Powder Puff Pink...Two Coats!

With summer weather in full swing we are taking full advantage of it. This also means that one must have painted toenails for open-toed sandals, something Devi has never had done before. She was more than thrilled when I made the suggestion. She is finally at an age where vanity is beginning to enter the picture and with it comes the patience to sit still long enough for “paint them powder puff pink...two coats, mommy”. So I obliged her and painted her toenails for the very first time.


Daddy completed her spa day experience with a bubble bath that evening. This is her refusing to get out of the tub even though the water has drained completely away. The life of luxury for sure!

The Farmer’s market is a weekly event for us and is where we have our summertime “story time and coffee time”. Devi loves to purchase her own fruit, cherries on this particular day, to eat in the sunshine before dancing off the calories to the tunes of local talent whose music resonates through the tented street. Empty spaces abound for side walk chalking and the air is filled with the sweet aroma of lavender, crepes and freshly baked bread.


We spent one afternoon experiencing Art on the Ave, another of our local festivals. Showcasing artistic and musical talent is it’s focus, but Devi’s focus was all on the dunk tank that she found fascinating and her yellow balloon. Although I am a bit leary of letting her walk unattended in a crowd, what fun is a balloon if one can't bob along and watch it bounce in the air beside you? It was a great source of entertainment for her until we happened upon our favorite Indian restaurant for a spot of lunch. Dev, dad and I munched on Kabuli Channa and Garlic Naan. Can there be a better combination of festival foods? We think not!


Another fascination has been Devi’s very own vegetable garden where she is finally seeing the fruits of her labor. We are just now picking our zuchinni and a few carrots. The beans, tomatoes and brocolli are not quite ready yet, but with Dev’s assistance we faithfully check them everyday. This growing process has been such great fun for her and we enjoy watching her grow ever more excited to eat the things she as grown all by herself.

One of our warmer days was spent enjoying our friends pool. Dev has no fear of the water and will jump regardless if someone is there to catch or not. This time daddy was right on target!

If there are any dentists out there reading this, I'm sure you are cringing! How much pink food coloring can frosting incorporate before breaking down? Thank goodness she was satisfied with a lick or two, but it was certainly enough to keep her entertained for the better part of an hour looking at her tongue in the mirror.

With a pile of laundry, a dishwasher that needs to be emptied and the vacuum begging me to push the power button thus ends another couple of lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!!

Why?

I’ve never given it much thought, but recently have determined that this one word question can appropriately follow just about every statement uttered in the English language.Why? How do I know this? Well, it has become Devi’s favorite response and she adds this inquiring phrase to everything anyone says . While I applaud her curiosity, to call this line of questioning exhausting is an understatement. Eventually, after more than an ample conversation about ants or green beans or a sock, I finally have to beg her to stop...which (you guessed it) only makes her ask “Why?”

I don’t know where I’ve heard this phrase made in jest before, but I am beginning to firmly believe it. Apparently, three has become the new two. Progressing through the year toward November 15th, Devi’s third birthday, we’ve watched our little turnip discover her personality, gain independence and soak up new concepts and ideas like a sponge. Just yesterday she asked me, “What makes a tree grow?” These statements always catch me off guard, as they are the trivial facts of life that we simply stop thinking about as grown ups. I thought about it and told her water and sunshine makes trees grow. Then she asked, “What makes a cloud grow?” I told her that clouds don’t grow, they hold the rain for the trees and bigger clouds hold more water. Then she asked, “Mommy, what makes me grow?” I told her food and milk, but she corrected me and said that her friends being kind help her grow. Ah! she got me. I guess she has started to understand the difference between physical and emotional growth at an almost 3 year old level, of course. She really has tiptoed through the terrible twos with barely a missed step...until today.

