Vivienne

April 14, 2011

one year ago.

Okay, it was one year and two days ago. Today. April 11th, in fact. And Vivienne had settled into our fold so beautifully. I was infrequently, but most definitely, feeling the weight of considering adoption. Again. Vivienne in April 2010 The process of watching Vivienne blossom, well... it changed me. When she and I met in the Civil Affairs office I worried if she was all there. The way she nodded her head back and forth and stared blankly away, I'm not gonna lie, I was freaked out. But a few months home - as she received therapy, gained strength and … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: adoption, Esther, my faith, Poppy, special needs adoption, Vivienne

April 13, 2011

black and white. and vivi.

I took this picture, sort of by accident, the other day at the Chinese Carnival. I mean, I was trying to get a cute picture of her. But I didn't know I'd love this one so. Her expression. Her sweet smile. The glimpses of China behind her. Here is the original. For fun. You can see, it's not that great. But as soon as I started messing around with it, I realized it was a keeper. Don't you love surprises like that? And today, because it's raining, and I have so much to do that I can't even think straight, I decided to play around … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: photography, Vivienne

March 11, 2011

Vivi’s news

As y'all know, Vivienne is newly potty trained. Which also means. she is occasionally prone to potty mishaps. And, during this phase called potty training, we are in to all kinds of bribes encouragement at our house. Whatever it takes, if it costs less than $1, we are in.Vivi was exceedingly successful with the initial stages, when the praises were endless and the M&M's flowed freely. But now? She's not completely convinced. So she's called our bluff and we've had to up the ante. Any deposits (of the non-liquid kind, ifyouknowwhatImsayin) made in said potty? Result … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: real life, Vivienne

March 7, 2011

Sunday Snapshot: {these three}

These three.They have so many things they share.One of the biggest? They were all born with bilateral clubfoot.So, on our way out to the door today, I made them all sit down to let me snap a picture of them together.To remember these days. The days when their twice-yearly visit to Boston Children's rolls around - for a re-check of their now corrected clubfoot.To see these three go, you'd never even suspect they were born with clubfoot.Lightening, I tell ya. Even Vivienne can bust a move.And now, based on their x-rays, our orthopedic doc says he can't even tell the … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: clubfoot, Jude, Shepherd, Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne

February 28, 2011

Sunday Snapshot: {growing up}

Something about Vivienne.She just shines. I did a little photo shoot with Vivienne in August.And I loved those pictures of her. So today we braved the chill, grabbed the camera and a chair, and headed outside.Just Vivienne.No props.And soon she was revealing bits and pieces of her sassy self.All I had to do was snap the pictures.Recently, our big girl has reached a major milestone.Goodbye diapers.And helloooo big girl undies.Three days of constant reminders, and one bag of M&M's later...and now she's good to go.That's just how this girl rolls.She also decided she was … [Read more...]

38 Comments
Posted Under: Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne

February 5, 2011

she loves me.

It's been 390 days since I first held Vivienne in my arms.55 weeks.9360 hours.561,600 minutes.More or less.Before coming into our family she had more transitions than any child should have to endure. She spent four months with her birth family.Eight months in an orphanage.And one year with a loving foster family.I've often wondered how all these transitions would impact her ability to love again.How long she might need to allow herself to believe, somehow, that we would not leave her.And to know that she her love would be safe with us.Yesterday, during one of the most … [Read more...]

24 Comments
Posted Under: adoption, Vivienne

January 21, 2011

round 2.

Another day.Another snow day.Evidently, the weather is no respecter of my unbridled efforts to keep my driveway cleared. It has snowed, daily, since then. And between last night and this morning?We got another 12".Pure insanity to this southern girl.So, in an effort to entertain themselves while waiting for the snow to slow down, they got creative.Between an empty diaper box,And a longing to play in the snow...Some sort of A sled was born.Vivi-sized.At least it works in the kitchen.Hope y'all are enjoying your day, no matter what craziness surrounds you.Off to hang out … [Read more...]

15 Comments
Posted Under: family, real life, Vivienne

January 14, 2011

another visit to Boston

Today Vivienne met with the geneticist at Boston Children's. Again.Not a whole lot was learned, though. Other than confirming that our girl is growing, along her own sweet little curve, and her legs actually look quite, well... normal.WOOT!And that, because of the discrepancy between her relatively normal legs, and her not-so-normal arms, our girl is quite possibly one of a kind.So much so, that they are going to have an expert in skeletal dysplaysia contact us, to learn more about her. She truly seems to be a conundrum to all the specialists that she has yet to … [Read more...]

17 Comments
Posted Under: dwarfism, Vivienne

January 12, 2011

a big day.

Vivienne's favorite show (what did we do before DVR?) is Frosty the Snowman.She loves it so much, she even knows how to sing the song. Or at least her own version of the song.So when the snow finally came in a big way this morning, she watched from the window ...anxiously.Just itching for her chance to get out in it."Wanna p-aay snow, Mama!""Wanna make F-osty Snowman, Mama!"Unfortunately, it didn't quite turn out that way.There was sooo much snow, I'm afraid my sweet girl was in way over her head.But the other kids? Thought that over a foot of new snow was a-okay.The … [Read more...]

33 Comments
Posted Under: family, Vivienne

November 28, 2010

Sunday Snapshot: {hats}

We got some new hats in the mail the other day.It was reason enough to take everyone outside and try 'em out.Camera in hand, of course.Clearly, the kiddos were pretty darn excited. Other than birthdays and Christmas, there aren't a whole lot of occasions that they get new stuff in the mail.I let them each pick their very favorite hat to model.Some kids, ahem... picked more than one.But with a smile like that? This little one usually gets what she wants.She has just melded into our family so perfectly. Honestly, I am thankful on a daily basis that we didn't let fear … [Read more...]

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Posted Under: Isabelle, Jude, Shepherd, Sophie, Sunday Snapshot, Vivienne