A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

There's no way around it- paying my mortgage each month isn't easy. We live a paycheck-to-paycheck existence and it's stressful. But I just can't bring myself to sell the house and move somewhere cheaper. I LOVE Seattle, this neighborhood, the people on my block. Maybe someday it won't be such a struggle but in the meantime I'll find a way to make it work because this is such an ideal place to be, for both of us.

While I knew that this was a very diverse area, a recent article affirmed that my zip code is actually the most diverse in the entire country! During the adoption process I never had to worry about raising a black child in an all-white environment. In the larger neighborhood, whites are the minority. Plus, Seattle is a very liberal city and I never feel like we stand out. It isn't unusual to see families with two dads or children whose skintone doesn't match their parents. And while general diversity is wonderful, even more important to us is that there is also a very large Ethiopian community in Seattle. Within walking distance of our house, there are 3 Ethiopian restaurants. We eat at the closest one almost weekly and Isa will actually ask for injera if allowed to choose a restaurant for dinner. (Well, sometimes she chooses pizza, but it's pretty evenly split!) It's something small but it helps make " 'Opia" part of her normal routine.

The Ethiopian community in Seattle is a wonderful resource. Everytime we attend a community event, we are welcomed with open arms and Isa, of course, charms the pants off everyone. One organization holds bimonthly gatherings for families that include cultural presentations and dance lessons. I believe they have Amharic lessons for older children as well. Because these events are always scheduled smack in the middle of naptime, we had yet to get to one. Yesterday Isa went down really early for her nap, so I decided to wake her in time to join in. It was a blast! Isa found another 3 year old to run around and dance with.



Our block is amazing as well. The first weekend I had my house, my dad and I were painting when we heard a knock at the door. It was the neighbors bringing over freshly baked cookies (still warm) to say welcome to the neighborhood. I had no idea that people did that nowadays! Every summer there's a big block party and pre-Isa I would join neighbors to sit on their front porch in the evenings drinking and talking. We have a lovely old library, tiny cinema, a dozen or so restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines (Mexican, Caribbean, BBQ, Italian, Thai, etc), a Farmers' Market in warmer months. I've said numerous times that when we need a bigger house, I'd rather find a way to add onto this house than move.

Last Sunday was gorgeous and warm. I was reminded again why I love this neighborhood. The school playground down the block from us was swarming with families playing in the sunshine. When we got back from playing, the neighbors were out front having a picnic and Isa decided to insert herself into the fun. Gracie brought out her facepainting kit and while I went into our house to fix dinner, Isa sat next door being turned into a clown. Here is the result of Gracie's handiwork on her mother and Isa:


So, somehow I will find a way to keep paying the mortgage. Because it really is worth it.

Schoolgirl

Today was Isa's first day of preschool!

Until June she'll be going to school Monday and Friday, 8:30-12:30. When she finishes with Wednesday morning ballet classes, she'll be in preschool Wednesday mornings as well. The school is within easy walking distance (when the weather permits, which sadly wasn't today) and I absolutely love her primary teacher. She's someone I would be friends with outside of the school in a heartbeat. Plus, her daughter is very much like Isa, so I know she's prepared to deal with Isa's over the top personality. It's ideal in so many ways.

Isa was beyond excited, although perhaps most of all about the fact that she got to bring a lunch with her. Teacher Rebecca told me that Isa grabbed her lunchbag from her cubby numerous times before it was actually lunchtime. I cut her cheese slices into heart shapes last night to make it a bit more special but I'm not sure she even noticed.

She had zero trouble saying goodbye to me which was good and bad. Much easier for me to not have to deal with tears, but sometimes a Mama does want to feel like she'll be missed! I got a little teary-eyed leaving her there. I knew it would be bittersweet. These mornings apart are going to be so good for both of us but I feel a bit guilty sending her off when I don't really need to. And it just reminds me how quickly she's growing up.

I went straight to the gym after dropping her off. It was so lovely to do a hard workout and go right home to a shower that could be as long as I wanted it to be! Then my friend Autumn came down for brunch to celebrate the big day. I have a long list of fun projects to do in my new free time and I'm going to add in a little more work as well.

Not surprisingly, Isa had a glorious time! They did artwork, made peanut butter balls, and did lots of playing. She had tons of things to tell me about her preschool and was also so thoroughly exhausted that she went down for her nap without any fuss (a bit of a problem in the last week).

On another note, for the first time today when I asked Isa to smile for a picture, she did it. And a real, nice smile not the usual cheesy face she normally makes. Nearly as exciting for me as the start of preschool.

my big girl with her princess lunch bag

eating her peanut butter balls with Auntie Autumn

YUM!

today's artwork (bad pic, I know)

2010 To-Do List

I realize I'm about 3 months late posting this, but I promise they have been on my bulletin board since January. This year I decided to forgo New Year's Resolutions in favor of a 2010 To-Do List. For some reason resolutions seem made to be broken. I'm constantly making daily to-do lists anyhow, so why not a yearly one with all the big things that really need to get done.