As I scanned the play field of rambunctious children for my Deviroo today, I finally zeroed in on her in the most unusual of places, not out running and playing, but standing still holding the hand of one of her teachers. When we finally reached each other, Devi ran the last few steps into my arms and planted a big kiss on my cheek. Then came the bombshell when Ms. S said “Devi, tell your mommy why you are not playing with your friends today?”Devi fell silent and looked at the ground. Finally she uttered, “I did not have good listening ears today”. Ms. S went on to describe Devi’s day. She talked back to all the teachers - even yelling NO! at them, stood up right on her chair at lunch time more than once, squished her food in her hands, laughed at the teachers when they put her in the thinking spot, repeatedly pinched her friends, spit, woke up three children during nap time and as a result, lost the privilege to play with her friends. When I asked Devi if all of this was true she said, “Mommy, I had a rough day”. With a day like that one, I would half expect to find her duct taped to the wall!

I was dumbfounded. Was this MY child? And, how is it that one child could cause so much mischief in a single day? I guess I should have seen it coming...as I’ve had to choke back giggles observing her practise her angry face in the mirror lately. Recently, she announced in a very authoritative voice, “Mommy, I am a girl and you are a girl and daddy is not! We are naughty girls and daddy is not!” Who can argue with that?

Once again we are falling back on what we know to be true. She LOVES attention, even if it is negative attention and she loves to earn things. As of today we have started the “listening ears” chart. One sticker is earned for each day she receives a positive comment from her teacher. When a full week of stickers is earned, we get to do an activity of her choice, like eat dinner outside picnic style or go to the park. Thank goodness she is easy to please and still thinks an apple or yogurt is dessert, simply because it is sweet!

When I ponder the flipped switch inside the head of my DeeDee from yesterday to today I come up with no conclusions, which leaves me asking...Why?

Summer Events-Cousins come for a visit

An overnight visit with cousins Olivia and Jordan and Aunt
Shannon in early June

A friendly game of DOG PILE! Devi on the bottom by her choosing!

Family Father's Day Picnic

Swimming with cousins and the weather was not warm.
These kids are being troopers to withstand the elements for splashing fun.

The Taste of Tacoma Festival

Our first festival of the season. We did lots of dancing to live music and local restaurants set up booths in the park to sell "tastes" of their food. Pat, Devi and I shared this plate of Vietnamese food...Yum!

Father's Day

Dev and I made breakfast for dad and she presented him with a gift she made allbyherself. Our slugger!! We planned on going to an outdoor brew festival that day but we had a rare occurrence. A boomer of a thunder and lightning storm graced our presence which was a real treat to watch! Daddy was in heaven!

Picnic for dinner

Because our weather can be so unpredictable, we picnic spontaneously. This is one of nights the sun decided to peak out for a while. Off to the park we went to have our dinner and feed the ducks our left overs. Devi was thrilled to find she has learned to throw with a fair amount of accuracy this year. The bread actually hit the water!!

Independence Day - the 4th of July

As Devi would say, "Happy America's Birthday!" We spent the afternoon of the 4th at the Freedom Fair, another of our favorite summer festivals. We had a blast dancing to live music, eating hot dogs and ice cream. Devi (I) enjoyed a sponge bob square pants ice cream bar...she has no idea who he is, but the ice cream looked fun...taste...not so much. The weather was an extremely rare near 90 degree day. It was so fun to be out all day and not have to wear a coat.

These jumpy things are one of Devi's favorite past times. We found this one at the Freedom Fair on the 4th. All the jumping you can do for a buck.
Devi got her money's worth!

I don't know about you, but I see more than a dollar's worth of joy in that face. Incidentally, she slept like a baby through all the fireworks!

The Most Meltificent Monday

"Lick it all around" my dad used to say as I tried to stay ahead of the never ending drips of my melting ice cream cone. In my youth, we would dash off on spontaneous family drives to go look at the remains of a house fire my dad had fought the night before or view a piece of real estate and somehow, miraculously would end up at a Dairy Queen almost every time. Last Monday, we got to witness Devi's attempt to consume a whole cone before it melted away, which appeared to be hard work for her. I got to use my dad's famous phrase over and over as I coached her to completion, well almost. She did get a little help from the dog and a tid-bit each went to mommy and daddy. Funny how she gets so excited about a rare treat of dessert, but the excitement is more over the privilege rather than the consumption. In most cases the bulk of the dessert is often left on the plate, slightly disrupted from the way it was served...ice cream being the one exception!







