, which I agree with (and Kevin whole heartedly agrees with), but when has reasoning kept me from over thinking anything?

The long and the short of it is that we decided that we would tell people what we are naming the baby, whenever he or she arrives.

Which leads me back to the previous post's title. Will it be....


Laughter from God....

Or a promise from God?

Two things quick on this last name. First, we will be spelling it slightly different, Elisabeth and calling her Ellie (it seems like the my arguments to get Kevin to agree to the different spelling could be a whole post, but let's just say that even he knows z isn't in the Hebrew alphabet). Two, Elizabeth also comes up with meaning God is my vow or God is my promise. So, I did take a bit of a liberty with the title.

If you are unfamiliar with the names' origins, I would encourage you to look them up in the Bible. Isaac, the long awaited promised son of Abraham, and Elizabeth, who is the wife of Zechariah and blessed in her old age by becoming the mother of John the Baptist, seem appropriate names for a baby we have been waiting and praying for.

Plus, what can I say, we like Biblical names.

*****

(I took the pictures while visiting the Children's Museum in Portland in July with the express intent of later posting them on the blog. That's why the license plates say Oregon, not Washington.)

Laughter from God or a promise from God?

Let's play a game. Do your best guess at what that post title means and later on this week I'll do the post that goes along with it.

**Now that I've gotten 2 phone calls, I should probably state that the post title doesn't mean anything very big. Sorry-no baby yet.**

Practice makes perfect

Sometimes, a girl just needs a bit of time to get it right....
This ol' pro has mastered the first 2 weeks of Kindergarten.

Abby's journey starts!

Abby's first day of preschool came with much less fanfare and melodramatics then Hannah's first day of Kindergarten. Part of that is the sad state of being the 2nd--the risk of overshadowing is always there. Part of it also came from the child -- Abby was excited to start, happy at the prospect of finally getting to go to school and is just more go with the flow. She was all smiles all morning! This is one of the few pictures I have that I look at and go, "oh, I guess I really did have part in the creation of this child!" Most of the time I wonder at who this light haired, mellow girl is. I'll gladly take her, but know that unlike Hannah, no one will automatically know she is mine (in fact, I've even been asked once if our coming adoption would be our first--basically, the person wanted to know if Abby was adopted!) Abby had no problem wearing the outfit I picked out! Hannah even agreed to go along and wear it's coordinating partner! Daddy and Abby! She is pretty happy to know that Daddy is close by during preschool hours (preschool is located in our church). Abby with her pal Olivia. Livvie is a year older than Abby but the girls are good buds. Abby is the basically the youngest in a class that has 3 years old who must turn 3 by Dec. 1st. She'll be in the same class for 2 years, where Olivia will go up to the 4 year old class next year. Um, this child had no problem making herself at home! She went in and ceased to care about us nervous parents. Some of this is probably due to the fact that she spent a lot of time in the room last year when Hannah went to preschool here (and envied Hannah all year long!) and some of it is just this is a kid who is always ready to try something new and has never met a stranger.

I marvel at the big girl she is growing into -- what happened to my baby who cried if anyone else held her? where is my baby spider monkey who was only happy when attached to mommy? I'm not sure quite where the transformation took place (and some of those early characteristics are still very strong, as evidence by my girl who still wants me to carry her around, who still sleeps happiest right in the middle of our bed, who still needs as much touch as possible) but she is turning quite independent! It cracks me up how she will go up to strangers (mostly children), introduce herself, ask them what their name is, tell them Hannah's name (because most likely Hannah is hanging back), tell them her age, her mom's name, and about a million other facts. Making friends is a strong suit for this girl! She is also just about the loudest, most talkative mellow kid you will ever find. Kevin marked down on her "Get to know me" page that "she just might talk even more than Hannah" which I'm sure Hannah's former preschool teacher understood. I guess the talkative side is one area where my genetics won out...

All this made for a very happy preschooler who had a great day, even if she did get in trouble for running in the halls..... (when I told our good friend who is also her Sunday teacher, she laughed. It sounds like maybe both my girls have a problem with realizing that church is some where that you don't run. Ahhh, PKs--terrorizing the church already.)

Day 1

This past Monday brought around the most highly anticipated day in the Lind Family summer -- Hannah's first day of school! It was slightly delayed--school started the Wednesday before but because of a new, last minute grant, our Kindergarten kids got 3 days off while the two teachers met one on one with each family for about 45. Hannah would tell you that the 45 minutes were not worth it, although her teacher, Mrs. Chambers, would disagree.

Hannah was up that morning at shortly after 6, which is early for my 7:30, 8:00 kid. Anticipation was too much! By the time I was out of the shower, she was dressed and eating breakfast, full of excitement. By 7:30, she was completely ready and practicing her adding while poky mom and dad finished up.