So, here it is:

1) Declutter & organize: okay, this is more of a "motto for the year" rather than a to-do item since I think it will be continuously happening all year long.

2) Lose 40lbs in time for my sister's wedding in August: down 10lbs already!

3) Potty train Isa: umm... I've still got 8 months, right?

4) Get Isa into preschool: DONE! She starts on Friday.

5) Cut credit card debt in half: this one is going to be a tough one. But so far I've at least stopped the outflow on the credit card. The only things I've charged this year are big things like Heritage Camp.

6) Isa's readoption: yep. Lazy me has yet to do the readoption. Isa isn't a US citizen yet and legally, she isn't even "Isa."

It isn't too daunting a list but every item is pretty darn important. I'm looking forward to checking them all off!

Why moms go deaf

Every week Isa goes to a friend's house while I'm in the office. Every other week I return the favor and watch my friend's boys (ages 5 and 2.5) while she's working.

They are wonderful little guys and the three kiddos really interact more like brothers and sisters than just friends a this point. It's an amazing arrangement- free childcare for both of us and a day-long playdate for the little ones.

Anyhoo.... Here is a snippet of how a good day looks- and SOUNDS- when they get together. This particular afternoon, they were giving a performance and I was the audience. It was followed by a parade which was pretty much what you see in the video, just done walking around the house. Oddly enough, despite the decibel level, this sort of child noise doesn't bother me nearly as much as electronic toy noise.

Got Hair?

Everyone knows that Isa B sure does!

When I met her at the ripe old age of 6 months, she already had enough hair for little tiny ponytails on the top of her head.

Within a few months, it was long enough to all go into two ponytails.

Now it's long enough to all go up in a big, poofy ponytail on the top of her head. When I make the effort to braid her hair after putting it in two ponytails, the braids are nearly 6 inches long. When I comb it out during bath time, her wet hair reaches down to her waist! (I have a picture of that somewhere, but can't find it....)

And what does all this hair mean? Why- LOTS of hair accessories, of course!!!

Today I decided to re-organize them and was shocked at just how many she has. There are:

56 plain barrettes

41 fancy (bows, twirly ribbons, etc) barrettes

9 headbands

15 rubberbands with fancy ends (plastic balls or flowers)

15 terry cloth bands with attached bows

7 butterfly clips in assorted sizes

(And a box of tiny colored elastics for braids- too numerous to count!)

Here they all are:

Now where in the world am I going to put them????

And the Bad Blogger Award goes to....

ME!

5 or 6 weeks since my last post? Seriously? I hate when huge chunks of time simply fall away without my noticing them.

And the saddest thing is that there really isn't a compelling reason for the silence. Well maybe there is. Life here continues to move along at about the same pace. I am a big fan of stability and routine but it admittedly doesn't make for the best blog material. There were days I wanted to pull up the blog and thought "but what am I going to say?". Taken as a whole, our life is pretty mundane. Perhaps I ought to just post a single funny Isa quote each day. Because there are always entertaining things coming out of her mouth!

Probably the only interesting that happened in the last month was that we kicked the Find-A-Preschool campaign into high gear. Isa was on the waiting list with 1 preschool, I applied to another (haven't heard back), and a third flat out said there would be no morning openings. It wasn't looking promising. Luckily I belong to a Yahoo group for parents in my neighborhood and got a post about a new preschool opening up. The provider was doing part-time daycare but as her daughter was now 2 1/2, she was planning to transition into a preschool. I immediately responded that we'd love to come have a look. The visit was a huge success. I really felt like we were old friends just having a playdate with our children. And so I jumped at the chance to reserve a spot for Isa. It's truly ideal- easily within walking distance of the house, from 8:30-12:30, and only 3 days a week (which had proved impossible to find in our neighborhood). And, the preschool is starting up on April 9th! In the very near future I'll have free time 3 days a week and I'm just not sure what to do with myself.

I have taken barely any photos in the last couple months, which is really pathetic. And, as it is already past midnight as I type this, I'm not going to take the time to load them from the camera and then onto the blog tonight. But I promise it won't be another 6 weeks before I get them up. :)

2 years! (a day late)

(Due to an oh-so-fun bout with stomach flu, this post is a day late. So, just pretend that this is the 11th of February, okay?)

2 years ago today....



2 years! So hard to believe. It feels like she's always been here. It's hard to remember life without her and yet the time is moving much too quickly. They've been the most difficult but by far the most joyous 2 years I've ever experienced.

(And I reposted the videos in the last post since they seemed to be so problematic for everyone. Hopefully they'll work this time.)