While on the subject of eating, honestly, the girl takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R to eat a meal. At first, it is all about the formalities; the napkin goes in our lap, saying grace...usually several...and then she will take a few bites to get started. Then the meal slows and becomes all about the aroma, the texture, the color, how it feels, how we, as adults, eat it, how does one poke it with a fork or scoop it with a spoon. Each of these qualities must be explored and eventually a few more bites go into her mouth. Invariably there is a trip to the potty and/or extra condiments are required that further bring the nourishment to near a screeching halt. And for no apparent reason, just like the climax of a well choreographed dance, she begins to eat again with purpose until finally announcing, I am all done. May I please be excused? We are baffled by this mealtime procedure, but are thankful that she is really a good eater and likes most things; broccoli, celery and lettuce being the exceptions. Daddy calls her our little pounder. We still have no idea where she puts all that food...another phenomena that has these two college educated parents baffled and perplexed as the total area and weight of food consumed compared to the approximate area where it goes for digestion does not compute. We will just have to continue to ponder that one over another ice cream. Lick it all around, Devi. Lick it all around!!

Dashing Devi

The distant whisper of rhythmic chanting, carried through the early morning stillness arrives at our house the second Saturday of every June. It lets us know the 7.4 mile Sound to Narrows Race is underway with the military formation leg leading the pack. For those willing to wake that early, it is nothing short of spectacular to watch as groups, in uniform, some with full packs, representing each of the armed forces, run in formation; the stomping of their boots hitting pavement keeping time as they sing and complete the task as one.

Under normal circumstances, tradition would have at least one family member competing in the full course, unfortunately, due to injury and surgery that was not possible. So, for the second year in a row, Devi was our lone representative competing in the diaper dash wave of this annual event.



A full year older, her mission was more clear this time, but just to ensure her success, we had a couple of dry runs across the length of our kitchen floor; running from daddy to mommy’s open arms. Race day found Devi pumped for the event and so excited to wear a real race number. A blur of pink with a bouncing pony tail and flailing arms, she charged the packed course, smiling from ear to ear the entire way. The extra 3 and a half inches we recently recorded in her height helped to propel her into a respectable third place finish.


The highlight of Devi’s day was tearing the coupon from her own race number and redeeming it for her free loaf of bread from the Roman Meal booth, the official sponsor of the event. We were all extremely proud of her accomplishment, but she was most thrilled with her doughy trophy!

IWannaDoItAllByMyself!!

Picking daisies All By Myself!

Whether cracking an egg or driving the car, every act of kinetic energy in our household is now preceded by the phrase "IWannaDoItAllByMyself". The person blurting this "word" at break neck speed is none other than our precocious toddler, Devi. I can't tell you how many nights Pat and I lay in bed discussing her antics in a giggling whisper, trying to convince ourselves that we still are in control of our household; the result of that debate is questionable.

Truth be told, we are captivated by her lively and courageous spirit, that continually surprises our adult minds, providing that wondrous link to the freedom of our youth, long since gone from our lives until the day Devi entered in. Along for the marvelous ride, we watch with awe as her developing mind continues to discover the world around her and decipher how all the intricate pieces of life's puzzle fit together.

This weeks fascinating topics of conversation revolve around insects, transportation, making new friends, plant life and gender roles and that discovery went something like this.

Temperatures jumping from March to August in a matter of two days, we've officially set up the wading pool for some outside fun. One afternoon Pat and I were sitting around the pool discussing our day, while Devi was taking a short break from swimming to soak up some sunshine. She was so quiet, we thought that maybe she was taking a short snooze. Suddenly, her head popped up from beneath her burrito-style wrapped towel and she said, "Hi parents!"

We have noticed these kinds of statements from her lately, like she is figuring out every one's place and the roles they play in her life. The other day she asked me, "Mom, are you a wife and a mother?" and later "Is daddy a prince and a groom?" I guess I never really thought about it much, but we refer to ourselves with all sorts of labels and she is doing her best to sort it all out.