This is when our story takes a decidedly Hannah-ish turn. I've been asked many times about how her first day was, all with the assumed answer--"perfect! she did fantastic! no problem!" And I thought that would be my answer, until I remembered (or was reminded) that I am dealing with a real life kid here, one who is a bit spirited and not a stranger to melt downs. By 8:00 we were in tears, with protests "I don't want to go!" and "I want to stay with my sister!" (Starting school has reminded Hannah how much she loves her sister--why didn't they figure that out earlier in the summer?!) Luckily crisis was averted when I offered to change her earrings. Still, 5 minutes later, as she clutched Blankey and said that she needed to wear her purple (ratty, hand me down, 2 sizes two small) sweater jacket, I wisely kept my mouth shut, regardless of the perfect outfit I had manipulated her into (and yes, it was blatant manipulation, with assistance from Kevin).

All this made me a little worried about pictures, but luckily our family has Abby, who warmed us up for the process. This kid is a champ! She too was in for a new experience as Hannah headed off to school -- she was heading off to a new babysitter who she had only been with once (with Mom and Hannah) and was bringing her new babysitter dolly along (Kevin declared that $5 Walmart doll the best $5 we ever spent at WalMart--I'm slightly horrified by how cheap looking the doll is but figure Abby could care less)The sisters clutching onto loveys for dear life. Blankey did ride along to school....But I did get them to do a picture without them!Yes, I'm tickling her.... Which parent does she resemble the most? We normally get whichever parent she is with (or if it is family, the family says she most closely resembles their side parent)Bravely walking in (it helps to have Daddy and Abby)In front of school---not so sure.... Wouldn't say this is a face bursting with excitement. More muted perhaps?In front of her kinder "garden." Her outfit coordinates -- her shirt is a garden/flower shirt... it would have made a cute picture.

Ahhh!! Now that we are inside, the sweater comes off! She gained confidence once she was in the room. She was fairly familiar with it-it is the classroom right next door to mine and her best buddies were in it last year. Mrs. Chambers is also a familiar face, Hannah got to know her all last year. And let me just say, I am thrilled with her teacher. National Board Certified, with a master's degree and 30+ years of teaching experience, and she is still the first one in the building every morning and the last to leave and has a real passion for her kids. She is arguably one of the best, most qualified in our district. (Mom sigh of relief....)
Here Hannah shows that she is comfortable, ready to go. It helps to be sitting at a table where 2 out of the 4 kids went to preschool with you last year. In fact, her entire preschool class (including the 2 kids that moved away for part of the year) somehow ended up in the same room, which I am thankful for. Not worried about making friends!

By this picture, she was happy, on her own, with no need for us.

Now most parent knowledge stops there, at the door as they leave. But as I said earlier, I'm right next door. That means that at recess, I checked. And at lunch. And at last recess. Oh, and when I walked by the door, about 10 times. I probably should have stopped at lunch. When it is all day, the kids get tired and cranky as the day goes on. Most kids hold it together. But the kid that sees their mom, right when they had a bad jump roping experience (because they can't jump rope), well, that kid loses it. And clings to mom. For all of recess. As mom is saying "I've got to go! I need to go work! Go play!" and showing said child a good friend who then tries valiantly to engage grump, only to fail. All I can say is that thank goodness no tears spilled down (she just welled up) and I'm really glad Hannah likes her teacher who was able to immediately (well, when the bell rang) get Hannah to let go and come into her classroom. Just so you know, I've avoided Hannah at recess since then.

So, first day went okay. I wouldn't say great, but I think that is my fault--a kid who hadn't seen their parent would not have had that melt down. What I do love is that every day since then has gone great. And not just because, as Hannah told me on the way to school on Thursday "I haven't gone to principal office once this week!", but because Hannah is acting like I'm not even there. I have gotten a few waves as I pass by her door (I can't avoid it--I'm at the end of the hall!) and I do still go say hi at lunch (and make sure she is eating), but Hannah has not once come to my room nor clung to me (although I had to try really hard not to cling to her as I put her on the bus for the first time on the 2nd day of school). I might spend more time than I used to in Mrs. Chambers room after the kids are gone (getting tidbits of information so I can ask prying questions later on), but besides that, both of us have adjusted well.

Head scratchers

What does it mean that Abby wants to be either the Big Bad Wolf or an evil stepsister (from Cinderella) for Halloween?

For those needing ideas for Hannah and Abby's birthdays and Christmas, Hannah would like a Starbucks card and Abby just wants cash. Hannah has already hit up Aunt Kara and, upon my suggestion, Grammie. Although I sort of get the Starbucks card (she wants to buy her own), Abby declaring in her little toddler voice, with much authority, "I just want cash" throws me for a loop.

What sort of children am I raising?!