Deep in the Heart of Amanda: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Genius Girl

She might be a genius! I haven't actually done an IQ test to confirm it, but here is some evidence leading to my suspicion: She has counted to 3 completely on her own without any cueing: has pointed to a letter A that we have never identified and said "A"; has pointed to a 3 we have also not identified and said "3"; can identify nearly any animal (at least ones common enough to be at our zoo), even if they are drawings she has never seen (and knows many animal sounds); can identify most modes of transportation; if shown a book and asked where something is she almost always points to the right thing; is pretty darn good with color identification; and spends more time with books than toys. I do realize most people think their children are exceptional and that since she is my first and only chidl I don't have a great comparison so I may be a little biased, but until I'm proven wrong I am going to continue believe she is brilliant!

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

An Abandonment of Self

Adoption Love

As I signed on to FB this morning the first thing I saw was a post on my friend Candace Frandsen's wall. Candace has adopted 2 boys and has an open relationship with both their birth families. The post I saw was a message from the birth mom of her older son. It melted my heart. As a parent of an adopted child you always wonder how the birth parents feel about the adoption. If they are glad they placed, if they think you are doing a good job as a parent, if they have any regrests or would do it over again, if they really view you as the parent or more just a long-term babysitter. I loved reading this message - it obviously wasn't from Abby's birthmom and it wasn't written to me, but it makes me happy to know there are birth parents that feel this way. So, here is the message:

I'm grateful for you. You took this sweet innocent child and made him your own. You saved him. You saved me. Without you, this little baby, this little baby who didn't ask to be brought into this world would have had to witness his barely 16 year old mother..grow up. He would have had to grow up with her. He would have had to witness all of her mistakes, mistakes that teenagers often make. He would have felt the repercussions of every single one of those mistakes..He would have known what broken, unhealthy relationships looked like far too soon. But he didn't. He needed you guys more than you thought you needed him. You always tell me that you will never be able to thank me enough...but I will never be able to show you the appreciation I have for you. Because of you, that boy has only seen me in a positive light. A light that could have possibly been tarnished had our story been written differently. I'm glad I chose the road less traveled.. It has led me to so much goodness!

Much love to all of you ladies who have taken the road less traveled! You guys are amazing!Xoxoxo