No longer shapes, another big discovery is that letters spell words! As adults, I guess we take for granted this means of communication. Devi is fascinated that letters put together say something and she is continually asking us to tell her what things say. Anything with words is fair play...billboards, store fronts, newspapers - the list goes on and on. One can not fathom how exhausting this little game can be! All in the joys of parenthood :)

Planting a garden All By Myself

First Berries from the garden

Tiny sprouts have emerged from the earth of Devi's garden. She chose the seeds and planted them all by herself so very fact that something is happening is nothing short of a miracle. It has been fun to watch the metamorphosis of the seedlings and watch the delight on her face as we round the corner each day to see what has grown overnight in her garden. The strawberries are her favorite because they have all ready yielded a berry or two and at 2 and a half, instant gratification is a must.

So proud of herself on the first day at her new school

With the look of pride on her face, Devi trotted off to a new school this week too. Although still considered a daycare, it is run like a preschool to help the children prepare for when that time comes. It has been interesting watching Devi go from top dog at our old child care facility to the new kid here. It has been her first real challenge, which she has pretty much taken in stride. She had one sleepless over stimulated night of no sleep, but since has been rather eager to go and see her new little friends. She is in a room of 3 year olds who tower over her. I've warned the teachers not to be too protective, as she is tiny, but mighty and seems to be living up to that description.

Just a trim...but Devi's first haircut

To sum up the week properly, one must not only take account of the big activities mentioned above, but also make note of the constant banter that follows along with everything we do, for Devi is never at a loss for words. I've stopped counting the questions now and just try to field them as they come. Here are the strangest ones from this week.

1. Does Spiderman fight the bad guys? (We try to emphasize that Spiderman helps the good people, but the question always comes out this way. Also we are not sure how she knows about Spiderman because we have never mentioned him)

2. What do butterflies eat? (I had to thing about this one)

3. Dad, are you the pilot of the space shuttle?

Some questions lead to a conversation like this one that took place in the car on our way to the grocery store.

Devi: Mom, are you a good driver?
Mom: Yes
Devi: Mom, is daddy a good driver?
Mom: Yes. Is Devi a good driver?
Devi grabs make believe steering wheel and says "Uh-huh"
Mom: Do you think mommy is a good driver?
Devi: Yes
Mom: Do you thing daddy is a good driver?
Devi: long pause then she says "Toooo Fast!"

Stalling at bedtime one evening, she managed to make up her first story told AllByMyself, which went something like this.

Once upon a time, there was a princess named mommy who was riding a horse and a nice man helped her. The End.

Short and Sweet...just like she is AND forever wanting to do every thing AllByMyself!

First Boat Ride

Heinz 57

If my mom were still alive, she would say I am a Heinz 57. What that means I don’t exactly know, but I am hoping in my lineage somewhere is a drop or two of Irish blood to reap the benefits of this 4-leaf clover presented to me today. The significance of this nature made lucky charm runs deep for this mom who dreams of adding another Indian princess to her brood.

Mentioned in an earlier post, our first clover was bestowed upon us just days before our referral call revealing news and our first glimpse of our precious Devi. Timing being everything, it came at a time when we were uncertain that our dream of International adoption would ever materialize.

This clover, discovered in full bloom during a friend and co-workers backyard retreat, was delivered this morning, wrapped tenderly in a paper towel. Cat, who follows the blog, figured we could use this kind of luck for adoption number two.

She figured right, as I have added another year to my age and, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this makes us a combined total of 91 years, technically too old to adopt an infant from the land of peacocks, sarees, bangles, and incense that has captivated our hearts. Days before blowing out my candles, the anxiety over that dreaded approaching prime number had reached an all time high. Would the door to this dream suddenly slam shut on my birthday? Prodded by this unanswered question, I phoned our agency representative looking for closure but hoping for assurance. Suffice to say, that we are not throwing in the towel just yet. Though direct questions regarding the specifics of this adoption can not yet be answered, we were left with a possible “within a year” time frame to find a daughter and sister for the three of us, which is more promising than I had hoped for.

Not quite ready to change the name of the blog to "Princess-es Born of India" just yet, we are at least newly refueled with hope once again and ready to continue down this chosen path armed with a little bit-o-luck. Thanks Cat!!

Hold On To Your Hats And Keep Your Arms Inside the Car

Planting with Oma on Mother's Day

Beep, beep, beep!!! While that may be the sound of an alarm clock in most households, in ours, it is the signal to hold onto your hats and keep your arms inside the car; the roller coaster of life is leaving the station with mommy, daddy and a two and half year old in it. Navigating our way through a busy day can bring the thrill of a 50 foot drop, the swell in your gut that comes with making a loopty-loop, and timeless uncontrollable laughter when the fun you're having makes the realities of the world disappear. Our amusement park like attraction is only 34 and 3/4 inches tall, weighs 23 pounds and answers to the name of Deviroo.

The other night, I was standing at the front door chatting with our neighbor Carol. Daddy and Devi were just returning from a walk and joined us on the porch. Devi ran up to Carol and gave her a big bear hug and said, "Carol, would you care for a glass of wine?" We all burst out laughing...she has become a little hostess all ready!

A few days later, the three of us were blessed to find some sunshine on our front stoop. We were all sitting there basking in the rays, when Devi noticed that we had had a new phone book delivered and she asked if she could read it. She took the book, and with her back to us, squatted down with her hands in her lap and began to flip the pages. I just love it when kids do this squat position...it is so darned cute. Anyway, she entertained herself for a while, flipping a page or two and then slammed the book shut and came running back to us saying, "I'm done with the book...it was a boring read!" Another gut wrencher! I don't know where she picks up this stuff, but her comments flabbergast us every time.


Making cookies, even those made out of Play-doh, can only be for one person....Santa Claus! We made a whole plate full of tasty morsels for old St. Nick in every color in the rainbow. When playtime was over we began squashing our delectable treats back into the containers when Devi said in a very sad voice, "Sorry Santa, sorry Rudolph, sorry Olive the other reindeer" It was very dear that she felt bad that we were not leaving them out overnight for them to try. We explained that Santa and his reindeer are at the North Pole making toys for good little girls and good little boys which spawned, "Am I a good girl?" :) (An angel...most of the time!)

Lately, she has become very interested in all things India. Devi is very aware that she was born there, but mommy and daddy were not. We frequently find her saying "Namaste" to her animal friends and she has taken to drawing on my hands with sidewalk chalk. She tells me the chalk is henna and she is doing mendhi on my hands for me. She loves Indian food which we prepare often, but you could tell her a pb&j was Indian food and for her, it would suddenly become more delicious!

Just like last year, the weekly farmer's market is still a huge source of entertainment for us. Devi has a much better understanding of it this year and asks every time, "The farmer's grow the vegetables? The farmer sells the vegetables? We buy the vegetables?" We let her carry her own cloth bag, pick out a piece of fruit and pay for it herself, which is the highlight of her trip. Daddy and I prefer a tasty baked good, but to each his own.

Cooking away on her pretend stove top the other day I over heard Devi adjusting the temperature of the burners. According to her, her stove has "Hot", "Cold" and "Mirium"!

Daddy & Devi make Eirekuchen!

Thus ends another couple of weeks of life's roller coaster ride. The highlight of this week was breakfast on my second Mother's day made by my hubby and daughter....Eirekuchen, or German pancakes. She gets a bit over zealous cracking the eggs, saying Uh-oh and invariably we end up scooping them off the counter and into a bowl. The recipe calls for slightly beaten, so there you go.


We spent the afternoon taking a delightful walk through a Rhododendron garden and Bonsai tree exhibit with Oma. The sun managed to peak it's head out just long enough for us to complete both and then came the rain drops. In a dry spell of the afternoon Oma and Devi shared a fun moment planting flowers in pots together. Devi chose marigolds, which seems so appropriate since they are a flower used to celebrate festive occasions in India. With the planting we came to realize that Devi can't stand to get her hands dirty. Shoveling, adding plant food and watering are okay, but don't try and make her touch the dirt!! "It' yucky" and that is a quote. A wonderful grilled fish dinner topped off with my personal favorite - rhubarb pie rounded out my wonderful Mother's day. The day was like heaven - a true gift to spend it with family...our family of three created by the selfless act of a woman half a world away. It is to honor her - Jhuma - that Devi's marigolds bloom.

Marigolds for Jhuma

Here Comes Peter Cottontail!

Dying eggs with Aunt Joan

Armed with a whole repertoire of songs, somehow Devi occasionally gets stuck on a personal favorite. We were relieved when she recently took a shine to Here Comes Peter Cottontail, because this new tune finally retired Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which she has been hooked on since long before the Christmas holiday! Now, nearly a month past Easter, we would gladly welcome any other holiday composition. Know of any Memorial Day songs?

Our family is full of some pretty fierce competitors, and the annual Easter egg dying event is not to be left out. In years past, my dad was the judge as we would send photos of our eggs to him in Arizona and describe the dying processes we used on each one. Always impartial, he found merit with each of our egg creations, siting the similarities of constellations and other natural formations in our multicolored masterpieces. Although Devi is not quite ready for some of the experimental dying processes we have tried, she still found her own creative rhythm. Her technique was speed. We couldn't get the eggs in and out of the dye baths fast enough for her! With Aunt Joan coaching at her side, we managed to cajole Devi into letting a few eggs sit long enough to get past a pastel shade and didn't crack a one...much!

First Easter Egg Hunt!

Devi and mom with her loot!

Living in a small town has some perks, one of which is our annual Easter Egg Hunt. This was Devi's first hunting experience, but she was very aware of the goal - put eggs in basket - not knowing what was contained in the colorful plastic containers. Try as I might to keep the "candy" part a secret, she figured us out and was delighted to try her first Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

After church, we found the Easter Bunny had made a stop to Oma's house.
Devi is wearing a dress that was hand made and purchased in India the day after we were united.
She is also recently become the master of the cheesy grin...hope this passes soon!

During our church service the next day, the children were invited up to the pulpit for story time. With plastic eggs as props, the story teller first showed a "full" egg explaining about how the tomb was closed with Jesus inside. Later in the story, she showed two empty egg halves and explained how Jesus left the tomb and had risen. Devi was very attentive, but remembering her discovery at the egg hunt from the day before, was eyeing those full eggs. Naturally, at the end of story time, the children were released to join their parents and were each given a full egg to take back to their seats. Devi took her place beside me and with breakneck speed, managed to crack that egg into my skirt and whip up the 4 or 5 malted ball eggs and stuff every last one of them into her mouth before I could wrestle that slippery egg out of her hot little mits. That was the most candy that child has ever eaten in one sitting and boy what a transformation. With sugar almost immediately racing through her blood stream, she was gone - poke a fork in her, she was done. Sitting still one more second would have been a unbelievable phenomenon. She promptly went to the nursery :)!

Oma prepared out Easter Sunday meal, that was scrumptious as always. We manage to gorge ourselves on Easter Bread that she makes annually; a recipe handed down from her German mother. It is a good thing we only are allowed to enjoy it once a year because it is dense with butter and served warm is like heaven! The Easter Bunny's helper always manages to send a whole loaf home with us, which becomes our steady diet until it is gone!

Daddy and Devi playing "hop hop" Easter bunny.

Princesses, Pirates, Playtime, Parade and Paper Pregnant!

Pointing out princesses at the Daffodil Parade

For as long as I can remember, I've been attending the Daffodil Parade held annually down one of the main streets of our city. I marched in it playing the clarinet as a girl, and although I would have loved to have worn a crown and been a real daffodil princess, a nomination in high school was as close as I ever got to achieving that royal status. After several months cooped up in our houses protected from the weather, the hype over the arrival of spring and the parade only rouses up a twitter of gossip. This year it was the shortage of daffodils in bloom for the floats due to the inclement weather which made front page news!

Typically, one or more of the Ross clan would run the fun run along the parade route and then stay to watch the parade that immediately follows. Last year Devi "ran" her first race with me pushing her in the jogger, but his year found us slightly out of shape and hobbled. With my foot in a large purple cast, we chose to wheel to a prime viewing spot with Devi in her jogger, mommy on her special scooter and daddy being the only family member on foot to just enjoy the coming of spring and our specially packed Princess lunch. (This consists of the same lunch we would have on any other day, but when named the Princess lunch, somehow tastes much better)

We were surprised by how much Devi enjoyed the parade...all of it! She bopped to the music of the marching bands, loved the cheerleaders - calling them dancers, and was thrilled to see horses, clowns, and pirates. One pirate gave her a coin that did not leave her sight all day. One hundred times in and out of her pocket went that coin so she could re-examine and admire it. Without question, her favorite part was seeing real live princesses. Because she truly thinks she IS a princess, you see, they are somehow related and therefore attract her full attention. She is not selective either. All princesses...princess brides, fairy princesses, or just your run of mill crown wearer all received a wave, a loud "Hi princess!" and a blown kiss.

A float with Bubbles!!...it just does not get any better than that when you are two!

Because it was our first gorgeous warmish day in months, we rounded the day out by having our first "Picnic in the backseat" dinner. A Frisco Freeze greasy burger in a wax paper bag with root beer shake eaten in the warmth collected in the open way-back section of the van leaves you feeling like summer has never left us. We did discover however that our "shared" milk shake will have to go up one size if ALL of us intend to have a sip...Devi!

Pretending to be in the parade

With cousins Ryan and Lina visiting from Colorado

The week previous to the parade was spent visiting Devi's cousin's and Aunt from Colorado who had come for their spring break. Unfortunately, their daddy had to stay home and work because they just don't give daddy's spring breaks. Although this was only the second time the kids had met, the children, Ryan age 9, Lina almost 7 and Devi almost 2 and a half had no problem declaring themselves cousins whipping Oma's house into a lather of excitement in a matter of just a few minutes. Everything about Oma's house is more special, more fun, and more everything, especially their favorite game inspired by Patrick years before - the DOG PILE!!!

Aunt Lisa, Ryan, Lina, Oma and Devi

The last subject inspired by the "P" title of this post is that we are officially Paper Pregnant. That means that our I-800A form was approved by US Homeland Security stating that we are approved to become the guardians of another Indian child. We also completed the training program now required by prospective adoptive parents and so have entered the cesspool of waiting families anxiously hoping to hear about the next member of our family. It is with some trepidation that we enter this phase because there are so many things to consider and that could go wrong: our age, Devi's age, the age of the child - the things that enter your mind for consideration are exhausting. And lets face it, once you get to this stage, try as you might to be on-the-fence so to speak, you can't help but be emotionally invested, exposing your heart to the possibility of disappointment. It is just plain scary. I was mentioning this to a friend the other day, about being afraid, hoping we were doing the right thing and finding it hard to just trust that everything will be okay. She said, "Well, it looks like you are right on target then." "What?" I said. She told me this was just how you were when you were at this point in Devi's adoption too. "Were we? US afraid or scared?" wink wink...well, I guess we were then too. So sorry friends for putting the burden of dealing with our emotional roller coaster on you...again!!

Finding a ray of sunshine on the carpet in the morning!

Recently with Devi cradled in my arms as we sat in the rocker in her dimly lit room saying our nightly God blesses, I changed the order of who we bless so that the ending went something like this..
Mommy: "...and God bless, mommy, daddy, Devi , Cayennie and Devi's baby sister. Amen."
Devi: "I have a baby sister?"
Mommy: "We hope so sweetie, only God knows that for sure right now."
Devi: "Is she in India?"
Mommy: "I think she might be, yes"
Devi: "Is she coming home?"
Mommy: "We hope so...someday. Would you like a baby sister?"
Devi:"uh-huh. Devi has a baby sister."
Satisfied with that, we went to bed.